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Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Eight

Anti-wrinkle injections and fillers are now a booming industry worldwide. With growing demand, unscrupulous practices have emerged to make a quick buck, offering these injections to the unsuspecting and unaware. Often promoted using the power of social media, these ‘bargain deals’ take advantage of loopholes in advertising guidelines, or rather, a lack of more stringent ones! Although these injections have always been regarded as "Schedule 4 Medications" – meaning they can only be prescribed by registered medical practitioners – many of these injections have been administered by inadequately qualified or trained nurses, or even non-health professionals such as beauty therapists. Often, the injections were administered in unlicensed premises or even at home under the trendy banner of ‘BTX Parties’. For some time, the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has been demanding stricter guidelines to regulate the appropriate use of these potentially harmful 'medications'. After accepting submissions from health professions, nonprofessionals, community groups and others, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) finally released their guidelines earlier this year. These guidelines are effective from October 1, 2016 and I believe they are a major step forward in providing much needed regulations in this burgeoning ‘health industry’. The guidelines are applicable to all health professionals who undertake these cosmetic surgical or nonsurgical procedures. It is mandatory, according to the guidelines, that clients seeking antiwrinkle or filler injections have their first consultation with a registered medical practitioner either in person or by video consultation (Skype or FaceTime). The guidelines further recognise the important role that proper supervision and post-operative care from qualified medical practitioners plays in providing safety and assurance to patients seeking these injections. In my view, these guidelines will certainly curb unscrupulous corner shops, beauty clinics and home-based anti-wrinkle and filler injectors, and hopefully prevent the adverse effects that often arise as a result of inappropriate techniques and a poor knowledge base. Although they are designed to be followed by health professionals, I believe it is important that all our readers and clients are familiar with these guidelines, so they don't fall prey to the advertising gimmicks from non-qualified clinics or personnel. Words by Dr Dilip Gahankari These new laws will mean that in addition to stricter guidelines for injectables, doctors must also: • Allow a seven-day cooling off period for all patients considering a major procedure. • Allow a three-month cooling off period for patients under the age of 18. • Insist on mandatory counselling by a psychologist, psychiatrist or GP for patients under the age of 18. • Take "explicit responsibility" for postoperative care, as well as emergency facilities when using anaesthesia. • Provide mandatory consultations either in person or via Skype/ FaceTime for patients considering prescriptiononly injectables such as Botox and fillers. • Provide detailed written information about costs for patients. The full guidelines can be viewed on the AHPRA website at www.ahpra. gov.au WHAT AUSTRALIA’S NEW BOTOX LAWS MEAN FOR THE CONSUMER pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 57


Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Eight
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