Most cosmetic injectables are prescription-only medicines that cannot be advertised to the public↗, and the TGA says stating a price for one is likely to count as an advertisement↗. That is why this guide names no products and no prices. Since 2 September 2025↗, a prescriber must consult you in person or by video, every time↗.
Search for the cost of an injectable treatment and you will find per-unit prices on plenty of sites. Those pages are running a risk this one will not take. The rules below are also the reason a clinic can seem evasive on the phone when all you asked was what something costs.
Why won't a clinic publish a price?
Most cosmetic injectables contain Schedule 4 substances. Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 they cannot be advertised to the public↗, and the TGA's guidance says a price quoted for one is likely to count as an advertisement↗. Pairing a product, or a per-unit charge, with a dollar figure crosses that line no matter who publishes it.
What can clinics advertise?
The service, not the medicine. The TGA's advice is to promote the service, not the medicine↗, so a clinic can tell you it offers consultations with a doctor or a nurse. The descriptive workarounds are narrowing too: terms such as "dermal fillers" are no longer expressly permitted↗ where a reader would understand them as promoting a prescription-only medicine.
Practitioners answer to Ahpra as well. Advertising for higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures must use real images, and a 'results may vary' warning↗. If a clinic's feed is full of influencer testimonials and retouched results, that tells you something before you walk in.
What has to happen before treatment?
- A consultation with the prescriber, in person or by video, every time↗.
- Prescribing by text, email or online form without that consultation is not acceptable practice↗.
- Under 18s get a cooling-off period of 7 days↗ between the first consultation and any procedure.
Ahpra, new cosmetic procedure guidelines, checked 12 September 2026.
Show the numbers as a table
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| First consultation | Day 0 |
| Earliest procedure | Day 7 |
What affects what you pay?
We cannot give you figures, but the rules show you where the cost sits. Ask about each of these:
- The consultation. A prescriber has to see you each time a prescription is written. Ask whether that appointment is charged, and whether it is in person or by video.
- Who treats you. Ask for the practitioner's name and registration, and check it on Ahpra's public register before your appointment, not after.
- What the prescriber recommends. How much treatment you need is decided after assessment, so a total can only follow a consultation.
- How you pay. If you are asked to prepay for a course of visits, read your rights on prepaid packages first.
How do I compare clinics without a price list?
Book two or three consultations and ask each one for a written total covering everything that will be charged. Comparing written quotes is slower than comparing web pages, and it is the comparison the rules are designed to push you towards.
This guide summarises TGA and Ahpra guidance, checked 12 September 2026. It is not medical or legal advice and does not recommend any product or treatment.