Keogh Review calls for qualifications for non-invasive treatments including Botox and dermal fillers

Initial findings from the Keogh Review, the committee set up to investigate the aesthetic medicine industry and its standards, have been released, the results of which show the need for greater regulation for the industry, particularly where non-invasive procedures are concerned.

Currently there is no law or industry regulation that makes qualifications to administer non-invasive procedures mandatory and this review is set to change that. It was also expected that only medical professionals (doctors, nurses and dentists) would be able to carry out the procedures however that tenet has so far not been decided upon.

In a burgeoning and ever-growing industry it’s important that standards are met and introducing regulation is one way of ensuring this will happen. It also provides the patient with an extra degree of trust and certainty, and offers better protection if things go wrong. On discussing these finding Sir Bruce Keogh said:

“All too often we hear of cases that shine a light on poor practices in the cosmetic surgery industry. I am concerned that some practitioners who are giving non-surgical treatments may not have had any appropriate training whatsoever. This leaves people exposed to unreasonable risks, and possibly permanent damage.

“Our research has shown that the public expect procedures that are so widely available to be safe, whereas they are largely unregulated.

“There is a clear need for better quality, recognised training for the people performing these operations. My review will make a number of recommendations for making sure people who choose to undergo these procedures are in safe hands.”

The review committee has also been examining possible regulation of industry advertising and how treatments and procedures are sold. This includes bulk and time-restricted deals, which encourage the patient (or customer) to buy quickly or more than they need.

BAAPS president Rajiv Grover welcomes these initial findings:

“We agree that specialised training is required and [it should be] certainly more extensive than the many widely-promoted weekend courses currently available, but aesthetic injectibles should only ever be provided by medical professionals.”

/by
,

Botox can help athletes overcome vocal chord condition

A relatively common condition for athletes can often be misdiagnosed as asthma, but if detected can be treated easily enough through a combination of treatments including Botox for the vocal chords. Although it can be brought about by stress or anxiety it is also commonly linked to increased physical exertion, hence why athletes can be at increased risk of suffering from it.

It’s believed an estimated 5% of professional athletes suffer from Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion Disorder (PVFMD) which constricts the vocal chords and can impact the ability to breathe. It also causes coughing whilst exercising and because of these symptoms, which are very similar to those caused by asthma, it can often be missed therefore remain untreated.

The two conditions are in fact often linked – 40% of asthma sufferers will also have PVFMD. What will quite regularly happen is the asthma will be detected and treated but the PVFMD won’t be, in which case the athlete will still suffer from its symptoms.

When it is diagnosed correctly treatment will usually consist of multiple solutions. These will likely include vocal chord retraining therapy and also Botox, carried out by various professionals. An ENT specialist with Botox training would be required, as well as a vocal chord therapist and possibly also a sports psychologist who would deal with the impact it has mentally.

Non-athletes who suddenly take up an increased exercise programme can also suffer from the condition.

/by

Cosmetic Courses – March Round-Up

At Cosmetic Courses we have had an exciting and hectic month, from Foundation and Advanced Botox and Fillers courses to Chemical Peel and Dermaroller, with bespoke one-to-one sessions along the way.

At the beginning of the month we welcomed our delegates for the Foundation course, which is always an interesting course for us – mainly because we get to meet the new delegates for the first time as they are starting out on their aesthetic careers. We enjoy seeing our delegates beginning to learn and flourish in the world of aesthetics, gaining new skills and confidence throughout the day.

Our Advanced course this month allowed us to speak to many of our past Foundation delegates and hear what they have been practising since we last saw them. It’s always rewarding for the team to hear each delegate’s personal stories and what they have achieved before returning to us to further their aesthetic training.

Chemical Peel training is a great course where we see the delegates go from strength to strength in their knowledge of the skin physiology. These sessions cover the in-depth  theory in the morning followed by a fun and interactive practical hands-on session in the afternoon. This time  allows for any questions to be asked and gives each individual the vital reassurance for them to go and perform the chemical peel and medical microdermabrasion on their own clients.

The Dermaroller course was another huge success. Delegates got to learn and practise the treatment as well as learning the critical theory for diagnosing and treating the different skin types and conditions.

Overall March has been a very successful month for both our team and delegates at Cosmetic Courses. Moving forward we aim to continue to teach and support our delegates to the highest standards, ensuring that each individual is ready to progress in the exciting world of aesthetics.

/by

Preparing for the Keogh Review’s outcomes

If you currently offer injectable treatments and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures, either privately or through a clinic, it’s likely you will be impacted at some stage by the Keogh Review – whose research into possible regulations for the aesthetic medical industry may help form government legislature.

Calls have been made from medical professionals and bodies for some time over the need for more regulation within the industry. This includes focusing on who is qualified to perform non-invasive procedures. Currently any clinic can offer injectable treatments; this may change following the release of the review’s findings, which is expected to happen this month.

Many practitioners already undergo training to qualify them to administer treatment, however for any who haven’t it is wise to undertake training as soon as possible, to ensure you will be able to continue to practice.

It’s possible that the review will suggest that only medical professionals (which will include doctors, dentists and nurses) will be able to offer these procedures, however ensuring you are qualified to carry them out may count if you are outside of these professions.

If you are a doctor, nurse or dentist and do currently carry out non-invasive procedures it is important to keep up to date with training as it’s likely that this will be required.

Although the review will make recommendations to government there will be no obligation to make them mandatory. If the proposals are passed through law, this will likely take several months.

Cosmetic Courses offer Botox and other aesthetic training courses from centres in Buckinghamshire and Manchester. For information on any of our courses, call us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

 

/by