Dr. Jodie is a National Clinical Trainer & Cosmetic Doctor With Over 15 Years Experience
Covid Policy PricingDr. Jodie is a National Clinical Trainer & Cosmetic Doctor With Over 15 Years Experience
Covid Policy Pricing
June, 2025
If you’ve been browsing cosmetic clinic websites or social media lately and noticed the absence of familiar terms like “Botox” or “anti-wrinkle injections,” you might be wondering: why aren’t clinics using these words anymore? It’s not a marketing trend or a shift in treatment popularity—it’s actually the result of strict Australian advertising laws.
In December 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) updated its advertising code to further restrict how prescription-only cosmetic treatments can be discussed in public-facing materials. Here’s what you need to know.
What Changed?
On December 18, 2023, the TGA implemented a revised advertising code that made it illegal to use certain terms in promotional content, even in general terms. This included popular phrases like:
These treatments are all classified as prescription-only medicines in Australia. That means only a qualified healthcare practitioner can legally recommend or administer them. The TGA’s new rules are designed to ensure these treatments are discussed only in a clinical, private setting—not promoted to the general public like over-the-counter beauty products.
Why Were These Terms Banned?
The TGA made this move to reduce what it calls “indirect advertising.” Even phrases that sound generic—like “anti-wrinkle injections”—may lead a person to seek out a particular prescription treatment. In the TGA’s view, that counts as advertising, even if no specific product is named.
The changes aim to:
It’s part of a broader push by the TGA to make sure the cosmetic treatment industry meets high standards of transparency, accuracy, and ethics.
What Does This Mean for Clinics?
If you run a cosmetic clinic, work in marketing, or just keep an eye on industry trends, this change is a big deal. It affects:
Clinics must now audit and update all content that uses banned terms. This includes removing or rewording posts, reviewing brochures, and ensuring staff understand the new compliance rules.
If clinics don’t follow the new code, the consequences can be serious:
What Can Clinics Say Instead?
Although the rules might seem restrictive, they don’t prevent clinics from educating the public. In fact, the TGA encourages factual, non-promotional information that helps people make informed choices.
Clinics can still:
What they can’t do is advertise or promote the benefits of a specific prescription product to the public. That’s a conversation reserved for a one-on-one consultation with a licensed practitioner.
So What Is Allowed in Advertising?
Clinics can continue advertising general services and their qualifications. They can talk about their team, their approach to client care, and even the conditions they commonly treat—as long as it doesn’t veer into promotion of prescription products.
For instance, it’s acceptable to say:
These kinds of statements are educational and open-ended, not promotional.
What isn’t allowed is something like:
The difference may seem subtle, but the TGA is strict in its interpretation.
What About Influencers and Social Media?
It’s not just clinics that need to be careful. Social media influencers, even those who are clients or unpaid ambassadors, fall under the same advertising rules. If they post about receiving treatments like “Botox” or “fillers,” or even use those hashtags, it may be considered illegal advertising.
This puts a big responsibility on clinics to educate anyone they work with about what’s allowed. Clinics must make sure influencers:
The TGA is actively monitoring digital platforms, and there have been several cases where influencers were penalised for non-compliant posts.
Why Does It Matter?
These regulations are about safety and ethics. Prescription-only treatments can have powerful effects on the body. They carry risks, require clinical assessment, and aren’t suitable for everyone.
The TGA wants to ensure that anyone considering these treatments is doing so based on proper medical guidance, not glossy ads or social media hype. That means no “before-and-after” photos, no glowing product claims, and no influencer deals using banned language.
It also protects patients from misleading information. In a space where appearance-based marketing is often exaggerated, it’s critical to have trusted, fact-based communication.
How We’re Supporting These Guidelines
At Dr. Jodie’s clinic, we fully support the TGA’s mission to protect public health and ensure ethical advertising. We believe that your decisions about cosmetic treatments should be guided by professional advice, not marketing.
That’s why we have:
We still offer the same high level of care and professional expertise. But instead of promoting specific outcomes or treatments online, we now focus on what really matters: helping you understand your options through a proper consultation.
What You Can Expect from Us
If you’re curious about how to address lines, wrinkles, or other cosmetic concerns, we invite you to book a private consultation with our qualified team. During this appointment, we’ll:
This is your opportunity to get personalised advice in a safe, informed setting—exactly as the TGA intends.
What Happens in a Consultation?
We often find that people aren’t sure what to expect during a cosmetic consultation. Here’s a quick overview:
This collaborative process helps ensure that every treatment is tailored and medically appropriate.
Final Thoughts
The world of cosmetic medicine is evolving, and the TGA’s updated guidelines are a positive step toward ensuring safer, more transparent care. While it may feel unusual not to see familiar terms like “Botox” or “anti-wrinkle injections” in online content, this shift is all about putting your health first.
If you have questions or want to know more about treatment options, we’re here to help. Simply book a consultation to speak with one of our experienced practitioners.
Your safety, confidence, and results matter to us—and we’re committed to delivering them, the right way.
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