Cosmetic surgery: Medical Board of Australia recommends cooling-off period and psychological assessments for teens

TEENAGERS may have to be psychologically assessed before having cosmetic surgery, and adults may be given a cooling-off period to reconsider operations such as facelifts.

American reality television star Kylie Jenner poses for photographers at the launch of her new skin care range, Nip and Fab at Westfield in west London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

TEENAGERS may have to be psychologically assessed before having cosmetic surgery.

And new guidelines drafted by the Medical Board of Australia also propose cooling-off periods for adults to reconsider such operations.

Worried that inadequately informed patients are rashly rushing into surgery, the board is releasing draft guidelines on Tuesday to limit and clarify what services can be offered.

Noting a “disturbing trend” of young people rushing into surgery while physically or emotionally unready to appreciate the risks, the guidelines would require patients aged under 18 to be assessed by a registered psychologist or psychiatrist.

There would then be a minimum three-month cooling-off period.

Australians now spend $1 billion a year on cosmetic procedures, and board chairman Dr Joanna Flynn said practitioners needed clear boundaries to operate within.

The ‘poster girl’ for teen enhancements, American reality television star Kylie Jenner poses for photographers.

“We are looking for the best way to manage risk to patients without limiting or making judgments about consumer choices,” she said.

“We want to do what we can to keep the public safe, without imposing an unreasonable regulatory burden on practitioners.”

The board is seeking comment on its consultation paper. The following are among guidelines flagged in the paper:

SEVEN-day cooling off periods for all adults.

INFORMED patient consent to include “explicit guidance” and clear information on risks and possible complications.

TREATING doctor to be responsible for post-operative care, including emergency facilities where there is sedation.

MANDATORY face-to-face consultations before prescribing injections such as Botox.

LIMITS on where cosmetic procedures can be done.

A detailed discussion paper seen by the Herald Sun warns complaints are more common for cosmetic surgery than for other health procedures.

If an operation is done by someone without proper training, or in a place without appropriate equipment, or post-operative care is inadequate, “the outcome … can be far more devastating than unmet expectations”, the paper warns.

“The outcome may be a serious complication resulting in disfigurement or death.”

Have you rushed into surgery and regretted it? Email your story to us at [e-mail].

Do you agree with a minimum three-month cooling-off period?

Originally published as Cosmetic surgery: Medical Board of Australia recommends cooling-off period and psychological assessments for teens