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An Aesthetics Training success story: Dr Sophie Shotter

If you’re a medical professional thinking about a change of career, it can be encouraging to hear from people who have been in your shoes.

Dr Sophie Shotter took a comprehensive range of aesthetics training courses with us.

She now runs her own cosmetic clinic, Illuminate Skin Clinics in Kent, and recently joined our team of trainers at Cosmetic Courses.

Here Dr Sophie Shotter talks about her career, her training and her new life in aesthetics.

My background

I’m a medically qualified doctor with a background in anaesthetics in the NHS. When I first thought about aesthetics training, I spoke to a friend who was already qualified, and he recommended Cosmetic Courses.

Why Cosmetic Courses?

It’s the only course run by a Plastic Surgeon, and has a brilliant reputation. In an industry where training is notoriously variable, that assured me I’d be in the best place.

Which courses did you take?

I started off with Foundation Botox and Fillers, and walked away feeling confident about Botox, but wanting to learn a little more about fillers. I booked some more one-to-one training to learn more advanced procedures – lip fillers, cheek fillers, and advanced Botox.

I then trained up in microsclerotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, Dermaroller, and microdermabrasion and peels as well.

I think I’ve probably done just about every course they offer!

What did you think of your training?

I’ve trained with most members of the team and found everyone so friendly, helpful and supportive. The quality of the training was second to none. The personalised advice I got and also bits and bobs about business advice were really helpful.

Would you recommend Cosmetic Courses to others?

I’ve already done so to several colleagues and friends. I wouldn’t send them anywhere else. The quality of training I’ve received I don’t think is matched elsewhere in the industry.

What advice would you give to others thinking about aesthetics training?

When it comes to choosing your provider, look at who has designed the training programme. How well established are they? Who are their trainers, and what’s their reputation?

What are the main benefits you’ve found from moving into aesthetics?

For me, the benefits have been enormous. My work-life balance is much healthier. I work the hours I choose to work, I have time for family and friends, and if I have to make an appointment to see my GP, I don’t struggle to do that any more. I’m a much happier person as a result.

The earning potential within aesthetics is massive – much better than within the NHS for me. Although I’m still in the early stages of my business development, that is really, really exciting.

I love my job – I don’t dread Monday mornings any more, and that’s an amazing feeling!

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Cosmetic Courses offers a wide range of courses for medical professionals looking to enter the aesthetic industry. For information on any of our aesthetics training courses, please don’t hesitate to contact the team on 01844 318317 or email [email protected].

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Botox training courses – do you choose scheduled or bespoke?

Nobody’s learning needs are exactly the same. Just as some learn better through listening, watching and reading, and others by doing, so it is with class sizes.

Some people find it stimulating to train in a group of their peers, exchanging ideas and sharing the experience.

Others respond better to intensive focused tuition with no distractions.

But there’s good news if you’re currently looking at Botox training courses. No matter what your preferred learning style, there’s an option for you.

Scheduled Botox training courses

Group Botox training coursesAt Cosmetic Courses, our scheduled Botox courses take place in small groups, usually no more than 5 delegates.

Over the years, we’ve found that 4 or 5 is the ‘sweet spot’ to give you the best possible training.

The courses, both Foundation and Advanced, can also include training in dermal fillers. The two treatments are often used together, so we aim to give a good grounding in both.

What to expect

The day starts with a lecture by one of our Consultant Plastic Surgeons. This will cover patient selection, contraindications, injection technique and aftercare.

It’ll be followed by demonstrations of Botox and dermal filler treatments, and an afternoon of hands-on practice.

You’ll work in a small group supervised by one of our expert trainers. There’ll be a variety of models to treat and ample opportunity to ask questions throughout.

The main advantage of this type of training is that it lets you observe a range of people practising the treatments. This can be instructive, as there are often tips you can pick up from your peers.

But there are also advantages to training one-to-one.

One-to-one Botox training courses

One-to-one Botox training coursesOur bespoke Botox training courses are very different. There’s no set course programme, and you decide the schedule.

Most delegates who choose bespoke training opt to learn one-on-one, as it allows for much more interaction with your trainer. However, you can learn in a small group if you prefer.

The session lasts for 4 hours, either morning (9am-1pm) or afternoon (1.30-5.30pm), and you can book for any day of the week that’s convenient for you.

A bespoke course allows you to drill down and learn more, and practise more, of the exact techniques you’re interested in.

Perhaps you’d like to build your confidence and hone your skills in the most popular techniques – upper face Botox and dermal fillers around the mouth?

Or maybe you’d like to develop more specialist skills with advanced injecting techniques like cheek augmentation and lower face Botox?

The choice is yours. Whatever you’d like to focus on, a bespoke course offers intensive targeted practice so you can develop full confidence in your skills.

And finally…

Dr Olha Vorodukhina, Dentist and Cosmetic Courses trainerTo give you an idea of our bespoke training from someone who’s been there, one of our trainers, qualified dentist Dr Olha Vorudukhina, originally came to us for bespoke training. You can read all about her here.

Please note, because of the intensive nature of bespoke training, we’ll usually require you to have completed Foundation level training. Contact us and we’ll be happy to advise.

For more information about our Botox training courses, or any of our programme of aesthetic training, please contact the team on 01844 318317 or email [email protected].

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4 great reasons to train in Botox and Dermal Fillers if you are a Dentist

Are you a dentist thinking about a career in aesthetics? Here are four reasons why it could be a great move for you.

 1. You’ll be a natural 

As a dentist, you’re great with injections, have an aesthetic eye (particularly if you’ve taken additional cosmetic dentistry courses), and have specialist training in the oral and maxillofacial areas.

And unlike most medical professionals, the face is where you spend your whole working day.

With an expert understanding of facial anatomy, you arguably have a head start over many other medical professionals when it comes to administering facial treatments. And the chances are you’ll be better equipped to deal with any complications that arise too.

2. You’ll increase your income

Attending one of our Botox and filler courses for dentists will offer a real shot in the arm for your career. Firstly because you’ll be able to offer Botox and filler treatments to enhance your service to your dental patients.

If they’re generally unhappy with their mouth area, you can offer extra treatments to help – for example, adding volume to lips, improving nose-mouth grooves or reducing marionette lines – alongside the dental work they need.

This is probably the easiest win, as it creates a new income stream from your existing patients. But you’ll also attract new aesthetic patients who may not have come to you for dental treatment alone.

Once you’ve won their trust with great treatments, they may choose you for their dental work too.

3. Your days will be more varied

Though you may love your dentistry work, and enjoy patient contact, sometimes you’d like to have a break from fillings!

Training in Botox and fillers will give you the flexibility of a ‘portfolio’ career. You can split your working week in a way that suits you. You might want to dedicate certain days to aesthetic treatments, or break up your days by allocating some appointments to aesthetics and some to dentistry. Either way, you’ll never be bored!

4. Your friends and family will love you!

Ask anybody who knows you, and they’ll tell you how great it is to be acquainted with a dentist. When it comes to our health and our bodies, it’s incredibly handy to have an expert we know and trust who we can ask for advice – or better still, go to for our treatment.

And if that dentist is also able to offer safe, effective anti-ageing treatments, even better!

Find out more about Botox and filler courses for dentists

Cosmetic Courses have offered expert Botox training for dentists and other medical professionals since 2002. If you’d like to find out more about training in Botox and fillers, please contact the team on 01844 318317 or email [email protected].

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Frequently asked questions about our Botox and fillers course

We often receive enquiries asking about particular aspects of our training courses – most commonly our Foundation and Advanced Botox and fillers courses.

With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to answer some of the questions we are often asked here on our blog.

Am I eligible to attend a Botox and fillers course?

Our Botox courses are open to qualified medical professionals, which includes (but is not limited to) Doctors, Dentists, Registered Nurses, Surgeons, Trainee Surgeons, Dermatologists and Opthalmologists. If you belong to another medical profession and would like to check your eligibility, please contact us on 01844 390110 and we’ll be happy to advise.

Do I need to be UK registered to offer Botox treatment in the UK?

Yes. If you’re looking to offer Botox treatments to patients in the United Kingdom, you must have a current active UK registration.

Do I need to bring my own models?

No. We’ve built up a large database of models and will provide an appropriate model for your training needs. However, if you’d prefer to bring your own model, you’re more than welcome to do so. Many delegates choose to bring along a friend or colleague so they can see how their treatment progresses over time. Just let us know when you book your Botox and fillers course and we’ll be happy to accommodate.

What should I wear to my Botox and fillers course?

You should come in what you feel comfortable in. You will be treating real patients, so we’d encourage you to look relatively smart and professional. But the most important thing is that you feel confident and able to focus on what you are learning.

How much hands-on practice will I get?

The Botox and fillers course is practical in nature. After a morning of theory, it’s straight into hands-on practice in the afternoon.  You will mark up your model, choose the treatment you’re going to use and perform the treatment, supervised closely by your trainer. You’ll also watch other people in your group as they treat their models.

If you opt for one of our one-to-one courses, these are completely tailored to you, so you can choose your own balance of theory and practical.

How many people will be in the practical session?

We like to keep the training groups as small and informal as we can. We’ve found that 4 or 5 is the best group size to give you the best possible training.

Will I receive any information on business and marketing?

Running a successful aesthetic business requires more than clinical skills. To help you with the business aspects of practice, we will offer guidance about setting up your website and publicising your business.

We also have other resources to help you on an ongoing basis, including podcasts available to download from iTunes. In these, our Surgical Director Adrian Richards speaks about all aspects of aesthetic marketing with Ron Myers from Consulting Room.

Will I receive any support after completing my Botox and fillers course?

We pride ourselves on our comprehensive ongoing support. If you have any questions at all after completing your training, whether clinical or business related, you are always welcome to contact us for guidance.

With our delegates’ permission, we often answer some of the questions we receive in videos or other training materials so other people can benefit from the advice.

Cosmetic Courses offers aesthetic training in Buckinghamshire, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Essex and Kent. For more information about what to expect from our Botox and fillers course, please contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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Botox courses for Nurses – a way to learn more and earn more

Since 2002, Cosmetic Courses have helped thousands of Nurses to carve out exciting new careers in aesthetics.

Are you a qualified Nurse looking for more variety in your work? How about boosting your earning potential? 

Both are within your grasp. The only thing standing between you and an exciting new lifestyle is one of our Botox courses for Nurses!

This week, we chat to qualified Nurse, passionate aesthetician and Cosmetic Courses trainer Mel Recchia about her move into aesthetics…

Hi Mel, how easy was your decision to move from nursing into aesthetics?

In my case, it wasn’t something I carefully planned. Like all the best things in life, it was quite spontaneous! I’d been a Beauty Therapist before I became a Nurse, so that interest in cosmetic medicine was always there.

I loved working as a Nurse in A&E, but after 9 years I started thinking it was time to expand my horizons. Because of my background in beauty, aesthetics was the natural choice.

What do you enjoy most about aesthetics?

I get a huge amount of satisfaction from making people feel better about themselves. I know some people think aesthetics is superficial or frivolous compared to nursing, and I understand that, but when you improve something that’s making someone unhappy, you’re impacting their life in a way that goes beyond beauty.

So you’re almost a kind of therapist?

Almost, yes! You often find yourself being a kind of confidante to your patients. People trust you, and they share their problems with you. They leave with their self-esteem boosted and a spring in their step. For me that’s the most rewarding part of what we do.

Bit of a cheeky one – do you have any aesthetic treatments yourself?

Of course – it’d be rude not to! I’ve had Botox for about 10 years, and I like to have skin peels and microdermabrasions when I can. I’m also a big fan of skincare products to maintain results, and last year I tried a bit of Sculptra in my mid-face which has been great. I’m also thinking about taking the plunge and getting my upper eyelids done next year! 

What would you say to someone thinking about taking one of our Botox courses for nurses?

It really is a route into a new lifestyle. Aesthetics lets you use your medical skills and maintain the patient contact you’re used to, but with more flexibility and freedom.

As a self-employed Aesthetic Nurse, you get to choose how much and when you want to work, and you make your work fit around your life rather than the other way round.

In a nutshell, training in Botox will open the doors to lots of new opportunities – so go for it!

Find out more about our Botox courses for nurses

Cosmetic Courses offers a wide range of aesthetic training for medical professionals, including accredited dermal filler and Botox courses for nurses. To find out more about training with us, please call us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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Advanced Botox and Filler courses – what’s covered?

Are you a medical professional considering offering advanced Botox and filler treatments to your patients? Offering a more comprehensive service and being able to perform more specialist techniques via advanced aesthetic training will help you take your career – and your earnings – to that next level.

What techniques are covered in the advanced Botox and filler courses?

Stage 1, or foundation, Botox and filler training offers a comprehensive grounding in the techniques for performing upper face Botox treatments and peri-oral dermal fillers.

These are the most popular applications, so once you’ve completed your training you’ll be equipped to offer basic anti-wrinkle treatment to your patients straight away.

But deciding to take your training a stage further with an advanced course allows you to broaden your repertoire and perfect more specialist techniques.

Different training providers will have different approaches to their advanced training, and specific course programmes will vary. But to give you an idea of what you can expect, here’s a brief outline of what we cover on our advanced Botox and filler courses:

Advanced Botox techniques

  • Chemical brow lift
  • Mentalis treatments
  • Treatment of platysmal bands
  • Cheek and jowl lifting
  • Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) treatment

Advanced dermal filler techniques

  • Vermilion border enhancement
  • Cheek augmentation
  • Cross hatching techniques
  • Extended linear threading techniques
  • Advanced peri-oral sculpting
  • Combined filling – using different strengths of product to achieve optimum results

The emphasis of our advanced training is very much on practical hands-on experience, letting you focus on any areas requiring extra guidance and tuition.

The goal of advanced training is to equip you with the necessary skills to take a more holistic approach to treating your patients. Rather than simply targeting lines and wrinkles, you’ll be encouraged to pursue complete facial rejuvenation using more nuanced techniques. For example, adding volume to the mid-face area, sculpting the jaw and cheeks, or giving a subtle lift to the eyebrows.

Cosmetic Courses is one of the UK’s most established aesthetic training providers. Since 2001, our expert trainers have offered a wide range of aesthetic training, including Botox and filler courses, microdermabrasion and chemical peel, Dermaroller, PRP Therapy and more. For information on our training courses, please contact our team.

 

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3 great reasons for dentists to take a Botox training course

Are you a dentist looking for more from your career? Perhaps you’d like to continue using your practical skills and aesthetic eye, but in a new way – and increasing your income in the process?

At Cosmetic Courses, we’ve spent the last 15 years training dentists in Botox and Dermal Filler techniques. Some were looking to offer aesthetic treatments part-time alongside their existing practice, and others were looking for a complete career change.

If you are a dentist thinking about your next move, read on to find out what aesthetic training could do for you.

The top 3 ways a Botox training course could enhance your career

 1. You can offer Botox treatment as an additional service to your dental patients

Some dentists we train are looking to add Botox and dermal filler treatments around the mouth to their existing portfolio, so they can enhance the dental service they provide. Treatment to add volume to lips, improve nasiolabial folds and reduce marionette lines can be combined with dental treatment to give patients a more dramatic improvement to the entire mouth area. This is probably the ‘easiest win’ as it represents a brand new revenue stream from your existing client base.

 2. You can attract a whole new clientele looking purely for aesthetic treatments

Non-surgical procedures like Botox and dermal fillers can attract new patients who would not have come to your practice for dental treatment alone. These patients may come to you for aesthetic treatment in the first instance, and once they have built up a relationship with you, may also choose you for their dental treatment. Expanding your aesthetic repertoire further to include treatments that complement Botox and fillers, for example Dermaroller and Chemical Peels, will give your patients even more reasons to keep coming back to you.

 3.  You can train up colleagues within your practice to perform the techniques

When you have completed your own Botox training course, you will be able to instruct your fellow dentists in the techniques. Lots of our dental delegates at Cosmetic Courses have gone on to train other dentists and hygienists within their practice in non-surgical treatments.

Having more colleagues trained in the techniques will not only increase your capacity to offer aesthetic treatments at your practice, it’ll give you the flexibility to go off and learn more aesthetic techniques while your colleagues ‘hold the fort’. You’ll also be better placed to respond to patient demand, adjusting the balance of your dental and aesthetic appointments to meet patients’ needs. If more people are looking for aesthetic treatments than dental appointments, you’ll be able to accommodate them – and crucially, have a constant revenue stream.

For more information on our Botox training courses, or any of our programme of aesthetic training courses, please contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

 

 

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Botox treatment for ‘gummy’ smiles

The uses of Botox are many and varied, with the product currently licensed for all kinds of applications, both medical and aesthetic. Best known as an anti-wrinkle treatment, Botox is also used to combat excessive sweating, treat urinary incontinence, relieve migraines and reduce muscle spasms.

And the newspapers last week featured another aesthetic application for the drug – treating gummy smiles.

Injected into the upper lip, the drug temporarily reduces the strength of the muscles which pull the top lip up toward the nose when a person smiles. Consequently, the amount of gum revealed is smaller, creating a more pleasing “Hollywood” smile.

Dentists and cosmetic surgeons broadly agree that the ‘ideal smile’ sees the upper lip sit roughly level with the top of the teeth, with a maximum of only two millimetres of gum showing. According to Dr Stan Heifetz, a New York based cosmetic dentist, “Anything over three to four millimetres of gum showing starts to look ‘gummy'”.

To date, the most widely used treatment for correcting gummy smiles has been surgery, with several different techniques available depending on the underlying cause, including lip repositioning or gum lift/contouring surgery (gingivectomy).

But Botox has the advantage of being much quicker, taking only around 10 minutes to administer, as well as being far less invasive and cheaper for patients. And as with wrinkle treatment, results are fairly long-term, typically lasting for up to 6 months.

This particular use for Botox offers another popular treatment to add to your clinic. Here at Cosmetic Courses, we have been offering training in this technique for many years as part of our Advanced Botox & dermal fillers course.

For details on training in advanced Botox techniques, including treating gummy smiles, or to find out more about any other course in our programme, please give our team a call on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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Beautician convicted for fraudulent Botox treatment

A Scarborough-based beautician has been charged for fraudulent Botox whilst showing fake certificates as evidence of her training.

Jamie Winter, 35, has been prosecuted for 5 fraud offences and as a result will have to serve 150 hours unpaid community service – no prison sentence was imposed.

The case came light to light as one of her female patients suffered an adverse reaction and went to the police to report Winter for maltreatment.

No prosecution could be brought for the alleged assault as there was no evidence that the swelling the woman had suffered was a direct result of the Botox. It did lead to the fraud charges however.

The 5 accounts were for treatments given to 10 female and 2 male patients over a period of 18 months, within the Scarborough area. Winter pleaded guilty to these charges. She offered the Botox at a cut rate, having bought it cheaply online from the US and reportedly undergoing minimal online training. After practising on herself and her friends Winter then started to charge for the service and word quickly spread about her discounted rates.

As there is no regulation surrounding Botox treatments it was not her lack of proper training that was the cause for the conviction but rather the simple fact of producing a false certificate, thereby offering the injections on a fraudulent basis.

What the case highlights is the need for regulation of Botox treatments – in particular, regulation surrounding the Botox training carried out by the practitioner – in order to protect the patient.

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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.

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