Australians seeking out cosmetic surgery will have to have a general and mental health assessment before they go under the knife.

The change forms part of the first national cosmetic surgery standards, introduced on Thursday to bring the sector into line with other surgical services across the country.

What are the cosmetic surgery standards?

The standards - which will be mandatory for all Australian facilities or services performing cosmetic surgery - will mean surgeons have to assure themselves a client is suitable for a procedure before they go ahead with it.

They will have to take into account the client's general and psychological health, and ideally get that information through a referral from the patient's general practitioner.

The change acknowledges the disproportionate number of Australians with mental health issues, including body dysmorphic disorder, who seek out cosmetic surgery.

Read more at SBS News >>

Find the standards at Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care >>