Fundraising for Cancer Charities in 2016

After supporting MacMillian last year with a coffee morning at head office, we decided it’s about time with supported another cause.

In 2016 we’re supporting both Against Breast Cancer with the return of our bra recycling scheme and Cancer Research UK by participating in our very first team entry into the Race for Life 5k alongside our sister companies Aurora Clinics and Aurora Skin Clinics.

Bin your bra for Breast Cancer!

Against Breast Cancer logo | Cosmetic Courses For those of you that have been to our Head Office in Buckinghamshire, you might  remember seeing a bin for your bras in our reception area in October 2014. We supported    the Bin your Bra campaign for Against Breast Cancer, and had such a good response that    we decided to bring back the bra recycling scheme for 2016.

Why recycle your bras?

For every tonne of bras received, Against Breast Cancer receive £1,000 to go towards vital research for better detection and increased survival rates after breast cancer diagnosis. Your unwanted bras will go towards helping small businesses in Africa where the materials from these bras can be sold by traders locally. This type of recycling keeps many people both out of unemployment and more importantly out of poverty.

Cosmetic Courses; picture showing oour Bin your bra bank at The Paddocks Clinic in BuckinghamshireIf you’ve had a breast augmentation, a breast reduction or simply fancy having a clear out of your unwanted bras then please don’t just throw your bra into any bin! Throw it into our bra recycling bin!

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.  If you’ve got an appointment scheduled at The Paddocks Clinic in the next few weeks or are attending a course with us and would like to help, please feel free to bring in your bras and help us to fight breast cancer!

Race for Life – Aylesbury and Falkirk 5K

All the ladies at Cosmetic Courses and our sister companies Aurora Skin Clinics and Aurora Clinics are joining forces to raise money for Cancer Research UK by joining the #PinkArmy. A total of 17 of us have entered the Aylesbury Race for Life and 6 of our colleagues across the border the Falkirk Race for Life!

Almost every member of our team has been affected by cancer in some way. So by coming together and raising money for such a great cause hopefully we can go some way to beating cancer once and for all.

Do you want to join the #PinkArmy?

We’d love to see you there as part of the Pink Army, running or walking alongside the Aurora team or simply cheering us on. If you’d like to join us in beating cancer then the dates and venues are as follows:

Aylesbury 5K: Sunday 15th May at 10:30am Venue:Waddesdon Manor, Silk Street, Waddesdon, HP18 0JY

Falkirk 5K: Sunday 12th June at 11:00am Venue: Callendar Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk, Central, FK1 1YR

How can you donate?

Race for life logo | Cosmetic CoursesWe would really appreciate any donation towards our Race for Life. You can do this in person when you pop into clinic either at The Paddocks Clinic in Princes Risborough or The Gatehouse Clinic in Northampton.

Alternatively you can visit our Just Giving page, where you can donate online. It only takes a few minutes and we would really appreciate the support towards such a fantastic cause.

Remember every donation, big or small, can help us save more lives!

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We have been nominated for Safety in Beauty Awards

We are pleased to announce that we have been short-listed for the Best Training/Educational Professional development award at this years’ Safety in Beauty Diamond awards, alongside our Clinical Director, Mr Adrian Richards who has also be short-listed for Proactive Surgeon of the Year.

Safety in Beauty LogoLaunched in October 2013 by award winning beauty blogger Antonia Mariconda, Safety in Beauty is a campaign set up to help, educate and empower aesthetic and cosmetic consumers as well as encourage and facilitate a better and safer industry for those entering into it. The awards evening is a night set aside to celebrate and reward those practitioners and surgeons who have gone that extra mile in public safety.

All the short-listed candidates have been complied by Safety in Beauty via a panel of guest judges.  Those selected have displayed extraordinary dedication to raising awareness and standards in the beauty, health, aesthetics and cosmetic  industry. Examples include the following:

  • Those who have selflessly helped those left maimed by botched beauty and aesthetic treatments or cosmetic surgery
  • Those who have made a difference by conducting outstanding campaigns, education programmes, or training schemes with the aim of eradicating unsafe practice
  • Writers, bloggers, or media representatives who have used their writing skills to raise awareness of the importance of safety and transparency in the industry
  • Professionals, brands, and businesses who have given up a significant amount of their time, services, or products to help charitable or pro-bono cases in the beauty and cosmetic interventions industry
  • Those who have been dedicated to raising awareness and standards in the industry and who’ve shown perseverance and determination to do so.

White party Logo

The winners will be announced on the 2 July 2016 at a white themed awards party in London.

We would like to wish everyone who has been short-listed the very best of luck!

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Adrian Richards Wins RealSelf 500 Award

Buckinghamshire Plastic Surgeon Recognized as Top Social Influencer in Cosmetic Surgery.

Clinical director of Cosmetic Courses, Mr Adrian Richards is one of 500 doctors in the nation to receive the prestigious RealSelf 500 Award, out of nearly 13,000 board certified specialists with a presence on RealSelf—the leading online community helping people make confident choices in elective cosmetic procedures.

RealSelf top 500 LogoIn a time when 1 in 4 U.S. adults share their health experiences on social media channels, the medical professionals that made the 2015 RealSelf 500 are recognized both for having an outstanding record of consumer feedback and for providing credible, valuable insights in response to consumer questions about elective cosmetic treatments, plastic surgery, dentistry and more.

Mr. Richards qualified as a Doctor in 1988 and for 12 years specialised in plastic surgery. He is a member of both the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). He now has private clinics based at premier locations, including the Northampton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and London. Mr. Richards recognises that his patients demand excellence from plastic surgeons; consequently he continuously collaborates with other plastic surgeons worldwide to bring new surgical and non-surgical innovations to his practice for the benefit of his patients. As a respected figure in the industry, Adrian is often invited to speak at events and conferences, and has made several appearances on national radio and television, including Channel 4’s ‘How Not to Get Old’ and ‘Bodyshockers’.

“In 2015, these 500 doctors collectively impacted tens of millions of consumers, with nearly 30% of our total doctor content posted by this relatively small group,” said Tom Seery, RealSelf founder and CEO. “When I started RealSelf, many doctors questioned why they should ‘give away’ their expertise ‘for free’ on the web. Now, eight years later — and with over one million doctor answers on our platform — we are proud of the standard this select group has set. They’re leading the way by empowering millions of consumers to gain access to the information they need to make smart and confident health and beauty decisions.”

Image Showing Realself Star RatingsMr Richards is an expert contributor to RealSelf, and to date has posted 558 answers to questions on RealSelf. Each month people from all over world ask important aesthetic-related questions, such as “massaging a rippling implant?” or “Possible infection in BA stitches?”  Mr Richards also maintains a patient star rating of five out of five stars in RealSelf reviews. For more information on Mr Richards, please visit www.aurora-clinics.co.uk and for the full list of RealSelf 500 Award winners, visit http://www.realself.com/RS500.

About RealSelf

Since its founding in 2006, RealSelf has created the world’s largest community for learning and sharing information about cosmetic surgery, dermatology, dentistry, and other elective treatments.

With patients researching practitioners and Plastic Surgeons, having an online presence on trusted resource sites for reviews has never been more important. With RealSelf’s extensive collections of reviews, photos, videos and Q&A’s, it has become one of the most trusted resources for those who are looking for help beyond the beauty counter.

If you would like to join RealSelf and start your online reviews and presence, you can sign up by visiting www.realself.com.

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Male Cosmetic Trends

Cosmetic Courses banne showing, Male trends

Independent Pharmacist Shailesh Patel chats about the increase in cosmetic procedures in men over the past year.

The male market has been steadily growing over the years as male consumers increasingly seek out treatments to support their lifestyle choices.

Although a small segment of the aesthetic market, recent data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has shown Cosmetic Courses; picture showing close up of man with facial markingsthat male clients made up 9% of the total number of those undergoing cosmetic surgery operations in the UK. These numbers have nearly doubled over the past decade (from 2,440 procedures in 2005 to 4,614 in 2015). However, treatments for men tend to be less invasive than for female clients.

This trend could be driven by the subgroup of the millennials known as young urban males  (Yummies). These individuals tend to focus more on personal grooming and health than other age groups. This age group tends to marry later, meaning that they can invest in themselves and their appearance for longer than other age groups.

It is also important to remember that men are unique both physiologically and behaviourally. Having an in-depth knowledge of the male anatomy and suitable training is important to meet the needs of male clients 3.

You should have a separate marketing strategy to target males. Options include; advertising to men through your female clients (husbands, boyfriends, sons, etc.), having specific areas for male clients in your clinic and sections on your website and social media activities focusing on male clients.

Cosmetic Courses have also seen an increase in enquiries for male models. By having a diverse range of sexes, this gives our delegates the best experience in understanding the differences between the sexes, and the techniques that would work best when treating male and female faces.

If you would like to become a model for Cosmetic Courses, please call the team on 01844 390110 or fill in our Contact form

About Pharmacyspace

Pharmacyspace, based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, provides cost effective medical products and consumables for your clinic. Feel free to talk to us about how we can support you with both your male and female clients.

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Remote Prescribing | Pharmacy Space

Remote Prescribing, Information provided by Shailesh Patel, Pharmacist and Owner of Pharmacyspace

Picture Shailesh Patel, Pharmacist at PharmacyspaceAn article in The Times newspaper in December last year regarding the issue of remote prescribing has led to aesthetic practitioners dealing with queries from concerned patients. The following information is provided to support practitioners reflect on their current practice.

  1. Since July 2012, both the General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental council (GDC) have issued guidance prohibiting practitioners from prescribing Botox and other injectable cosmetics by phone, email, video-link or fax. Before prescribing Botox or other injectable medicines, practitioners need to have a face-to-face consultation to fully assess the patient, understand their medical history and their reasons for wanting treatment.
  2. If you are a newly qualified doctor and are required by the GMC to practice in Approved Practice Settings (APS), then you are not authorised to prescribe Prescription Only Medicines (POM) in an environment outside the APS. This means that doctors who work in clinics outside of an APS cannot rely on other remote prescribing doctors, to prescribe Botox for them to use.
  3. For nurses who are not independent prescribers this can pose additional challenges. As a non-prescribing nurse working with a prescribing partner, the prescriber will need to assess the patient during a face-to-face consultation before prescribing, and additionally, will need to take responsibility that the nurse administering the prescribed medicine under their direction is trained and competent to do so.

Pharmacyspace is based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and is dedicated to providing a trusted and cost-effective service for your clinic supplies. The handpicked team of dedicated staff will ensure that you get the products you need for your clinic, together with a professional service.

For more information on our aesthetic pharmacy partnership with Pharmacy Space, or the courses we offer at Cosmetic Courses, please call the team on 01844 318317 or email us at [email protected].

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What new aesthetic trends are we likely to see in 2016?

Which aesthetic trends will we see in 2016It’s that time of the year again. A time for reflecting on the year that’s passed, and looking forward to what the new year might bring. And for us at Cosmetic Courses, that means thinking about the aesthetic trends we’re likely to see.

New year, new aesthetic trends?

Non-surgical treatments ebb and flow in the popularity stakes all the time. Innovative new procedures create a buzz, others fall out of favour, and some completely fail to capture the public’s imagination from the outset.

And changing aesthetic trends mean not only brand new treatments, but also for us in the industry, new training courses.

There’s a constant appetite for new aesthetic training courses as practitioners seek to expand their repertoire and stay ahead of the game – and their competitors.

So which treatments are likely to prosper in 2016?

For us, there’s a couple of contenders that we think will really grow over the next year. Two recent additions to our Skin Clinic, which we plan to add to our training programme at Cosmetic Courses, are Silhoutte Soft Thread Lift and Fat Freezing.

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift

Silhouette Soft is a non-surgical alternative to facelift, carried out with internal sutures. Under local anaesthetic, the dissolvable sutures are threaded underneath the patient’s skin in several key points. Once in place, the sutures are used to internally lift and re-anchor the skin.

It’s a great option for lifting sagging cheeks and jowls. And because the sutures can be placed wherever needed, treatment can be tailored to the patient.

It also has a regenerative action that continues to work long after treatment. The poly-L-lactic acid sutures are gradually reabsorbed by the skin, which helps to progressively restore lost collagen, extending the anti-ageing effects.

The big advantage for both practitioner and patient is the treatment’s flexibility. You can precisely target the areas of your patient’s face that will produce the best results.

Your patients will also be won over by the treatment’s non-invasiveness. It needs no incisions, only small entry and exit points for the sutures, so it leaves no permanent scars.

Fat Freezing Treatment

Any talk of new year wouldn’t be complete without mentioning fat loss. And we predict Cryolipolysis fat freezing treatment is one of the aesthetic trends to watch in 2016.

A non-surgical alternative to liposuction, the treatment works through super-cooling areas of stubborn fat. The low temperature (-9°C) kickstarts the process of apoptosis in the fat cells; over the following weeks and months the cells dissolve, before being safely removed from the body through the lymphatic system.

For the practitioner, treatment is easy to perform, and for the patient, it’s painless. The machine’s applicator head is simply placed onto the area being targeted, and the patient will feel gentle suction pulling the fatty tissue in between the cooling units.

It can be used on nearly all areas of the body – the abdomen, thighs, flanks, arms and back being the most popular areas. Treatment for each area takes around 60 minutes, with most patients needing 2 treatments for best results.

What do you think? Which aesthetic trends are you expecting next year, and what would you like to see? If you have any requests for treatments you’d like us to consider adding to our training programme, feel free to let us know. Contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 01844 318317.

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Introducing our new Aesthetic Pharmacy partnership

There’s plenty to think about when you’re getting your new aesthetic business off the ground. So at Cosmetic Courses, we like to do some of the heavy lifting for you!

You can’t run a successful aesthetic practice without a reliable, affordable supplier of the products you need.

So we’re delighted to say we have partnered up with Pharmacyspace, a fantastic independent pharmacy. All delegates who train with us at Cosmetic Courses can now use Pharmacyspace to supply all their aesthetic pharmacy needs.

The company is directed by Shailesh Patel, a knowledgeable and experienced pharmacist who supplies to both NHS and private practices.

Why use Pharmacyspace as your aesthetic pharmacy?

1. Competitive prices

Managing your costs is vital, especially in the early days when you’re still trying to build up your client base. So anywhere you can make savings will help your business grow. The competitive prices of Pharmacyspace keep the costs of your products down so your margins are healthier from the get-go.

2. Tailor-made service

Rather than having to order from multiple suppliers, Pharmacyspace can supply everything you need for your clinic so you only need one account. That means only one supplier to pay, so it’s easier to keep track of invoices, as well as being more convenient when it’s time to order in fresh supplies.

3. Easy ordering process

With so much to think about in your business, any aspect that can be streamlined and simplified means less stress for you. Pharmacyspace have made their ordering process as simple as possible so you can quickly and easily get the products you need.

4. Punctual delivery

It goes without saying that the last thing you need when you’ve got patients clamouring for treatment is to run out of product! Your patients may end up going to your competitors and – if they have a great experience – sticking with them. Which could be incredibly costly in the long run. At Pharmacyspace, they make every effort to deliver products promptly, so you’ll always have the products you need when you need them.

More about Pharmacyspace – from Shailesh

Pharmacyspace is a family-owned business based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. It was established in 2011 as an NHS registered pharmacy providing both NHS and private services.

Our sister company Lynam Pharma Limited is our wholesale business which is registered with the MHRA. Both businesses allow us to support aesthetic professionals in their day-to-day practice with both their pharmaceutical and medical consumable needs.

Our vision is to provide a trusted and cost-effective service for clinic supplies in a manner which is simple and straightforward for you. Our dedicated staff are on hand to discuss your clinic needs and our partnership with Cosmetic Courses allows us to ensure you get the support you need in a timely manner.

Shailesh is the superintendent pharmacist of Pharmacyspace. He has had a varied career; initially working in hospital pharmacy at University College London where he completed his Masters of Science in Clinical Pharmacy, then in Australia as a clinical pharmacist before returning to the UK to work for both GSK and Apotex UK Ltd, and finally working in community pharmacy before establishing Pharmacyspace.

The Pharmacyspace team also includes a registered nurse and pharmacy technician.

For more information on our aesthetic pharmacy partnership with Pharmacy Space, or the courses we offer at Cosmetic Courses, please call the team on 01844 318317 or email us at [email protected].

 

 

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Allergan and Pfizer merger – what does it mean for the cosmetic industry?

The news is finally out. Botox maker Allergan and US drug giant Pfizer have announced they are to merge in a deal worth a staggering $160 billion.

Allergan LogoThe merger between the two former rivals creates a new pharmaceutical ‘supercompany’ which is set to be officially the world’s largest pharmaceutical company by sales.

There had long been talk about an Allergan buyout. Indeed, on our blog last year, we covered the unsuccessful takeover bid made by Valeant.

Now this new deal secures the long-term future of the company, and ushers in exciting new possibilities to research, discover and deliver more medicines and therapies.

The future for Allergan

The new company has a combined pipeline of more than 100 mid-to-late stage programmes currently in development.

And with dramatically increased resources to invest in R&D and manufacturing in future, we’re likely to see some incredible innovations in the cosmetic industry in the not-too-distant future.

As Brent Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of Allergan, says:

“The combination of Allergan and Pfizer is a highly strategic, value-enhancing transaction that brings together two biopharma powerhouses to change lives for the better. This bold action is the next chapter in the successful transformation of Allergan allowing us to operate with greater resources at a much bigger scale. Joining forces with Pfizer matches our leading products in seven high growth therapeutic areas and our robust R&D pipeline with Pfizer’s leading innovative and established businesses, vast global footprint and strength in discovery and development research to create a new biopharma leader.”

What does it mean for you?

This soon after the event, it’s difficult to say what – if any – impact the merger will have on you and your business in the coming months. 

But at Cosmetic Courses, we have a great relationship with Allergan and are in frequent close contact. As soon as we know about any changes that are likely to affect you, we’ll of course be sure to let you know as soon as we can. So do keep an eye out on our blog, newsletters and social media channels.

For the time being, it’s business as usual – albeit with some exciting new possibilities on the horizon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We won Best Training Programme at MyFaceMyBody Awards!

We’re absolutely delighted to be able to share our good news. On Saturday night, Cosmetic Courses was awarded ‘Best Training Programme’ at this year’s MyFaceMyBody Awards!

We’ve a very excited (if a little tired) team this morning, after a fantastic weekend spent celebrating. There’s a definite buzz in the air at CC HQ!

Cosmetic Courses win Best Training Programme at MyFaceMyBody Awards

The awards night is always great fun, but the highlight this year – even more than seeing hairdressing legend Nicky Clarke in the flesh – was the moment we found out we’d won.

You might have heard the whoops and cheers from where you were.

We were eventually chosen from a shortlist of 9 great finalists, all of whom had great entries. So our team is completely honoured to have won.

A huge thank you to the MyFaceMyBody team, all our delegates, models, colleagues and friends. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Best Training Programme Award certificate
About The ‘Best Training Programme’ Award

Our award was judged by a panel of industry professionals and peers, who made their final decision based on the following criteria:

  • Does the training programme effectively demonstrate advancements in the knowledge base of aesthetic medical professionals?
  • Does it engage with delegates and is it well received?
  • Does it demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in the subject being taught?
  • How much time is allocated to practical hands-on assessment?
  • What support is offered after training – for example e-learning, videos or mentoring?
  • Is there a wide range of training workshops within Aesthetics?
About MyFaceMyBody

The prestigious MyFaceMyBody Awards is the only consumer awards dedicated to the cosmetic, aesthetic and dental industry to recognise and reward brands for their product innovation and popularity. 

Clinics were also rewarded for exceptional experiences and outstanding service to their consumers. The awards were attended by 400 leading industry professionals, brands, journalists and celebrities.

Other big winners included our product partner NeoStrata, who won Best Cosmeceutical Range with their Skin Active line, as well as Best Anti-Ageing Product with their Triple Firming Neck Cream. Congratulations to them and all the other worthy winners on the night.

A massive thank you for all your support this year. We do what we do because we love it, but being recognised by our valued colleagues and friends makes it even better. Roll on next year!

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Adrian Richards honoured at BMA Medical Book Awards

 

We told you last year that our Medical Director Adrian Richards had released the 2nd edition of his best-selling ‘Key Notes on Plastic Surgery‘. And we’re delighted to share an update…

Adrian and co-author Hywel Dafydd have just received a ‘Highly Commended’ in the prestigious BMA Medical Book Awards.

Very well done!

About “Key Notes”

If you’ve trained as a Plastic Surgeon, you may be familiar with the book.

Adrian wrote the first edition of “Key Notes on Plastic Surgery” in 1999, while sitting his final plastic surgery exams (yes – he wasn’t quite busy enough).

Unable to find a suitably concise general plastics textbook for those revising for the FRCS (Plast), he decided he’d write one himself.

The book is, to quote Ian T Jackson MD, Director of Craniofacial & Reconstructive Surgery, Institute for Craniofacial & Reconstructive Surgery, “only the meat without all the unnecessary trimming”.

It’s formatted as a collection of short revision notes covering all aspects of plastic surgery – trauma, elective surgery, burns, reconstructive surgery and Adrian’s own specialism, aesthetic procedures.

Bullet points and diagrams make it easy for student surgeons to dip in and find the information they need. Ideal for those late coffee-fuelled nights cramming for finals!

Mr Dafydd, a talented young surgeon who’s recently travelled the world learning the latest surgical techniques, wrote most of the updated second edition.

He’s used his broad, up-to-date knowledge of the latest surgical techniques to add more useful content to this edition. In particular, a collection of new diagrams to address the feedback received from junior surgeons.

The book was Highly Commended in the Surgery category, with the winner being the epic ”Atlas of Operative Maxillofacial Trauma Surgery: Primary Repair of Facial Injuries”. A very worthy winner.

About the BMA Medical Book Awards

The BMA Medical Book Awards take place every year, with the aim of recognising outstanding contributions to medical literature.

This year’s were held on Thursday 3 September, with Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green Kt, President of the British Medical Association, attending the evening as guest of honour.

Winners were chosen by an expert panel, who considered each book’s originality, applicability to audience, and production quality.

Prizes were awarded in 21 categories covering all disciplines of medicine. An overall BMA Medical Book of the Year prize was also awarded from among the category winners. This year, the winning book was “Practical Management of Complex Cancer Pain” by Manohar L. Sharma, Sanjeeva Gupta, Michael I. Bennett, and Karen H. Simpson.

Adrian and Hywel are delighted with the commendation for their book. And as Adrian has said he’d like to bring out a new edition every 10 years, perhaps more awards are in store!

“Key Notes on Plastic Surgery (Second Edition)” by Adrian Richards and Hywel Dafydd is is available from all good book shops.

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