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Botox Training for Medical Professionals

Botox® Training for Medical Professionals

Whether you are looking to kick-start your career in aesthetics or wanting to build your personal development and professional skills, try our award-winning Botox® training for medical professionals. We offer our foundation course to surgeons, doctors, nurses and dentists who have an up to date registration.

As an established training provider for over 16 years, Cosmetic Courses has trained over 6000 professionals in Botox ® and dermal filler techniques, supporting them to set up their own successful clinics.

Benefits of Enrolling on Botox® and Dermal Filler Training

Botox® and dermal fillers demand is increasingly high, showing to be a beneficial area to train in. The majority of UK cosmetic treatments undergone are non-surgical, so you’ll be entering into a thriving industry that’s set to grow even larger. Our highly qualified team provide all the training and support required, offering their expertise and advice to guide you on your journey into aesthetic medicine.

Benefits include:

  • Gain the skills and confidence to enter aesthetic medicine
  • Become your own boss and work flexible hours
  • Have more control over your career and future
  • Provide the care you want to give – including spending more time with patients
  • Enjoy fewer regulations than when working in the NHS
  • Receive your professional certification at course completion
  • Unlimited support and aftercare are available for both your clinical needs and business

We’ll help you to become fully equipped to forge the career you want in non-surgical cosmetic treatments and aesthetics, whether as a surgeon, nurse, doctor or dentist.

Why Choose Our Botox® and Dermal Filler Training Course?

Combining both practical skills and business knowledge, our popular Botox® and Dermal Filler Course can help you begin to build a career in aesthetics. Our Botox® Training for Medical Professionals will introduce you to basic dermal filler and Botox® treatments (Juvederm and Allergan Botox®) which are highly sought after in the industry, giving you the foundation knowledge you’ll need.

Training involves:

  • A one day course
  • Interactive training in small groups
  • Led & supervised by an expert trainer
  • Practical, hands-on training for dermal filler and Botox injections using live models
  • Fully functioning clinic environment
  • CPD certificate provided on successful completion
  • Held in a number of locations (Belfast, Buckinghamshire, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham and London)
  • Starter kits and supplies available to purchase or order upon completion

You’ll learn everything from facial anatomy and injection techniques to aftercare and how to market your own practice. The CPD certificate you receive is insurance company recognised (we partner with leading aesthetic insurance companies), allowing you to practice the techniques you’ve learned straight away once you have the right insurance in place.

Continue Your Aesthetics Training

You can choose to build on your aesthetics training later on, including our Foundation Follow on Day, bespoke one-to-one course, introduction to lip augmentation and Level 7 Qualification in Injectables (the foundation course is Part 1 of this).

Thousands of medical professionals have put their trust in us thanks to our renowned expert faculty at Cosmetic Courses. A hand-picked team from all different medical backgrounds chosen by Medical Director  and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Mr Adrian Richards.

Book Your Botox Training Course Now

If you’re looking for the right dermal filler and Botox training for medical professionals, book our course now.

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Dr Pindolia’s Testimonial of her Aesthetic Training

Are you a doctor considering a career move into facial aesthetics? Since 2002 we have trained and mentored thousands of doctors, allowing them to establish a successful career in medical aesthetics. An example of this is Dr Kalpna Pindolia, who recently attended a Refresher Botox and Dermal Filler training course with the team here at Cosmetic Courses and has now set up her clinic; Envisage Aesthetics.

Read on as Kalpna discusses her journey into aesthetics and offers some advice if you’re a doctor considering this type of career move.

What is your background?

I am a registered Doctor working in Emergency Medicine. Alongside this I am now a mobile Aesthetic Doctor for my own clinic; Envisage Aesthetics.

Why did you decide to move into facial aesthetics?

My main aim was to have a better work-life balance and I have always wanted to establish and maintain my own independent business. I knew facial aesthetics would provide me with both of these things.

Why did you decide to train with Cosmetic Courses?

They had glowing testimonials and the personal interactions with their caring team were amazing. They offer high quality training with experienced practitioners within the context of ongoing support with your career progression. It was excellent value for money.

How did you find your training experience?

My training with Cosmetic Courses was simply excellent. I had an experienced and approachable practitioner, in a dedicated clinic environment, with models provided by Cosmetic Courses for clinical practice.

What do you enjoy most about your aesthetic work?

One area of my aesthetic work that I enjoy is practising high standards of communication in a privately-led environment for the process of informed consent. This, as well as the artistry involved which complements the clinical skills required for the process of getting achievable results. I also like establishing effective professional relationships with clients in the long term in order to address their needs over time.

What would you say to other doctors thinking about training in aesthetics?

Training in Botox and Dermal Fillers is a fantastic opportunity to achieve a work-life balance whilst still using your clinical expertise – including communication skills, practical techniques and running your own business. It is not an easy option, but very rewarding if you are willing to put in the time, effort and enthusiasm.

Aesthetic Training for Doctors

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in medical aesthetics or simply want to find out more information on our Botox and dermal filler training courses, please feel free to contact our course co-ordinators who would be more than happy to assist you.

 

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Botox and fillers – why take a refresher course?

It’s important for every practising medical aesthetic professional to undertake training to administer Botox and fillers, though it may be that a refresher course along the way could also prove useful.

How do you know if you could benefit from it? If you have worked in the aesthetics industry but have taken a break from it recently, the chances are that a refresher course will be the right course of action for you.

It may be that you have left the profession for a maternity break, or perhaps moved temporarily to another specialism. In which case it will not only help to brush up on techniques but will be vital in restoring any confidence that may have been lost as a result of absence from the industry.

It can also provide a worthwhile exercise for those who have not had a break from the profession, if not just to compare techniques with others but also learn any newer ideas with regards how to administer such treatments. It may simply provide a fresh way of looking at procedures, or how to get the very best out of them.

Cosmetic Courses offer Botox training and refresher courses to medical professionals, including doctors, dentists and nurses. For more information, contact the team on 01844 390110.

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Can I start my Cosmetic Courses training at Advanced Level if I am an experienced nurse, doctor or surgeon?

I am already an experienced doctor or surgeon: can I skip the foundation level course?

At Cosmetic Courses, we frequently receive enquiries from potential delegates wanting to know whether they can skip the foundation level medical aesthetic training (botulinum toxin training with an introduction to dermal fillers) and go straight to the advanced level techniques (such as brow lift, Nefertiti neck lift, platysmal bands, hyperhidrosis etc.) This question is usually posed by doctors or even surgeons who are very highly qualifed, so feel that the foundation course might be too simple for them and cover ground they already know.

However, we do strongly believe that all our medical professional delegates, regardless of sector or experience, need to start with the Foundation course. This is not to say that the Foundation course you do cannot be tailored specifically to your level and ability. We have good logic for this reasoning, which we shall explain in this Blog:

  1. Although you may be very experienced within your own field, medical aesthetics is quite a different approach (technically and theoretically) to other medical professions. Quite often it is the most highly trained doctors who find they need to go over the groundwork in skin structure again! Sometimes you might have covered the necessary theories, but a long time ago during your initial degree or you may have approached them at a different angle to the way you will need them for aesthetics. Having a refresher can only benefit your understanding and ability to deliver fantastic results to your patients.
  2. There is a much wider gap between the Foundation Level course and the Advanced Techniques course than many initial enquirers realise. It is only when we begin to explain the extent of the techniques and theories that we cover on this course that they see there may actually be a need for some homework in between the two in order to be confident enough with the required theory and methods to achieve good results. In fact, many of our delegates choose to attend 1-1 courses with Cosmetic Courses in between their Foundation and Advanced courses, to brush up on techniques they are unsure of before taking the next big step.
  3. Cosmetic Courses do actually certify you in competence after each course so we have a duty to know that each of our delegates have the Foundation grounding in place before we can progress you to the next level. Whilst the vast majority of our delegates are entirely honest, highly qualified and skilled practitioners, there are always those who will try to claim they have more ability than they do. Therefore, we have to assess this level of medical aesthetic competence in order to be sure that we are certifying fantastic injectors to go out into the world and practice!
  4. Cosmetic Courses have a reputation for excellence and very high standards of training. This benefits you in that the delegates we train are also associated with high standards of medical aesthetic ability. In order to maintain this, however, we need to be very rigorous about our training procedures and ensure that everybody follows each step of the courses.
  5. We do not want anybody to be frustrated, however, by material which they already feel they know or to believe that they are wasting time and money. Please be assured that Cosmetic Courses are experts at tailoring courses to suit individuals’ needs. If you feel that you are at a higher level than a typical Foundation Level delegate, simply give us a call on 01844 390 110 and explain your experience and knowledge. We can then work with you to put together a tailored foundation level package incorporating new angles, theories and techniques or focusing on areas which you feel you are less confident about.
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Advanced Cosmetic Training Courses: Brow Lift Treatments

Advanced Medical Aesthetic Training

So you have completed your Foundation Level Introduction to Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers. You’ve gone away and practiced all you learned and now you’re chomping at the bit to discover more techniques, right?

An Advanced Cosmetic Training Course is the ideal way to pick your basic skills up a level and add procedures like Cheek Sculpting, Platysmal Bands, Brow Lift and Hyperhidrosis to your repertoire. In this Blog, we will discuss the Brow Lift.

Brow Lift Treatment
As we age, gravity causes the eyebrows (brow) to move downwards.  We compensate for this by contracting the muscle which raises the eyebrows.  Contraction of this muscle causes wrinkle lines across the forehead.  Eventually the muscle relaxes and the eyebrows become lower.  This typically makes you look slightly sad and tired.  It can also increase the fold on the upper eyelid making it difficult to apply makeup.

Brow lift treatments are aimed at elevating the eyebrows.  This widens the eyes and makes you look less tired.  After surgery people are often asked if they have been on holiday as they look refreshed.  The effects are subtle and most people will not be able to pinpoint the exact change in you but will notice that you look fresher.

The eyebrow in females should be gently arched with its’ highest point lying 2/3rds of the way out from the centre.  In men the eyebrows are usually flatter and raising them is not usually appropriate as this can make them look slightly surprised.

In the past, the only satisfactory way to perform Brow lifts was with a surgery operation.  This procedure is normally carried out by keyhole surgery.  Small incisions are made within the hairline and the tissue is gently separated allowing the eyebrows to rise.  Most people recover quickly from the procedure and are back at work within 10 days.

Brow Lift Injections
More recently, however, medical aesthetic injection techniques have been used to lift the eyebrows.  Selectively weakening the muscles which pull down the eyebrows (using Botulinum Toxin) will result in them rising.  The muscles which pull down the inner part of the eyebrows cause frowning in the centre of the forehead.  The muscles which pull down the outer part of the eyebrows cause the crows-feet smile lines which occur on the temple on the side of the eye.

Unlike surgery, injections to weaken these muscles can be performed as a quick and easy outpatient procedure. Many people have the treatment during work breaks or at the end of the day.  The effects are not immediate with most people noticing a gradual decrease in the frown and crows feet wrinkles a week following treatment.  This effect last between 4-6 months and will need to be repeated.  Usually after a 3 treatments in a year the muscles relax more permanently and the effect last for longer and longer.

It is important to remember that everybody’s face is different and the consultation process is important to assess which treatment is most suitable for your patient.  This should ideally start with a skin analysis and discussion of the treatments available.

If you are interested in learning Brow Lift injectable techniques and other Advanced Medical Aesthetic Techniques, call Cosmetic Courses Training on 0800 328 5743. Alternatively, you can learn more about our advanced level training on our website.

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Sun Exposure & Flying after Azzalure treatment: Advice for Your Patients

Question:
Dear Cosmetic Courses,
Can you go on holiday to a very hot country 4 days after receiving Azzalure treatment?

The product information says to avoid direct sunlight for a week: how necessary is this and do you have any reassuring advice or tips for patients?

Cosmetic Courses Answer:
Thank you for your really good question about whether you can use Azzalure and then the patient go off on holiday.

Our general advice is that it should be absolutely fine. At Cosmetic Courses, we do get asked questions about people going up in planes following Azzalure treatment but this isn’t really a problem: lots of air stewardess’ have Botox and Dermal Filler treatments.

Regarding sunshine exposure on the small incisions where the needle went in, again we would advise that this is fine but we would advise patients to wear a Clinical-strength sunblock (Cosmetic Courses recommend the Heliocare range for maximum protection) on their face, which they should be doing anyway if they are going to a warm country.

Overall, not a problem at all performing Azzalure on people that are going abroad 4 days later: it is quite commonly performed. Sunblock is a good idea but in the first 74 hours following Azzalure treatment we encourage them to refrain from anything that raises their blood pressure too much, so travelling immediately after the injection wouldn’t be ideal.

Thanks very much for for sending in such an interesting Frequently Asked Question.

The Cosmetic Courses Team

If you are a medical professional interested in training to treat patients in Azzalure, Cosmetic Courses are one of the top UK medical aesthetic training providers. Contact us on 0845 230 4110 to discuss your training with our helpful team.

Or, if YOU have a question you would like our team of experts to answer, why not call our 24/7 Sipgate Helpline on 0870 4907385 for a personalised answer like the one above!

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Can Botox cause Brain Damage? As Allergan faces continued law suits, should Aesthetic Practitioners be worried?

It is perhaps unsurprising in America’s compensation culture.  A controversial product like Botox is a bit of a sitting duck for legal allegations and, in April this year, manufacturers Allergan found themselves at the centre of exactly such a court battle.

After claiming that Botox injections left him with Brain Damage, 67-year-old Douglas Ray Jnr was awarded a whopping $212 million in compensation from Allergan. His is one of 3 court cases brought against Allergan, linking Botox to Brain Damage (the other 2 will be heard later this year). An inevitable media-frenzy followed.

This is despite the fact that no firm evidence was produced definitively proving Botox to be the cause of Mr Ray Jnr’s symptoms. Allergan also protest the allegations that they provide inadequate information about the potential risks associated with the drug. The company are now challenging the charges.

So CAN Botox cause Brain Damage?

Of course, regardless of our skepticism about the “trigger-happy claims” tendencies in the U.S., allegations such as these are bound to have patients – and practitioners – concerned.

At around the time of this court case, The Journal of Neuroscience (April 2nd issue) featured an Italian study conducted on adult rats. Type A Botulinum Toxin injected into one side of the rats’ brains was demonstrated to appear on the other side as minute protein particles. The ‘Botox causes Brain Damage’ media frenzy began, neatly tying in with the Allergan court battle.

Yet, as Fabulously40 bloggers Lois Stern and Patty Kovacs point out, the rats received purified botulinum toxin. The Botox typically injected into patients is not the same. And although migration of protein particles might be worrying, it cannot be taken as definitive proof of brain damage. In fact, senior Harvard surgeon Gary Borodic emphasises: “There is nothing in this paper that says these injections will damage neurons or that there are long-term side-effects.”

Be Careful of Misinterpreting the Facts

 The fact that the Journal of Neuroscience article could create such media hype, despite being based on very little solid theory, has to make Practitioners also question the basis of the court case against Allergan.

For starters: what actually constitutes “Brain Damage”? Very few articles about this case actually describe Mr Ray Jnr’s symptoms in tangible detail (though this does not necessarily mean they are not physically as well as mentally present). And of the 2 other upcoming cases against Allergan, at least one of them (according to sideeffects.net) ‘linked the [Botox] injection to a person’s limited ability to perceive the emotions of others’. This seems a rather woolly definition of Brain Damage. It also reminiscent of the symptoms of Autism, bringing with it the connotations of another recent media hype surrounding an injectable drug treatment: the children’s MMR injections.  As earlier stated: any controversial drugs or treatment programme becomes a scapegoat for criticism and compensation claims. But it is very hard to prove a definitive link when you are talking in terms of emotional capacity damage.

Secondly, it must be pointed out that Mr Ray Jnr did NOT receive Botox treatment for lines or wrinkles. By not clarifying this, the media has generally allowed the public to  think that he was…and therefore created the mass panic of hundreds of Botox affeciendos! He was in fact having treatment for hand tremor and writer’s cramp.  One of the charges brought against Allergan by the Justice Department are for promting Botox for “off label” use such as these,plus migraine headaches, juvenile cerebal palsy etc. All of these uses for Botox require different concentrations and methods of treatment which may involve a greater element of risk and have been tested for less time, on a lesser number of patients than Botox treatment for wrinkles.

In the Journal of Neuroscience featured study, the rats were injected directly into their brains…hardly a realistic testing condition for patients receiving treatment in standard cosmetic procedures. However, perhaps “off label” uses of Botox should be approached with greater caution until further investigations are carried out.

Finally, Douglas Ray Jnr’s ‘significant and catastrophic injury to the brain’ came about not through the Botox treatment itself but as a result of ‘severe accute immune reaction’ (BNET). This is where the charge against Allergan for failing to provide adequate information about the possible side-effects and risks of Botox comes into place. It is the duty of all good Aesthetic Practitioners to sufficiently warn their patients that, as with all drugs, Botox is not without risks. However (and especially in the case of the dosages used for anti-wrinkle treatment) these risks are well tested and marginal. A case like Mr Ray Jnr’s would be the absolute exception, not the norm.

And this is why, although it is of course important to express concern and to do your research when cases like the Allergan Botox Brain Damage trials come to light, we do not feel that Cosmetic Practitioners need to be putting Botox on the backburner just yet.

Article by Cosmetic Courses, leading UK providers of Aesthetic Injectables training (Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers) to medical professionals. Call 0845 230 4110 for more details, or visit our website.

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Can you learn to perform a “Botox Facelift”?

The procedure hailed the “Botox Facelift” is actually a more modern technique using Botox treatment to improve the jaw line and give it a better definition.

Botox works by weakening muscles and it is possible to selectively weaken muscles which pull down the jawline producing an elevation and tightening of the jaw line.

Typically small injections are given just below the jaw line into the muscles which pull down the skin of the jaw. A real improvement in the jawline using this technique has been developed in the last few years, known as the Nefertiti Lift (after the Egyptian Queen with the famously slender and beautiful jawline).

This form of treatment is extremely effective in treating the jawline areas and a very popular treatment amongst patients. You can learn Advanced Botulinum Toxin techniques like these (and more!) on Cosmetic Courses’ Advanced Level training, or on a bespoke 1-1 course focusing on areas like this. Call us on 0845 230 4110 for more information, or book your Advanced Course securely online today.

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Botox for Asthma: The latest Botox buzz

First Migraines, now Asthma…what else can Botox Treat?

We are not skeptics about the wonders of Botox, or Botulinum Toxin Type A.  We are, of course, already familiar with its potential for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, treating excess sweating (hyperhidrosis) and even of its medicinal uses for an array of good: from Essential Tremor to Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebal Palsy (almost any condition involving involuntary muscle movement!).  More recently, those in the Medical Aesthetics industry have heard of the potential to treat their patients with Botox injections for Migraine. And now, the most recent development launched in Australia on Tuesday, comes testing of Botox as an Asthma alleviant.

Monash University tests Botox for Vocal Exhaustion
The research, conducted at Melbourne’s Monash University, involves particularly severe asthma cases….and Botox injections directly to the voicebox!

The focus is ‘vocal exhaustion’: as the Telegraph has reported, ‘half of people with asthma also have voicebox spasms that can make it difficult to exercise or perform other normal activities’.  The theory is that using Botulinum Toxin Type A to work its paralysing magic on the voicebox will stop the spasms, allowing severe asthma sufferers to resume normal standards of breathing and activity.

Is Botox to the Throat really Safe
Botox is already used for other vocal chord disorders (like spasmodic dysphonia) so there is definitely logic behind this line of thinking and it could well work…if patients can be persuaded to have shots of paralytic toxin directly to their throats! The trials (lasting a year and initially conducted on 60 patients – 30 real, 30 placebo) are only based in Australia for now and the USA and UK are likely to take a little more persuading before theydecide to go ahead with similar research.  For now, these countries are probably happy to sit back and watch with interest as director of respiratory medicine, Phil Bardin, and his team conduct the pioneering study: particularly as they are currently only “reasonably reassured that it’s safe”. Temporary quietness of the voice, however, is the only side-effect that they claim to be expecting.

One thing is for sure: continued research like this does show the credibility of Botulinum Toxin as a career path for Medical Professionals….this is not just a “Beauty” sector and there is a great deal of good, potential for pioneering work and health treatments which can be performed once you choose to train in Botox techniques.

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Entering the Medical Aesthetic Industry: Be Realistic, not Pessimistic!

Be Realistic…but Stay Positive: You Can Do It!

There has been a trend recently to draw awareness to the fact that entering the Aesthetic Industry is not always plain sailing.

Quite rightly, skeptics have stressed the perils of skipping blindly away from your day job (which may have its downsides but nonetheless pays the bills, right?) after promises of reduced working hours, more input and creative freedom…not to mention money, money, money.

So, What Does it Take?

Let’s be sensible here: Everything in life, particularly with an economy like ours in the UK today, is what you make of it. As Elton John penned in “The Circle of Life”: Some will fall by the wayside, others will shoot to the stars. But a great deal in this industry comes down to:

a)having the required skillset to begin with. This is why the best training providers will, like Cosmetic Courses, only take on medical professionals. We talk about Insurance but this is a very real issue: if you can’t get insured after your training, you won’t get work, therefore it simply would not be fair for us to train you under false pretences. Also, we have found that professionals from roles like Nurses, Doctors and Dentists already have a high number of the skills required to make it in this sector. For more information on this, take a look at our brand new Transferable Skills pages for Doctors, Nurses and Dentists.

b)Ability to network. This is partially being in the right place at the right time, but largely putting yourself out there and making contacts, getting to know others within the industry who can recommend products and techniques, introduce clients…and possibly even provide jobs or partnerships! Self-promotion is absolutely vital so you do need a strong backbone and a creative streak (which of course you have already to be considering Aesthetics!). With online resources like Linked-In, Gumtree, Facebook and regular conferences to attend…the medical aesthetic world really is your oyster.

Market Yourself

To illustrate this point further, here is a real recent enquiry from a Delegate. This both shows the need to be realistic about the industry you are considering going into, and the things that can be done to ensure you give yourself the best chance possible:

Question:
Dear Cosmetic Courses,

I took a medical aesthetic training course in April 2010, and have yet to get my first client! I work full time, as a Practice Nurse, and realise I  may not have promoted myself enough. I have advertised myself in a local dentists, and beauty salon.

Answer from Libby Stewart, Cosmetic Courses Aesthetic RGN:

It can be difficult to get going with your practice.
You could consider holding an open evening at a salon or practice to inform potential patients of what treatments you can offer and how the treatments may work for them. People seem to need more than an advertisement to encourage them. Patients who are regulars to procedures are usually happy to stay with their existing practitioner unless something interests them to leave eg. your prices or they just like you better. Patients who are new to treatment and just considering it need a lot of encouragement and benefit from a good consultation so that you can establish a relationship with them.
Yes, the insurance has to be paid once you commence treatments but most of the companies allow for monthly payments that you can cancel at any time should you find this is not the right field for you. Remember that what initially looks like quite a mark up on product cost can seem less of a profit when you take purchase of product and consumables, paying yourself an houly rate, any rent or commission that you pay to a third party and insurance and training costs incurred by you into consideration. So the price you charge for your treatments should reflect all of these to make sure you still make a profit!

Cosmetic Courses are always on hand and happy to offer advice if you are Entering the Aesthetic Industry or about your Business and Marketing Strategy. 24 hour Advice is available through our Telephone Line, 01844 390110…simply leave your question and we will get in touch very quickly!

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