In this series we have looked at popular areas to use Botulinum Toxin within aesthetic medicine. Botulinum Toxin can be used in a variety of areas around the face to help relax muscles and restructure the face.
One of the popular advanced treatments we have spoken about before is the Nefertiti lift. Close to this area there is another use of Botulinum Toxin in the lower face, treating the muscles near the mouth otherwise known as Depressor Anguli Oris.
Botulinum Toxin has always stuck to the top half of the face but more so than ever the muscle relaxing injections have moved further down the face! By careful and strategic placing, botulinum toxin in in the lower face can improve structure and contour to the jaw and neck area.
Video: Mr Adrian Richards, Medical Director of Cosmetic Courses discusses the difference between botulinum toxin and dermal filler treatments.
Botulinum Toxin injections and dermal filler both hold their own qualities. Whilst Botulinum Toxin relaxes the muscles which cause wrinkles and fine lines, dermal filler reintroduces volume and structure to areas lacking.
The upper face is usually treated with Botulinum Toxin in the three popular areas of crows feet, forehead lines and frown lines. Dermal filler is most commonly used on the lower part of the face including, lips, cheeks, jaw and chin to name a few.
Video: Mr Adrian Richards, Medical Director of Cosmetic Courses demonstrates where to inject Botulinum Toxin for Crow’s Feet and how it can also create a chemical brow lift.
The most popular areas for upper face Botulinum Toxin are the glabellar, forehead lines / frontalis and crows feet. Some people do not like treatment in this area as they like the look of crows feet as it is also named laughter lines.
Practitioners who are performing Botulinum Toxin and dermal filler treatments will soon be required to have proper licensing in place under a new law coming to the UK.
This new breakthrough within the industry has come into play due to the rise of “botched” treatments by injectors. It will soon be an offence for such aesthetic treatments to be performed with out the legal licensing required. The new licensing scheme hopes to protect the general public by practitioners needing to show a certain standard of understanding along with premises standards.
It was however noted by the health secretary that a large majority of the aesthetics industry “follow good practice” in regards to safety but believed it was time to think about the harm badly performed procedures can have.
“We’re doing all we can to protect patients from potential harm, but I urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to take the time to think about the impact on both their physical and mental health and ensure they are using a reputable, safe and qualified practitioner” – Sajid Javid, Health Secretory
The minister of patient safety, Maria Caulfield, also noted that the wide spread of images on social media has led to a rise in demand for aesthetic treatments. Which has resulted in unqualified practitioners advertising themselves to such clientele, resulting in high levels of complications.
“While these can be administered safely, we are seeing an unacceptable rise in people being left physically and mentally scarred from poorly performed procedures” – Maria Caulifield, Minister of Patient Safety.
The move follows the introduction of the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act, which came into force last October and meant people under 18 years of age would no longer be able to receive Botulinum Toxin and dermal fillers for cosmetic reasons.
‘The JCCP was delighted to receive confirmation that the Secretary of State is now minded to introduce a national system of licensing for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England following his decision to introduce an amendment to the forthcoming Health and Care Bill.
The JCCP places patient safety and public protection at the heart of all of its activities and has campaigned relentlessly over the past four years for the implementation of a nationally approved system of licensing for the aesthetic sector underpinned by mandated standards for education and training for all practitioners” – The Professor David Sines from the JCCP (Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners)
The full scope and details of the new regulations will be determined via extensive engagement including a public consultation, the department has said which we will keep you up to date with.
Details on the public consultation on non-surgical cosmetic procedures are expected to be set out at a later date.
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