Instagram compliance checker for cosmetic clinics
By Daniel Welsh, Founder, Routiq · Last updated 10 July 2026
For cosmetic clinics, Instagram is the storefront — and it's also where the most advertising risk sits, because AHPRA and TGA rules apply to social posts exactly as they do to a website or an ad.
Abby checks a caption or a whole grid against those rules and shows you what to review, in plain English, before it goes live.
Social posts are advertising
AHPRA's guidance is explicit that social media is a form of advertising for a regulated health service. That means a caption, a reel, a story, a reshared patient post, or even liking a patient's testimonial can fall inside the rules. The informal, behind-the-scenes tone of Instagram doesn't change that.
The 2025 cosmetic guidelines tightened this further — banning influencer testimonials and setting strict conditions on before-and-after images.
Check a draft, or check your whole grid
Paste a caption before you post and Abby returns flags plus a calmer rewrite. Or point it at your public Instagram handle and it reviews your recent posts — captions and images — and tells you which ones are worth a second look.
Risky vs calmer
Risky
“Our client couldn't stop smiling after her lip filler — swipe for the before & after! 💋”
Calmer
“Curious about lip treatments? Book a consultation to talk through your options and what's realistic for you.”
Check your next post with Abby
Paste a caption or draft and Abby flags common advertising-risk patterns and suggests calmer wording. First check is free.
Ask Abby →Common questions
Can Abby scan my whole Instagram?
Yes — switch to 'Check my grid', enter your public handle, and Abby reviews your recent posts. The paste-a-draft check is best before anything goes live.
Do stories and reels count as advertising?
AHPRA treats social content that promotes a regulated health service as advertising, including stories and reshared patient content. Abby checks captions and creatives; it can't see private drafts or stories after they expire.
General information, not legal advice
This page explains published AHPRA and TGA advertising guidance in plain English to help you review your own marketing. It is not legal advice, does not certify compliance, and is not endorsed by AHPRA or the TGA. Confirm anything material with your own lawyer or regulatory advisor.
Sources
Keep reading