Doctors in Australia are seeking a ban on cosmetic surgery for minors or teenagers under the age of 18. The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia pushed for stricter and government-regulated guidelines to be put in place to prevent cosmetic surgeons from performing procedures like lip augmentation and liposuction on minors.

The society's president, Gabrielle Caswell, said that children should not be allowed to undergo cosmetic surgery unless it's for psychological or medical reasons.

A national ban on cosmetic surgery for minors would bring other Australian states in line with Queensland where it is illegal for cosmetic surgeons to perform a medical procedure on a child. Physicians who will violate Queensland law will be subject to two years imprisonment.

The guidelines of the Medical Council of NSW require teenagers who want to have cosmetic surgery are asked to observe a three-month cooling off period to think about their decision. The NSW council also encouraged teenagers to ask for another consultation and discuss the matter with a general physician.

Matty Samaei, cosmetic nurse and owner of The Medispa at Neutral Bay, said it was "extremely common" for teenagers such as high school girls to have their lips augmented or "plumped" as a graduation gift or reward.

Ms. Samaei said young Australian girls also like to undergo cosmetic procedures such as cheek augmentation and lip enhancement. These could be performed immediately, but teenagers would need at least one parent to be present while the procedure is done.

The spa owner said she has seen girls bringing pictures of the Kim Kardashian and other models and celebrities on Instagram. Teen girls want doctors to make them look like their favourite celebrities.

Cosmetic surgeons' society member Susan Austin said she is aware of cosmetic surgery on teens but reiterated that responsible doctors would have nothing to do with that. Ms. Austin said children who are allowed by parents to have fillers on cheeks or lips can be psychologically bad for them.

Adel Soliman, a cosmetic surgeon at La Sante Medi-Spa in West Pennant Hills, said it wasn't common for young girls under 18 to have cosmetic surgery. He has performed liposuction on 17-year-olds who want to change their body shape. Mr Soliman said his young patients want to have more self-confidence and a better body image.

Geoffrey Lyons, president of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, said he will support safer ways for medical procedures to be done on teenagers below 18 years old. Mr Lyons said it is inappropriate to allow children to have fillers and injections to do well in exams.

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