Cosmetic surgery to require GP, psychiatrist referrals under new law

A former Married At First Sight contestant has questioned a new crackdown on cosmetic surgery – warning it could clog our medical system.

A former Married At First Sight contestant has questioned a new crackdown on cosmetic surgery.

Under strict new laws imposed by the Medical Board of Australia, from July 1 anyone seeking cosmetic surgery will require a GP referral.

Surgeons will also have to screen patients for underlying psychological conditions that could make them unsuitable for cosmetic procedures.

“If screening indicates the patient has significant underlying psychological issues which may make them an unsuitable candidate for the cosmetic surgery, they must be referred for evaluation to a psychologist, psychiatrist or GP,” the new MBA guidelines state.

Doctors without recognised surgical training who call themselves cosmetic surgeons will face three years in prison and a $60,000 fine.

While the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has welcomed the planned changes, MAFS star and influencer Jessika Power – who has undergone cosmetic procedures – said the need for a referral will do nothing but clog Australia’s health system.

“You can’t make a decision for somebody if they want to improve or change something for themselves,” the 30-year-old told 3AW Melbourne’s Neil Mitchell.

A former Married At First Sight contestant has questioned a new crackdown on cosmetic surgery – warning it could clog our medical system. Picture: Instagram

“Psychologists are going to be inundated with requests from young women, young men, and where’s that going to take the healthcare system? I think it comes down to the person. If you’re old enough to have it done, you’re old enough to make your own choices.”

As for whether she herself promotes cosmetic procedures on her own social media platforms, the London-based Aussie said she’s simply updating fans with her day-to-day life.

“I would hope that what I say on my platforms, that young women aren’t trying to look for this unrealistic beauty standard … Everything I do, I still look like myself. I’m not trying to achieve, you know, a completely different look.”

Jessika Power said people should be allowed to make their own choices. Picture: Instagram

Jessika said she’s not going for ‘a completely different look’. Picture: Instagram

Health ministers agreed to the national overhaul of the booming industry last September, with Queensland the first state to introduce the legislation.

As of 2022, Aussies are now spending a whopping $1 billion on cosmetic procedures annually, according to the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia. Dermal fillers alone increased by 25 per cent last year, while the number of people seeking anti-wrinkle injections spiked by 14 per cent.

Aussies are now spending a whopping $1 billion on cosmetic procedures annually.

MBA Chair, Dr Anne Tonkin, told Medical Journal Australia the changes cover all facets of the industry, including what we see promoted on social media.

“Firstly, we require these procedures to be done in a licenced facility, with proper clinical governance, proper hygiene and infection control systems,” Dr Tonkin explained.

“We’re also making it clear that it needs to be the practitioner themselves giving the patient the information at the beginning, and responsible for appropriate care after the procedure.

“It is also up to the practitioner to be upfront about their training, expertise and experience, and to be upfront about the total costs.”

AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said he was “appalled” at the recent spate of stories about Australians being “harmed by doctors” when seeking cosmetic surgery.

“The situation is totally unacceptable and must change,” he added.

“We want everyone who chooses to have cosmetic surgery to be better informed and protected. We want the doctors who undertake cosmetic surgery to be trained to a safe standard. We want the public to feel confident they are going to be well looked after and, if things go wrong, that they will be supported and that their concerns will be acted on.”

Originally published as Cosmetic surgery to require GP, psychiatrist referrals under new law