Moves are afoot that could stop cosmetic surgeons from calling themselves ‘surgeons’.

Reports say the Medical Board of Australia is considering restricting the title “cosmetic surgeon” and even allowing health ministers to ban use of the title.

Currently, any doctor with a medical degree can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon, even if they do not have surgical training.

The MBA wants doctors with plastic surgery training to be the only ones able to call themselves “cosmetic surgeon”.

Consumer Health Forum chief Leanne Wells says people need to know they have a reputable doctor.

“This is not an area where consumers should cut corners,” she said.

“We share the concern of some clinical groups that the rules need to be tightened up. The industry has been left too unregulated for too long.

“We can only expect the demand for cosmetic surgery to increase — a fact of 21st century life — but for patient safety, we must have much more stringent standards, accreditation and monitoring of this industry.”