1. GP REFERRAL
All patients seeking cosmetic surgery must have a referral, preferably from their usual general practitioner or if that is not possible, from another general practitioner or other specialist medical practitioner. The referring medical practitioner must work independently of the medical practitioner who will perform the surgery and must not perform cosmetic surgery or non-surgical cosmetic procedures themselves.
2. PATIENT ASSESSMENT TOOL
The medical practitioner who will perform the surgery must assess the patient for underlying psychological conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which may make them an unsuitable candidate for the surgery. The practitioner doing the assessment must use a validated psychological screening tool to screen for BDD. The process and the outcome of the assessment and screening must be documented in the patient’s record, for all patients seeking cosmetic surgery.
3. CONSULTATIONS
A patient seeking cosmetic surgery must have at least two pre-operative consultations. The patient’s first consultation must be with the medical practitioner who will perform the surgery or another registered health practitioner who works with the medical practitioner who will perform the surgery (not a patient advisor or an agent). At least one of the two consultations must be in person with the medical practitioner who will perform the surgery. Other consultation(s) can be in person or by video.
4. INFORMED CONSENT
The medical practitioner who will perform the surgery must provide the patient with enough information for them to make an informed decision about whether to have the surgery. The practitioner must have a verbal consent discussion with the patient as well as provide written information in plain language. Practitioners should take all practical steps to provide information in a language understood by the patient. Information provided must not glamorise surgery, minimise the complexity of the surgery, overstate results or imply patients can achieve outcomes that are not realistic. It must include information about the cosmetic surgery, the medical practitioner performing the surgery, and the costs.
5. COOLING-OFF PERIOD
There must be a cooling-off period of at least seven days after the patient has had two consultations and given informed consent (signed consent forms), before the surgery can be booked or a deposit paid.
