6 minute read
Being a Model for Aesthetic Treatments
One patient experiences a slightly different way of receiving an aesthetic treatment
Having previously had botulinum toxin injections, lip fillers and cheek filler, 47-year-old Kate was no stranger to aesthetic treatments. However, this time was a slightly different experience – she was going to be an aesthetic model! We aren’t talking about walking down a catwalk as you might generally associate with models – being an aesthetic model usually involves the education of practitioners. For an aesthetic practitioner to learn how to treat a patient safely and successfully, they need to observe a skilful trainer perform the procedure and also practice the treatments themselves on real-life people. Aesthetic models may also be used for other reasons, such as educating the public. Kate’s injector – E4’s Body Fixers expert Dr Nina Bal – was filming a video for her YouTube channel to educate people on cosmetic treatments! “I was told about the opportunity by a friend who works in the industry. I’d been thinking about getting another treatment because I’d recently started to notice that my lower face was beginning to droop. I also noticed fine lines by my nose, which I’d wanted treated for a while, and thinning lips, so it seemed like the perfect chance for me to get these looked at,” Kate explains.
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When she arrived at the clinic, Kate noted that Dr Bal was very attentive to all her models and gave her a psychological assessment and wellbeing questionnaire as well as a physical assessment and consultation in which she identified mid-facial volume loss, malar fat pad (fat on the cheek) atrophy, dehydrated skin, lip asymmetry and a gummy smile. As her main concern was volume loss, Dr Bal felt that dermal filler was the best choice for treatment. Dr Bal then explained to Kate what she could expect from the procedure, outlining the potential side effects.
“She explained everything she was going to do and let me know exactly how it was expected to feel, which meant that nothing was a surprise or cause for concern while it was actually taking place,” says Kate, “She was extremely friendly which put me at ease and made me feel really comfortable.”
A comfortable treatment
Prior to the treatment, Kate explains that her entire face got covered in numbing cream for about 20 minutes. She was then asked to go into the treatment room where the filming was taking place. “Whilst she was preparing me for the treatment, she was talking first to me and then to the camera to explain what she was going to do, but I knew what I’d signed up to so I didn’t mind at all!” laughs Kate.
Dr Bal injected Kate’s cheeks first using a dermal filler called STYLAGE XL. Then she did the jowls using STYLAGE M, and finally gave her lips
47-year-old Kate
a top up with STYLAGE LIPS. These products contain hyaluronic acid which hydrates and volumises the skin. She says, “It was brilliant to have all these treatments done in one session, as my whole face felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated.”
Kate notes that she didn’t feel any pain throughout the procedures. “Dr Bal gave me a stress ball during the treatment, but I didn’t even need to use it!” she says, adding, “I did feel a little uncomfortable when she injected the lips, but as I’ve had them done before I knew this was to be expected as it is a very sensitive area. All in all, I felt super relaxed throughout the whole thing.”
Natural results
Once the treatment was completed, Kate was able to return to her usual working day straight away. “When I got to work, nobody even noticed I’d had the treatment done!” she says, “There were no tell-tale signs on my face except for two visible injection points, but no one even saw these until I pointed them out!”
In the days following the treatment, Kate notes that she didn’t have any side effects other than what is typically to be expected with injectable procedures – some sensitivity and slight bruising.
47-year-old Kate before and immediately after treatment of the jowls, cheeks and lips. Results show an improved volume in the cheeks, lips and lower face.
47-year-old Kate
She notes, “I didn’t find this concerning at all as prior to treatment it was explained to me this would probably happen, and I’d also had fillers before, but both of these side effects subsided within a few days which was amazing.”
In the days following the treatment, Kate explains that Dr Bal kept in touch with her by sending emails to check that everything was okay, as well as giving her a number to call in case she experienced any issues. “This helped me to feel more comfortable that I would be cared for should anything out of the ordinary happen,” Kate explains. Overall, Kate had an extremely positive experience. She says, “I’m super happy with the results as I feel like all my problem areas were addressed, and I would definitely go back to Dr Bal when the results start to wear off.” If, like Kate, you’re interested in becoming an aesthetics model, it’s important to research the company and trainer you choose, so before you sign up to becoming a model there are a few things you should check.
You should always be treated in a clinical environment (not someone’s house or a hotel!), and the trainer and trainee should be a medical practitioner who is regulated by their professional medical body such as the NMC/GDC/GMC. There are also aesthetic associations which assess training providers to ensure they are safe, so visit the JCCP & Me website and check whether they have been approved. Don’t be afraid to ask the training provider questions, such as how they would support you if you experienced a complication, and make sure you do your research!
Dr Nina Bal aesthetic practitioner and dental surgeon, Tempus Clinic, London IG: @drninafacialsculpting
Practitioner perspective
I decided on Kate’s treatment plan by first discussing with her what her main concerns were and what she wanted to achieve, then by clinically assessing her face and having a very honest conversation of results, possible risks and benefits. Proposed alternative treatments were discussed, for example skin products, botulinum toxin or no treatment at all, but due to the main problem being volume loss we decided together that dermal filler was the best option. It’s important to note that I do not treat any patient seeking to improve their appearance until after an assessment of suitability and excluding Body Dysmorphic Disorder. For Kate’s treatment, we started with augmentation of the cheeks using 2ml of dermal filler to provide more facial structure and reduce nose to mouth lines by contouring the mid-face, then 1ml of dermal filler for adding volumisation to the body of the lips and restructuring the outline of the lips. I then addressed deep smile lines to correct the wrinkles and loss of elasticity and augmented the mouth to chin lines to reduce risk of swollen patches of the mouth in the prominent skin folds, as well as loss of vertical dimension. This used 4ml of filler. I was very happy with the results achieved, as volume has been restored in a very natural way. The cost of this treatment in my clinic would typically be £2,500.
