Notably, the conference introduced a Practice Nurses stream, recognising the vital role of nurses in the plastic surgery patient journey. Topics in this stream included managing patients with difficult expectations, clinical photography, wound and scar management, and more.

Dr Amira Sanki, Vice President at ASAPS and a respected presenter at the conference, expressed optimism about the state of cosmetic surgery in Australia, despite recent legal changes. She highlighted the benefits of these changes, such as standardising before and after images on social media for the benefit of patients.

ASAPS has been working with AHPRA on guidelines, though some of their submissions were not fully implemented. The organisation remains committed to improving patient flow and outcomes and is open to constructive feedback regarding the guidelines.

The ASAPS Annual Conference serves as a vital learning opportunity, fostering humility among even the most skilled Plastic Surgeons. It encourages continuous learning and the incorporation of new practices to enhance outcomes.

The introduction of a nurse stream at the conference also aimed to provide tailored education for nurses working in the plastic surgery field. This initiative helps bridge the gap between practice and theatre nurses, ensuring they understand each other’s roles.

One of the highlights of the conference was the Leadership Symposium, which featured international guest surgeons and ASAPS President Dr Timothy Edwards. The session emphasized that all surgeons, regardless of gender or nationality, face similar challenges and can learn from one another.

Specialist Plastic Surgeons currently face the challenge of negotiating better cosmetic surgery guidelines to benefit patients. ASAPS aims to support these arguments by providing statistics and information, rallying a large membership to report poor patient outcomes from both local and international surgeries to help inform regulatory decisions.