Cosmetic Cowboys
Cosmetic surgery has become a multi-billion-dollar business, with more and more Australians getting facelifts, tummy tucks and liposuction with the hope of looking younger and slimmer. The Cosmetic Cowboys investigation takes you inside one of the country's best-known clinics and uncovers a litany of poor practices and botched surgeries. It reveals what really goes on in this unregulated industry and what can happen when you are under the knife.
‘Miracle she was alive’: Cosmetic clinic patient rushed to ICU recounts horror
A 42-year-old mother of three who was rushed to hospital after cosmetic surgery in November recounts her harrowing experience.
- by Adele Ferguson
TikTok celebrity cosmetic surgeon reprimanded by regulator
Dr Daniel Aronov has been banned by the national health regulator from performing all types of cosmetic surgery and ordered to remove his social media posts.
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
‘Unimaginable things’: Whistleblowers lift lid on cosmetic surgery underbelly
Submissions made to a parliamentary inquiry into the health regulator make one thing clear, the cosmetic surgery sector has exploited weak regulation, hurting patients along the way.
- by Adele Ferguson
Celebrity cosmetic surgeon’s patient in ICU after major blood loss
A woman was found unconscious and rushed to hospital this week after receiving liposuction treatment and a tummy tuck from an associate of Dr Daniel Lanzer.
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
‘What have you done to me?’: Lanzer clinic patients reveal more harrowing experiences
More than 100 Lanzer clinic patients have come forward to recount experiences of procedures that led to ‘putrid’ flesh, infections and excruciating pain.
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
How the cosmetic cowboys ran free on the wild west of social media
The backlash has been swift after a litany of troubling practices across cosmetic surgeon Dr Daniel Lanzer’s network was uncovered.
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
Controversial surgeon Daniel Lanzer says he’ll stop procedures
Dr Lanzer has given a legally enforceable undertaking to stop practising medicine in Australia.
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
Cosmetic surgery industry needs more than a tummy tuck
This under-regulated corner of medicine does not need to be killed off, but it does need serious oversight.
- by Allan Fels
Human fat in home fridges: Disturbing allegations hit cosmetic surgery clinics
Investigative reporter Adele Ferguson joins Bianca Hall to discuss her months-long investigation into a chain of clinics founded by cosmetic surgeon Daniel Lanzer.
- by Bianca Hall
Cosmetic surgeon accused of doctoring reviews on Google
Cosmetic surgeon and social media star Dr Daniel Lanzer allegedly paid an unhappy patient to replace negative online reviews of procedures with glowing testimonials
- by Adele Ferguson and Lauren Day
‘Make them fess up’: Laws against rogue cosmetic surgeons have waited three years
Health ministers decided in November 2019 to change the laws about who can call themselves a surgeon - but years later they’re still the same.
- by Rachel Clun and Dana Daniel
‘Never, ever, ever own up’: Cosmetic cowboys running wild in the billion-dollar treatments industry
Dr Daniel Lanzer’s public presence depicts a fun and caring cosmetic surgeon. But former staff members, medical experts and patients present a different picture.
- by Adele Ferguson, Lauren Day and Klaus Toft
Public must be protected from unsafe cosmetic surgery
Patients must be empowered to make informed decisions about cosmetic surgery and the regulator must immediately step up to ensure providers have been properly vetted.
- by Anand Deva
‘Wild West without the sheriffs’: Cosmetic clinics accused of botched surgeries, breaches
A high-profile cosmetic surgeon has denied wrongdoing after taking urgent Federal Court action to try to stop a story about his business.
- by Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Lauren Day
Court refuses to grant injunction to stop Four Corners episode from going to air
Dr Daniel Lanzer, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, attempted to halt the episode due to air on Monday over claims it disclosed confidential information.
- by Georgina Mitchell
Prominent cosmetic surgeon’s legal action to stop ABC’s 4 Corners program
Daniel Lanzer has taken action in the Federal Court to prevent the ABC’s 4 Corners from broadcasting a program on him next Monday.
- by Kate McClymont