Aesthetics, General

Unlocking the Path to Becoming a Prescriber

If you are interested in becoming a prescriber, you will need to take several steps to achieve this goal. First, a prescriber is legally authorised to prescribe medications and treatments. In the case of aesthetics, it could include Botox, dermal fillers, and other cosmetic procedures.

Here are some of the steps you can take to become a prescriber of aesthetic treatments:

prescriber

Get The Right Qualifications.

The first step to becoming a prescriber is to get the right qualifications. This typically involves completing a medical or nursing degree and additional aesthetic training. 

Several courses can provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills. In addition, choosing a system accredited and recognised by the appropriate regulatory bodies is essential.

Gain Experience As A Prescriber

Once you have completed the qualifications, gaining practical experience prescribing aesthetic treatments is essential. This can involve working with an experienced prescriber or in a clinic or hospital setting where you can gain experience in prescribing various therapies.

Apply For A Prescribing License.

You must apply for a prescribing license to prescribe medications and treatments legally. This typically involves completing an application process and passing an examination. The exact requirements for a prescribing permit will depend on the country or state where you are practising.

Join A Professional Association

Joining a professional association can be a valuable way to gain support, resources, and networking opportunities as a prescriber of aesthetic treatments. 

Professional associations, such as the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), are dedicated to the aesthetics industry. 

These organisations can provide you with access to educational resources, industry news and updates, and other valuable information.

Keep Up To Date With The Latest Developments

The aesthetics industry constantly evolves, with new treatments, techniques, and products emerging. As a prescriber of aesthetic treatments, it is essential to keep up to date with the latest developments in the industry. 

This can involve attending industry events, reading industry publications, and staying informed about new research and products in the field.

Build Your Professional Reputation

Building a solid professional reputation is essential to becoming a successful prescriber of aesthetic treatments. 

This can involve developing a solid online presence, building relationships with patients and other professionals in the industry, and providing high-quality care and treatment to your patients. 

Word of mouth can be a powerful tool in building your reputation, so providing an excellent experience to every patient is essential.

Follow Ethical Guidelines

Prescribing aesthetic treatments comes with a responsibility to follow ethical guidelines and ensure that patient safety is always the top priority. Therefore, it is essential to follow best practice guidelines and to be transparent and honest with your patients about the risks and benefits of any treatment or procedure. 

You should also be fully informed about any potential side effects or complications associated with any treatment you prescribe.

prescriber

Become A Prescriber Now!

Becoming a prescriber of aesthetic treatments requires education, experience, and ongoing professional development. Following the steps outlined above, you can develop the necessary skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective treatments to your patients and build a successful career in the aesthetics industry.

You can get training from Kanvas Training Academy to enhance your skills. If you already are a medical practitioner, you can download the faces app to grow your aesthetics business. The faces app is a convenient way to manage your aesthetics services. 

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Aesthetics, General

Aesthetics Treatment Pricing: How to Ensure Your Clients Get the Best Value

Aesthetics treatment is becoming increasingly popular today as people become more conscious of their appearance and want to look their best. 

However, charging clients for these treatments can be a delicate matter, as the prices must be high enough to cover the business’s costs but not so high that they are out of reach for potential clients. 

This article will explore how to charge clients for aesthetic treatments fairly, transparently, and profitably.

aesthetics treatment

Consider the cost of the aesthetics treatment.

The first step in determining how to charge clients for aesthetic treatments is to consider the cost of the treatment itself. This includes the cost of the products, equipment, and time and expertise required to perform the treatment. 

In addition, it would help if you also considered any additional expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, and staff salaries. Once you clearly understand the cost of the treatment, you can determine a fair price to charge clients.

Research the market

Researching the market to see what other aesthetic clinics in your area are charging for similar treatments is essential. This will give you an idea of what prices are considered fair and competitive. 

However, it is necessary to remember that more than simply matching the fees of other clinics is needed. Consider your costs and overhead expenses to determine a price that works for your business.

Offer different packages

Offering different packages can help you to cater to a broader range of clients and their budgets. For example, you can offer basic, standard, and premium packages that include different levels of treatment and services. 

This will allow clients to choose the package that best suits their needs and budget while still allowing you to charge a fair price for your assistance.

Be transparent about pricing.

Being transparent about your pricing is essential so clients know what they pay. You should list the prices of each treatment on your website or in your clinic and be upfront about any additional costs, such as taxes or fees. 

This will help build trust with clients and avoid confusion or misunderstandings.

Offer promotions and discounts.

Offering promotions and discounts can be an effective way to attract new clients and retain existing ones. For example, you can submit a discount on a client’s first visit or provide a referral discount. 

You can also offer seasonal promotions or special deals for holidays or other events. These promotions can help to boost your business and create a positive image in the minds of your clients.

Consider offering financing options.

Some clients may be unable to afford the total cost of treatment upfront, so consider offering financing options such as payment plans or financing through a third-party provider. You can check faces finance for more financing options.

This will allow clients to spread the treatment’s cost over time, making it more affordable. This can particularly benefit clients considering more expensive treatments such as plastic surgery.

aesthetics treatment

Regularly review and adjust your prices.

It is essential to regularly review and adjust your prices to ensure that they are still in line with your costs and the market. This will allow you to stay competitive and avoid pricing yourself out of the market. 

It would help if you also considered any changes in the cost of products, equipment, or services, as these can significantly impact your prices and pricing.

In conclusion, charging clients for aesthetic treatments can be a delicate matter. Still, by considering the cost of the treatment, researching the market, offering different packages, being transparent about pricing, offering promotions and discounts, considering financing options, and regularly reviewing and adjusting your prices, you can ensure that you are charging fair and competitive fees that are reasonable for all.

If you need a place to grow your aesthetics business, enter the faces website and create your account. You also can download the faces app and add your aesthetics business.

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Aesthetics, General, News

Body Dysmorphic Disorder – A New Perspective

In light of the news that the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners has agreed to introduce new measures to protect those vulnerable due to mental health problems, Harry Singh explores what this means for dentists practising facial aesthetic treatments.

MIND, the mental health charity, defines body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) as ‘an anxiety disorder related to body image’. 

Individuals with BDD may seek cosmetic treatments to correct what they perceive as flaws, hoping they will be satisfied with their appearance. 

BDD affects roughly 1 in 50 people two, so this is quite a prevalent mental health issue. Given that cosmetic treatments performed in the UK between 2002 and 2018 increased by 300%, three it is pretty likely that dentists offering non-invasive facial aesthetic treatments will come across BDD sufferers at some point in their careers.

body dysmorphia

BDD As A Contraindication

Reputable facial aesthetic practitioners understand that BDD is a contraindication to cosmetic procedures, not least because it makes obtaining proper consent impossible, and any treatment can worsen the patient’s mental health issues. It was, therefore, no surprise when, early in 2019, Superdrug announced it was to start checking patients wanting facial aesthetic treatment for BDD.4

Screening for BDD is essential, and every clinician should be doing it, so the only real surprise is how long it took for this idea to hit the headlines. Raising awareness of this mental health problem is crucial in stopping unwitting consumers from handing their money over to cosmetic cowboys, often leaving the patient worse off both physically and mentally. So, Superdrug’s stance and that of the JCCP are to be applauded for making that decision and effectively circulating the news.

Identifying BDD

Many people have unrealistic expectations in a world where social media use is rife and we know images can be manipulated to look much better than reality. People see these celebrities with perfect bodies and faces and want it for themselves.

Having been performing facial aesthetic treatments since 2002, it is true that patients are becoming more obsessive with how they look and are perceived, comparing themselves to what they see on social media posts. 

Every first appointment should involve a detailed consultation and assessment of the patient’s situation. Allow a cooling-off period – never treat on the same day. Overplay the downtime and possible complications. It is also essential to show the results of realistic cases to counterbalance unachievable, manipulated images on social media.

There is no doubt that dealing with mental health issues can be very challenging. Still, if clinicians allow plenty of time for the consultation, each patient’s expectations, the basis for treatments, budgets, time frame, etc., can be evaluated.! If you don’t think a patient needs the treatment they want or you can’t improve their concerns, do not treat them. Just say no. Alternatively, they could be referred to a colleague for a second opinion. While not scientific, always go with your gut feeling. 

A Case In Point

I have met people in my clinic with BDD; for example, a female patient once presented concerned about nasolabial folds. It transpired that she had undergone cheek fat transfer that had been over-filled. 

As a result, the cheeks were heavy and pushing down, causing the nasolabial folds. She just wanted the nasolabial folds treated and more cheek filler, thinking the filler would lift her cheeks. However, she would not let go of the mirror and would complain about her appearance and her previous practitioner. 

I explained that treating the consequence (nasolabial fold) and not the cause (fat in the cheeks) would not address her concerns and meet her expectations. She kept saying she didn’t care how much the fillers would cost; she just wanted the nasolabial folds treated. It took a long time to convince her I would not treat her.

body dysmorphia

Best Practice

Patient safety and happiness are paramount, and reputable health professionals strive to achieve them. Sadly, weeding out patients with BDD is not compulsory, but it is best practice. 

That makes it a must in my eyes, first and foremost, because it is in the best interest of patients and because you will save yourself stress and time and remove the almost inevitable complaint that will come your way if you treat a BDD sufferer.

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Aesthetics, General

Marketing Facial Aesthetics

The process of marketing

Marketing is a process, not an event. It has a beginning and a middle – but not an end. Generally speaking, it involves communicating with the public to influence them to buy your products and services. It’s about effective communication regarding who you are and what you do. 

Let’s look at this process a little further. The marketing costs have tripled, but effectiveness has halved, so you must maximise your activities. 

facial aesthetics

There are two elements: 

 Initial Contact 

This is critical to the success of any marketing endeavour. Patients will make a snap decision about your promotion, branding, offer, etc., within seconds. If it is not remarkable or fails to stand out for some reason, you will be lost within the clutter they are bombarded with daily. Indeed, the most significant marketing challenge is the clutter factor.

Ongoing Contact 

This is also known as TOMA (top-of-mind awareness). Many patients will need timely reminders of your facial aesthetic services (such as newsletters, emails and texts). Big corporates do this exceedingly well. Here’s an exercise for you; name a soft drink, a fast-food chain, and a luxury car manufacturer. 

Most of you probably thought “Coca-Cola” or “Pepsi”, “McDonald’s” or “Burger King”, and “Mercedes” or “BMW”. Their reasoning for their continuous spending is that they will be your first port of call when you are ready to make that purchase.

Without initial and ongoing marketing strategies, you will fail to attract patients to your services. You may be the finest clinician, have outstanding customer care and have the patient’s best interest at heart, but if they don’t know about the services in the first place, you won’t have any clients. 

It would help if you also thought long-term, so have a marketing plan for the year. It can tie in with special events such as Valentine’s or Mother’s Day, so you have a systematic approach to what you will market when you’ll deal with it and to whom you’ll sell it. 

This way, you won’t have a knee-jerk reaction to, say, one month when your turnover is not as good as you hoped, and so you decide on a whim to spend a couple of hundred pounds to produce an advert. Stick with a plan and commit to it.

To quote Bobby and Shahar Hashemi from their book Anyone Can Do it: Building Coffee Republic from Our Kitchen Table: ‘Don’t expect customers to flock to you. Success is not entitlement. They, like the rest of the world, don’t appreciate new ideas easily. Good things take time to come. You have to see that customers, like every other hurdle you pass – i.e. bankers, suppliers – will not buy into your vision initially. It won’t be easy at the beginning. You’ll need stick-ability. Keep focused and you will succeed.’

Budgeting

Next, you need to look at your budget. In the first year, it is normal for a new enterprise to set the marketing budget as a percentage of gross turnover expected to be generated during this period. This will come from the detailed financials in your business plan. 

The budget for the following year could be a percentage of the forecast net profit, the thinking being that, in year one, you have to invest in creating patient awareness of the new venture. 

The marketing budget has to cover all the expenditures on launching the business and the ongoing requirements to create and maintain local patient awareness of the available treatments. 

Once established, you must review the budget monthly and justify any expenditure. In addition, every patient must be asked how they learned about your facial aesthetics treatments. This will make media selection and planning for the second year much more cost-effective.  

By implementing the above system, you should avoid the pitfall of Lord Leverhulme (the British founder of Unilever), who once said: ‘Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, and the problem is I don’t know which half’. 

facial aesthetics

Goals Beyond Finances

You may have different goals regarding what outcome you hope to achieve via marketing efforts. Do you want to build a world-class brand? Or create a unique position in the mind of the customer? You aspire to get the customer through the door and buy repeatedly. What about a desire to motivate a happy customer to refer people that they know?

You also need to consider your goals in functional terms; for example, the number of new patients. Do you have the capacity for new patients? You need to consider the number of conversions, the percentage of referrals, etc. 

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Aesthetics, General

Can Our Moods Be Affected By Botulinum Toxin?

Did the chicken or egg come first?

Does our mood reflect our facial expressions, or do our facial expressions reflect our mood? We assumed that our emotions directed our facial expressions, but studies have suggested it is, in fact, our facial expressions that determine our emotions.1 

You cannot feel depressed if you are smiling and expressing your face. To feel depressed, you need to have a little expression on your face, look sad, look down, and curl up your body. Whenever my children are upset or start crying, I first get them to open their bodies up, look towards the sky, and crack a joke to get them to smile, and it works every time. 

Researchers also understood the above strategy and started asking themselves whether if we prevented a negative facial expression, such as frowning, could we change that person’s mood and help depression.

Our facial expressions have evolved over millions of years. Charles Darwin, in 1872 wrote2, ‘A man may be absorbed in the deepest thought, and his brow will remain smooth until he encounters some obstacle in his train of reasoning, or is interrupted by some disturbance, and then a frown passes like a shadow over his brow.’ 

We can all tell if someone is angry by a negative facial expression such as frowning. We know the opposite of the hostile frown is the cheerful smile.

‘A smile cures the wounding of a frown’ – Shakespeare.

Botulinum Toxin

Facial Expressions & What They Mean

Let’s go back and look at the negative facial expression of frowning. Depending on which muscles are recruited, there are different frowns (sad versus angry), each with a different meaning. For example, if the inner part of your eyebrows points upwards whilst frowning, you will look sad. On the other hand, if the eyebrows are drawn together and down whilst frowning, you will look angry.

Frowning occurs by the contraction of the glabellar muscles, of which there are two major ones – the corrugator supercilii and the procerus. It is the corrugator supercilii that contributes more to the frown. 

Translated from Latin, corrugator supercilii means ‘the wrinkler above the eye,’ and the contraction of this muscle draws the eyebrow together to create the frown. We all know that the appearance of a frown will tell others exactly what you are feeling, but let’s take it a step further, the actual process of frowning will say to you what you are feeling, and this creates a state in your conscious mind, and this will influence your decisions and your results. 

Suppose we postulate that your facial expressions determine your emotions and mood at any given time; where can we seek this evidence? Hollywood. Actors have to take up their various roles and associated moods regularly.

Facial Feedback

 As far back as the 18th century, a German dramatist Gotthold Ephraim suggested that ‘the actor properly imitates all the external signs..and all the bodily…expressions of a particular (inner) state’ and therefore, they will recreate this internally all the same emotions, thoughts and feelings of the acted part. This began the research into ‘facial feedback.’

Charles Ball, in Essays on the Anatomy and Philosophy of Expression, wrote, ‘by the actions and expressions of the body betraying the passions of the heart we may be startled and forewarned, as it were, by the reflection of ourselves, and at the same time learn to control our passions by restraining the expression of them.’

Charles Darwin then described ‘the intimate relation which exists between almost all the emotions and their outward manifestation and partly from the direct influence of exertion on the heart, and consequently on the brain.’ 

In 1890 William James, a Harvard psychologist, in his work Principles of Psychology’ suggested that our muscles contribute to our emotions and that changes in the muscles occur all the time to suit the emotions of the moment, even if we are consciously unaware of them.

Botulinum Toxin

More recent studies have shown a correlation between the intensity of the smile and the internal emotion it produces. 

What about the use of Botulinum Toxin? Eric Finzi carried out Botulinum Toxin treatments on his patients that were depressed but showed no visible frowns. On review, he noticed that these patients markedly improved their emotional state. 

He postulates that the contraction of these frown muscles sends negative emotional signals to the brain. The brain measures the strength of the frown muscle contraction, weighing it against the power of the smile and deciding which emotion to produce. 

My patients come in for several reasons, some cosmetic and some to improve their confidence. First, it puts you in a better mood if you feel better about your appearance. It’s like doing your hair, your teeth, whatever else.

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Aesthetics, General

Acne Scarring: Crucial Facts You Need To Know Right Now

As a medical professional and someone who has suffered from acne, I know how distressing having acne can be. And so often, acne is also a double whammy. No sooner have you cured the acne itself; the acne scarring then won’t go away on its own. It can feel very unfair and impact how you feel. But there are ways of treating both acne and acne scarring.

In this blog, we look at the different types of acne and acne scars and how to prevent and treat both conditions to improve skin tone and minimise the risk of problems in the future.  

Types Of Acne 

There are several types of acne, from mild acne in the form of black or whiteheads to inflamed cystic acne, which causes painful pus-filled bumps. All acne can cause distress and a severe knock to self-esteem, and most types of acne can lead to scarring. 

However, cystic acne is usually the cause of the worst acne scars; picking or squeezing is the biggest culprit. Speaking to a medical professional about the proper treatment for your acne while it is active can help prevent scarring. Still, acne scars can also be successfully treated with the right approach.

Types Of Acne Scars And Treatments

Atrophic Scars

Atrophic scars form because the skin cannot create new tissue, leaving shallow skin indentations. There are several types of atrophic scars, including boxcar scars with sharply defined edges, ice pick scars which are wider at the skin’s surface and narrow the deeper they get into the skin, and rolling scars that are caused by bands of scar tissue under the skin. 

The best treatment for atrophic scars depends on the type of scarring you have. But the first line of treatment will always be to try and smooth out the surface of the skin. Some of the treatments I might suggest include:

  • Microneedling – to cause injury to the skin and improve the texture and tone
  • Laser therapy – to remove the outer layer of skin and stimulate the body’s collagen response
  • Chemical peels – to slough off the top layer of skin and reveal fresh, smooth skin below

Hypertrophic Scars And Keloids

For better wound healing and reduced scarring, collagen is usually our friend. But sometimes, the body makes too much collagen, resulting in hypertrophic scars and keloids. Hypertrophic scars are thickened areas of skin which appear at the site of an injury; keloid scars are raised skin growths with about 20 times more collagen than common areas of skin. 

Both keloid and hypertrophic scars are triggered by injury or trauma and are best treated with laser therapy. Both ablative and non-ablative laser therapy can be used, and I recommend Fraxel®, which treats both the surface of the skin and the deeper layers.

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, known as macular scarring by medical professionals, is where there are changes to the colour of the skin following injury or trauma. For example, after being damaged by acne, the skin can develop flat red, pink or brown spots caused by the body producing excess melanin in response to inflammation.

The best treatments for PIH are any which resurface the skin. This might include:

  • Chemical peels – to remove the top layer of skin and reveal undamaged skin below.
  • Laser therapy – I highly recommend Halo BBL laser, which stimulates the growth of new healthy skin cells.
  • Microneedling – to stimulate the production of collagen and fade dark spots.
  • Medical-grade skincare products – including prescription-strength retinol- can lighten the skin and reduce the appearance of PIH.

All skin is different, and it’s essential to get specialist advice about your acne and scarring to ensure the proper treatment for your condition, as it can be complex. You don’t have to live with acne or scarring.

Find a medical practitioner that can help you with the treatment for acne scarring. They will consult you to find the best skin acne treatment.

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Aesthetics, General

What Is A Prescription? Here’s What You Need To Know

A prescription is a written order from a licensed medical professional that authorizes the patient to purchase medication or receive medical treatment. 

They are usually issued by a doctor but can also be given by other health care professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Sometimes, prescriptions can be faxed or called to the pharmacy from the doctor’s office.

Here are some things to know about a prescription.

Allows Patients to Get The Right Medication

A prescription from a doctor can be a lifesaver, allowing a patient to receive the medication or treatment they need. In the aesthetics field, medicines are essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of clients. 

Obtaining the right products and supplies are vital to providing successful treatments, and using only safe techniques helps ensure that no harm will come to clients. By closely following a prescription that an experienced doctor has written, practitioners in aesthetics can provide services that are trustworthy, reliable, and always done correctly.

Professional Consultation Is Essential For A Prescription

It is critical for anyone seeking a prescription in aesthetics to consult with a qualified doctor before beginning any treatments. During the initial consultation, the patient is responsible for informing the doctor of their medical history and any current health conditions they may have. 

The doctor will then use this information to determine whether a prescription is necessary and what treatment might be most beneficial for their particular case. Only with professional advice should one proceed with any aesthetic procedures- it is essential to understand this before starting your journey.

Prescriber Decides If A Prescription Is Necessary

The medical practitioner’s assessment is an integral part of the aesthetic journey. Before a prescription is given, the practitioner will consider any existing medical conditions and prior treatments, analyze the area in question, and discuss the desired outcome with you to determine if a prescription is necessary. 

Then, depending on the case, they may use several non-invasive methods like peels or masks before writing up a medication tailored to their skin type, health concerns, and needs.

When a doctor decides that a prescription is needed for an aesthetic treatment, they can create an individualized plan tailored to the patient’s needs. The doctor will provide the patient with a detailed list of medications or treatments that can be used based on their medical history and desires. 

This helps ensure that the desired outcome of both parties is met without putting the patient’s health at risk. With this prescription, the doctor ensures that only safe and effective treatment methods are used while achieving results.

Pharmacy Accepts A Prescription

After a patient consults with a doctor or healthcare provider about their desired aesthetic, the professional may conclude the proper treatment or medication. This prescription can then be taken to a pharmacy or other facility to obtain what has been prescribed, enabling the patient to get the drug or treatment they need to achieve their desired look. 

In addition, pharmacists and other professionals at such locations can answer any questions that arise while considering pertinent information such as allergies and underlying medical conditions. 

Thanks to this process, aesthetics can now safely and effectively address an array of issues wanted by individuals who seek them out.

prescription

Always Get A Prescription 

A prescription is a document that allows a patient to receive specific medication or treatment from a doctor. The patient must consult a doctor and explain their medical situation to get a prescription. 

Then, if the medical practitioner decides that a drug is needed, they will write out the details of the medication or treatment the patient can receive. The patient can then take this prescription to a pharmacy or other place to receive the drug or treatment the doctor prescribes.

You can get a prescriber at faces. When you download the app and create an account, you can access clinics and medical practitioners of your choice. You can also get the right prescription from prescribers instantly.

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Aesthetics, General

Demystifying The Physics Jargon Behind Light-Based Treatments

Laser and IPL systems are full of physics terms and expressions. Many of these are daunting to non-physicists, and we tend to forget that only some are nerds!!

So, here’s a breakdown of some of those terms.

Wavelength – The Colour Of Light

The wavelength of light is its colour. So, a 700nm wavelength is red light, while 532nm is green. Physicists prefer to use wavelengths as they are much more precise than colour. Many wavelengths are invisible to the human eye. Anything above 700nm is usually hidden, but we can feel these wavelengths as heat!

light

Energy – ‘Stuff’

Energy is a strange thing to describe! There are many forms of energy, including heat, sound (vibration), light, kinetic (movement), gravitational, potential, and electrical….

For physicists, energy is the ‘stuff’ which makes things change or happen. So, we know that heat energy will raise the temperature of something while gravity keeps us all grounded! We use light energy to generate heat energy in tissues to induce a change.

to induce a change.

We measure energy in ‘Joules’ (or millijoules or megajoules). 

Fluence – “Concentration Of Energy” = Temperature Rise In Skin

The fluence is simply the ‘concentration of energy in a spot. Therefore, the subsequent temperature rise in the tissues directly depends on the fluence.

So, if we fire a certain amount of energy into a prominent spot, the concentration is relatively low. This will induce a reasonably low-temperature rise.

Whereas, if we fired precisely the same amount of energy into a smaller spot, the concentration would be higher, and the resultant temperature rise would also be higher.

Consequently, fluence is critical when considering any laser/IPL treatment. It directly affects the outcome and must be chosen very carefully.

The fluence is found by dividing the energy (in Joules) by the spot size area (usually in cm2) and is measured in ‘Joules per square centimetre’ (J/cm2).

Absorption

It might be absorbed when the light energy interacts with something in the skin (collagen, melanin, blood, etc.). This means that the light energy is ‘kept’ by that object – the light photon is converted into heat (usually), raising the object’s temperature.

This is the whole purpose of laser/IPL treatments. We are trying to ‘force’ something in the skin to ‘absorb’ the energy we have thrown at it. Absorption of light energy is the goal!

To do this efficiently, we need to ‘match’ the wavelength of the light we’re using to the absorption of the target(s).

Choosing the correct wavelength to match the target’s absorption peak is crucial in all these treatments. Otherwise, you are wasting your time…

Pulsewidth (pulse duration, pulse length) – “Cooking Time.”

The pulse width (or pulse duration or pulse length – are all the same!) is how long the light energy pulse is ON. It can be thought of as the ‘cooking time’ in all photothermal treatments. 

This parameter is as vital as the fluence! For example, if you put an egg into a pot of boiling water (which is at 100°C) and then remove it after 10 seconds, is it adequately cooked? Of course not!

Why? Well, it’s just because the egg was cooked long enough. This is obvious!

Yet, it is precisely the same with photothermal treatments in tissues. If the tissues are not kept at the required temperature long enough, then they will not cook!!

Repetition rate – The ‘Hertz.’

This is simple. The repetition rate (rep rate) is just how quickly the shots or pulses come out of the laser/IPL. So, if one picture is fired each second, the rep rate is 1 Hertz. Likewise, if five shots are fired per second, it’s 5 Hertz (or 5 Hz).

light

Spot Size – Is More Important Than You Might Think.

The spot size determines the area of the beam on the skin surface. Very simple.

But the spot size is much more important than that! Coupled with the energy delivered, it determines the fluence, or ‘concentration’, of the skin; this determines the resultant temperature rise in the skin.

The spot size increases as the light energy penetrate deeper into the skin. Consequently, the fluence drops! And this is purely due to the scattering effects – nothing to do with the absorption of the light by anything in the skin (that’s a different issue – see above).

This means in terms of laser/IPL treatments, larger spot sizes are always better when treating deep targets in the skin.

This helps to demystify some of the expressions we use in lasers and IPLs.

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Aesthetics, General

Your Face & Your Cycle

Your Face & Your Cycle: How our menstrual cycle plays a massive role in our skin and bodies and how to make the most of each phase. 

Just as our mood, our sex drive and our energy levels change at different stages of our menstrual cycle, so does our skin. Of course, we all know that our hormones can make our skin go haywire at that time of the month (period spots, anyone?). 

But many of us don’t know that there is a better time, according to our cycle, to get our much loved injectable treatments (think filler and BTX treatments) so that the needles hurt a lot less and the process is much less painful! 

face

Week 1:  Start Of Menstrual Cycle

Your menstrual cycle starts on the first day of your period. For the first week, skin tends to be drier as levels of the female sex hormones, Progesterone and Oestrogen, are low. 

This is an excellent time to use gentle products on the skin, and creamier, thicker moisturisers, as this will help plump and rehydrate dry skin. During this week, avoiding scheduling your unique injectable treatments is best. 

At this time, your brain is a lot more susceptible to pain and hypersensitivity. This time of the month also disrupts the blood clotting cascade, meaning you’re more likely to bruise and bleed after treatments. 

Now all of this doesn’t mean that you cannot get your injectables treatments at this time, just be prepared to bruise a little more, and the ‘tox needle will sting more, and we don’t want that. 

Week 2: End Of Menstrual Cycle

As your period ends, your body starts producing more Oestrogen again. This plumps the skin and promotes collagen production, making the skin look brighter and healthier. In addition, you are usually less sensitive to pain during the week, so this is an excellent time to schedule any dermal filler or BTX treatments!  

My favourite aesthetic treatment is Aqualyx® fat dissolving injections; this week is an excellent time to schedule this. In addition, I book my maintenance treatments during week 2 of my cycle, so I know I’ll bruise a lot less. 

Week 3:  Hormones Rise

As your hormones rise again, you’ll likely experience a higher sex drive, an increased appetite and feel generally excellent! However, this hormone rise can also cause the skin to go awry and become more oily- leading to breakouts. So now is a perfect time to introduce more exfoliating products, like salicylic acid, into your skincare routine to remove excess oil and clean out those pores. 

faces

Week 4: Hormones Prepare Another Cycle

Your hormones are preparing to start the cycle again this week. Follicle Stimulating Hormone is released, which signals the ovaries to prepare to release an egg. At this time, our skin glows, our hair shines, and we feel at our most confident. 

Even your pain threshold is higher. So this is another good time to book those injectable appointments.  

Additionally, having a chemical peel could help prepare your skin for the fluctuations in hormones you are about to experience and protect against a breakout.

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Aesthetics, General

Social Stigma About Aesthetic Treatment  

Aesthetic and Beauty treatments are taboo for the older generation, even now in our modern society. Therefore, it is common for individuals who have had a non-surgical or surgical treatment, i.e. Botox or dermal filler, to feel like they need to hide it from their friends, family, or even their partner.

Even when you are pleased with the result, you may feel unable to share your experience or emotion because you’re afraid to be judged or labelled. On the other hand, having work done on your face or body shows that you love yourself and are actively trying to improve and create a better version of yourself. After all, we are always told to be happy and try to be a better version of ourselves.

aesthetic

Self-Care Is Essential

Be assured, by loving ourselves, I do not mean to be selfish; it simply means to make some time for yourself and self-care. Improving our face and body in a way that we can appreciate can positively impact our confidence, mood, relationship

s and as well as our career.

If your goal is to have a better life mentally, emotionally, and financially then that is all about self-improvement and not about following social media trends or celebrities.

Aesthetic treatments enable the practitioner to correct non-symmetrical facial features, giving the client enough confidence not to hide their face or body and put themselves out there, being outspoken and standing out without reservation.

, giving the client enough confidence not to hide their face or body and put themselves out there, being outspoken and standing out without reservation.

, giving the client enough confidence not to hide their face or body and put themselves out there, being outspoken and standing out without reservation.

Aesthetic and cosmetic treatments allow people to modify themselves to make them happy for who they are or have become. For instance, an aesthetic practitioner, Julie Horne, was bullied in her school because of her thin lips.

When she reached the age of concern, she had her lips done, and that simple step encouraged her to study in this field and build a successful business. According to her videos, she improves many girls’ lives and self-confidence by enhancing their lips, which Julie is famous for.

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Personal Identity & Physical Appearance

Physical appearance is one of the most important aspects of personal identity. In our modern society, we are heavily influenced by TV, magazines and, in recent years, more by social media such as Instagram and Tiktok. Social media increases the desire to change/enhance our appearance with the help of surgical or non-surgical treatments, but this is not losing our identity; it is gaining a new one.

Let’s face it, these influencers are out there, and we are exposed to them. So instead of judging each other, it is better to be open-minded and support each other’s decisions.

Let’s decide to be proud of what we like to look like and be open to telling people if you have a Botox injection, Cheek filler, or simply having skin rejuvenation treatment to improve your saggy skin. Say out loud that you have done that because you think you are worth it.

Of course, I support everything in moderation and not being addicted or obsessed with it because quickly that can happen and always choose the right clinic to have your producer done.

to have your producer done.

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