Booking a Botox appointment is not the same as booking a haircut. In Australia, botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine. That means there are rules about who can prescribe it and how the consultation must run. Knowing those rules helps you spot a clinic that is doing things properly.
This guide explains what a proper consultation looks like. It covers the assessment, the consent process and the paperwork you should receive. It also explains the extra protections for people under 18. Everything here is general information drawn from the national rules.
Why Botox needs a prescription
Botulinum toxin type A is the active ingredient in Botox. The Therapeutic Goods Administration says substances used in cosmetic injections, such as botulinum toxin type A, are generally regulated as Schedule 4 medicines. Schedule 4 is the prescription only category. These products can only be lawfully imported with a valid prescription or written authority.
The same rules limit how the products are promoted. The law bars advertising prescription only cosmetic injectables to the public. In practice, an advert pushing a named prescription injectable at you is a warning sign. The TGA has issued infringement notices over alleged unlawful advertising of cosmetic injectables and the alleged importation of counterfeit botulinum toxin.
If you are still weighing up whether treatment is for you, start with the basics. Our list of the most commonly asked questions about Botox covers many of the early questions people have. Price is another early question, and our guide to how much Botox injections cost looks at that. The consultation is where those general answers become specific to you.
The prescribing consultation
Ahpra and the National Boards brought in new guidelines for non surgical cosmetic procedures on 2 September 2025. The guidelines name prescription only cosmetic injectables such as botulinum toxin. They set out what must happen before anyone is treated. They apply across the registered health professions, with doctors following a separate set of Medical Board guidelines.
A consultation must take place every time a cosmetic injectable is prescribed. It must be held in person or by video. A prescription arranged by text, email or an online questionnaire alone is not acceptable. Batch prescribing, where one prescription covers several people, is also ruled out. Each person needs their own prescription.
Many clinics have nurses who do the injecting. The prescription still has to come from an authorised prescriber who has held a consultation with you, in person or by video. If a clinic suggests skipping that step, ask why.
The assessment
The guidelines require a careful assessment before treatment. Practitioners must check for health conditions, including underlying psychological conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder. They must also talk with you about your reasons for wanting treatment. They should check that your expectations are realistic.
You should also hear about other options. That includes the option of not having the procedure at all. If the practitioner decides after the assessment that treatment is not appropriate, they must decline to prescribe or treat. A consultation that ends with a no is the process working properly.
Some people arrive unsure whether Botox or a dermal filler suits their concern. The two products work in different ways, and our article on the differences between Botox and Juvederm explains the basics. Bring those questions to the consultation. The practitioner can talk through which option, if any, fits your situation.
Informed consent and paperwork
Before any treatment, you must be given enough information to make an informed decision. The guidelines call for a spoken discussion plus written information in plain language. That information should cover risks, benefits, alternatives, recovery and costs. It should also cover the practitioner’s qualifications.
The information must not glamorise the procedure or overstate the likely results. Your consent, including your financial consent, must be documented. You should be given a signed copy to keep. Ask for it if it is not offered.
Photos are handled separately. A clinic must ask for your consent to take and use images. Consent for advertising use must be separate from your consent to the procedure itself. You can also withdraw consent for your images to be used.
Questions worth asking
It helps to go in with a few questions written down. They keep the conversation focused and make it easier to compare clinics. The guidelines cover much of this, so a good practitioner will expect them.
- Who will prescribe the injection, and will I speak with them in person or by video?
- What training and experience does the person injecting have?
- What are the risks and possible side effects for me?
- What written aftercare instructions will I get, and who do I contact if something goes wrong?
- What is the full cost of the treatment?
Money, discounts and finance
The guidelines also limit the business side of cosmetic injections. Practitioners must not offer free or discounted procedures to promote their services. They must not offer commissions or other financial inducements to recruit patients. They also must not offer or promote commercial finance such as loans or commercial payment plans.
Treatment is a personal choice, and some people think about it in terms of how they present at work. Our tips to look your best at work cover simple everyday steps that have nothing to do with injections. Keeping that wider picture in mind can make the decision feel less rushed. There is no need to commit on the day of your first visit.
Extra protections for people under 18
The rules are stricter for anyone under 18. The guidelines say botulinum toxin and dermal fillers should not be prescribed for cosmetic purposes for people under 18. Practitioner advertising aimed at under 18s is banned. For any cosmetic procedure a person under 18 does go ahead with, there must be a cooling off period of at least seven days between consent and the procedure. No payment is due during that period, apart from the initial consultation.
Checking your practitioner
You can check a practitioner’s registration on the Ahpra website. That shows whether they are a registered health practitioner. The guidelines also require clinics to tell you how to make a complaint. Any non disclosure agreement must not stop you complaining to Ahpra or a state body.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Botox prescription through an online form?
No. Under the Ahpra guidelines, a prescription for a cosmetic injectable needs a live consultation in person or by video. An online questionnaire, text or email on its own is not acceptable.
Do I need a new consultation each time?
Yes. The guidelines say a consultation must take place each time a cosmetic injectable is prescribed. Prescribers must also follow state and territory drugs and poisons rules on repeat prescriptions. These rules differ between states, so ask the clinic how it works where you live.
Can a clinic offer me a discount on my first treatment?
Not under the current guidelines. Practitioners must not offer free or discounted procedures to promote cosmetic services. If you see an offer like this, ask more questions before you book.
Can a teenager have Botox for cosmetic reasons?
The guidelines say botulinum toxin should not be prescribed for cosmetic purposes for people under 18. This sits alongside a ban on practitioner advertising aimed at under 18s. Medical uses are a separate matter for a doctor to discuss.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Rules for cosmetic injectables can change, and some details vary between states and territories. Please speak with a doctor or qualified health professional about your own situation.