Anti-Wrinkle Consultations & Neuromodulator Treatment

A) What you can safely publish on a public website (Australia)

What you can say (safe)

You can advertise consultations for concerns like movement‑related facial lines and explain that any treatment discussion happens after a medical assessment with a qualified practitioner. ¹
You may provide factual, non‑promotional education about the general process (assessment consent treatment review) and balanced risks, without naming medicines or hinting at specific products. ²
Your wording must be accurate and balanced (no guarantees, no superlatives) and must meet Ahpra’s advertising rules for health services. ³

What you must avoid (do not publish)

Any direct or indirect reference to prescription‑only injectables on public pages, including phrases like "anti‑wrinkle injections," ingredient names, abbreviations, hashtags, or unit‑based pricing. ⁴
Testimonials, influencer endorsements, or non‑compliant before/after imagery; if you show outcomes, you must follow the cosmetic‑procedure rules strictly. ⁵

Public‑safe description (copy you can use)

Lines & Wrinkles Consultation (movement‑related lines). Many facial lines arise from repeated muscle movement such as frowning, squinting, or raising the brows. In a consultation, a doctor assesses your goals, facial anatomy, and medical history. Where appropriate, your clinician may discuss prescription options that reduce nerve signals to selected muscles so movement‑driven lines soften over time. Results typically begin within days, peak by around two weeks, and are temporary; repeat treatment may be needed. Suitability, dosing, timing, risks, and alternatives are covered during your medical consultation. ²

B) Scientific detail for in‑consult or clinician‑only material (do not use as public advertising)

Mechanism of action (clear, concise)

The medicine is a purified protein used in tiny doses to temporarily reduce nerve signalling to targeted muscles. The heavy chain binds to receptors on the cholinergic nerve terminal and enables cell entry; the light chain is a zinc endopeptidase that cleaves the docking protein SNAP‑25, preventing vesicles from releasing acetylcholine, so the muscle contracts less until the terminal regenerates. ⁶

Typical clinical course: onset in about 2—5 days, peak at around 1—2 weeks, and a temporary effect that commonly lasts a few months before gradually wearing off (varies with dose, muscle size, and patient biology). ⁷

Product "types" you may discuss in consult (non‑brand; units are not interchangeable)

Type A powders for injection (non‑proprietary names include onabotulinumtoxinA, abobotulinumtoxinA, incobotulinumtoxinA, letibotulinumtoxinA, prabotulinumtoxinA): powders are reconstituted with saline; excipients commonly include human serum albumin with a sugar or salt; incobotulinumtoxinA is the 150‑kDa neurotoxin without complexing proteins; units are product‑specific. ⁸
Peptide‑stabilised type A powder: a TGA‑approved formulation uses a novel peptide excipient and is albumin‑free; it has product‑specific units and storage/handling per PI. ⁹
Ready‑to‑use type A liquid: a TGA‑registered solution (no reconstitution) that is free of complexing proteins and human/animal components; units are product‑specific. ¹⁰
Critical dosing note: unit strengths are set by each manufacturer’s bioassay and must not be converted across products; dosing and intervals must follow each product’s approved Australian Product Information. ¹¹

Keep product‑type detail in clinician‑only handouts or provide after a consult; listing actives or formats on public pages is captured as prescription‑medicine advertising. ⁴

Short history (for staff education)

Kerner (1820s): first clinical description of "sausage poisoning," and he hypothesised therapeutic potential in minute doses. ¹²
van Ermengem (1895/1897): isolated the causative bacterium after a ham‑related outbreak, establishing the modern microbiology of botulism. ¹³

Risk communication (good practice to include in consult materials)

Common, usually mild: small bruises, tenderness, headache; area‑specific risks depend on injection mapping. Balanced risk information is expected under Ahpra rules. ³
Serious but rare: spread to unintended muscles can cause functional problems; urgent review is required if red‑flag symptoms occur. Provide clear aftercare and escalation instructions. ⁵

Sources

TGA (2024), Advertising a health service – what you can and can’t say for Schedule 4 medicines, viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/advertising-health-service ↩
TGA (2024), Advertising health services & cosmetic injections: frequently asked questions (non-promotional education; consultation framing), viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/advertising/specialised-advertising-issues-and-topics/advertising-health-services-and-cosmetic-injections-frequently-asked-questions-and-answers ↩
Ahpra (2023), Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service – accuracy, balance, testimonials, and inducements, viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Advertising-guidelines-and-other-guidance/Advertising-guidelines.aspx ↩
TGA (2024), Advertising a health service – prescription-only (Schedule 4) medicines cannot be directly or indirectly advertised to the public, viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/advertising-health-service ↩
Ahpra (2023), Guidelines for advertising cosmetic procedures – testimonials, imagery, and high-risk procedures, viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-procedure-guidelines.aspx ↩
Pirazzini M., Rossetto O., Eleopra R., Montecucco C. (2017), Botulinum Neurotoxins: Biology, Pharmacology, and Toxicology, Pharmacological Reviews, 69(2):200–235, viewed 11 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28356439/ ↩
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) (n.d.), Botulinum toxin therapy: patient overview of timing and duration, viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/wrinkles/botulinum-toxin-faqs ↩
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2024), Australian Public Assessment Report (AusPAR) – XEOMIN® (incobotulinumtoxinA; purified 150 kDa neurotoxin without complexing proteins), viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/auspar-xeomin-240624-pi.pdf ↩
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2025), Australian Public Assessment Report – DAXXIFY® (daxibotulinumtoxinA), viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/auspar-daxxify-250630.pdf ↩
TGA AusPAR/AUSPmD — RelabotulinumtoxinA: ready‑to‑use liquid; no complexing proteins; indications., viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/ ↩
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (2023), Australian Public Assessment Report (AusPAR)/Product Information – NUCEIVA® (prabotulinumtoxinA; units are product-specific and not interchangeable), viewed 11 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/auspmd/nuceiva/ ↩
Erbguth F.J. (2004), Historical notes on botulism, Clostridium botulinum, botulinum toxin, and the idea of the therapeutic use of the toxin, Movement Disorders, 19(Suppl 8): S2-S6, viewed 11 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15027048/ ↩
Devriese P.P. (1999), On the discovery of Clostridium botulinum, Journal of the History of Neurosciences, 8(3): 297-303, viewed 11 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11624135/ ↩

Disclaimer for Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor Policies & Procedures

The policies and procedures contained within this document are the exclusive property of Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and are provided for internal clinical governance and educational purposes only. These materials represent the internal operational framework, safety standards, and evidence-based protocols developed and implemented by Dr. Bart John Scanlon and the Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor team. They are designed specifically for use within Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and reflect our clinic’s own professional standards, risk assessments, and compliance obligations under Australian law and regulatory authorities. External individuals, practitioners, or organisations must not copy, reproduce, distribute, or rely upon these materials, in whole or in part, for their own clinical, commercial, or educational use without prior written consent from Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor. These materials do not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice and are not intended to be adopted as official protocols or procedures by any other entity. Any external use or adaptation must be independently reviewed and modified to meet the relevant laws, guidelines, and standards applicable to the user’s own jurisdiction, scope of practice, and facility operations. Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor and Dr. Bart Scanlon accept no liability for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the unauthorised use, reliance upon, or misinterpretation of this material.