Doctors are pushing for a ban on all non-essential cosmetic surgery for under 18s.

The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia is proposing that stricter, government-controlled guidelines be put in place, so that no health practitioner can perform procedures such as liposuction or lip augmentation on teenagers. ''Children should not receive cosmetic or surgical procedures of any kind unless there are compelling medical or psychological reasons to do so,'' society president Gabrielle Caswell said.

A national ban would bring all states in line with Queensland where physicians who operate on children without good reason can face two years' imprisonment. Medical Council of NSW guidelines require minors who are considering cosmetic surgery to have a three-month cooling off period, followed by a further consultation. They are encouraged to discuss it with their GP, and, if necessary, a clinical psychologist.

Cosmetic nurse Matty Samaei, the owner of The Medispa at Neutral Bay, was reported last week as saying it was ''extremely common'' for high school girls to have their lips plumped up as a reward for graduating. She told Fairfax Media procedures such as cheek augmentation and lip enhancement could be performed immediately, but young people must be accompanied by a parent.