Cosmetic surgery tourism has surged, prompting concerns regarding patient safety. Motivations for such tourism are largely financial, however, poor follow-up and post-operative complications lead to patients receiving expensive follow-up in the Australian public health system. This presentation explores the impact of cosmetic surgery tourism on public hospitals in Australia. Australians spend approximately $300 million annually on cosmetic surgery tourism. Cheaper surgeries drive Australians to developing countries, with some nations, such as Thailand, actively supporting medical tourism. Complications arise post-return to Australia due to lower quality surgical practices, insufficient follow-up, inadequate pre-operative education and inability to participate in recovery while flying. These complications are then treated by Australian plastic surgeons within the public health system. A survey by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons found a 38% increase in Australians requiring corrective treatment post-overseas surgery, and a retrospective cost analysis study measured the financial burden of treating cosmetic surgery tourists at Gold Coast Hospital at over $150 000 over one year for 8 patients. Furthermore, public health risks emerge, including importing antibiotic-resistant organisms not present in Australia. Whilst some may argue that complications from elective cosmetic surgery overseas are an unnecessary burden on the health service, this goes against our ethical framework of patient autonomy and beneficence. Therefore, it is imperative that patients are well educated about the risks involved in cosmetic tourism and how to optimise their safety to reduce the burden on Australia’s public health system.