Cosmetic Physician is a title commonly used to describe a Medical Practitioner that provides one or more non-surgical medical procedures designed to augment or enhance their patient's appearance.  Procedures performed include anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels, laser and IPL therapy, cosmetic mole removal, acne treatments, leg and facial vein treatments, microdermabrasion and photodynamic therapy.

It is important to realise that the the title Cosmetic Physician is not a recognised specialist qualification.  No exam or post-graduate study is required to use this tiltle.  In fact, any registered Medical Practitioner could refer to himself as a Cosmetic Physician.  This is potentially somewhat confusing as the tiltle Physician generally refers to a recognised specialist with post-graduate training and qualifications.  It is for this reason that I personally use the term Cosmetic Medicine Doctor.

In Australia there is no government recognised post-graduate Cosmetic Medicine or Cosmetic Surgery qualification.  There is no officially recognised training or accreditation in any of the procedures.  Training generally is provided by drug companies that produce the products that Cosmetic Doctors use.  This is not to say that training is inadequate.  In fact, my experience has been that the training and ongoing education provided by these companies is excellent. 

There are two groups in Australia that represent doctors paractising non-surgical cosmetic procedures.  These are the Australasian Society of Cosmetic Medicine and the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia.  No exam needs to be passed to become a Member of either of these Societies (check the websites for further details on Membership).  Both these Societies provide educational events and seminars as well as offering more advanced education such as Diplomas and Fellowships.  Whilst I am a supporter of ongoing education it is important to realise that none of these qualifications are recognised by the government as conferring specialist status.