Botox as treatment for a chronic eye condition needs more specialist training

It is little known that one of Botox’s original medical uses was for an eye condition called blepharospasm, which causes continuous eye twitches or excessive blinking.

It was discovered that the injection could help control the muscles in the eyelids that were responsible for producing so much movement, the results of which led those administering it to realise its potential to eradicate fine lines.

Botox has become far better known as a beauty measure in the fight against wrinkles and ageing, and as a result this can mean far more practitioners who train to administer Botox as a cosmetic procedure than for other medical purposes. Opthalmologists at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London have described the lack of specific training in this area, even though its use as a treatment for blepharospasm pre-dates its cosmetic use.

Doctors at the specialist hospital successfully treat 95% of their patients with the condition but are aware that those who seek treatment for the condition elsewhere either don’t receive Botox as a treatment or they do but with far less success. They attribute this to the lack of numbers who train in this specific area of opthalmology.

The condition can cause a great deal of distress to the sufferer, as constant twitching or blinking dries out the eye and causes irritation and discomfort. In some cases the eye can shut together for some time, leading some sufferers of the condition to be registered as visually impaired. When Botox is injected in to the area it needs to target very specific muscles in the eyelids, which is why it can be difficult to get it right without the right training.

Though the condition is made manageable through regular Botox treatments there is nonetheless no outright cure, as well as no full understanding of the cause of the condition. It’s believed that genetic factors may be at play, as well as already-existing susceptibility to dry eyes.

Cosmetic Courses offer training in Botox and other aesthetic treatments to medical professionals throughout the UK. For information on any of our training courses, please contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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Could the protein that Botox targets be the answer to diabetes cure?

Scientists at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University are attempting to understand the proteins that may be responsible for the development of Type 2 diabetes.

It is the same SNARE proteins that Botox treatment targets, as they are responsible for muscle contraction. Botox targets these proteins and effectively freezes them, therefore halting muscle contraction.

As well as in other areas of the body these proteins, called SNARE, reside in the beta-cells within the pancreas. Researchers are using molecular microscopic techniques to determine exactly what happens with these cells and insulin release.

The steady release of insulin made by these cells helps to control glucose levels in the body. When there is a consistently high level of glucose production in the body, which is what happens in obese patients, this process stops functioning properly and leads to Type 2 diabetes.

These SNARE proteins, which are the equivalent to the size of ten-thousandth of a human hair, will be observed by Dr Colin Rickman and his team of researchers. They hope that this will help to understand exactly how the beta-cells produce insulin and therefore what happens when they stop functioning. The intention is that these findings will help find a cure to the chronic condition.

The number of people with Type 2 diabetes in the UK rose by 1.5 million between 1996 and 2012, and it’s predicted that the number of sufferers will hit 5 million by the year 2025. This recent and projected growth in number is due to the rising numbers of those who are overweight and obese.

Cosmetic Courses offer aesthetic training to medical professionals throughout the UK. If you would like information on any of our training courses, please call us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

 

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Pharmaceutical giant in hot water for alleged improper marketing of Botox

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has come under fire in China for allegedly marketing Botox through improper practices, as well as being investigated for possible tax and invoice fraud.

The Wall Street Journal earlier this week reported that investigations are being carried out on the corporate behemoth for possible bribery and corruption, in a planned marketing strategy to boost sales in the emerging market. They claim to have seen evidence of emails targeted at 48 doctors which include cash and other incentives as a reward for prescribing Botox for therapeutic reasons.

The marketing strategy even took the name of a Russian World War II sniper, ‘Vasily’, after Vasily Zaytsev, with communication regarding the incentives supposedly sent to and from the private email addresses of GSK’s sales personnel.

GlaxoSmithKline have responded by announcing their own internal investigation and say initial findings show there has been no improper sales and marketing conduct carried out by sales staff at their organisation. A spokesperson for GSK in London announced:

“…we are investigating these new claims. However, our inquiries to date have found no evidence of bribery or corruption in relation to our sales and marketing of therapeutic Botox in China”

“GSK has some of the toughest compliance procedures in the sector. We are proud of our high standards and operate in accordance with them.”

GSK’s distribution of Botox in China is for therapeutic use (such as facial spasms) rather than cosmetic use ie. for the treatment of wrinkles.

Cosmetic Courses offer a wide range of aesthetic training courses to medical professionals. For information on any of our courses, contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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The Apprentice result – good for Botox’s reputation or bad?

Lord Alan Sugar selected his business partner-cum-reality TV winner last week and will be backing a chain of Botox and skin clinics to appear on British high streets.

The businesswoman/winner is 24-year-old doctor, Leah Totton, who impressed the business impresario with her ideas and her business acumen, despite having no previous experience within industry, having only worked in medicine prior to appearing on the BBC show.

Totton said that she hopes to increase the quality of non-invasive procedures such as Botox and fillers that are available on the market, and says she is well-placed to do so, given her medical credentials. However the industry itself has been quick respond to her claims, instead suggesting that her lack of sector-specific training will actually do more damage to the reputation of the industry than good.

Spokesperson for BAAPS and consultant plastic surgeon James McDiarmid said:

“Having Leah Totton running Botox clinics is like saying that someone, aged 17, who has just passed their driving test can be a Formula One driver.”

He also lambasted the BBC for the apparent “trivialisation” of cosmetic surgery.

The plans for the clinics are to offer non-invasive procedures such as Botox, chemical peels and fillers.

Cosmetic Courses offer a wide range of aesthetic training courses to medical professionals looking to enter the cosmetic industry.

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American woman arrested for administering Botox illegally

Woman arrested practicing botox illegallyAn American beautician based in Florida has been arrested for administering Botox illegally, and for claiming to be a qualified nurse. In the US it’s a legal requirement for those offering non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers to be medically qualified and to hold specific registration to practice.

The beautician, Sheri Goldman, had listed her profession at her beauty salon as nurse, when in fact she has no medical qualifications whatsoever. She advertised her salon and its services on Groupon, which her listed credentials including ‘surgical nurse’. She was arrested for unlicensed practice of a healthcare profession, which is a third degree crime in the US, punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

There are also other charges against her, for the same crime but in another area of Florida.

With laws soon to be introduced in the UK to regulate who can offer Botox we may well see similar cases of unqualified practitioners knowingly (or unknowingly) flouting the law, with similar repercussions.

Cosmetic Courses are an established provider of medical aesthetic training. For information on any of our courses, please contact the team on on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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Should Botox injections be age restricted?

During and since the publication of the Keogh Review, there has been much discussion over the use and regulation of cosmetic procedures, with a lot of focus on unregulated non-invasive procedures. The recommendations have centred around introducing regulation regarding who can offer such procedures, as well as regulating the products themselves.

It did not go as far as recommending age restrictions for these treatments however, and it’s a question the industry itself sometimes raises. The rise in the number of people in their twenties seeking Botox, and in some cases even fillers, has been well-documented. But is it necessary at that age, and should caution be exercised?

There are generally two points of view on the matter – either that Botox can be a useful preventative measure or that it is unwise to treat at this age and that it can even cause some immunity to the procedure.

Reality shows like TOWIE, that openly discuss and even televise such procedures, are perhaps helping to pave the way for young people to follow suit and subscribe to anti-ageing procedures (or, arguably, the shows are merely reflecting reality). But either way it’s a trend that is showing no signs of abating.

There is something to be said of Botox as a preventative measure – by freezing the muscles it means they are being used less frequently and so the lack of movement will mean wrinkles aren’t being created. Proponents of early Botox use cite this as the primary reason for its efficacy as this age.

However, some studies have revealed that early or heavy use can result in the muscles becoming reliant on the injections, in which case greater and greater doses are required to achieve the same effect. Those who are concerned with the psychological effects of too much plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures worry that it increases the likelihood of people becoming addicted to it.

Most practitioners will exercise restraint and not offer Botox where there are no wrinkles present. However often fine lines can occur during the twenties and so use at this age continues to be debated.

Cosmetic Courses offer training in Botox treatment, as well as a range of other non-surgical procedures, to medical professionals entering the aesthetic industry. For details on any of our courses, contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected]

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Is Botox safe during pregnancy?

Kim Kardashian’s latest media circus involves speculation that she is still undergoing regular Botox treatments despite being 7 months into her pregnancy. Though the American socialite has neither confirmed or denied the reports that are circulating throughout US and now global tabloids, the question on many people’s lips is – if true, will this do harm to her unborn baby?

Whilst we can’t comment on the validity of the claims and therefore offer no opinion on this specific case, it is worth visiting the subject on a general basis. There is no evidence that Botox travels beyond the area in which it is injected, and in theory this would extend to meaning it would not reach an unborn baby via the placenta. That said, there is no conclusive evidence that it does not, given that it would be impossible to test this on pregnant mothers and their unborn babies.

Corroborative evidence would suggest that it is safe and indeed prescription Botox is sometimes carried out on expectant mothers suffering from other conditions that require it, such as chronic migraines or cervical dystonia (problems with posture and movement, usually in the neck and shoulders). Currently doctors are allowed to continue with Botox treatment in these cases.

There are also no regulations that prevent practitioners from offering Botox for cosmetic reasons to pregnant women. That said, most who administer it will not offer it to pregnant women for cosmetic reasons alone. This is because the reason for the Botox is seen as non-essential, and therefore the safety of the unborn foetus is given greater precedence.

Cosmetic Courses are one of the UK’s most established medical aesthetic training providers. For information on our Botox training, or any of our other aesthetic courses, contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected] for more information on any of our training courses.

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The Keogh Review – What will it mean for cosmetic training?

The Keogh Review of plastic surgery’s findings published last month included recommendations that will likely be put in to practice and therefore enforceable by law. These will have ramifications for the entire industry and for those practising within it.

Notably, its recommendations for new regulations for non-invasive procedures. It’s recommended that those who administer procedures such as Botox and fillers will need to have proper training and qualifications and will need to be medical professionals.

So what will this mean?

1. Increased number of courses available

Though it has not yet been made clear what specific qualification will be required or the body designing it, it is nonetheless apparent that the number of courses for practitioners to earn the qualifications will see a huge increase in number. It’s rare for universities to offer courses in this field currently yet it’s likely that courses for non-invasive procedures will rise throughout colleges and universities.

2. Increased cost for training

New training qualifications and courses (including guidelines, syllabus, examining etc) will likely result in increased costs to train and obtain the relevant qualification. It’s possible that training now will avoid the higher costs that may arise once the regulations come in to law.

3. Increased, but better competition

Although an increased number of courses may result in more practitioners, the upshot is that you will be working in a regulated industry where you do not have to compete with less than scrupulous individuals or clinics.

For information about our range of aesthetic training courses, contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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UK’s first anti-ageing fair for the public a huge success

Although trade and training fairs for the aesthetic industry have been around for some time, last weekend saw the UK’s first anti-ageing fair intended primarily for the general public.

Held at London’s Olympia, The Anti-Ageing, Health and Beauty Show was aimed at customers rather than merely professionals practising in the industry. The two-day event was attended by practitioners ranging from cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists to beauticians and yoga teachers, all on hand to educate the crowds about their particular branch of aesthetic medicine or healthcare.

Although the premise was essentially an anti-ageing one it included an overall approach to wellbeing.

New products and techniques were on display at the busy fair (in all, the weekend attracted about 11,000 visitors), including Botox, filler and collagen treatments being performed there and then. Amongst the potential customers were other professionals also interested in the latest offerings within the industry.

The fair’s organisers heralded the event a successful one with plans to arrange a second and for it to become an annual fixture. Carol Mracek commented:

“The show has been fantastic, we are delighted with both the exhibitors and the speakers. The consumer response has been overwhelming, visitors have been coming up-to us and commenting on how much they have enjoyed the show.

“The Anti-Ageing Health & Beauty show is committed to showcasing the very best anti-ageing products and services available on the global market”.

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The ‘new Botox’ – or Frotox – arrives in the UK

One London clinic is now offering a Californian-produced alternative to Botox which promises the same results minus the toxins, which may come as welcome news to those who are interested in the results of the treatment but uncomfortable with the thought of what is in it.

iovera has been dubbed ‘Frotox’ due to its use of cryotherapy, effectively freezing, to produce the same results as Botox. Its results are said to be instantaneous as opposed to the few days that it can take for Botox to take effect. However its lifespan is slighter shorter lasting a maximum duration of four months.

Developed by medical technology group myoscience, it currently tackles forehead lines (running vertically or horizontally) through administering the treatment to either temple. A device filled with liquid nitrogen is placed next to the nerves which freezes the muscles used to control particular wrinkles. Advocates suggest that the accuracy of the nerve targeting is such that it still allows movement in the muscle.

The treatment lasts for 15 minutes and is so far retailing at £300 at a Harley Street Clinic. Some detractors insist that it poses no viable alternative to Botox, which has been used for several years, until its long-term safety and capability has been demonstrated.

Cosmetic Courses are the UK’s first surgeon led Botox course provider. Contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected] for more information on any of our training courses.

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