Cosmetic Surgery Regulated As New Class of Surgery in NSW

The ACCS welcomes the NSW Government’s new regulation of private health facilities that provide Cosmetic Surgery.  The ACCS has taken an active role to assist the NSW Ministry of Health in its review of private health facility regulation to encourage appropriate and effective reform that puts patient safety first.  The College particularly wishes to congratulate the Minister for Health Jillian Skinner MP for the careful consideration she has given to improving standards and patient safety.
 
Most cosmetic surgery performed in NSW is conducted in appropriate clinical settings by properly trained personnel. However, the new regulation released today will help ensure that the highest standards are applied to all facilities.  As a further step, the ACCS believes national standards of education and training be established so that any medical college can have its Cosmetic Surgery training program assessed against that standard. Patients will be better protected if they are able to make informed decisions and choose doctors who have undergone relevant training and accreditation specifically in Cosmetic Surgery.
 
The ACCS advises anyone considering cosmetic surgery to do their homework to ensure that their surgeon is properly trained in Cosmetic Surgery. As part of its Code of Practice, the College has also produced a patient information brochure, “Things you should know” which provides information about choosing a doctor and questions to ask before deciding to have cosmetic surgery. The Code of Practice and patient information brochure are available from the College’s website: www.accs.org.au
 
Media contact: Alan Jones m. 0420 757 009 or Blanche De Winter m. 0425 279 091
 
About the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery
Established in 1999, the ACCS is a not-for-profit, multi-disciplinary fellowship-based college of general surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, cosmetic physicians, dermatologists, ear nose and throat surgeons, ophthalmologists, general practitioners and other doctors who practice in cosmetic medicine and surgery. The College also admits nurses as affiliate members.
The primary goal of the ACCS is to ensure the safe provision of cosmetic medicine and cosmetic surgical procedures to the Australian community through the supply of appropriately trained and certified health care practitioners.
The ACCS is the only medical college which provides education and training leading to fellowship specifically in cosmetic medicine and surgery. Fellows of the College are medical doctors who have completed post-graduate education and training and have demonstrated competency specifically in cosmetic medicine and surgery. To become an ACCS Fellow, doctors must typically complete a minimum 12 years medical and/or surgical education and training.