For those of you that have attended our Foundation and Advanced Botox and Dermal Fillers courses, you will be aware that dermal fillers are used to introduce volume back into areas of the face that have lost volume during the ageing process. When it comes to dermal filler training, there’s a lot to cover, do you know your Juvederm Ultra 2 from your Ultra 4? And what about knowing your marionette lines from your tear troughs?

Where can dermal fillers be used?

Dermal fillers have a wide multitude of uses from the obvious to the not so obvious. If you have a patient that is interested in having dermal filler, we advise that you get them to attend an initial skin consultation with you before having the treatment. This will allow you to find out more about the patient’s medical history, and the look that they are hoping to achieve.

Tear troughs Cosmetic Courses;Picture showing Tear Trough Treatment Before & After

These are the lines under your eyes that make your eyes look tired. A loss of volume in the area, a loss of tissue elasticity or a mild reduction in bone density could all be causes of concern. By using an advanced technique, dermal fillers can be placed in either the tear trough itself, slightly lower in the cheek area, or indeed a combination of both to achieve brighter, more rejuvenated eyes.

Naso-labial folds
Commonly known as the smile or laughter lines, these are the two skin folds that run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. If you are bothered by your nasolabial folds, and wonder what to do to improve the area then filler is perfect to fill out these folds, and partnered with cheek filler the face will appear much younger looking.

Mouth corners

Sometimes the corners of your mouth can droop leaving you looking unhappy. Dermal filler can be placed below the corners of the mouth with a small amount directly into the corners of the lips.

Marionette lines
Marionette lines run between the corners of the lips down towards the chin and jaw giving a puppet-like effect. As we age, our facial bones become smaller resulting in lines like these appearing. Dermal filler is great for filling in these lines making them less prominent.

Cheeks

As you age you lose an amount of subcutaneous fat which can result in a loss of volume and elasticity to the face. This in turn highlights hollow cheek bones, and the presence of excess skin resulting in sunken cheeks. This can cause someone to appear gaunt and tired-looking. Dermal fillers can be injected into this area to plump out the face with natural volume and a gentle lift. This is an advanced technique and is offered at one of our specialist training days.

Lips & vermillion borderCosmetic Courses; Image showing Lip Fillere treatment before & after

A celebrity favourite and probably the most well-known use of filler. The lips can be injected with dermal filler either in the body of the lip to boost fullness or the border of the lips to increase definition. This treatment is ideal for correcting thin lips but can also help solve problems with a downward smile and the need to lengthen the mouth.

Chin augmentation

A perfect alternative to a surgical chin implant, is a non-surgical chin augmentation which is achieved with dermal fillers. Fillers will help define your jaw line and although only a temporary solution it is a great way to see what can be achieved surgically if you are unsure.

Smoker’s lines

These are the vertical lines above the lip that appear when you pout. They are mostly caused by regular lip movements but are also called smokers lines, because regular smoking means pressing the lips together.  If your lines are deep enough then they can be drastically reduced with a small amount of injectable filler to achieve a smoother appearance.

Nose
Have you heard of the lunchtime nose job? Dermal fillers can now be used to straighten out any lumps or bumps in your nose without the need for any surgical downtime. Fillers are injected into the nose to smooth out slight bumps in the bridge of the nose, or rectify a crooked line of the nose (particularly in profile view) and even cartilage irregularities at the tip of the nose all in less than 15 minutes! This is another advanced course available for those that have been practicing in dermal filler for a while.

Hands

Hands are a new use for fillers, patients have found that the use of the fillers in their face is great for concealing their real age, but then it is often their hands that give it away. Ageing hands lose volume and the skin appears thinner. Having filler injected into the skin on the back of the hands can make them appear plumper and less veiny.

So now you know your areas, let’s look at the product that we use on our training days at Cosmetic Courses:

Juvaderm®  Vycross Range

The Juvaderm® Vycross range is a smoother gel which means you get a comfortable treatment. The risk of bruising and swelling is reduced as is any discomfort as anesthetic is added into the formulation of the filler. The Vycross range provides subtle and natural outcomes due to the smoothness of the gel making it easier to inject with precision.

The Vycross range has 3 different forumulas;

Juvederm® Voluma 

Juvederm® Voluma is a much thicker hyaluronic acid gel which has been made by altering the cross-linking technique used in Ultra to create a more viscous result. Voluma can be used for recontouring and restoring the face in the case of age-related volume loss. Designed for deep volume restoration to re-contour the face in areas such as the cheek bone and chin regions.

The effects of Juvéderm® Voluma® last for approximately up to 18 months.

Juvederm® Volbella
Launched in Paris Juvederm® Volbella® is specifically designed to enhance lip volume and define lip contours, with a completely natural look and feel.  The filler has a smooth, liquid consistency for a smoother look and the addition of lidocaine anaesthetic makes the treatment even more comfortable in an otherwise uncomfortable area.

The effects of Juvederm® Volbella® last for approximately up to 12 months

Juvederm® Volift®
This revolutionary dermal filler is produced using VYCROSS™ technology. This creates an ultra-smooth gel for natural appearance with minimal swelling and bruising. It is best used for smoothing nasolabial folds and facial contours.

The effects of Juvederm® last for approximately up to 15 months.

Juvederm® Hydrate Cosmetic Courses; image showing dermal filler product Juverderm Hydrate

The Juvederm Hydrate is used to improve skin hydration and restore elasticity which is lost through ageing. It works by replacing hyaluronic acid but unlike traditional filler it acts as a hydrating agent attracting and keeping moisture within the skin to achieve that healthy natural glow. Juvéderm® Hydrate is most commonly used for very fine lines and wrinkles associated with ageing. It has also been recommended as an early treatment for crow’s feet and fine lines around the mouth.

The effects of Juvéderm® Hydrate last for approximately four to 6 months

Juvederm® Ultra is our most common dermal filler. The filler contains non-animal hyaluronic acid with the addition of 0.3% lidocaine which is a local anaesthetic to make you feel comfortable both during and after the treatment.
There are actually four different formulations for Juvéderm® ULTRA available;

Juvederm® Ultra 2 is a highly cross-linked formulation which is used for the subtle correction of medium facial lines, in particular those around the corners of the eyes and those very close to the surface of the skin. It can also be used to around the lips to enhance natural lip contour.

Juvederm® Ultra 3 Cosmetic Courses; image showing dermal filler product range Juverderm Ultra 3

Ultra 3 is another highly cross-linked formulation but is instead used for more versatility in contouring and volumising anything from moderate to medium facial lines and skin depressions, in areas such as the nasolabial folds. It can be used subtly in lips to enhance lip contour, increase volume and maintain a youthful smile.

Juvederm® Ultra 4 [image]

Ultra 4 is a highly cross-linked robust formulation used for volumising and correction of medium to deep folds and wrinkles, including adding volume in the cheeks and chin improving contour to the face.

Juvederm® Ultra SmileCosmetic Courses; image showing dermal filler product range Juverderm Smile

The newest arrival to the Juvéderm® ULTRA family the Juvéderm® Ultra Smile is based on the Ultra 3 product but it is specifically targeted for use in the lips. It works by providing fuller but softer and natural looking lips and smooths fine lines to fully enhance the mouth area for a fresh new look.

The effects of Juvéderm® Ultra Smile lasts approximately up to 18 months

If you would like to find out  more about our Advanced Dermal Filler Training Course and the product range that we use, you can call the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected]

Male and Female Ageing

As technology has advanced, it has become more apparent that in society we are more obsessed with how we look. Mobile phones, iPads and tablets, make capturing the moment even easier with the rise in ‘selfies’ and social media sharing. Within the aesthetic industry, there has also been a shift. Over 90% of procedures performed in the UK in 2015 were non-surgical, and approximately 800,000 of those treatments were for Botox and filler treatments. Many clinics are also reporting that they have seen an increase in the volume of male patients that they are now Image showing Peter Andretreating with in their clinic, showing that it is not just woman that are interested in anti-ageing treatments. This could be due to more male celebrities admitting to having treatments, such as Peter Andre and Shane Warne having a little ‘Brotox’ here and there.

One of the questions that we at Cosmetic Courses have been asked by our delegates over the past few months is; are there any differences between the male and female ageing process?

In essence, the ageing process itself is more or less the same, but it is worth noting that there are significant differences between both sexes anatomy, and care should therefore be taken when carrying out aesthetic treatments to ensure a natural and harmonious look is achieved to suit both sexes.

The areas that we believe need to be treated differently for Males and Females are the following:

  • Forehead
  • Eyebrow
  • Cheek
  • Nose
  • Jawline and chin
  • Peri Oral Area

The Forehead

Picture showing the difference between male and famle supraorbital ridgeThis is one of the most important areas for rejuvenation, but there are noticeable differences between the sexes. Anthropologists use the forehead as an indicator to determine the sex of the skull. It has been observed that a female skull has more of a flat supraorbital ridge, with a smooth convexity up to the hairline, whereas the male skull has a more pronounced supraorbital ridge with some concavity before the forehead becomes flatter towards the hairline. This skeletal structure is what influences the soft tissues and the overall position of the eyebrows.

Eyebrows

The male eyebrow is flat and tends to sit along the supraorbital ridge whereas the female brow arches at a 10 -2- degree angle with a tail that is more superior to the head.

The aim of aesthetic treatments is to restore a more youthful and natural looking appearance. To treat this area for a female it may require forehead re-volumisation and a bit of brow lifting to maintaining that feminine look, but applying the same technique for males, it could result in over feminising, and portray an unnatural. To stay respectful of the male gender, it is advised to not lift above the supraorbital and to only elevate the ptotic brow to ensure the most natural look is achieved.

Cheeks

Male and Female AgeingThis is an area that is extensively covered in female rejuvenation, but it does come with limited descriptions when it comes to males. Females have a rounder and fuller cheek due to having a thicker fat compartment in the medial area compared to the lateral area. In regards to female ageing, a fuller cheek gives a more youthful look, referring back to the triangle of youth – everything is more pert and smoother. Male cheeks tend to be flatter and more angular due to a thinner layer of subcutaneous fat. The technique used to treat this area have slight differences, and the volume of product used needs to vary. To keep the ‘flatter’ cheek look for male patients, product should only be used to replace the volume loss. Females can have slightly more product used, and this can be replaced more often to maintain the fuller cheek look.

Nose

Image showing Naso LabialThere are more subtle differences between the sexes in this area. There are 2 angles that are used to determine the ideal nose shape: Naso-labial Angle and Naso-frontal angle.

Naso Labial is the angle between a line drawn from the lip border to the base of the columella to the nasel tip. This angle is slightly more obtuse and slightly upturned for females, and it’s also necessary to consider your patients cultural and ethnic differences when treating this area.

Image showing the Naso Frontal AngleNaso Frontal is the angle at the radix, the lowest point of the nasal bridge formed by a line running from the radix to the glabella and from the radix along the dorsum of the nose. This position of the radix is important between males and females. Females are normally in line with the lash line whereas males are at the level of the tarsal fold.

Jawline and Chin

Both masculinisation and feminisation techniques can be used within this area. Toxins can be used to narrow down the masseter or curve the chin, and Dermal Fillers can widen the jawline, increase definition or add a sharper gonial angles as well as flatten or enlarge the chin area.  Different cultures and ethnicities have different representations of what they believe is an attractive jawline, so it is useful to be aware of this when treating patients. The Hollywood ideal is a defined as a strong wide jaw for males whereas females have a softer narrower pointier chin.

Perioral Area

Treating this area is a more common request in females rather than males. Male skin within this area is thicker than in females, who tend to suffer more with smokers lines and wrinkling. This area benefits from toxin, filler and skin resurfacing treatments for both sexes. If treating a male patient, we suggest you treat with caution.

Male and Female AgeingWhen treating both the female and male face for any aesthetic treatment, it is important to book them in for a full consultation, to undertake a facial analysis. Within this consultation, grade the upper, mid and lower face in terms of structure, proportion and symmetry. Within our training, we advise that you take photos of all your patients and keep these as a record to show before and after treatment– it also helps to show the patient how far they have come on their treatments with you.

At Cosmetic Courses, we offer an advanced Botox and Dermal Filler training Course which offers more advanced techniques. If you would like to find out more about the course, or have any questions, please call the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected]

Cosmetic Courses; banner showing the side effects of lip filler

Here at Cosmetic Courses, we want to reassure patients considering lip filler and also provide practitioners with information and advice Lip Filler side effects.

An overview of Lip Filler

Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid which is a key molecule involved in the skin’s moisture. In Dermal fillers, this is suspended in a gel. They’re mainly used by practitioners to improve the appearance of wrinkles and replace the volume that has been lost due to the ageing process.

The Procedure

A topical anaesthetic (numbing cream) may be applied in advance to the area to be injected, minimising any discomfort from the injections. Using a very fine needle, a slow injection of filler is injected into the agreed area.  When treating the lip area, your lips are separated into two treatment areas – the vermillion borders and the main body of your lips. The vermillion border will give your lips definition; where as the main body will give your lips volume. This will be discussed with your practitioner beforehand so that you can gain the look that you want to achieve. Using a very fine needle, a slow injection of filler is placed into the lip to create the desired result. Sometimes a little massage is required but this depends on the depth and placement of the product we are using.

Lip Filler Side effects

As with any treatment, there are some risks and side effects, and not everyone will experience the same thing each time, but you need to be aware of them:

Bruising and bleeding

Depending on the type of person that you are, or are treating, there maybe some bruising, slight swelling and slight bleeding after the treatment has taken place. The swelling should subside within 24-48 hours but can last up to 2 weeks , and the bruising within 5 –10 days. The bleeding will be minor and will stop within a few minutes of treatment.

Lumps and bumps

Once you have had filler it is common for you to be able to feel the product particularly in the lip area and most noticeably on your first treatment. Filler can also sometimes rise to the surface and leave a few lumps and bumps a few days after treatment. Usually this will settle but if it doesn’t this can often be treated by gently massaging the area. However it is always best to speak with your practitioner before doing anything else.

Infection

If you are prone to cold sores and picking up infections quite quickly, having an injection to the area may trigger an attack. Keeping the lip area clean and using fresh clean towels can help to prevent an infection or cold sore from starting. If you have a cold sore or think one is on the way you should hold off from having any procedures until this has completely cleared. You should also discuss this with your practitioner as they may advise alternative treatments or products.

If you would like more information on the courses that we offer, or would like to enquire about becoming a model for us,  you can email [email protected] or call the team on 01844 390110.

Find out more about our practical lip filler training courses and our online lip filler courses here.

Our Lip Filler Training Courses

 

Lip Filler Introduction Training Course AKH   Lip Filler Masterclass Training Course AKH

Aesthetics Knowledge Hub Slide

How We Support Delegates

About CC Slide

BECOME A COSMETIC COURSES MODEL

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].

 

 

In a competitive marketplace like aesthetics, it’s a good idea to pursue any extra training that will help shore up your credentials. And a great way to set yourself apart from other practitioners is by drilling down into more specialist treatments.

If you’re an ambitious aesthetic practitioner, it goes without saying that pursuing more advanced courses will enhance your reputation with potential patients.

Firstly, you’ll gain their trust as an expert who knows their stuff. And secondly, it’ll broaden your repertoire of treatments to offer them. They might come to you for one treatment, but stick around for others after getting great results.

Expert credentials + wide repertoire of treatments = healthy profits

Learning advanced techniques can be a real goldmine for your business, offering you vital new sources of revenue to help fuel your growth.

And because we know the value of advanced training – particularly for new practitioners seeking to get established – we’ve added some new specialist training courses to our programme. 

Last month we launched our specialist Tear Trough training course, which has been well received by our delegates. And our newest addition is Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty training.

3 great reasons to train in Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

1. It’s relatively easy to incorporate into your business

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty makes a fairly easy add-on to your existing practice. If you’ve already trained in dermal fillers, particularly advanced dermal fillers, it’ll be relatively straightforward for you to adapt what you’ve learned and apply it in a new way.

You’ll already have a good grounding in the techniques, so it’ll be a case of learning about the specific anatomy of the nose, the facial angles and how treatment can affect them. (Click to see our full Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty training programme.)

2. It’s particularly profitable

Once you’ve trained, treatment could make a very profitable addition to your practice.

We’ve recently started offering the Non-Surgical Nose Job at our sister company Aurora Skin Clinics, charging £500 per treatment. 

When you consider that treatment can take as little as 15 minutes, it makes for a very impressive profit-to-treatment-time ratio – better than standard dermal filler treatments.

3. There’s good potential for growth 

While surgical rhinoplasty remains a popular choice, the total performed in the UK fell by 24% last year – the biggest drop of all major cosmetic procedures.

And as we reported on the blog a few weeks ago, ISAPS have revealed stats which show that non-surgical treatments are growing faster than surgery.

So there’s plenty of reason to think that demand for Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty will continue to grow, as patients who may have opted for surgery increasingly choose the non-surgical option instead.

Our Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty training is offered by leading specialist and UK Allergan ambassador Mr Ash Labib. For more information on the course, or to book your place, please get in touch with the team.

Lip augmentation is back in the news, thanks to youngest Kardashian sister Kylie Jenner…

The teenage star of Keeping Up With the Kardashians has finally admitted what most of us knew already – her newly plump pout is thanks to temporary lip fillers, not lip liner after all.

The revelation didn’t go unnoticed by the British public. In the 24 hours after she confessed, UK clinics saw a huge spike in enquiries for the procedure, with some reporting a staggering 70% increase.

While people clamouring for treatment creates huge opportunities for us as aesthetic practitioners, it can also raise some interesting dilemmas.

Whenever there is massive demand for a treatment, it’s vital that we keep our wits about us.

As practitioners, we’re constantly engaged in a kind of balancing act. On the one hand, we want to give our patients the results they’re asking for. But on the other, we have to consider the results that would be best for them.

Fortunately, most of the time, these tend to be in alignment. But problems can arise when they are not. And lip augmentation is a classic example of a treatment where careful judgement is so vital. 

Age-appropriate lip augmentation

Age-inappropriate lip augmentationFull lips are attractive because they convey youth. So replacing lost volume (or adding it for younger patients with naturally thin lips) is a reliable way to give a face more youthful vigour. 

But the goal, as with any cosmetic enhancement, is to stay within the limits of what’s appropriate – particularly for a patient’s age.

Our aim with lip augmentation should always be to leave our patients with full, attractive but – crucially – age-appropriate lips.

No matter how our patients clamour for lips like Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie et al, we have to keep our professional integrity and be willing to say no if it won’t be right for them. 

That’s why learning the proper technique is only part of the equation when it comes to training in lip augmentation.

Bespoke lip augmentation training

Successful lip augmentation is nuanced, takes the patient’s facial features and their age into account, and has clearly defined outcomes from the beginning.

With this in mind, at Cosmetic Courses we’ve developed a bespoke training course completely devoted to lips. The intensive four-hour session focuses on age-appropriate attractiveness, covering both advanced technique and desired outcomes, based on the ‘Aurora Lip Analysis’ pioneered by our Clinical Director Adrian Richards.

During the session, you’ll learn the specific Aurora cannula technique developed by Adrian Richards, which uses a blunt cannula and only one entry point. This innovation makes it less painful for patients, with a far quicker recovery time owing to the reduced trauma and bruising.

If you have some experience of lip fillers and would like to advance your skills and become a more authoritative practitioner in this rapidly growing area of aesthetic medicine, our bespoke lip course will give you all the extra confidence you need.

For more information on our bespoke lip augmentation course, or to book a place, please contact the Cosmetic Courses team on 01844 318317 or email [email protected].

We know we’ve missed a trick. By rights we should have written about PRP Therapy (a.k.a ‘Vampire Facelift’) last week, being Halloween and all.

But we’re not going to make the same mistake twice, and miss another opportunity to integrate our blog with something topical.

So this week, with the sound of fireworks ringing in our ears, we’ve decided it’s a good time to talk about Allergen’s new initiative to change the public perception of dermal fillers. It’s Project Dynamite.

About Project Dynamite

Industry leader Allergan recently decided to explore the public’s attitude to dermal fillers. Broadly, the goal was to understand people’s motivations for seeking filler treatment, as well as the reservations they might have about fillers.

They conducted extensive research, speaking to 2,000 women of all ages to gauge their opinions about dermal fillers. The findings have now been circulated, and Allergan are convinced they will revolutionise the marketing efforts of clinics and practitioners when it comes to fillers.

Here are the 3 most significant findings of their research, and what they could mean for you:

1. When women refer to filler treatment, the majority use “facial fillers” rather than “dermal fillers”

This is an interesting one, and the implications are simple. As medical professionals, we may be more inclined to refer to “dermal fillers”. But it’s important to speak the same language as your patients. When referring to the treatment on your website, brochure and any promotional materials, it is probably better to refer to the treatment as facial fillers if you don’t already. This will make your website more easily found, and your communications more relatable.

2. There’s a stigma attached to having fillers, mainly for two reasons – people are worried about them looking unnatural, and they don’t fully understand the treatment

It seems that many people need access to much more information about fillers. This represents a great opportunity for you. Fact sheets, Q&As, FAQs, videos, before and after photos, case studies, testimonials – all of these will mark you out as a great information resource. People are hungry for information on filler treatment, so use your website and social media channels to give them plenty of useful information and assuage their fears.

3. Women today feel more positive about ageing, and ageing well is more important than looking young 

Of the women Allergan spoke to, only 20% said they wanted to look five years younger. However, 41% said they wanted to look fresher and more radiant. This should be reflected in your marketing messages. Focusing more on the idea of fillers helping women look good for their age rather than looking younger will resonate more with your potential patients, and reflect the way they feel about themselves.

Cosmetic Courses are one of the UK’s most established training providers for medical professionals looking to enter the aesthetic industry. For more information on our dermal filler training, please contact us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

A 28-year-old woman from the Gansu Province in China is having to undergo corrective surgery as unlicensed dermal fillers were inserted in to her face 11 years ago.

Xiao Lan, still a teenager at the time, was told by her then-boss that her looks would not be enough to secure her finding a wealthy man as her skin was too thin and papery. As a result Lan chose to have facial fillers to help plump out the appearance of her face, in order to make it what was deemed to be more attractive.

Given that she was not earning a great deal at the time, rather than save up to have the procedure carried out at a reputable clinic, Lan chose to have the procedure done at an unlicensed, cheaper clinic. At the time she was said to be happy and satisfied with the outcome; however, in 2009, changes started to occur.

Her face swelled up and changed slightly in shape, her eyes became droopy and she even suffered from excessive hair loss. At the time doctors attributed this to possible kidney or liver failure, but there was no alternative diagnosis when these were ruled out.

By 2013 things had taken a turn for the worst, when Lan’s face has swollen up and changed beyond all recognition due to the unlicensed dermal fillers. This time doctors were able to pinpoint the problem as the side effect of her earlier fillers, when the substance that was used was uncovered. Although it was banned from the medical cosmetic industry, Lan’s face had been injected with hydrophilic polyacrylamide. Previously this substance had been used in breast implants in China.

Lan is now undergoing corrective surgery to reverse the problem caused by unlicensed dermal fillers. Doctors have warned her that the effects of the illicit substance injected in to her face may be difficult to reverse given that it has been in her skin for such a long time.

Who are Cosmetic Courses?

Cosmetic Courses are the UK’s leading Botox and Dermal Filler training provider for medical professionals, offering over 50 aesthetic courses online and offline. Find out more about our courses here! 

More and more women are seeking treatment for ageing hands, in what’s being dubbed the ‘Madonna effect’, so called after the star’s own hand treatment to reverse this tell-tale sign of ageing.

It has often been said that to tell a woman’s age you need look at the neck and the hands, as previously work to reverse the signs of ageing was really only performed on the face. However as skill and technology advances it is now possible to treat ageing hands as well as an ageing face.

Until now it was usually Thermage or laser treatments that would have been used on the hands however fillers are now regularly being requested in clinics up and down the country. Thermage works by strengthening the collagen in the skin which results in it becoming tighter, whilst laser treatment can help to reduce sun spots and pigmentation.

Fillers can go a step further however as they will help to restore volume to the hands, which can often be the main problem. Thinning skin can lead to a crepey, shrunken look which can make the hands look older.

As a result of this it’s important that training for dermal fillers includes treatments for the hands as well as for the face.

Cosmetic Courses are the UK’s leading aesthetic training provider for medical professionals with over 50 courses on and offline within our 6 state of the art training clinics.

Recently in the press, the issue of Botox and Filler training and who can be trained has come to light. Due to legislation only medically trained professionals are able to teach but also learn how to inject Botox and fillers.

At Cosmetic Courses we only offer our training to medical professionals – our delegates being a mixture of Doctors, Dentists and Nurses. Our delegates have to be medically qualified and registered with one of the following: General Medical Council, General Dental Council or Nursing and Midwifery Council. This ensures that our delegates are fully licensed to practise within the UK.

In one case an untrained man has been caught teaching Botox and Fillers to beauty therapists, who cannot legally participate in these courses as they lack the required medical qualifications. The man training the beauty therapists was sentenced to time in prison due to the severity of his actions.

This is unfortunate for those trained by him, as they naturally believed the certificate he provided was authentic and allowed them to practise. However, as any respected  non-surgical training provider will know, beauty therapists are not allowed to perform Botox and Dermal Filler treatments.

Therefore it is essential that at Cosmetic Courses we offer our training to the correct delegates. We are CPD certificated as well as having a working partnership with Hamilton Fraser, our insurance company, to ensure this.

Through training with Cosmetic Courses you get the security that our highly trained professional team are there for continued support, from helping you when you start your new career choice to the finer details that may occur throughout your career.

Furthermore, all our trainers are experienced and registered with the relevant medical governing bodies, so they are fully qualified to teach and perform Botox and Filler treatment in line with the regulations and legislations currently in place in the UK.