New Standards for Cosmetic Surgery in New Zealand

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Doctors in the New Zealand cosmetic surgery industry now have to comply with new standards set by the Medical Council of New Zeland that include giving patients a seven-day cooling off period to think about an operation.

The council can only set standards for doctors and does not regulate the wider beauty industry. This is its first set of standards covering cosmetic procedures in New Zealand. There are no figures for how many procedures take place in the country each year, but it is booming.

The standards define a cosmetic procedure and deal with two categories - surgical procedures such as breast augmentation or reduction, surgical face-lifts and liposuction fall under category one. Category two takes in a wide range of non-surgical procedures, including hair removal and replacement, and chemical peels.

Cosmetic procedures are defined as having a sole intention to improve a patient's appearance or self-esteem. Cosmetic procedures do not necessarily improve a patient's health and it is difficult to determine if they are in the patient's best interest.

Doctors are encouraged to refer patients for a psychological consultation within a reasonable time before the procedure if they suspect the patient has a personality disorder. Doctors have to get a written consent from a patient within a reasonable time before the procedure and the consent has to be reconfirmed on the day of the procedure. Doctors have to provide information in plain English and outline the possible outcomes.

The Medical Council says that patients need time to consider the pros and cons of a cosmetic procedure as they are elective and there are significant risks with all surgery.

The guidelines stipulate practitioners performing invasive procedures such as breast augmentations or liposuction must be a qualified plastic surgeon or supervised by one.
One reason for the new guidelines is to make the industry more professional to encourage nationals to stay at home rather than go to Asia for cosmetic surgery.

Source: Medical Council of New Zealand