Posts

Doctors to be prevented from prescribing Botulinum Toxin remotely

In a secret recording by the BBC at a Harley Street skin clinic, the clinic’s director was filmed describing how prescriptions for Botulinum Toxin could be obtained in the names of friends and family. The drug would then be stored, ready to be used by nurses to treat walk-in patients without needing to obtain a prescription first.

The nurses would instead telephone the doctor for a remote prescription before injecting patients with the ‘stored’ Botox.

If, for any reason, the doctor could not be reached before treatment, the nurses would administer the Botox injections anyway – with the doctor phoning patients afterwards.

Though remote prescription is not illegal at present, administering Botox without a prescription is against the law. It also raises concerns about patient safety.

In the light of the investigation, the General Medical Council (GMC) has said that new rules will soon be published, making it illegal for doctors to remotely prescribe injectable cosmetic medicines, including Botox.

Nurses who do not hold the V300 prescribing qualification will be required to work directly with a doctor or dentist in order to issue prescriptions.

If you would like any information on our Botox training courses, or any of our other fully accredited courses, contact us on 0845 230 4110 or email [email protected].

/by
,

Feedback from our latest Botox and Dermal Fillers Foundation Training Course

The results of our latest training course are in…..and they’re better than ever!

Last Saturday, 12th May, Cosmetic Courses ran another fully subscribed Foundation course in Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers.

We routinely ask all our delegates to fill out feedback forms to let us know what we’re doing right, as well as highlighting any areas we can improve on.

We’ve now collated the feedback from Saturday’s course, and are very proud to be able to share the results with you here.

The Verdict

Here’s how our delegates rated us:

  • Accommodation and travel were given a score of 96%
  • Structure of the course and discussion time scored 97%
  • Course  presentation, lecture, demonstration, venue and effectiveness of communication were all rated 99%
  • Value of the course and amount learned were given a perfect 100%!

Our Foundation courses are designed for delegates just starting out in their aesthetic careers, and mark the very first step in their journey, so it’s particularly satisfying to hear that they found our latest course so useful.

We hope that many of these happy delegates will decide to join the ranks of our previous Foundation course delegates who have progressed to further study on our Intermediate and Advanced courses, or broaden their training into other areas such as Skin Peels and Dermaroller.

If you missed out on our last training course and would like to attend the next one, it will be held on Saturday 23rd June. Alternatively, we are always happy to arrange bespoke one-to-one sessions at a time that suits you. Contact us for more information on 0845 230 4110 or email [email protected].

/by
,

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.

/by

Bruising with Botox: Fake Botox products like Fabtox

Question :

Last week my mum had what she was told was Botox.

She has since found out it was a product called “Fabtox” (which I have never heard of): a bespoke product made up of Vistabel.

Within minutes her eye was swollen up and had started to go purple, now her cheek is swollen down to her chin. She has been to A&E and her GP who can’t do anything.

She had it done down at a dental/cosmetic studio in Shoreham near Brighton.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Thanks so much

 

Answer :

It sounds as if the injection has hit one of the blood vessels which surrounds your mother’s eye.

The blood then moves inside the orbit and produces the bruise you see.

This bruising will settle over the next couple of weeks but it might be worthwhile asking her to massage Arnica cream into the bruised area daily.

Let us know how she gets on.

It is really very important that you research carefully into where you are going for your Botox treatments and the products which they use.

We hope that your mother gets better soon!

If she would prefer to enrol as a model with us in future, we can promise that we do not use any “Fabtox” products here and all our delegates are medical professionals, closely supervised by expert Aesthetic Practitioners. She can enrol by calling our team on 0845 230 4110 or find comfort in our other models’ testimonials at http://www.facebook.com/CCModels.

The Cosmetic Courses Team

/by
,

What units of Azzalure are Equivalent to Botox (in areas other than the Glabellar?)

Question :

Dear Cosmetic Courses,

I have just seen your video on youtube about reconstituting Azzalure and it was very helpful.

I understand the units are not the same as Botox.

Could you point me in the right direction to find what is equivalent?

I have looked at all the Azzalure literature and it looks to me that they are only promoting it for the glabellar area and therefore have only given units for that area.

I am assuming that it is fine for other areas too and wondered if you could give me any guidelines on dosage/units for other areas.

Can you also tell me where you are based.

My initial training was with another leading company. I do a lot of post graduate dental courses and feel I would have preferred a training course that was a bit more professionally presented rather than just a money making machine.

 

 

Answer :

Thanks for your question.

Azzalure,  like Vistabel,  is only licensed for use in the glabellar area.

It is, however, given in other areas – the forehead and crows feet –  like Botox and Vistabel.

I tend to make up a syringe of Azzalure with 1ml of bacteriostatic saline and use like Botox.

Azzalure comes in 125 unit vials which is roughy equivalent to 50 units of Botox or Vistabel.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to contact us again on 0845 230 4110 if we can be of any further help. We are based at the National Cosmetic Training Centre in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.

 

About CC SlideAesthetics Knowledge Hub Slide

How We Support Delegates

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST TRAINING COURSES

/by
, ,

Botox Injected Practitioners Half Days Training

Botox, made from Botulinum Toxin, is a protein generated by a bacterium. When administered in minute doses, it paralyzes muscles by blocking messages sent from the brain to the muscles. Traditional medicine uses it to treat uncontrollable muscle spasms and cosmetic medicine uses it as a beauty treatment. As a beauty aid, it smoothens out wrinkles from 3 to 6 months, and it only takes a half-hour to complete.

Unfortunately, due to its efficacy in facial rejuvenation and its profitability, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) has cautioned that numerous medical firms are allowing employees to inject Botox into the faces of patients after only some rudimentary training, consisting of injecting oranges. In fact, staff members like administrators, are injecting patients after only a few hours of training. Moreover, many of the trainers have no medical background or qualifications.

The IHAS warns that this lack of proper regulation is putting patients at risk. Botox injections are even being given by hairdressers and beauty therapists, who are storing the Botulinum at the wrong temperature. These unhygienic conditions are causing medical complications. In Britain, one million people get Botox or facial filler injections, and 1 out of every 20 clients suffers complications, with those injected with Botox suffering droopy eyelids and those injected with facial fillers developing lumps under the skin.

A famous example about complications arising from improper treatment is the story of actress Leslie Ash. After a liquid silicone lip injection by a plastic surgeon at the house of a friend, the silicone set around the muscles creating a disfiguring “trout prout,” which surgeons have not been able to remove.

In an attempt to sort out the mess, the IHAS has launched a website called treatmentyoucantrust.co.uk that exclusively lists those who are medically qualified practitioners trained to provide injections. This industry-regulated website is also backed by the Government.

Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, a surgeon and the Chairman of the IHAS Working Group, which is responsible for the website said, “We are appalled by the sheer volume of bad practice within the industry but there is also a lot of good clinical practice and we are convinced that the great majority of providers are 100 per cent behind improving patient safety.”

However, the website is regarded with skepticism by Niger Mercer, a consultant plastic surgeon and President of The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, who said, “It is evident from the information circulated by the IHAS to the profession that the scheme is being used as a marketing tool, its regulation appears rudimentary and their ‘Quality Mark’ is not recognised by the British Standards Institute or any other regulatory body. “

/by
,

Botox Misconceptions

From the time Botox was introduced into the market, the number of patients requesting Botox injections has rapidly increased. The popularity of the Botox injection reflects not just its effectiveness, but its versatility and safety in treating several aesthetic and medical conditions. Botox is a protein mostly known for its ability to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, but Botox injections are commonly used to treat hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating in the palms, feet and underarms, strabismus, eyelid spasms, and to reduce neck pain and stiffness. Botulinum neurotoxin, known to the public as Botox, is produced solely by the pharmaceutical company Allergan, and although its name includes the word toxin, there are no toxic side effects from using Botox.

Misconception: Botox injections are highly toxic

A common misconception about Botox is that it is toxic. In fact, Botox has no none permanent side effects. All side effects related to Botox injections are minimal and temporary, and are confined to swelling, headaches and short-term allergic reactions. However, these side effects are common for a majority of drugs, including aspirin and cough syrups. Drugs that contain toxins are commonly used in medicine to treat several medical conditions. Digoxin is a toxin based drug derived from plants and it is commonly used to treat several arrhythmia inducing heart conditions. Drugs such as Lignocaine uses toxins derived from sea anemones to stop the acceleration of multiple sclerosis. It is also used to treat heart irregularities and is widely used as an effective topical drug for treating multiple forms of skin inflammation. The term toxin does not on its own imply a dangerous ingredient. It is the form and amount of toxicity in a specific drug that produces poisoning. Botox is derived from botulinum toxin which can be poisoning, but the amount used in a Botox injection is extremely low and thus does not have the ability to produce poisoning. This is very similar to the administration of vaccines. Vaccines carry an extremely low amount of pathogens or protein toxins to prevent or treat several medical infections. The injection of Botox is confined to a specific muscle and does not leak into the surrounding area. Although all drugs carry some risk, Botox has proven to be very safe. Ultimately, just like any medical treatment, Botox must be performed by a trained medical professional to ensure proper administration.

/by
,

Botox Treatments

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures on the market is Botox, with millions of procedures being performed every year worldwide. Although an enormous amount of people have heard of Botox, very few actually are aware of what it truly is and other associated details. If you are thinking of getting a Botox treatment, it is in your best interests to know exactly what you are being treated with, how it works and all the information surrounding it.

Many people are unaware that Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, a protein manufactured by a form of bacteria. If a person ingests or is exposed to botulinum toxin, they may develop a serious paralytic illness known as botulism. However, when botulinum toxin is isolated, purified or used in small quantities, it becomes a useful cosmetic and medical aid. Botox is the trade name for such botulinum toxin.

As a paralytic agent, Botox is mainly used to get rid of facial wrinkles. A licensed Botox provider injects Botox into a patient’s face, where it eliminates wrinkles by paralyzing facial muscles. The effects of Botox last for around 3-4 months, after which it wears off and a Botox provider must readminister the treatment. Botox can be used on nearly any adult. Exceptions include pregnant women, nursing women or people with neurological disorders.

As with many cosmetic procedures, there are some side effects to Botox. The most common side effect is temporary bruising and headaches that resolve after 24-48 hours. Some patients experience eyelid drooping as well. The most common complain associated with Botox is that the client’s facial expression appears to be fixed in a position of shock or confusion, or in a frown. Also, there is the risk of an allergic reaction, although one should note that there have been no allergies reported as of yet due to Botox.

Botox is not a cosmetic procedure to be taken lightly. It is a treatment that needs to be carefully considered before undertaken. Just because you can be in and out of an office in twenty minutes does not mean the procedure cannot result in complications or that it is completely safe. Whenever undertaking any sort of treatment that messes with a person’s body, said person should take special care to do plenty of research and questioning before undertaking the procedure. Better safe than sorry!

/by