Medical regulators have vowed to tighten patient safety measures around cosmetic surgery, with a review to explore why serious adverse events are going unreported.

Announced Tuesday, the independent review will explore ways to improve regulation of the cosmetic surgery sector.

“Some worrying features of the cosmetic industry set it apart from conventional medical practice, including corporate business models which are alleged to place profit over patients,” AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said.

Regulators were also concerned about patients undergoing cosmetic procedures when there was no medical need, the lack of informed consent and the huge growth in social media that “emphasises benefits and downplays risks”, he said.