Want to Expand Your Practice? Consider Attending Some Aesthetics Courses!
The increased demand for anti-aging and medical aesthetic treatments has created a global industry that is already worth billions of dollars each year, and that figure is continuing to grow. Today, we enjoy the benefits of a variety of technologies able to turn back the clock, at least to some degree, by reversing or disguising the visible evidence that the advancing years tend to leave on our facial features, and other vulnerable areas of our bodies. Of course, some of that evidence may be the result of dietary choices or an overly sedentary lifestyle, rather than aging, but fortunately, it may be addressed in much the same fashion regardless of its origins.
The procedures used, whether for removing wrinkles, losing weight, reducing cellulite, or for any other related purpose, all require special training for the practitioners who undertake them. To meet their need, there is now a wide range of specialised aesthetics courses designed for this purpose.
The first of these treatments to offer hope for those battling to disguise the laughter or frown lines etched over the decades was Botox™. As popular today as when it was first approved for this purpose by the FDA, it involves the subdermal injection of botulinum toxin type A to prevent the contraction of selected facial muscles, thus promoting the relaxation and smoothing of the areas treated.
Given the nature of the injected material, a sound knowledge of dermal anatomy and physiology is important, as is extreme care in all aspects of the handling and use of the toxin. Because of this, in many countries, including South Africa, only a qualified doctor is permitted to perform these procedures. Consequently, attendance at aesthetics courses relating to treatment with botulinum toxin, whether to smooth out wrinkles or to treat strabismus (cross-eyes), bruxism (teeth grinding), migraine or hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), is restricted to medically-qualified applicants. Such training generally includes the use of non-toxic dermal fillers, such as collagen and hyaluronic acid that, instead of paralysing muscles, produce a plumping effect to obscure fine lines and improve facial contours.
The other huge area within the beauty business, and one that offers the physician a chance to extend his or her practice and to offer more than just dietary and lifestyle advice to those in need, is weight loss. The reality is that most people lack the willpower or stamina to adhere to a programme of salads and sit-ups that is likely to last for months, if not longer, in order to shed their unwanted kilos. Instead, they are looking for a solution that will reward and motivate them with some visible improvements after just a session or two.
Offered both to the physician and to the beauty therapists, there are aesthetics courses that offer the necessary specialised training in the use of non-invasive procedures, including the use of a low temperature device designed to destroy fat cells without the use of suction, thus leaving the cell detritus and contents to be eliminated naturally by the immune system. Known as cryolipolysis, the technique employs specialised electronic equipment that can readily be installed in a practice or beauty salon, and involves little discomfort or bruising, thereby allowing patients to resume their normal activities within a day of their treatment.
The so-called lunchtime lipo is an example of a minimally invasive treatment that offers a faster, cheaper and far less painful, yet effective alternative to surgical liposuction, especially in those smaller and more sensitive areas where resorting to surgery would prove to be impractical. The technique employs very fine needles to inject a tumescent fluid, in combination with ultrasound to rupture adipose cells.
Chemical peels, skin rejuvenation, Botox™, dermal fillers and related treatments are all covered by basic and advanced aesthetics courses, and conducted by practicing experts in their respective fields at the Medskills Training Academy.