Cosmetic "surgeons" with no recognised medical training face a raft of new penalties in Queensland after an overhaul of industry regulations.
The state will introduce tough new legislation after health ministers across the country agreed to a national approach to reform the burgeoning industry.
The new laws ensure only qualified doctors with significant surgical training can use the title "surgeon" when promoting their services.
Doctors who use the title without having completed the appropriate accredited surgical training will face up to three years in prison and a $60,000 fine.
"This bill takes decisive action to ensure that the safety of Australian patients is prioritised over the financial interests of doctors providing cosmetic procedures," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath told parliament on Thursday.
The reform comes after a spate of incidents involving cosmeticians with no surgical training leaving patients disfigured.
"The proposal was followed by a significant body of work from health ministers from all jurisdictions and the brave testimony from patients who had been harmed by people holding themselves out as being far more skilled than they actually were,'' Ms D'Ath said.
"The laws will ensure that only someone who has undertaken appropriate training can refer to themselves as a surgeon protecting consumers."
The legislation follows Australia-wide reforms announced by the national medical regulator to ensure safer cosmetic surgery.
The Australian Medical Council says demand for cosmetic surgery currently outstrips supply by surgeons.
This week the council introduced new cosmetic surgery accreditation standards as part of a suite of reforms to make cosmetic surgery safer.
To qualify for endorsement, cosmetic surgery training programs must meet these new rigorous training standards.
"An endorsement provides a safe alternative for patients who will continue to seek procedures by doctors who are not surgeons. It creates a standard where now there is none," Medical Board of Australia chair Anne Tonkin said in a statement.
"We're introducing it to make patients safer. An endorsement will tell patients who is trained and qualified, as does the title surgeon.''
Other measures include launching a public education campaign on the risks of cosmetic surgery, and reviewing licensing standards for private facilities.
