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Last week, Spa & Clinic reported on a Queensland tribunal decision that marks a significant moment for the aesthetic industry.

A registered nurse has been banned from practice for two years after administering Schedule 4 medicines without a valid medical consultation or prescription, and for continuing to practise while suspended. The findings are confronting, but they’re also an opportunity to learn, reflect, and improve our own practices.  

As Spa & Clinic noted, the decision sends “a clear signal that Ahpra and the National Boards are no longer tolerating breaches that have long concerned regulators.” That signal matters for every cosmetic injector in Australia.

According to the tribunal findings, the practitioner administered restricted medicines without authorisation, falsified clinical records, and continued treating patients despite regulatory restrictions. The tribunal determined this behaviour constituted professional misconduct and highlighted the importance of deterrence, both for the practitioner involved and for the wider industry.

Ahpra CEO, Justin Untersteiner, reinforced this shift:

“We will leave no stone unturned to investigate and take action against practitioners who do the wrong thing.”

For years, Australia’s aesthetic industry has operated in an environment where expectations have been tightening, but enforcement has been inconsistent. That era has now ended.

This case reinforces several non-negotiables:

• Patient Safety is paramount.
• Schedule 4 medicines must only be administered following an appropriate medical consultation, and all medications must have a valid prescription in place for the patient.
• Medicines must be supplied to the authorised practitioner, stored, and administered in accordance with state and territory regulations.
• Clinical records must be accurate, complete, and truthful.
• Any Aphra registration conditions and suspensions must be strictly followed.
  

When a medication is not supplied by the prescribing provider, the chain of custody is compromised, creating uncertainty regarding the medication's origin and accountability. In such instances, practitioners cannot assume clinical responsibility for the safety, integrity, or efficacy of products they did not procure or oversee. 

In the event of an adverse clinical reaction, audit, or complaint, clear and accurate records are critical. They provide transparency around the supply, prescribing, and administration of the medication, and protect both patient safety and the practitioner/s involved.

These are not administrative details, but the professional standards expected of every healthcare practitioner. They are fundamental patient safety obligations, and failing to uphold them carries serious consequences. 

At Fresh Clinics, our mission has always been to support nurses to build sustainable, compliant aesthetic practices — backed by education, systems, and clinical governance that stand up to scrutiny.

This moment matters for our industry. It’s an opportunity to raise standards, protect patients, and ensure aesthetic medicine remains a respected, trusted profession.

Read the full Spa & Clinic article here. 

This Menopause Awareness Month, we sat down with Dr Izzy Sillar to talk about something that affects every woman, but is still so often overlooked: menopause.

For women, menopause isn’t just a hormonal shift. It’s a whole-body transition that affects skin, mood, sleep, energy, and confidence. And for cosmetic nurses, it’s an opportunity to change how women experience this stage of life.

“Perimenopause and menopause… is a clinical diagnosis. We don’t actually rely on blood tests or serum markers… It’s based on the clinical picture.” - Dr Izzy.

That one shift in mindset can change how you consult, treat, and support patients who are 40+ in your aesthetic clinic.

Perimenopause vs. Menopause 

“Menopause is diagnosed as being 12 months since their last menstrual period. And perimenopause is less than 12 months, where we’re seeing changes in the menstrual cycle.”

Dr Izzy outlined a typical trajectory:

• Mid–late 30s: testosterone trends down.
• Early 40s: progesterone declines.
• Mid-40s onward: estrogen drops.

As estrogen falls, cycles often space out or go missing. Skin can feel thinner, joints ache (hands, knees, lower back), and patients frequently report the “middle-aged spread.”

“When we lose estrogen… our fibroblasts become dysregulated… This can translate to skin becoming thinner, [and] joints… more sore. It’s really common… to gain weight around the tummy… even when eating well and exercising."

Why this matters in aesthetics

For too long, menopause has been underdiagnosed and undertreated.

“Currently, 85% of women are mismanaged for a condition that affects 100% of women by age 55.”

By adding women’s health pathways to your practice, you’re helping to close a major gap in medicine. You’re saying: we see you, and your experience matters.

"We have safe ways to manage this in conjunction with lifestyle… and it’s absolutely a woman’s right to have access to this.” - Dr Izzy.

Untreated symptoms aren’t just inconvenient.

“Heart attacks become the third biggest killer for women [not on appropriate therapy]. Fragility hip fractures… 75%… are in fact women… small falls shouldn’t be something that is going to take their life.”

Connecting patients to competent care is essential to preventive health.

Ready to support your patients holistically?

“Position yourself as more than an injector — become a guide.”

If you’re a Fresh Clinics member, you can access Fresh Health and start referring today. Not yet a member? Get in touch and we’ll show you how to integrate safe, modern women’s health support into your clinic.

In today’s booming aesthetics industry, clinics are popping up on every corner. Many chase growth with ads, discounts, and quick-win marketing tactics. But the truth is:  the fastest-growing businesses aren’t the ones spending the most on ads — they’re the ones delivering the best patient outcomes.

At Fresh Clinics, we’ve supported more than 2,000 nurses and doctors in building thriving practices. The data is clear: clinical excellence is the #1 driver of clinic growth. Why? Because excellence fuels patient trust, and trust fuels referrals.

In this article, we’ll share:

• Proprietary insights from Fresh’s network of clinics
• Why referrals, not ads, are the ultimate growth engine
• The Fresh 4-Pillar Growth Model for sustainable success

The problem with “quick-fix” business growth

The aesthetics industry is often framed around leads, discounts, and fast revenue. Competitors offer:

• Paid ads campaigns
• Website rebuilds
• “Get more patients fast” playbooks

The issue? Patients notice the difference. 

Poor consultation processes, unprepared practitioners, and inconsistent results lead to disappointment — and in some cases, safety risks.

Clinics built on short-term marketing tactics struggle to retain patients and eventually burn out.

Fresh data: Referrals are the growth engine

Fresh’s work with thousands of practitioners has revealed a simple truth:  referrals account for the majority of sustainable growth in clinics.

• Practices that focus on complication management training see up to 2x more referrals within 6 months.
• Practitioners who adopt a consultation mastery framework report a 35% increase in repeat patient bookings.
• Clinics that deliver consistently superior outcomes see organic referral growth surpass paid acquisition by Year 2.

This is the compounding power of excellence. Each happy patient tells a friend, leaves a glowing review, and builds the practitioner’s reputation.

The Fresh 4-Pillar Growth Model

We’ve codified what works into the Fresh 4-Pillar Growth Model — a framework built on what we’ve seen across 2,000+ aesthetic clinics.

1.  Consultation mastery
     -  A structured consultation builds trust and ensures tailored outcomes.

2.  Complication confidence
    - When practitioners are trained to handle complications, confidence radiates.
    - Patients sense this security — leading to stronger loyalty and referrals.

3.  Patient experience
    - Every touchpoint matters: from the first consult to follow-ups.
    - A superior patient journey drives love, loyalty, and advocacy.

4.  Business growth through referrals
    - Delivering excellence creates a flywheel: Great outcomes → Referrals → More patients → Sustainable revenue.

Why Clinical excellence builds premium brands

The benefits go beyond just growth:

• Exclusivity: Better practitioners attract better patients.
• Future-Proofing: As competition intensifies, only practices with clinical excellence will stand out.
• Industry Stewardship: Putting patients first sets Fresh and its members apart from negative industry trends.

In short,  excellence isn’t just a growth strategy — it’s a brand strategy.

Key Questions Answered

What is the #1 way clinics grow?
Referrals. And referrals come from delivering excellent patient outcomes.

Why are referrals better than ads? 
Ads can buy attention. But only excellence earns trust — and trust is what fuels long-term patient advocacy. 

What role does complication management play in growth?
Confidence in handling complications radiates to patients. It builds safety, trust, and loyalty — all drivers of referrals.

What is the Fresh 4-Pillar Growth Model?
A framework for sustainable success: Consultation Mastery, Complication Confidence, Patient Experience, and Business Growth via Referrals.

Conclusion: Excellence wins, every time

The aesthetics industry is evolving quickly. In the short-term, anyone can buy ads. In the long-term, only those who build their practices on clinical excellence will thrive. At Fresh, we’ve helped over 2,000 nurses and doctors achieve their dreams — by putting patients first, building confidence, and creating practices that grow on referrals. The future of aesthetics is clear: Excellence drives growth.

To learn more, become a Fresh Clinics Member here.