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Meet the Cosmetic Courses team at the ACE Conference

This weekend, 8-9th March, Cosmetic Courses are exhibiting at the ACE Conference If you’re going to be there, come along and say hello!

The ACE Conference is one of the biggest events in the industry, and it’s our first time exhibiting, so we’re really looking forward to it.

Lots of preparations have been made over the last few weeks, with the whole team working hard behind the scenes. Now it’s almost here, we’re excited to find out what the conference is like, and get the chance to meet lots of people in the industry.

You’ll be able to find us at Stand 31, where we’ll be offering lots of practical help for people looking to start or develop their aesthetic careers, including:

  • * Exclusive discounts – book a course during the conference and receive £100 discount!
  • * Advice and information on new training courses
  • * Upcoming course dates
  • * Business advice

On the Saturday afternoon at 3pm, our Clinical Director, Adrian Richards, and Aesthetic Nurse and Trainer, Mel Recchia, will be performing a live demonstration of lip augmentation with dermal fillers at ACE Conference.

The idea is to give people an introduction to the treatment, as well a taster of what they can expect when they come along to one of our courses. So if you are coming to the conference and interested in learning lip filler techniques, it should be well worth you coming along.

If you don’t have tickets for the event but think you might want to attend, the ACE conference takes place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, and entry to the exhibition is free (though if you want to attend lectures, seminars and masterclasses, a charge is payable).

For anyone who is going to be there, whether exhibiting or attending, we’ll see you there.

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Beautician convicted for fraudulent Botox treatment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Botox’s ever-increasing medicinal repertoire may soon include pain relief for cancer and arthritis sufferers

The positive uses that Botox can have on the body are well known within the medical industry, despite it being most commonly thought of as an anti-ageing cosmetic procedure.

Traditionally (indeed prior to its use as an anti-ageing injectible), it was formulated for and administered to those with eye problems, and has continued to be used in ophthalmology as well as helping to treat other ailments. These include hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), overactive bladders and migraines.

Now though, one university professor has discovered a safe way that botulinum toxin (the full term for Botox) can be used to treat chronic pain, which would be tremendous news for those suffering from pain associated with cancer, arthritis and long-term back pain, for example.

The potential for Botox to be used as pain relief is not in itself a brand new discovery – it works by paralysing nerve endings to stop their usual function, so for example, in the case of wrinkles it freezes their movement and with bladder incontinence it stops the signal to urinate – by the same token it is known that it can suppress pain.

Until now though there was no known way that Botox could be administered without it paralysing the area in question and stopping it from functioning altogether, rather than simply paralysing the pain. But now Professor Bazbek Davle from Sheffield University has discovered a way that it might be used.

He and his research team have discovered that when using part of the botulinum poison and sticking it to extracted poison from the tetanus bug (the ‘friendly’ part of it) it can send signals from the painful area to the spinal chord, thus sending a message to the brain to freeze the pain rather than the area that it is administered to.

So far animal trials have proved positive, with large-scale human trials planned next. If these are successful then the drug could be available on the market within three years. It is not expensive, either – it will cost £1000 annually to produce, meaning that it should be readily available on the NHS. For those who suffer from long-term pain it should be welcome relief, especially as it will also negate the need for daily pill-popping.

Cosmetic Courses offer foundation, advanced and bespoke Botox courses to medical professionals seeking to enter the aesthetic industry. See our list of upcoming courses on our homepage.

 

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

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

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

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

Spokesperson for BAAPS and consultant plastic surgeon James McDiarmid said:

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

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

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

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

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Keogh Review calls for qualifications for non-invasive treatments including Botox and dermal fillers

Initial findings from the Keogh Review, the committee set up to investigate the aesthetic medicine industry and its standards, have been released, the results of which show the need for greater regulation for the industry, particularly where non-invasive procedures are concerned.

Currently there is no law or industry regulation that makes qualifications to administer non-invasive procedures mandatory and this review is set to change that. It was also expected that only medical professionals (doctors, nurses and dentists) would be able to carry out the procedures however that tenet has so far not been decided upon.

In a burgeoning and ever-growing industry it’s important that standards are met and introducing regulation is one way of ensuring this will happen. It also provides the patient with an extra degree of trust and certainty, and offers better protection if things go wrong. On discussing these finding Sir Bruce Keogh said:

“All too often we hear of cases that shine a light on poor practices in the cosmetic surgery industry. I am concerned that some practitioners who are giving non-surgical treatments may not have had any appropriate training whatsoever. This leaves people exposed to unreasonable risks, and possibly permanent damage.

“Our research has shown that the public expect procedures that are so widely available to be safe, whereas they are largely unregulated.

“There is a clear need for better quality, recognised training for the people performing these operations. My review will make a number of recommendations for making sure people who choose to undergo these procedures are in safe hands.”

The review committee has also been examining possible regulation of industry advertising and how treatments and procedures are sold. This includes bulk and time-restricted deals, which encourage the patient (or customer) to buy quickly or more than they need.

BAAPS president Rajiv Grover welcomes these initial findings:

“We agree that specialised training is required and [it should be] certainly more extensive than the many widely-promoted weekend courses currently available, but aesthetic injectibles should only ever be provided by medical professionals.”

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Botox can help athletes overcome vocal chord condition

A relatively common condition for athletes can often be misdiagnosed as asthma, but if detected can be treated easily enough through a combination of treatments including Botox for the vocal chords. Although it can be brought about by stress or anxiety it is also commonly linked to increased physical exertion, hence why athletes can be at increased risk of suffering from it.

It’s believed an estimated 5% of professional athletes suffer from Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion Disorder (PVFMD) which constricts the vocal chords and can impact the ability to breathe. It also causes coughing whilst exercising and because of these symptoms, which are very similar to those caused by asthma, it can often be missed therefore remain untreated.

The two conditions are in fact often linked – 40% of asthma sufferers will also have PVFMD. What will quite regularly happen is the asthma will be detected and treated but the PVFMD won’t be, in which case the athlete will still suffer from its symptoms.

When it is diagnosed correctly treatment will usually consist of multiple solutions. These will likely include vocal chord retraining therapy and also Botox, carried out by various professionals. An ENT specialist with Botox training would be required, as well as a vocal chord therapist and possibly also a sports psychologist who would deal with the impact it has mentally.

Non-athletes who suddenly take up an increased exercise programme can also suffer from the condition.

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Cosmetic Courses – March Round-Up

At Cosmetic Courses we have had an exciting and hectic month, from Foundation and Advanced Botox and Fillers courses to Chemical Peel and Dermaroller, with bespoke one-to-one sessions along the way.

At the beginning of the month we welcomed our delegates for the Foundation course, which is always an interesting course for us – mainly because we get to meet the new delegates for the first time as they are starting out on their aesthetic careers. We enjoy seeing our delegates beginning to learn and flourish in the world of aesthetics, gaining new skills and confidence throughout the day.

Our Advanced course this month allowed us to speak to many of our past Foundation delegates and hear what they have been practising since we last saw them. It’s always rewarding for the team to hear each delegate’s personal stories and what they have achieved before returning to us to further their aesthetic training.

Chemical Peel training is a great course where we see the delegates go from strength to strength in their knowledge of the skin physiology. These sessions cover the in-depth  theory in the morning followed by a fun and interactive practical hands-on session in the afternoon. This time  allows for any questions to be asked and gives each individual the vital reassurance for them to go and perform the chemical peel and medical microdermabrasion on their own clients.

The Dermaroller course was another huge success. Delegates got to learn and practise the treatment as well as learning the critical theory for diagnosing and treating the different skin types and conditions.

Overall March has been a very successful month for both our team and delegates at Cosmetic Courses. Moving forward we aim to continue to teach and support our delegates to the highest standards, ensuring that each individual is ready to progress in the exciting world of aesthetics.

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Preparing for the Keogh Review’s outcomes

If you currently offer injectable treatments and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures, either privately or through a clinic, it’s likely you will be impacted at some stage by the Keogh Review – whose research into possible regulations for the aesthetic medical industry may help form government legislature.

Calls have been made from medical professionals and bodies for some time over the need for more regulation within the industry. This includes focusing on who is qualified to perform non-invasive procedures. Currently any clinic can offer injectable treatments; this may change following the release of the review’s findings, which is expected to happen this month.

Many practitioners already undergo training to qualify them to administer treatment, however for any who haven’t it is wise to undertake training as soon as possible, to ensure you will be able to continue to practice.

It’s possible that the review will suggest that only medical professionals (which will include doctors, dentists and nurses) will be able to offer these procedures, however ensuring you are qualified to carry them out may count if you are outside of these professions.

If you are a doctor, nurse or dentist and do currently carry out non-invasive procedures it is important to keep up to date with training as it’s likely that this will be required.

Although the review will make recommendations to government there will be no obligation to make them mandatory. If the proposals are passed through law, this will likely take several months.

Cosmetic Courses offer Botox and other aesthetic training courses from centres in Buckinghamshire and Manchester. For information on any of our courses, call us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

 

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Johnson & Johnson Botox Rivalry

Giant healthcare and beauty company, Johnson & Johnson, will soon launching Johnson & Johnson Botox that may make a dent in to Allergan’s Botox behemoth.

The firm are looking to gain US approval for their new product next year, which could mean it would be available by 2015 in America and by around 2018 elsewhere in the world. Currently, Allergan make up for 85% of the market, which stands at a sizeable $900 million. The remaining 15% is made up by two small pharmaceutical companies who licence a similar product under a different name.

Johnson & Johnson however are an altogether different prospect, with a huge brand name behind them, not to mention a vast marketing budget. As a result Allergan may be forgiven for worrying that their lion’s share will be cut in to, though analysts believe J&J’s offering would have to offer substantial differences such as longevity, outcome or cost in order to make customers switch allegiances.

Dr Kenneth Beer is a consultant who has worked for both companies, and he comments:

“Allergan has built such a strong brand, people ask for Botox by name. This will be an uphill struggle (for J&J).”

However he also added: “J&J is a company I’d take seriously.”

This announcement means that late-stage trials will have been completed, though the name of the product is yet unknown. It’s understood that J&J will initially be targeting the cosmetic field however their product could also be used for bladder problems, excessive sweating and migraines, as other forms of botulinum toxins already do.

Allergan have so far refused to comment on the matter.

Contact Cosmetic Courses on 01844 390110 if you would like information on any of our Botox training courses. 

 

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Business potential for plastic surgery clinics or private practitioners

The growth of non-invasive procedures is the largest in the aesthetic medicine industry and so provides plastic surgery clinics with the most potential when it comes to growing their business. Many clinics have become savvy to this and now offer procedures such as Botox, fillers and chemical peels alongside their usual offering of surgical procedures.

So why aren’t more? It could simply be down to training – most plastic surgeons are experts in the field of surgery as opposed to non-invasive treatments, despite them becoming so popular and widely available. At the moment such procedures can be performed by a number of different professionals, so do you re-train or invest in new staff and train those?

Which route will depend on the individual business, however one thing is clear – as the fastest-growing area within the industry it’s not something that plastic surgery clinics can ignore. There are different types of courses available to medical professionals, including for plastic surgeons already in practice, such as Botox and dermal filler training.

Hiring professionals who already perform such procedures is another possibility, rather than taking the surgeon’s focus away from their primary task. Alternatively it’s also possible to hire staff who are not currently performing such procedures and paying for their training whilst they work on the job.

If you are a medical professional considering aesthetic training, contact the team at Cosmetic Courses for information and dates on our next Botox courses, microdermabrasion courses and more. Call 01844 390110.

 

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