Cosmetic "surgeons" with no recognised medical training face jail terms in Queensland after an overhaul of industry regulations passed state parliament.
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The laws crack down on doctors falsely advertising qualified cosmetic surgery and follows Australia-wide reforms announced by the national medical regulator.
Former health minister Yvette D'Ath introduced the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Act in April to ensure only qualified doctors with surgical training can use the title "surgeon" when promoting their work.
Doctors found using the title without accredited training now face up to three years in prison and a fine up to $60,000.
The reforms passed were endorsed by Australia's health ministers in February following public consultation across the country.
"These are common sense reforms to reflect what the public already reasonably assumed," Health Minister Shannon Fentiman told parliament on Tuesday.
"That is, doctors calling themselves a surgeon or a cosmetic surgeon have had the advanced surgical training to go along with the title."
Ms Fentiman said an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) hotline had received almost 400 calls from patients in 11 months, with 14 doctors subsequently suspended from practice.
A recount of what the minister described as "harrowing" stories from botched cosmetic surgery procedures warranted legislative change.
"Unexpected complications can arise even under the care of the most skilled and experienced practitioner," Ms Fentiman said.
"But these risks are needlessly amplified when procedures are performed by unqualified or underqualified doctors."
AHPRA is also moving to introduce stronger laws around advertising and using online influencers and brand ambassadors to promote cosmetic procedures.
Cosmetic surgery is a booming in Australia, with more than $1 billion spent every year on more than 500,000 procedures, according to the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine.
Australian Associated Press
