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A few years ago, we would mention the word Botox and people would look in disbelief as if we were muttering a spell.  Aesthetic treatments were seen to treat only the wealthy and famous. We watched as celebrities continued to look effortlessly young, but not once did we consider the treatments ourselves. Fast forward a few years and the words “cosmetic procedures” is on everyone’s lips. So why has it changed? 

The Growth of Cosmetic Procedures

A recent report by ASDS (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) saw that 70% of individuals surveyed are now looking for a cosmetic procedure. The online survey was taken by 7322 individuals all expressing their reasons as to what they thought about the treatments.

So why is it now so popular? 

A few reasons that have come to light from recent articles, surveys and reports such as the Nuffield Council on Bioethetics – Cosmetic Procedures: Ethical Issues are the following:

  • Self confidence
  • Celebrity influence
  • Physcological reasons
  • Media
  • Career reasons
  • Low cost
  • “Quick fixes”

Cosmetic procedures are also easy to reach. A quick google in your area and lists can appear of local practitioners all willing to make your vision a reality. A large part of the decision is also from the fact that cosmetic procedures in aesthetics are temporary. Results will last for an average of 3 months with the option to “top up” the treatment to maintain it’s effects.

7 in 10 are Considering a Cosmetic Procedure

Whatever the reason for your decision to consider treatment, you are not alone. Long gone are the days of this hushed topic. People now proudly show off their new features achieved with the power of the needle. Women are no longer swapping knitting patterns but practitioner details.

You are not alone in your consideration to have cosmetic procedures.

Here at Cosmetic Courses we focus on our patients. We teach our delegates how to perform treatments but also how to look after their patients. We guide them through their treatment and help them to make a decision. We work strongly by the belief that only the patient can decide what they want and encourage our delegates to listen and advise.

Top Tips for your Decision…

If you are thinking of getting a cosmetic procedure we ask you to think of the following in order to aid your decision:

  1. Why do I want this?
  2. What do I want to achieve?
  3. Have I researched this treatment?
  4. Am I prepared for the change?

A good practitioner will help you in your decision and will only carry out treatment as they see fit and when you are confident in your decision. 

Non-Surgical Treatments as a Model at Cosmetic Courses

If you’re one of the 70% interested in trying out a new cosmetic procedure becoming a model is a safe and cost-effective way of trying the latest techniques and products available.

Cosmetic Courses has been training medical professionals in the UK since 2002. As one of the longest-established providers we pride ourselves on the quality of our training and the products we use for treatment. This means that you are receiving the safest possible treatment as a model with us. The added bonus is that the treatment with us is a fraction of the high street cost.

If you would like to speak to one of our consultants or to book in for any of our Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetic Treatments please call us now on 01844 390110 or register here to receive further information.

Cosmetic Courses is the UK’s largest training provider of medical aesthetic treatments. With the cosmetic industry booming, the demand for our training courses has never been so high. Because of this increased demand, we are always in need of new models to join the team.

What do we mean by ‘models’?

For  the past 15 years we have trained over 4500 medical professionals in a range of advanced skin rejuvenation and anti-ageing treatments. Through this, we require models who are happy to have these skin treatments in a training environment and the major benefit is you receive your treatments at greatly discounted prices. So if you don’t want to break your bank balance but still want a first class treatment, then becoming a model with Cosmetic Courses is a fantastic alternative.

One of our loyal models, Rebecca explains the major benefits of becoming a Cosmetic Courses model:

Like a large number of our models, Rebecca was recommended to us by a close friend. She also saw the financial benefits as a huge motivation to come to Cosmetic Courses over another skin clinic. She describes her treatments as excellent with very natural results. Our aim at Cosmetic Courses is to produce subtle enhancements that slowly rejuvenate your skin over time rather than completely change how you look. As supermodel Christie Brinkley says, “You still should look like you!”

Even though Rebecca has only been attending as a model for 6 months she has already had a couple of treatments with us, including:

  • Dermaroller (Skin Needling)
  • Upper Face Botox

“I was made to feel very comfortable, very professional. I’d definitely recommend it” – Rebecca

Modelling for Cosmetic Courses

We have a wide range of non-surgical skin  treatments available to our models including Dermal Fillers, Botox, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy and Microsclerotherapy. These are offered in our 4 training centres across the UK: Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire,  Alvechurch in South Birmingham, Harley Street in London and Bingley near Leeds.

If you are interested in registering to be a model please fill in our contact form and one of the team will be in touch to discuss upcoming appointments.

 

Cosmetic Courses banne showing, Male trends

Independent Pharmacist Shailesh Patel chats about the increase in cosmetic procedures in men over the past year.

The male market has been steadily growing over the years as male consumers increasingly seek out treatments to support their lifestyle choices.

Although a small segment of the aesthetic market, recent data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has shown Cosmetic Courses; picture showing close up of man with facial markingsthat male clients made up 9% of the total number of those undergoing cosmetic surgery operations in the UK. These numbers have nearly doubled over the past decade (from 2,440 procedures in 2005 to 4,614 in 2015). However, treatments for men tend to be less invasive than for female clients.

This trend could be driven by the subgroup of the millennials known as young urban males  (Yummies). These individuals tend to focus more on personal grooming and health than other age groups. This age group tends to marry later, meaning that they can invest in themselves and their appearance for longer than other age groups.

It is also important to remember that men are unique both physiologically and behaviourally. Having an in-depth knowledge of the male anatomy and suitable training is important to meet the needs of male clients 3.

You should have a separate marketing strategy to target males. Options include; advertising to men through your female clients (husbands, boyfriends, sons, etc.), having specific areas for male clients in your clinic and sections on your website and social media activities focusing on male clients.

Cosmetic Courses have also seen an increase in enquiries for male models. By having a diverse range of sexes, this gives our delegates the best experience in understanding the differences between the sexes, and the techniques that would work best when treating male and female faces.

If you would like to become a model for Cosmetic Courses, please call the team on 01844 390110 or fill in our Contact form

About Pharmacyspace

Pharmacyspace, based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, provides cost effective medical products and consumables for your clinic. Feel free to talk to us about how we can support you with both your male and female clients.

The world of aesthetics is a creative place. New treatments, or twists on existing treatments, are shaking up the industry every day.

But with so many new procedures making their way to market, it’s fair to say that not every innovation is going to be a keeper. Here are a few of the wackier developments that have found their way into salons, spas and clinics around the world.

1. Fire Facial

Not for the faint-hearted. Originating in China, where the treatment is known as Huo Liao, the fire facial involves placing a towel soaked in a special elixir on a patient’s skin, and setting it on fire. Yes really. The flames are thought to stimulate cell generation, eventually culminating in younger and healthier looking skin – providing there’s some left.

2. Leech Detox

Popular in the spas of Austria, leech detox (as the name suggests) involves the precise application of leeches all over the body to suck out impurities in the blood, leaving the skin radiant and clear – without having to live on mung beans and wheatgrass shots. The treatment is popular with Hollywood stars including Demi Moore, who revealed her penchant for the unusual treatment on The Letterman Show.

3. Sand Burial

Yes, it sounds like a primitive form of torture, but it’s actually a popular rejuvenating and detoxifying treatment in several countries, particularly Egypt and Japan. The patient is buried in warm sand so the heat from the sun, or sometimes hot underground springs ( as is the case in Japan), gradually soothes the muscles and joints, as well as helping the patient sweat out toxins to improve the condition of the skin. The treatment is thought to be particularly beneficial for those suffering from arthritis and rheumatism.

4. Snail Facial

Why use expensive creams when snail snot will do? The slimy secretions from our shell-dwellin’ friends contain a powerful cocktail of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and proteins thought to help soften and smooth the skin. During a snail facial, the skin is thoroughly cleansed before live (organically farmed) snails are let loose on a patient’s face, spreading their moisturising elixir wherever they go. This treatment is currently available in the UK, having made its way over from Japan. Really slowly.

5. Placenta Facial

And while we’re talking controversial facials, how about this one. The placenta face mask contains stem cells harvested from a sheep’s placenta, which are thought to promote collagen production, tighten the skin, clear acne – and even boost brain power. Quite the cure-all. The treatment started life in China and is now available in the UK and New Zealand.

If you don’t fancy adding any of those treatments to your repertoire, we’ve plenty of other aesthetic training courses you can choose from instead. Call us on 01844 390110 or email [email protected] for details.

BAAPS President Rajiv Grover has spoken out over his concern that recommendations made to government months ago are not being implemented – a view that is echoed by much of the aesthetic medical industry.

In April of this year the final Keogh Review report was published and presented to government. In it, recommendations were made that the administration of non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers should be carried out by qualified medical practitioners alone. At the time the review found the current deregulation of dermal fillers a “crisis waiting to happen.”

Now, six months after the recommendations were made, there has still been no action to tighten regulation within the industry which Grover deems to be “shameful”, adding:

“I like to hope that something will improve (however) there have been reviews before and none of them were taken up.”

The British Association of Dermatologists reaffirms his view and has responded in kind to the so-far lack of parliamentary response on the matter. In a statement spokesperson Deborah Mason said:

“When things go wrong with dermal fillers clients do not go back to their beauty therapist but seek help from dermatologists. This may give the false impression that these procedures are safe to those not medically skilled to deal with or understand the risks.

“We would like to see specific training in these procedures for medical and non-medical practitioners.”

The Department of Health has responded to the criticisms in a statement, stating:

“The government agrees with the principles of Sir Bruce Keogh’s recommendations and we are considering the report carefully and will put our detailed response to parliament shortly.”

Cosmetic Courses offers aesthetic training to qualified medical professionals from centres in Buckinghamshire and Manchester. Call us on 01844 390110 for details.

 

Latest developments in facial rejuvenation surgeryFacial Rejuvenation

Non-surgical skin treatments and surgical facial procedures often go hand-in-hand. The former, if begun early enough, can be a preventative to ward off the necessity for the latter until much later. Or, they can be used to compliment each other: there is little point a patient saving up and spending their hard-earned savings on that facelift only to reverse the effects by failing to pamper their skin.

Recent figures have shown a 50% increase in the number of people undergoing facial rejuvenation procedures during the last year. Why are more people considering these forms of treatment? Many people tell Cosmetic Courses’ founding Surgeon, Mr Adrian Richards, that they don’t like having their photograph taken and feel as if they would like to look fresher and less tired. Patients often tell him that they believe their face looks far older than they feel.

In the UK, most patients considering any form of treatment want to look as natural as possible. Treatments can realistically make you look as you did 8-10 years ago.

To achieve a natural fresh appearance it is important to address each of the following: The skin, active wrinkles caused by muscle contractions and gravity changes. For some people dramatic improvements can be achieved with skin treatments which involve minimal downtime and cost.

Skin treatments alone can make you look much fresher and brighter. These treatments may consist of Microdermabrasion, Genuine Dermaroller Therapy, or perhaps a light chemical peel. These all work in different ways to removes fine wrinkles, reduce pore size or cause mild skin contraction. Combined, they are highly effective to make the skin look fresher and more youthful.

Active wrinkles caused by muscle contraction are typically found between the eyebrows (frown lines), on the forehead and below the temple (crows feet). As these lines are caused by muscle contraction they are best treated by selectively reducing the overactive muscle activity in these areas. This best performed with small injections of botulinum toxin or dermal fillers into specific muscles.

Gravity changes include descent of the cheek region which causes deepening of the lines which come down from the nose to corner of the mouth. Other changes include loss of the jaw line and jowl formation. The neck skin can also loosen and the sharp angle between the neck and chin is lost.

Gravity changes are best treated with Surgery as the muscle layers of the face need to be repositioned in their previous position. In the forties and early fifties it is often best to have a Mini-face lift (MACS-lift). This elevates the cheek, jowl and neck regions and restores a more youthful face shape.

Most people in their mid to late fifties or older are more suited to more traditional face lift techniques (SMAS-lifts).

These techniques specifically tighten the neck and jowl regions.

Cosmetic Courses offer a Professional Development Section in conjunction with our sister company, Aurora Clinics. This aims to provide support and information about Surgical procedures to enhance the non-surgical training which you can gain with Cosmetic Courses.

IHAS is the regulation authority for Botox and non-surgical treatments launched by the UK government.

This is supported by a website – “Treatments You Can Trust”.

Under this  voluntary scheme, clinics can register with the IHAS organisation and are then regularly assessed and audited.

Says Mr Adrian Richards (Expert Cosmetic Surgeon and founder of Cosmetic Courses training centre), “Whilst I think regulation is certainly necessary in the industry, my main concern with the IHAS is that it is voluntary.

This means that some clinics will register and others will not, without it being mandatory for any clinic to register.

The paperwork required to register is very extensive and time consuming, and there is a significant cost to a clinic to register.

The government budget for publicising the IHAS scheme is relatively small and I am by no means sure that it is sufficient to adequately publicise the scheme to the general public.”

Mr Richards’ concerns are therefore that the scheme is:

(1) time consuming and costly;

(2) voluntary; and

(3) may not be publicised well not enough to the general public to gain general acceptance.

Cosmetic Courses hope that Mr Richards’ concerns are proven wrong.

Only time will tell whether the IHAS regulation scheme will be an effective way of policing the Botox and Dermal Filler market in the United Kingdom.