Dentists and the Medical Aesthetic Industry

It is a well known fact that great teeth can transform a face and takes years off.

A dentist is a highly skilled professional who understands the make up of the face better than most.  Trained in the detailed anatomy and muscular structure, there is no-one who appreciates more the effect that good teeth and firm skin can have on a person`s confidence and nobody understands better how to achieve that outcome.

Dentists have used cosmetic methods like teeth whitening kits for many years to improve their patients’ aesthetic appearances. More recently, however, dentists have started to appreciate the natural link between dentistry, Botox and dermal filler treatments and practices are starting to branch out into this new area.

Botox has been used to treat issues such as temporopmandibular joint disorders and for treatment of chronic migraines and now more and more are looking at its use for aesthetic treatments.

Botox injections and facial fillers are leading the way in the cosmetic procedures department, being largely non- invasive forms of treatment, in comparison with breast surgery or skin tucks and demand is strong.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for use cosmetically, Botox is now a widely used and safe procedure enjoyed by many and works by relaxing the muscles that cause wrinkles by movement. Dermal fillers plump out and smooth away wrinkles.

The medical aesthetic industry is made up of practitioners from doctors, dentists and nurses with Professional Associations such as the Association of Facial Aesthetics, who exist to protect, help and support dentists within this field.

As demand grows, so do career opportunities for fully trained individuals in this area. The huge growth is demonstrated by the successful launch in 2010 of the Cosmetic News Expo, offering a chance for cosmetic dentists to gain free education in this field of expertise. Hand in hand with the Expo is a free monthly publication, Cosmetic News, which is full of information for practitioners.

There is plenty of room in the industry for dentists to study with leading training providers like Cosmetic Courses in Botox and Dermal Fillers then go on to become big success stories in their own rights.

Examples of dentists who have moved successfully into the medical aesthetics industry include Dr Komal Suri, who has a passion for beautiful smiles, having trained extensively to be the best she can be. She has attended Aesthetic Advantage Training in New York and studies with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry as well as the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and has attended Master classes.

Dr Brian Franks is a facial aesthetics clinician specialising in wrinkle reduction injections and dermal fillers and as a member of several Aesthetic Facial Associations is well respected in his field. His involvement in this field was a natural progression as demand grew for these services. Both dentists and many more regularly appear on the cosmetic dentistry guide and are recognised as experts who have understood the natural progression from dentistry to cosmetic facial work.

If you would like more information about training courses in Medical Aesthetics for dentists with Cosmetic Courses, please call us today on 0845 230 4110

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Aesthetic Nurse Libby Stewart Shares her Experience

Libby Stewart; as one of Cosmetic Courses’ most experienced Trainers, how did your career move from Mainstream Nursing into Aesthetic Nursing?

My career path into Medical Aesthetics is probably true of a lot of Nurses. I stumbled into it by chance.

Working with Mr Adrian Richards

I worked with Mr Adrian Richards (Plastic Surgeon and Founder of Cosmetic Courses) in theatre, where I was a Bank Nurse on his surgery team and worked with him regularly.

Mr Richards saw the need to develop medical aesthetics to assist with his surgical work. For example: a lot of patients were prepared for surgery through injections of botox into areas like the platysmal bands. Also, surgery can only counteract loose skin, not really permanently replace volume. So the two professions are very nicely linked.

Medical Aesthetic Nurse Training

When I was asked to do a Medical Aesthetics training course to be of assistance to him, I didn’t really think it was for me. I didn’t think it was for “real” nurses. I didn’t think I would like it.

When I first started, I was sleepless with nerves! My first few clinics were far too busy. I became over-faced, flustered and really had to pull myself together. But I pulled myself up like Mary Poppins and said “I’m made of tougher stuff than that!”

I learnt that by spacing your patients out, giving yourself enough time with them, some breathing space and learning tricks like turning your back to your patients when you’re drawing up your Botox, it really helps.

It was not too long before I had the Botox bug and now here I am today!

Libby trains nurses, doctors, dentists and other medical professionals on Foundation to Advanced level courses in Botox and Dermal Fillers, daily at The Cosmetic Courses National Cosmetic Training Centre in Buckinghamshire. Call 0845 230 4110 to book your course with Libby and the Team.

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Train in Hyperhidrosis and Make a Difference!

Going into business with Botulinum Toxin does not have to be all about banishing wrinkles and filling-in frown lines.

To the contrary, a number of techniques with Botox (particularly the Advanced Level procedures) allow sophisticated re-sculpting such as the Cheek and Jowl Lift or Platysmal Band treatment.  Others offer greatly increased standards of living to patients in terms of improved confidence and well-being: these are far more than “aesthetic” procedures and there is no finer example than Hyperhidrosis Treatment.

Hyperhidrosis is just a fancy name for excessive sweating. In about 1.0% of the population (according to The Hyperhidrosis Support Group) the sympathetic nervous system works at an overly high level. This means that, instead of simply regulating body temperature, Hyperhidrosis sufferers sweat profusely from certain body parts, often at inappropriate times, causing extreme embarrassment.

The most common areas for patients to experience Hyperhidrosis are:

  • The palms of the hands (Palmer Hyperhidrosis)
  • Soles of the feet (Planter Hyperhidrosis)
  • The armpits (Axillary Hyperhidrosis)
  • Also: the face, head, groin and back.

So Where Do You Come In?

Firstly, you need to be confident in diagnosing Hyperhidrosis rather than simply heavy sweating. If you are unsure, you could always suggest that the client sees their GP first and asks for a referral.

Excessive sweating is not always due to Hyperhidrosis: it can be because of illnesses, such as hyperthyroidism, psychiatric disorders, menopause and obesity. It is obviously important to consider these possibilities. According to Dr Prashant Murugkar in Body Language Magazine, there are other characteristics to look out for when making your diagnosis:

  • In Secondary Hyperhidrosis (where the cause of excessive sweating is known) you should expect the patient to also have a Thyroid disorder, Diabetes Mellitus, Menopause or similar which could be responsible.
  • In the more common Primary Hyperhidrosis (where the exact cause remains unknown) things to look for include: patient aged 25 years or over; family history of similar problems; excessive sweating beginning suddenly over the past 6 months; sweating so badly that it is interfering with daily activities;  excessive sweating stops when the patient is asleep.

The Iodine Test is commonly used for diagnosis. Apply 2% iodine solution to both armpits, allow to dry then brush corn-starch powder onto the area. If the light brown colour turns dark purple, this is a positive test for sweat.

Treatment

 

As Dr Murugkar quite rightly recognises, Hyperhidrosis is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This is despite the fact that 1-2% of the population suffer from the problem and it causes great embarrassment and discomfort. Many Hyperhidrosis sufferers refuse to wear any colours other than black or white to try to hide their sweat patches and hate public situations. The NHS has no specific guidelines for Hyperhidrosis and many GPs are unsure what to advise. This leaves a huge niche in the market for trained medical professionals who can offer a sensitive, professional service to help Hyperhidrosis sufferers.

Apart from Antiperspirants (of which strong roll-on gels and powders like Driclor are an option), the only known successful treatment for Hyperhidrosis is Botulinum Toxin Type A.

You can choose from Botox or Dysport for your Botulinum Toxin Type A. The purified neurotoxin, derived from clostridium botulinum, blocks the over-active release from the sympathetic nerve fibres triggering the ecrine sweat glands.

Using a very fine needle, small amounts of Botulinum Toxin solution are injected into 10 to 15 places about 1cm apart and spread evenly in each armpit. Sometimes a dye is used to show up the areas where sweating is greatest and where the injections should be placed. A course of treatment takes about 30 minutes.

Within 1-2 weeks, most patients have benefit from Hyperhidrosis Treatment with Botulinum Toxin, which usually lasts 6-18 months.

Hyperhidrosis Treatment is well worth training in. It is simple to administer if you are a trained medical practitioner. Moreover, as Dr Murugkar neatly summarises,in terms of benefits of training in this Technique, ‘Relief from the misery of Hyperhidrosis tends to be a very rewarding achievement and creates satisfied patients for the practitioner’.

Happy patients; Happy practitioners…..Happy Hyperhydrosis Training!

Cosmetic Courses offer expert fully supervised Hyperhidrosis Training to medical professionals as part of our Advanced Level Course. We can also offer Advice and Support in setting up your business using this Technique. Call us today on 0845 230 4110

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Facial Fillers

When patients are looking for wrinkle and age spot reduction, they often look at fractional laser resurfacing and other skin invasive skin tightening techniques. Facial fillers, or dermal fillers, can often replace laser and surgical treatments. A variety of facial fillers are now available, and patients should speak with a qualified dermatologist or physician about which is best for them.

Dr. Tahl Humes is the owner and medical director of VITAHL Medical Aesthetics in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Humes, who performes both surgical procedures and facial fillers, says that she prefers Juvederm because her patients have less swelling and bruising than with other varieties. Juvederm is a smooth gel non-animal dermal filler with the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid available. Dr. Humes says that she prefers Juvederm, but uses Restylane on a rare occasion as well.

As the body ages, it’s normal to see a decrease in the volume appearance of the cheeks because of either fat loss in the face or because of reabsorbtion of bone. This often causes a hollow appearance in the cheeks. Dr. Humes prefers Radiesse or Sculptra for this larger area because these products are better for larger areas. Radiesse and Sculptra are both non-hyaluronic acid based fillers used in recontouring the face. To get the most out of facial fillers, patients often combine large area treatments with individual line treatements.

Dr. Humes recommends Sculptra treatments to her patients who want to keep their filler treatments under wraps. Sculptra treatments done over a period of three months offer a more gradual change. As a bonus, Sculptra stimulates natural collagen slowly and helps to keep a more natural look. With this type of treatment, others won’t quickly notice that the patient has had treatments.

With the many options available with fillers, doctors are now able to meet the needs of almost every patient. Facial fillers are a temporary solutions, though. Some may only last six months while others may last as long as two years. Patients interested in facial contouring, resurfacing, or lifting should speak with their doctor about facial fillers to see if this choice is right for them.

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Alternatives To A Face Lift: Injections and Fillers

Many people are fighting to reverse the effects of aging. Now with an alternative to plastic surgery, less invasive facial treatments are being sought after. Some of theseFace Lift include, laser treatments, injections of Botox and dermal fillers.

These treatments are great for those aging employees who are trying to stay younger looking so as to stay competitive in the job market. There are also professions where you want to look younger, like the others to fit in. You don’t want the age to start showing on your face. With the economy being so fragile, these treatments are a lot less expensive to obtain.

New dermal fillers are an excellent way to correct sagging cheeks and laugh lines. These fillers are made of a complex sugar that is found in many tissues in the body called hyaluronic acid. The most popular treatment is one an injection to treat expression lines between the brows and on the forehead. This popular treatment is called injectable botulinim toxin.

These less invasive treatments are being chosen over plastic surgery because they are only a fraction of the cost with much less recovery time. These treatments can cost anywhere from $400 to $1000 with a few hours recovery time, some injections can even be done on your lunch break, while a facelift can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000 and take weeks to recover. The only downside is that people are spending thousands of dollars getting treatments repeated for maximum results which can end up costing you more than the facelift would have.

Many plastic surgeons have turned their businesses to offering these fillers and injections, as their surgery business is declining. However, there are some issues that fillers and injections will not correct, so plastic surgery is required. It has been estimated that plastic surgeons are accumulating over 50% of their income from fillers and injections, like Restylane and Dysport.

There is a growing concern among experts that people will be on the bandwagon to try any new thing that becomes available. This can put their health at risk and it is best to stick with the methods that are proven to help, rather than gamble on a new, untested method.

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Hold Back the Sands of Time with Pellvue

Individuals have always been trying to unearth ways to keep youthful and hold back the “sands of time.” Attain promising results from one of the latest non-surgical rejuvenator, Pelleve. This product is slated to diminish maturing facial skin and lessen the signs of aging without undergoing the knife, annoying injections or telltale blotching effects.

What is Pellvue?

Pellvue received clearance in May 2009 from the FDA. The deep layers of the skin are heated which in turn helps encourage the manufacture of new collagen. The added bonus is the existing collagen begins to tighten and shrink down the appearance of wrinkles.

Procedure

Application is painless and easy. The entire procedure is done as an out-patient in a doctor’s office. The doctor will touch the designated area with the Pelleve “wand” or handpiece. Once applied to the targeted zones, it will produce a warm massage-like sensation to the patient, while heating the internal deep layers of the skin. The wand uses an advanced radiowave technology, supported through a generator without damaging or scaring the epidermis. As the heat moves through the skin, it pinpoints the collagens rich layer underneath the surface of the skin (aka dermis) and awakens it.

Time required

Receiving better results than most other non-invasive procedures, the patient requires no recovery time, no anesthesia, and will notice with just one treatment firmer, tighter skin. The patient can back to their normal daily timetable immediately. Depending the amount of treatment and areas deemed necessary by the doctor, the entire treatment will generally take only 45 minutes to an hour. The doctor will recommend the number of treatments that would be most beneficial for each individual patient. Even up to a month later, the application continues its working process on results of improving the skin´s exterior even more.

Benefits

Pelleve works on all skin types, including people of color. Pelleve can be treated to all age groups, but those individuals in their in their late 40s to early 50s, searching for that fresh and vibrant appearance gain results the most. Individuals seeking to diminish the fine lines, lift sagging cheeks or jowls and overall tightening of the facial muscles, including the upper eye lids, should discuss Pellvue as a treatment of choice with their physician. It may be incorporated with other treatments to compliment the best results for you.

Results are noticeable after just one treatment. The period of longevity to maintain the outcome can vary, as the skin continues to produce new collagen. Dependent on the precise targeted area and individual, Pellvue has been known to last several years on some patients.

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Glycolic Skin Treatment

Now is the perfect time for a facial peel, in winter the skin can appear dull and ashy in appearance. Facial peels are a great way to rejuvenate the skin to reveal younger looking more radiant skin. Vegetable peel facials offer the same benefits as other chemical treatments like microdermabrasion. All facial scrubs and chemical peels can be used in combination with at-home methods like peel off masks.

Facial peels can repair damage to the skin caused by air pollution or overexposure to the sun. People who benefit the most from chemical peel treatments are those with mild to moderate acne, certain thyroid conditions which may cause a dull complexion. Menopausal women also benefit greatly from chemical peels to counteract the lax or sagging skin that occurs during menopause.

Chemical peels use glycolic acid as an exfoliating agent to chemically remove surface dead skin cells and improve the texture of facial skin. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) are often used in chemical peel treatments. AHA and BHA are acids that occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. There are other acids that can be used in chemical peels that are derived from natural sources such sour milk- it produces lactic acid which was used as a beauty treatment by the Egyptians. AHA is the most popular because of its molecular structure; it can penetrate the pore and remove the dead skin cells to accelerate the exfoliation process. Glycolic acid stimulates collagen growth and does not cause any visible peeling. Chemical peels should only be performed by a licensed dermatologist. Only your dermatologist knows the proper concentration of glycolic acid to apply to improve the appearance of the skin.

During the chemical peel process, AHA is the form of glycolic acid is applied directly to the skin. The face is prepared for the treatment by using a pre-peel cleanser. The glycolic acid should only be left on the skin for a few minutes.

You must use sunscreen for 2-4 days following treatment and you should avoid intense sunlight. You may start to wear make-up, 24 hours after treatment. Treatment may consist of a series of acids peels for an interval of three to six weeks to achieve total skin rejuvenation.

Follow all instructions by your dermatologist and if you experience any side effects after a chemical peel, such as brown discoloration of the skin. Contact your dermatologist immediately.

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Botox Testing on Animals Has Now More Than Doubled

Botox and other similar treatments are causing thousands upon thousands of animals a great deal of suffering due to painful deaths.

Recent figures are now showing that mice used in laboratories are now being used invery controversial drug toxicity tests and have now doubled in the European culture between the years of 2005 and 2008 in an increase from 33,000 to 87,000.

In accordance to the leading authorities in the world in regard to animal experiments, thisdramatic rise is best explained by the increase in face lifts.

Experiments on animals being tested for cosmetic reasons have been banned in countries such as Europe. Despite this fact, Botox treatments are now being classified as pharmaceutical medicines. Batches upon batches of Botox are injected into many groups of mice and the increased doses cause over half of the mice to perish.

While some doctors use Botox to treat muscle spasms or chronic sweating problems, Botox is better known for the treatment of wrinkles.

In more recent years, celebrities like Katie Price have undergone Botox treatment.

No animals should have to undergo any suffering for the benefit of the beauty industry nor should they have to endure the painful deaths associated with harmful Botox testing.

As fashionable as Botox is becoming in today’s world now means that there will be more and more tests performed on animals in the near future.

Botox was developed in the United States of America. There are other rival facial lift products such as Azzalure manufactured in Aspen. All Botox products are created from a chemical called botulinum which a deadly toxin.

To test for dilution and potency levels of safe doses, manufacturers use the very controversial LD50 test on animals. This test involves injecting sufficient quantities of this drug which, in turn, kills at least 50 percent of the mice being tested. Most mice given Botox end up suffering severe respiratory problems, paralysis and end up dying from suffocation. The International Humane Society has stated that the SNAP-25 test should be used as an alternative oftootox.

Botox is classified as a medical drug which is licensed for conditions such as blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, focal spasticity for cerebral palsy, cervical dystonia, upper limb spasticity within adults whom have suffered stroke or heart attack as well as severe axillary hyperhidrosis. Botox has also been used in recently treated chronic migraines within the United Kingdom.

Botox is a dangerous and inhumane procedure that should be banned. For humanity’s sake, we need to take all necessary steps to stop the use of Botox on animals.

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Breast Cancer Patients Helped Via Botox Injections

A surgeon in Vancouver is using Botox to relieve muscle pain for breast cancer patients. Botox injections are used to ease muscle pain for those who have had their breasts removed due to breast cancer surgery. In fact, some breast cancer survivors state that they have received 100 percent pain relief using Botox injections in the chest wall.Doctor Allen Babriel and his team in Vancouver in the Southwest Medical Group have been using Botox injections to relieve muscle pain in breast cancer surgery patients. Some patients who have had breast removal surgery twice have been astonished at the difference in pain levels with and without the Botox injections.

Breast cancer survivors who were to have reconstructive surgery had expanders placed in their chest walls to form the proper shape within the chest wall to perform the reconstruction at a later date. But patients have long complained about the extreme discomfort of the expanders, which is described as being like a severe muscle cramp.

In tests in his practice, Doctor Allen Gabriel tested Botox injections on 30 mastectomy patients. Fifteen of the patients were given a saline solution placebo, while 15 patients were given Botox injections. The mastectomy patients who received the Botox injections showed a huge decline in pain. They expressed that they were in much less pain than were the patients who received the saline solution placebo injections. Doctor Gabriel and his team were thrilled to find a solution to the long-standing problem of post mastectomy pain for those who were to undergo reconstructive surgery and had previously had to endure the pain of chest expanders.

Unfortunately, Botox injections are expensive. Thanks to a grant provided by the Southwest Medical group, Doctor Gabriel can provide the injections for free for breast cancer survivor reconstruction patients. The Southwest Washington Health System, who is sponsoring the Botox injection for breast cancer patients study, is providing free Botox injections for those participating.

The amount of pain and suffering that breast cancer surgery patients have to endure just because of the surgery itself is quite significant. Those preparing for reconstructive breast surgery after a mastectomy have had to go through quite a bit more pain because of the chest wall expanders used to prepare their bodies for reconstructive surgery. Dr. Allen Gabriel and his team have been gratified to discover that Botox injections can save their patients much suffering.

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Cosmetic Procedures In Elderly Women Skyrocket

With the advent of plastic surgery, and alternative procedures that do not involve surgery, wealthy women started the war against aging. As time has progressed however, technology has gotten much better, and as a result, these procedures have become safer, more appealing, and more affordable. As such, more and more people have turned to new procedures such as face-lifts and Botox injections.

Though some use cosmetic procedures just to enhance their own image and try to look better, people are starting to use it to turn 50 into the new 30. Recent studies and new polls suggest that the amount of women approaching old age, and seeking cosmetic procedures to delay aging, has come close to doubling in recent years. These studies also suggest that with more advances in the cosmetic field, these numbers will only continue to rise.

Many celebrities that have fallen from their pinnacle of beauty, are also now seeking these cosmetic treatments. Although not an intended effect of their procedures, due to their high amounts of public exposure, these celebrities serve as walking advertisements for the cosmetic surgery industry. Many people that idolize either these people, or beauty, may seek out these treatments solely because the people they look up to find them to be fine.

Some people may question why a women would want to change her natural body in the first place, but the answer is actually pretty obvious. Where sees 50 years ago, aging was tolerated as a natural part of life, the modern media now portrays aging as something bad and ugly. As women get older and experience menopause, their bodies start changing in ways that are now considered to be unattractive. They then seek out these cosmetic procedures, not only to make themselves look more attractive in society’s eyes, but also to improve their own self-esteem.

Though many question the ethics and morals of plastic and cosmetic surgeries, their benefits to society are obvious. With many famous figures acquiring new looks through these measures, they provide inspiration for common people to go out and get them to. Because of society’s misconstrued views of aging, plastic surgery is as psychological as it is physical, helping older women both look better, and improve their confidence in themselves. As these procedures become safer and more affordable, there is no doubt that the number of people seeking them will only continue to rise, and their benefits to society will be enjoyed by more and more people.

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