Why Honest Before & After Photos Matter – And What the New AHPRA Guidelines Mean for You

As a Health Practitioner passionate about transparency and patient education, I’ll be honest — I was frustrated when AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) initially banned before-and-after photos for higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

It felt like we were being forced to communicate in a way that didn’t match what patients were actively looking for: real results, from real people, with real information.

Meanwhile, Instagram and TikTok continued to be flooded with before-and-after images from overseas providers — many of which were obviously altered, heavily filtered, or taken under lighting and angles designed to exaggerate outcomes. That kind of content doesn’t help anyone make informed choices. It creates unrealistic expectations, and in some cases, erodes trust in the whole industry.

So when AHPRA released the updated 2025 Guidelines, I was relieved — and honestly, excited. The changes finally strike a better balance between protecting public safety and allowing honest, educational communication.