The Consulting Room™ Industry Magazine Edition 120, May 2013

[COVER]

From The Editor's Desk Welcome to The Consulting Room™ Industry Magazine For May 2013 The wait is over, Keogh is out, but was it all an anti-climax? Our Feature Article for this May edition of the Member Magazine looks at the recently published Review into the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions in England led by Sir Bruce Keogh, and asks have we really moved on since the last round of similar industry scrutiny and reporting in 2005.

We have some exciting website traffic statistics to tell you about in this Editor’s section, which shows how client referrals from us are growing for your business.

We look at fraudulent imports of Botox® in America, the latest partnership between Courthouse Clinics and MYA, and the campaign for patient safety by Marie Claire magazine in our Latest News.

Lorna Jackson

Our Eye Spy With My Industry Eye focuses on our very successful Smart Ideas seminar in London, which was followed by our 10th Anniversary Party.

Our Business Corner looks at how you can get your whole company team blogging for the benefit of your clinic business.

As always the magazine is packed with Conferences and Training, Clinical Information, Equipment Sales and Interesting News Articles and Blogs That You May Have Missed.

It’s Our Birthday! We Are 10 Years Old! On 9th May 2003, a unique and innovative website was born, the first resource of its kind in the UK to offer unbiased information and advice about cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetic treatments to the general public, whilst assisting them in contacting reputable clinics offering these mysterious anti-ageing solutions....and so The Consulting Room™ (www.consultingroom.com) was born!

A decade later and the industry has mushroomed and grown far larger than perhaps anyone expected. Having a little ‘something done’ is no longer a taboo, mainstream media is happy to highlight the industry 24-7 and the public appetite for the latest innovation in lunchtime nip ‘n’ tuck solutions is not abating.

We’re pleased to have been the first to bring this type of online resource to the UK public, and to still be providing a quality information source to them, but as members you all know that there’s more to us than just that. Our wealth of aesthetic industry experience, frontline business knowledge, industry network and drive has truly allowed us to become a one-stop information and advice resource for those involved in or just starting out in the UK aesthetic marketplace. We could not be more proud of our achievements, but we couldn’t have done it without many of you, so we thank those of you who have believed in us and continued to support us during the last decade, as well as those newer members who have put their faith in our services in recent times. We hope you will all continue to be proud of and value the membership that you have to The Consulting Room™. th

Be sure to have a look at the photos from our 10 Anniversary Party later on in this magazine!

Client Referrals – Our Statistics Show Significant Growth Many of you will be in receipt of new client referral emails generated by our site on a weekly basis, as well as telephone calls generated by those who click on your profile to reveal your contact information. We hope that you are using internal auditing processes to evaluate where your new clientele heard about your services, including those coming direct via The Consulting Room™.

If it helps, you can also see all the statistics generated for your individual clinic profile listing, including click throughs to your website, social media and blog sites, as well as clicks to contact by telephone or email by logging in to the Members Area and looking at the Statistics section within Clinic Update.

As you know we are always keen to improve our service to our members and have taken further measures in upgrading the site over the last year or so, including layout changes and search engine optimisation strategies to further increase our visibility and generate more business for you. We’re pleased to say that a recent look at our traffic statistics is showing that we are indeed on the right track and future success for us all is looking positive.

Here are a few highlights, which we hope you will be as pleased about as us.

When comparing email referrals generated and sent out to clinics, we found that the first 4 months of 2013 (Jan to April) saw an increase of 59% over the number of referrals generated in the last 4 months of 2012 (Sept to Dec).

Although seasonal variations may account for some of this increase, as we now gear up for summer, when we looked at a year on year comparison for April 2012 versus April 2013, the increases were much more apparent.

April 2013 saw a 130% increase in email generated clinic referrals to our membership. We hope that all of you in receipt of referrals are actioning these as promptly as possible to turn them into appointment bookings and ultimately paying customers.

Of course, not everyone wants to use email so next we looked at the traffic for the click throughs to the page which details the telephone number for each clinic listing. This is a new feature since last autumn so we have no year on year data as yet but the results so far are extremely promising. The figures for April 2013 show that even against March 2013, there was a 340% increase in click throughs for clinic telephone numbers, in fact April 2013 accounted for a 15% increase on all requests for telephone numbers for the first 3 months of the year combined. If you’re not yet asking where all your telephone enquiries heard about your services, you may well be pleasantly surprised at the amount coming via The Consulting Room™.

Here are just a few pointers to help you to increase your chance of client referrals.

1) Make sure your profile is all up to date to encourage new business to contact you – check all your contact information is current, are you linked to all the treatments and products that you provide so you come up in searches, have you got profiles and photos for all your staff, how about some videos of your clinic, plus images, accreditations and opening hours. Just login in to the Members Area (www.consultingroom.com/members/login.asp) visit Clinic Update and spend a few moments updating.

2) It is important to note that the emails generated directly to you are automated emails from The Consulting Room so please DO NOT REPLY directly to them in response to the enquiry, but instead use the email address listed within it to contact the potential client direct regarding their request.

3) To make sure that you don’t miss any email generated referrals, please make sure that the email address that we hold for you is correct and that your email system permits emails from admin@consultingroom.com so they are not treated as spam by your email client/server.

4) Do your own audit, analyse your return on investment from The Consulting Room™ by asking new clients who come to you through your email, telephone, social media or web contact forms how they heard about you.

If you have any questions about the client referrals you are getting, please feel free to contact admin@consultingroom.com.

Hydrafacial UK, Brought To You By The Consulting Room™ From 1st May 2013, SkinBrands Ltd will no longer be supplying devices, consumables and skincare related to the HydraFacial™ hydradermabrasion Tower, Allegro and Nectre systems. Equally, service and maintenance of current machines will no longer be handled by them.

The new point of call for new and existing customers will be HydraFacial UK, part of ConsultingRoom.com Ltd. Hydrafacial UK is a new division of The Consulting Room™ that aims to build upon our past sales and training involvement with the Hydrafacial brand on behalf of SkinBrands Ltd - via Martyn and Banu Roe. Liaising with SkinBrands Ltd we are currently facilitating a smooth transition in terms of the ordering of all consumables and skincare and will be working closely with Edge Systems, the US based manufacturers, to develop the brand and ongoing support for our new and existing Hydrafacial customers.

Over the coming year, we will be investing in new materials, programs and staff to help customers maximise revenue from their HydraFacial systems.

Updated treatment protocols, including the use of the new lymphatic drainage handpiece, will be featured alongside detailed information about how to successfully market the “Skin Health for Life” concept.

Skin Health For Life™ is our philosophy of not just improving your appearance, but actually restoring youthful, healthy skin. Skin health is a lifestyle, requiring monthly maintenance and the right treatment for every skin type. The HydraFacial™ is not just a quick-fix-it procedure - it helps improve the quality of your skin, helping to make it healthy.

Many US and UK based clinics successfully place the HydraFacial Skin Health For Life™ treatment program at the core of their marketing, creating a growing loyal following amongst their patients and generating thousands in revenue every month.

Anyone interested in learning more about the HydraFacial systems and the Skin Health For Life™ concept can email admin@hydrafacial.co.uk or telephone 01788 577254.

Visit our sister site www.cosmeticvideos.co.uk to see all the great videos, including Member’s Only content today!

The Member’s Only section of our specialist video website contains videos that are more instructive and aimed purely at medical professionals, relating to detailed explanations of concepts, techniques, procedures, protocols and dealing with problems. If you haven’t accessed this section already, it’s quick and easy to do so...

Simply Register using your Consulting Room membership information (username or email address and password) and if everything matches you will be authorised automatically and you can then log in to the Cosmetic Videos Members Only Area whenever you like; all free of charge to Consulting Room members.

www.cosmeticvideos.co.uk

Some Recent Blogs You May Have Missed Slimming, sleeping and anti-ageing supplements, beneath the celebrity hype

By Kim Pearson A recent Daily Mail article ‘revealed’ what they describe as a ‘new weapon in the anti-ageing arsenal’ of A list celebrities. Nutrient supplements. The article covered a variety of different supplements, reportedly used by celebrities to help them stay slim, beat bloating, combat wrinkles and reduce stress. Supplements claiming to reduce body fat are always popular but with so many brands on the market it can be hard to know which ones work and which are just hype. www.consultingroom.com/blog/370

A Timeline of Cosmetic Procedures: (The When, Who and Where)

By Martina Simon There is a well-documented history of cosmetic procedures which have been designed to improve the appearance of different people. In past times these operations were carried out on disfigured or severely injured individuals, as a means of improving their overall quality of life. However, it is now quite common for people to have Botox® treatments and face-lifts in order to realise stereotypical definitions of beauty. Some of the key moments in the development of cosmetic procedures are highlighted in this article. www.consultingroom.com/blog/368

Why a holiday tan can be bad for your health

By Dr. Stefanie Williams There was a time not too long ago, when a tan was one of the most desirable holiday accessories you could wish for. Indeed an ex-colleague, one of the most well know dermatologists in Germany, even used to keep a sun lamp in his office to ensure his tan was always topped up. It was widely believed that the tan was nature's form of sun protection.. www.consultingroom.com/blog/367

The Latest on Hair Transplants - FUE versus FUT

By Dr. Kouremada Zioga Over the past decade, there has been a maelstrom of debate surrounding the treatment of hair loss and hair transplants, with a complete solution seemingly always on the horizon, as rapid advancements are made and preconceptions are challenged. www.consultingroom.com/blog/366

The Consulting Room™ 3rd Annual Golf Challenge Day Whether you're an amateur or experienced golfer join us to eat, drink, play, relax, network and play a round of golf. After the success of the last two Consulting Room Golf Days in 2011 and 2012 we are pleased to announce the th date for our 2013 tournament: 18 May 2013 at Old Thorns, Surrey.

We will be looking for clinics to enter a team of two and to compete for the Consulting Room Challenge Cup. If you can't find a partner, we'll aim to find one for you on the day, which will be a great opportunity to enjoy a round of golf - with a competitive edge, whilst networking with industry colleagues and friends. Spa options are available for non-golfing partners!

Consulting Room Members Get 5% Discount on all Bookings!

LIMITED PLACES LEFT, HURRY!

For more information and to reserve your place, please visit www.consultingroomgolf.co.uk

Looking For Best Prices on Toxins & Fillers? This Month’s Deals The Consulting Room™ Product & Price Comparison Charts for Dermal Fillers and Botulinum Toxins are available in the Product Comparisons section (login required) within our Members Area where you can compare the prices and bulk deals available through direct purchase from manufacturers/distributors or through the major third party wholesalers and pharmacies such as Wigmore Medical Ltd, Health XChange Pharmacy and Med-fx.

Offers this month: Prices ex.VAT Botox 100U / 50U Azzalure 2 x 125U (Twin pack) Azzalure 1 x 125U (Single) Xeomin 100U / Bocouture 50U

Restylane 1ml Juvéderm Ultra 2 (2 x0.55ml) Radiesse 1.5ml

Wigmore Medical

Health XChange

Med-fx

N/A £100.00 4+ Packs @£91.00 each

£140.00 / £76.01 N/A

£145.00 £95.00

£118.00 / £53.95 10+ Packs @ £107.00 each / 20+ Packs @ £51.00 each £89.50 N/A £120.00

N/A

£64.50 £119.90 / £53.00

£83.24 £95.50 N/A

£85.00 £93.35 Buy 8 @ £98.00 each, get 2 FREE* th

*Offers valid until 30 May 2013

Nip & Tuck - Facts & Stats

‘Tittooing’

Half

Term coined to describe the latest trend for cosmetic nipple enhancing micropigmentation treatments.

of U.S. Plastic Surgeons are using Social Media platforms (Facebook, Twitter) in their professional practice.

Source: The Telegraph

Source: ASPS Member Survey

A quarter of men would like their partners to have cosmetic surgery in order to improve their looks.

Source: Survey by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk

70%

£19.99

of women aged 25+ identified their tummy bulge as their no.1 concern followed by muffin top (55%) and cellulite (45%).

The price of the latest ‘Botox in a Tube’ musthave cream, Nip + Fab’s Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix, available from Tesco!

Source: Syneron Medical Commissioned Survey

Source: Daily Mail

Latest News MYA and Courthouse Clinics Join Forces The two well known companies have joined forces to become the UK's ‘foremost provider of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments’.

Courthouse Clinics @ MYA will be launched at MYA's flagship Fenchurch Street clinic and will provide patients with a full range of cosmetic services performed by doctors and top cosmetic surgeons, using only market leading products and equipment. The partnership consolidates the experience and expertise of the founding fathers of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments; Dr Patrick Bowler Medical Director of Courthouse Clinics and MYA Chairman and founder John Ryan.

Dr Patrick Bowler says; "Courthouse Clinics are the UK's foremost doctor led non-surgical cosmetic provider and MYA has some of the most experienced and skilled surgeons in the world. The partnership allows us to provide a safer and even higher standard of service at a time when pressure is mounting for more regulation and accountability in order to protect the public."

John Ryan MYA's Chairman says; “Since MYA was founded 7 years ago it has been one of the most vibrant and dynamic cosmetic surgery companies in the UK. From small beginnings it has outpaced most of its competitors and it’s now highly regarded as one of the top providers in the country. Recently MYA have joined forces with Courthouse Clinics, one of the most reputable companies in the non-surgical field. This has allowed a wide offering in an ever expanding market and gives patients the assurance that they are receiving a safe and extremely high quality service.”

Fraudulent Versions of Botox® Found in The United States At the end of April 2013, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert to U.S. healthcare professionals and the public that fraudulent versions of the botulinum toxin brand, Botox® are being sold to U.S. medical practices.

According to the FDA, the outer carton (packaging) and vial is counterfeit, it displays the active ingredient as “Botulinum Toxin Type A” and not “OnabotulinumtoxinA”, thus meaning it is labelled as a foreign version of Botox®, which is not FDA-approved for sale in the United States. Additionally, the lot numbers and expiration dates on the outer carton and accompanying vial do not match. These products are being sold by unlicensed suppliers who are not part of the legitimate U.S. supply chain they noted, so the FDA cannot confirm that the manufacture, quality, storage, and handling of these products follow U.S. standards, thus they consider them to be unsafe and advise against use.

The company selling the fraudulent versions of Botox® goes by the names “Online Botox Pharmacy”, “Onlinebotox.com”, and “Onlinebotox”. At the time the FDA issued the alert, the company concerned did not appear to be actually selling its products over the Internet, but instead had been using “blast faxes” to solicit sales from medical practices at prices below those of the FDA-approved versions of the product.

The FDA is therefore asking the public to report suspect Botox products obtained from Online Botox Pharmacy or other questionable sources. They have issued a series of alerts to practitioners about the risk of buying medicines from foreign or unlicensed sources and are committed to protecting public health by securing the drug supply chain against counterfeit and unapproved medications that enter the United States through fraudulent sources. It is important for UK based practitioners to also be certain of the reputable nature of the product supply sources that they use, and not to be swayed by offers of cheap deals from unknown suppliers.

Marie Claire Magazine Launch #TakeAGoodLook Campaign Trish Halpin, Editor of Marie Claire magazine was asked to be part of the recent Expert Advisory Panel created for the Review into the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions in England, headed up by NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh (more on this in our Feature Article).

Inclusion on this committee had a profound effect on Trish who is quoted as saying that she was shocked to hear that the industry was almost entirely unregulated and unaccountable. Trish said: “I consider myself to be wellinformed, but I had no idea this sector was so poorly regulated. It's remarkable to think that consumers have so little protection, even though there are major risks involved, not just with cosmetic surgery, but also with procedures such as Botox and fillers, which we've come to view as everyday beauty treatments.”

This prompted Trish and Marie Claire magazine to launch the Take A Good Look Campaign in April (follow the Twitter hashtag #TakeAGoodLook), which aims to reach out to government to empower and inform women towards safe cosmetic treatments. The Campaign, which is encouraging people to sign a petition, and currently boasts just under three thousand supporters, demands many of the things highlighted in the final report now published from Keogh, to include:        

a register for practitioners and procedures standardised information for patients a ban on special offers and procedures as prizes a code of practice for advertising training courses for non-surgical procedures fillers to be made prescription-only a national breast implant registry an impartial organisation to turn to when things go wrong

Feature Article Keogh: Have We Really Moved On From The 2005 Recommendations?

Some eight years ago now, back in 2005, we brought you a feature article entitled ‘Chief Medical Officer Announces Shake Up of Regulation of Private Cosmetic Surgery What does it all mean?’ which highlighted the submissions to Sir Liam Donaldson, then Chief Medical Offer (CMO) of two reports published by the Healthcare Commission (predecessor to the Care Quality Commission as industry regulator) and a Department of Health based Expert Group looking at the current systems in place for the regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry in England and whether they were sufficient to ensure patient safety.

The Healthcare Commission’s ‘Provision of Cosmetic Surgery in England’ and the Expert Group’s ‘Regulation of Cosmetic Surgery’ were both published on the same day, 28th January 2005.

The Expert Group report highlighted that, while there is no firm evidence of harm to patients under the then, current arrangements for regulation of cosmetic surgery, this was a growing area with more people wanting to have procedures and new and different procedures being developed all the time, which they believed demanded a more robust regulatory structure.

The primary findings of the Healthcare Commission report were concerned with the need to scrutinise the then, currently unregulated cosmetic procedures such as Botox®, chemical peels and injectable fillers, with strong recommendations for further reviews into cosmetic and aesthetic procedures currently available in the marketplace as well as emerging treatments, in order to ensure the safety and quality of services provided in England.

After analysing these two reports, the CMO produced an action plan on the recommendations for the industry.

Fast forward to 2013 and the report entitled the ‘Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions (in England)‘ has just been published at the end of April by a committee of mixed professionals headed up by NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, spawned as a reaction to the scandal surrounding the fraudulent PIP breast implants.

So, it sounds rather familiar doesn’t it? We’ve been here before. Take a long, hard look at ourselves, see what’s wrong and recommend some improvements, all in the name of patient safety of course. But, has anything really changed? Is the current system even any better than the last time it was reviewed, almost a decade ago? Or, are the same old recommendations being put forward for regulators and legislators to simply ignore again, potentially at the detriment of patient safety? Let’s review what came before and what Keogh brings ‘new’ to the table.

Past Reports in a Nutshell Healthcare Commission’s Provision of Cosmetic Surgery in England This report detailed the findings of the Healthcare Commission (HC)’s investigation into private cosmetic surgery provision in England. In general the report recommended further review of current and emerging cosmetic and aesthetic procedures in order to ensure the safety and quality of cosmetic services in England as the HC admitted that ‘while there are numerous estimates of the number of establishments that provide unregulated cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, the actual number is unknown’.

For this report a total of 211 of their own inspection reports from 2002 to 2004 were reviewed by them. These reported on 156 separate establishments, with 55 being inspected twice. This was not an exhaustive list of cosmetic surgery providers, and did not include newly registered providers or laser specific establishments. Of the

inspection reports, 184 came from acute hospitals, 11 from cosmetic surgery only establishments and 16 from small establishments.

The Healthcare Commission’s recommendations within their report were broadly that:  

specialised training in cosmetic surgery within specialist training (for the specialist register) should be established and made mandatory. a separate category of cosmetic only establishments be defined within HC registration and recommended that the standards relating to cosmetic surgery should be reviewed to provide standards more tailored to the specialty.

The Healthcare Commission also endorsed a recommendation previously submitted to government from a Health Committee report which noted that emerging techniques and technologies that pose any risk to patient safety should be evaluated and regulated.

The Expert Group’s Regulation of Cosmetic Surgery This report was designed to establish whether the then, current system for regulation of cosmetic surgery via the National Minimum Standards was sufficient to ensure patient safety and to make recommendations based on the group’s findings. Their final 20 recommendations fell into three broad themes; recommendations about clinical training, qualifications and accountability, recommendations about cosmetic procedures, and finally, recommendations about public information and education. The Expert Group committee included representatives from the Department of Health, the Healthcare Commission, the Cosmetic Inter-Specialty Committee, large clinic chains, as well as Doctor and Nurse members.

With regard to the regulation of invasive cosmetic surgery they found no reason to consider the current inspection regime conducted by the Healthcare Commission to be inadequate, and welcomed their efforts to seek augmented regulatory powers of enforcement action against non compliant establishments without the need for court intervention. However, they did highlight concerns with current training and qualification requirements for clinicians.

The Expert Group also looked at non-surgical treatments and expressed concern at the off-licence use and advertising of botulinum toxins. They also scrutinised the regulation of aesthetic fillers, noting that the subcutaneous injection of such fillers is not regulated and that their classification as medical devices is unclear, all of which it found unsatisfactory. It called for better regulation and licensing of fillers. Remember, this is in 2005!

CMO’s Action Plan In response to the findings from the above two reports, the Chief Medical Offer was able to announce a broad range of improvement plans to the regulation of the private cosmetic surgery industry to be enacted (it said) during 2005 and beyond. Broadly these involved:    

developing patient education and information materials, reviewing the need and scope for additional regulation of aesthetic fillers, working with the Healthcare Commission and other stakeholders to develop plans for bringing additional cosmetic procedures within the remit of the Healthcare Commission by the end of 2005/06. asking the relevant professional bodies and competent authority to develop appropriate specialist training programmes as a matter of urgency for surgeons undertaking cosmetic procedures.

Each of the 20 recommendations from the Expert Group report was provided with a response from the CMO and course of action. Some of the more ‘interesting’ ones, in light of the recent Keogh report, are highlighted below:

Recommendation 7 That the facilities where botulinum toxins are injected be licensed with the Healthcare Commission and therefore subject to its regulations.

CMO Response: Agreed, subject to regulatory impact assessment and resourcing.

Recommendation 11 That the classification of aesthetic fillers, whether they are medical devices or not, be reviewed to ensure that the regulations applying to filler products are clear and easily understood by patients and the public and

bring all filler products within a consistent regulatory framework. Classification of fillers should include whether the fillers are permanent, semi-permanent or temporary.

Recommendation 13 That temporary aesthetic fillers are only injected by a doctor or nurse, and that permanent and semipermanent fillers are only injected by a doctor.

CMO Response: Agreed in principle. We will address this by asking the relevant professional organisations to provide evidence-based advice about the skills and competencies required to advise patients. After due consideration this will be implemented through standards against which the Healthcare Commission will inspect providers, and patient information.

Recommendation 14 That the facilities where aesthetic fillers are injected be licensed with the Healthcare Commission and therefore subject to its regulations.

CMO Response: Agreed in principle. This links to recommendation 11, as further work is needed to define and classify aesthetic fillers. We will work with the Healthcare Commission and other stakeholders to develop regulatory impact assessments and detailed proposals for the registration of these facilities.

As we know, the Department of Health went away and thought about all of this...for 18 whole months and finally came back in April 2007 and stated that the Government had considered statutory regulation of cosmetic injectable treatments, which would include dermal fillers and botulinum toxins. The Department of Health had worked closely with the cosmetic surgery industry to determine the form of regulation that would provide the best approach for both treatment providers and their patients, and the winner was...a self-regulatory scheme drawn up by the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) which we now know to be called the Treatments You Can Trust (TYCT) Register.

So fast forward to 2013...

Keogh – What Are The New Recommendations For The Industry?

The long awaited report, headed up by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, commission in January 2012 and commenced in August of the same year investigating the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions in England, has finally been published and calls for a complete reclassification of dermal filler products amongst other recommendations (40 in total) for the private cosmetic sector. Now where have I heard that before?

The Keogh committee also want to ensure that all practitioners are properly qualified for all the procedures that they offer, from cosmetic surgeons offering breast augmentations to those offering cosmetic injectable treatments.

All of which would be overseen by an ombudsman to aid those who have received poor treatment.

Commissioned by the Government following the PIP breast implant scandal, the review has looked at the products used for surgical and non-surgical procedures, the people who administer them, the way they are advertised and the advice and support patients and consumers are given. The report sets out how it would like to see the aesthetic and cosmetic sector better regulated, practitioners better trained and the public having proper redress should things go wrong.

The cynic in me can’t help but look back over my shoulder to the past and shake my head, we’ve been here once before, the sense of déjà vu is palpable, yet here we are again!

On first dissecting the industry, Sir Keogh admitted to being surprised that non-surgical interventions, which can have major and irreversible impacts on health if something goes wrong, are almost entirely unregulated, a fact also clearly highlighted at the time in the 2005 reports. Obviously since then the cosmetic use of lasers for hair removal has also been deregulated and is no longer covered by the CQC registration and inspection criteria (which took over from the Healthcare Commission in April 20009) as of October 2010, so the industry is even more unregulated as a whole than in 2005.

Of particular concern to the Keogh committee was the arena of dermal fillers where they noted that anyone can set themselves up as a practitioner, with no requirement for knowledge, training or previous experience and, in the absence of accredited training courses, anyone can set up a training course purporting to offer a (self-accredited) qualification. The casual use of products by unqualified individuals and reports of people buying injectable products

over the Internet and self-administering alarmed the Keogh panel. Add to that the lack of sufficient checks in regard to the quality of the filler products themselves, currently poorly regulated under medical device regulations, which was likened to those imposed on a bottle of floor cleaner, meaning that the Review committee believes that dermal fillers are a crisis waiting to happen; but for how much longer?

They also noted that data on rates of reported adverse reactions caused by dermal fillers and other non-surgical cosmetic interventions are poor because there are no formal reporting mechanisms in place for many of these products.

Sir Keogh raised the issue that previous attempts at self-regulation in the non-surgical side of the industry have failed, which he put down to them being largely voluntary codes which have meant that only the best in the industry commit themselves to better practice, whilst the unscrupulous and unsafe carry on as before. The report states that despite efforts from IHAS, Treatments You Can Trust has attained limited support from the sector, with concerns that, as a trade body, IHAS is not the appropriate organisation to run an independent register. It also points out that from a consumer perspective awareness of the register is low. It concludes that the failure of the sector to self-regulate may also partly reflect public attitudes which assume that there is already legislation. An observation which we would all be hard pressed to disagree with.

For this reason, one of the key recommendations of the report is to make dermal fillers prescription only medical devices to tackle both concerns head on. The committee are determined that the production of dermal fillers should fall under the same controls as other implants as this will ensure that only those fillers that have passed vigorous appraisals of safety will be available, and only those with ‘appropriate skill’ will be able to administer them.

The Review report notes that people undergoing non-surgical treatments should be able to be confident that their practitioner has the required skill and expertise to undertake the procedure successfully and safely.

They argue that the question is not ‘who should perform treatments’ but ‘what should adequate training and accreditation involve’? Noting that once the requirements for training are identified and understood, it should be possible to identify, for each professional group, which parts of the curriculum have been covered with prior training and which are consequently required to complete training. This will mean that different professional groups (e.g. medics like Doctors and Nurses versus non-medics like Beauty Therapists) will enter the training scheme at different points. Such a scheme could provide broad access, and may be able to provide professional training for those with no prior experience. The aim should be that, every practitioner, no matter what their starting point should attain the necessary skills and expertise to perform these varied procedures safely and to a high standard.

The training and accreditation process should ensure that practitioners are able to identify and manage complications of treatment and the curriculum and training requirements should be regularly reviewed to ensure that all practitioners are adequately trained in emerging procedures; this will involve regular retraining for those who wish to perform the latest treatments.

The committee believes that anyone prescribing fillers, or performing other potentially harmful non-surgical cosmetic procedures, should be accountable to a professional regulator.

The Review committee thus recommends that:   

 

All non-surgical procedures must be performed under the responsibility of a clinical professional who has gained the accredited qualification to prescribe, administer and supervise aesthetic procedures.

Non-healthcare practitioners who have achieved the required accredited qualification may perform these procedures under the supervision of an appropriate qualified clinical professional.

The Government’s mandate for Health Education England (HEE) should include the development of appropriate accredited qualifications for providers of non-surgical interventions and it should determine accreditation requirements for the various professional groups. This work should be completed in 2013.

All practitioners must be registered centrally. The register should be independent of particular professional groups or commercial bodies, and should be funded through registration fees.

Entry to the register should be subject to: o achievement of accredited qualification o premises meeting certain requirements o adherence to a code of practice that covers handling complaints and redress, o insurance requirements, responsible advertising practice and consent practices o continued demonstration of competence through an annual appraisal.

Following on from this the Review committee found that the current regulation of non-surgical providers is insufficient to adequately protect public health and safety.

Therefore they recommend that: 

Those training to be non-surgical practitioners should have a clear understanding of the requirement to operate from safe premises, and the responsibilities involved. The training curriculum should include topics such as infection control, treatment room safety and adverse incident reporting. The code of conduct for those on the register should include an obligation to abide by certain clearly defined minimum standards for premises.

In relation to the products themselves, the Review report states that dermal fillers that do not claim to have a medical purpose (i.e. they are purely for cosmetic use) are exempt from EU medical device regulations and CE marking requirements before being able to be sold, thus products falling outside the medical devices regulations are only covered by the general provisions of the EU General Product Safety Directive. This maintains only a very general responsibility on distributors to place on the market (or supply) products that are safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Furthermore, when a product such as a dermal filler is used as part of a ‘professional service’ it is currently exempt from the EU General Product Safety Directive. This means that in effect some dermal fillers used in cosmetic interventions in the UK are exempt from any product safety regulations! While this does not necessarily mean that the products are unsafe, it does mean that consumers and patients are reliant on manufacturers’ and providers’ own assessment of the safety of the product.

The Review report highlights that proposed revisions to the EU Medical Devices Directive are currently being discussed and may result in all dermal fillers and other implants for cosmetic use being classified as medical devices and therefore subject to the safety checks required for CE marking, but even if these changes are agreed, they are unlikely to be implemented before 2018, which Keogh believes leaves the public unprotected for too long.

Manufacturers are currently not required to notify the MHRA that they are bringing medical devices or cosmetic implants to market in the UK and it is difficult therefore to get data on product use. According to the report, as a rough estimate, there are between 140 and 190 dermal filler products available in the UK (including CE marked and non-CE marked products), and there are no restrictions on who can purchase these products.

It therefore recommends that:   

The scope of the EU Medical Devices Directive should be extended to cover all cosmetic implants, including all dermal fillers. UK legislation should be introduced to make fillers a prescription only medical devices.

The EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) should be revised so that products used as part of a professional service are no longer exempt from product safety legislation.

Manufacturers should inform the MHRA when bringing a new product to the UK market and the MHRA should publish a list of the cosmetic devices available in the UK.

The 67 page report of course goes into much more detail about the various aspects of the cosmetic intervention market within England and its findings and recommendations. The Review Committee believes that the Government needs to establish a regulatory framework that encompasses the whole cosmetic sector, rather than the ‘piecemeal’ set up that it currently sees. This would employ a ‘clear, consistent and proportionate approach that is able to adapt to new developments’. The panel therefore hope that their recommendations, taken together, form a new legislative framework, demanded consistently by stakeholders and contributors to the evidence process that is proportionate to the potential risks of cosmetic interventions. The full report highlights three key areas in which changes are needed within the whole industry: 1. high quality care with safe products, skilled practitioners and responsible providers; 2. an informed and empowered public to ensure people get accurate advice and that the vulnerable are protected; 3. and, accessible redress and resolution in case things go wrong.

The key recommendations across the board are thus laid out as follows: High Quality Care  

The scope of the EU Medical Devices Directive should be extended to include all cosmetic implants including dermal fillers, UK legislation should be introduced to enact the changes sooner. Legislation should be introduced to classify fillers as a prescription-only medical device.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) should establish an Interspecialty Committee on Cosmetic Surgery, made up of representatives of all the relevant specialty and professional associations. The purpose of this

   

group is to set standards for cosmetic surgery practice and training, and make arrangements for formal certification of all surgeons regarded as competent to undertake cosmetic procedures, taking account of training and experience. While this is developed, only doctors on a GMC Specialist Register should perform cosmetic surgery, and those doctors should work within the scope of their specific training.

All those performing cosmetic interventions must be registered.

The Health Education England’s (HEE’s) mandate should include the development of appropriate accredited qualifications for providers of non-surgical interventions and it should determine accreditation requirements for the various professional groups. This work should be completed in 2013.

Surgical providers should provide both the person undergoing a procedure and their GP with proper records.

A breast implant registry should be established within the next 12 months and extended to other cosmetic devices as soon as possible, to provide better monitoring of patient outcomes and device safety.

An Informed and Empowered Public 

   

The RCS Interspecialty Committee on Cosmetic Surgery should develop and describe a multi-stage consent process for operations. Consent must be taken by the surgeon performing the operation to ensure that the patient and practitioner have a shared understanding of the desired outcome and the limitations, implications and risks of the procedure.

Evidence-based standardised patient information should be developed by the RCS Interspecialty Committee on Cosmetic Surgery, with input from patient organisations.

For non-surgical procedures a record of consent must be held by the provider.

Existing advertising recommendations and restrictions should be updated and better enforced.

The use of financial inducements and time-limited deals to promote cosmetic interventions should be prohibited to avoid inappropriate influencing of vulnerable consumers.

Accessible Resolution and Redress    

The remit of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) should be extended to cover the whole private healthcare sector. This will de facto include cosmetic procedures of all kinds.

All individuals performing cosmetic procedures must possess adequate professional indemnity cover that is commensurate with the type of operations being performed.

For surgeons working in this country, but who are insured abroad, indemnity insurance must be commensurate with similar UK policies.

The Review Committee supports the future development of insurance products such as risk pool arrangements, to cover product failure and certain complications of surgery.

Sir Bruce is keen to put the minds of practitioner’s at rest by clarifying; “these recommendations are not about increasing bureaucracy but about putting everyone’s safety and wellbeing first.”

He went on to say; “We would like to see everyone who chooses to have any cosmetic procedure better protected.

We would like to see people who carry out procedures trained to a high standard. We would like the public to feel confident they are going to be well looked after and, if things go wrong, that they will be supported. And ultimately, if someone needs to step in on the side of patients, we think there should be an ombudsman to do that. We very much hope that our report will lead to a safer environment for patients and this industry in the future.”

Industry Reaction Thus far the report and its contents have been welcomed by key organisations and professionals within the aesthetic industry. Many of the leading organisations representing medical professionals such as plastic surgeons, doctors, nurses and beauty therapists have been vocal in their responses and drive to work closely with Government to put better practices and regulation in place. Product manufacturers, particularly the larger suppliers of dermal filler brands have welcomed the news also, but with some caution as to the most appropriate way forward.

Here we detail some of the responses: Commenting on the report, Consulting Room™ Advisor, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and BAAPS President Rajiv Grover said; “We are thoroughly relieved that the Review has come to the same conclusions as we have over the years, specifically the urgent need for dermal fillers to require a prescription for use. This measure will kill three birds with one stone: regulating which ones come onto the market, who can inject them and automatically banning their advertising.”

Sally Taber, Director of the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and responsible for managing www.TreatmentsYouCanTrust.org.uk welcomed the Keogh Review and said; "The successful implementation of the recommendations on non-surgical procedures to ensure patient safety relies on two things. First, to end bad practice, the new qualification for cosmetic injectables must be underpinned by medical knowledge to ensure these medical treatments are administered safely. Second, it is important that these recommendations are executed swiftly to stop patients falling through the net. IHAS will be happy to utilise its existing framework and established industry guidelines to work constructively with the Government to expedite the process."

Tim Goodacre, BAPRAS Chair of Professional Standards and a member of the Review’s Working Group on Training and Education in Cosmetic Surgery, said;“...This is a strong series of recommendations and we are pleased that many of our priorities have been included. We hope they achieve Parliamentary approval and support quickly so that the detailed implementation work can begin and patients can be sure of high quality care and controlled outcomes at all times.”

Dr. Samantha Gammell, President of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) said: "BCAM is both pleased and relieved that the Review has put forward recommendations which are both sensible and proportionate in relation to cosmetic treatments. BCAM has long advocated the regulation of the use of dermal fillers in view of the potentially very serious complications which can arise from their use and we are delighted at the proposal that these products should become prescription only medicines. We also welcome the committee’s recommendations regarding requirements for verifiable training in the field of aesthetic medicine which is the central focus of the College.

We are thrilled that the Review has taken on board the views we expressed in our evidence to them late last year and that so many of our suggestions have been adopted by Professor Keogh and his team in the final report. It is vital for the sake of the profession that cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine is appropriately regulated and is performed only by those who are qualified, skilled and able to deal with the rare but potentially serious complications."

The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) issued a collective response by saying; "If practitioners are to be licensed - who will license and how would it work? If there is to be accredited education - how will this be designed? what will the entry levels be? who will deliver and where will it be delivered? how will experienced practitioners demonstrate required standards? We strongly object to anyone other than nurses, doctors and dentists qualifying to undertake these procedures.

If Premises are to be licensed - who will undertake this? what lessons have we learned? We support initiation of the HEE, PHSO, CQC and MHRA in engagement and consultation with clinical experts in pushing forward the recommendations towards credible and workable legislation. The group of experts in this case MUST include clinicians with direct and significant experience in the practices examined. Nurses experienced in aesthetics must be included and the BACN fully commit to engaging in this necessary process.

The BACN supports the development of a mandatory national register of non-surgical licensed clinicians with practitioners demonstrating competency in the relevant non surgical speciality, subject to audit, assessment, appraisals and revalidation.

The report appears to suggest that those who are not medical may become qualified to practice under supervision.

With patient safety foremost, there is absolutely no imperative for this to be the case, and "under supervision " is open to interpretation.

We agree that the scope of EU Medical Devices Directive should be extended to include dermal fillers. These devices should only be supplied to and administered by nurses, doctors and dentists who are educated, licensed, regulated and accountable. Prescription only medicines may be administered by ANYONE once prescribed.

We are engaging with other stakeholders - BCAM, BAD and manufacturers - to come together at the earliest opportunity to influence the future landscape. We will be lobbying the media and government."

Habia announced that they would be holding a consultation event on 1st May amongst key beauty industry stakeholders to consider the recommendations of the Keogh Review, in order to formulate a united industry response. As yet no outcomes of the meeting have been published. Rob Young, Habia MD said; 'It is important we act now. As the Industry Authority, Habia intends to bring together a wide range of representatives of the beauty sector so that government can be presented with a united response before any decisions on legislation are made, and to ensure that beauty therapists are fairly and adequately represented. It is important that we do not allow the vested interests of other sectors and stakeholders to take precedence before the beauty industry has spoken.'

Carolyne Cross, Chair of BABTAC & CIBTAC said; "Whilst not all the changes are consistent with our own recommendations for cosmetic interventions, we are quietly confident that the outcome will work to benefit both the consumers and the industry practitioners. It is our belief that any changes should work to improve consumer safety and awareness, without creating a market monopoly and driving up prices.

In terms of the impact on the beauty industry, we believe that there will be some significant changes in terms of regulations and qualifications, and as an organisation we have been driving for improved standards of training and regulation of our own industry providers. For therapists, it is likely that they will have to undertake additional training to become compliant, and whilst this has a cost implication for each salon, the outcome – better protected clients will be worth the additional expenditure. We hope that these changes will serve to support and develop already reputable businesses, whilst undermining the status of ‘rogue traders’ who practice without due care and attention."

Allergan (manufacturers of botulinum toxin brand Botox® and the Juvederm® range of dermal fillers) responded by saying; "Allergan is in favour of regulatory changes to classify all cosmetic implants including dermal fillers as medical devices and supports many of the other proposals such as calls to strengthen the existing European Medical Device Directive, plans to establish accredited training standards for health care professionals administering cosmetic implants, as well as steps to improve consultation and record keeping of patient treatments.

The report calls for a proposal to re-classify dermal fillers as prescription-only medical devices. This will require further thought to ensure the necessary legislation would bring about positive change in ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Specifically, any legislation change of this type will require significant time and could also mean that medical aesthetic nurses, who are generally already highly skilled and experienced, will need to re-train in order to obtain a prescribing licence."

Merz Aesthetics (manufacturers of botulinum toxin brands Xeomin® and Bocouture® and dermal filler brands Radiesse® and Belotero®) responded by saying; "Merz Aesthetics warmly welcomes the move toward increased patient safety and care and believes that patients deserve a high level of quality and safety from our products and the medical aesthetic industry as a whole. As a pharmaceutical company with over a century’s heritage Merz has always followed the most stringent approach with our full portfolio, regardless of whether they are a medical device or a prescription medicine. Merz are fully behind the move to reinforce the general public’s perception of the UK medical aesthetics industry as professional, caring and above all, safe."

The full content of responses, as well as additional statements and views from clinic chains and long serving members of the industry are available on our blog.

Conclusion So there you have it, a look back at what was revealed in 2005 and a resignation to the fact that not an awful lot has changed in 8 years now that the sector has been reviewed yet again!

Some argue that some of the recommendations are a little vague, empty of detail or open to massive interpretation.

Concepts of being ‘under supervision’ and ‘appropriate accreditations’ are still very much up in the air and a source for much debate over coffee at recent events that I have attended.

Similarly the blurring between the ‘them and us’ of cosmetic surgery (plastic surgeons) and non-surgical medical aesthetics (doctors and nurses) has not been fully addressed when taking into account that many cosmetic doctors now carry out what some may call ‘cosmetic surgery lite’ procedures such as liposuction techniques (VASER®, BodyTite™ etc.) under local anaesthesia.

With talk in the Keogh report, as mentioned in the 2005 reports of doctors who perform ‘cosmetic surgery’ – something which has still yet to have any formal definition as a medical specialty – being recommended to be on the GMC Specialist Register (with exceptions for those practicing since before April 2002), a notion which is based on the GMC Good Medical Practice in Cosmetic Surgery document from May 2006, confusion reigns as to what the recommendations really mean for many cosmetic doctors now.

When discussed in 2005 it was pointed out that there are many difficulties for cosmetic surgeons currently in private practice to be able to even enrol on the GMC Specialist Register, in order to do so, it was noted that they would need to give up their private practice, find a job in the NHS and work for half a dozen years in order to gain the necessary experience to be placed on the Specialist Register in the specialty of plastic surgery (as cosmetic surgery isn’t defined).

Of course there are those who argue that this is how it should be, a GMC Specialist Register listing is a prerequisite for BAAPS membership for example. But, the exemption for those practicing cosmetic surgery prior to 2002 puts

them at an unfair advantage over more recently practicing private cosmetic surgeons if this recommendation is relied upon, as they may have limited specialist training or be working outside of their competences with little supervision.

Until cosmetic surgery is defined properly, it’s going to be difficult to know where those cosmetic doctors who have chosen to train in and offer more invasive medical aesthetic treatment solutions which don’t require a surgical scalpel in the same way as a face lift or breast augmentation do that are performed by main stream plastics/cosmetic surgeons, actually stand in the regulatory landscape.

So now begins another waiting game, with much lobbying by the industry and various stakeholder representatives, whilst we wait to see if the present Government, or the next one with elections due again inside of two years, will implement any of these recommendations, look more closely at the issues that they raise or simply stick them on the back burner in times of austerity and red tape reform. It’s likely that we may even see delays due to the ongoing drafting of the European CEN Standard for Aesthetic Surgery and Aesthetic Non-Surgical Medical Services which may be relied upon as a source of standards for any future regulatory requirements drawn up. With a time table which means we won’t see that finalised until 2014, I don’t think anyone should be attempting to hold their breath!

With many of the recommendations and issues raised being a mirror of some of the concerns highlighted in 2005, it is a little disheartening for many to see that the same problems and inadequacies persist close to a decade later, with the cries for more and better regulation just as vociferous as before.

Lorna Jackson Lorna has been Editor of The Consulting Room™, the UK’s largest aesthetic information website, for ten years, since 2003.

She has become an industry commentator on a number of different areas related to the aesthetic industry, collating and evaluating statistics and writing feature articles, blogs, newsletters and reports for The Consulting Room™ and various consumer and trade publications, including Aesthetic Medicine, Cosmetic News and Aesthetic Dentistry Today.

Eye Spy With My Industry Eye SMART IDEAS London 2013 Following the success of our SMART IDEAS events during 2012 and our earlier meeting in Manchester in January 2013, and with the support of two leading aesthetic industry suppliers, Syneron Candela and Merz Aesthetics, we were again able to hold another event in April, this time in London on 27th April.

This event, our biggest yet, saw over 150 delegates join use for the two parallel agendas, one on business topics and one on clinical topics, plus an exhibition trade floor of over a dozen companies with additional exhibitor workshops and demonstrations from device manufacturers and training course companies. Presentations and demonstrations were provided by a variety of medical speakers, including Dr. Shlomit Halachmi, Dr. Kate Goldie and Dr. Tapan Patel, as well as business professionals including Paul Stapleton and members of The Consulting Room™ team.

The Consulting Room™ team were also on hand to carry out website reviews and answer aesthetic business related questions when approached. The intimate nature of the event, despite the large number of delegates, meant a great opportunity for learning, questioning, networking and general interaction which is not always possible with the scale and time restrictions of larger events. Delegates also walked away at the end of the day with a certificate for 8 hours of CPD points and a plethora of ideas and business strategies to implement on their return.

Topics covered in the business agenda talks included medical indemnity insurance, reducing risk when buying aesthetic equipment, avoiding common advertising mistakes which could land you in hot water with the ASA, web design and internet marketing strategies, including optimising keywords and building a communication platform with email, blogs and social media, how to maximise referrals and profitability in business and improve consultation outcomes, plus increasing profits by avoiding common telephone mistakes and receptionist training. The clinical presentations included the versatility of LED phototherapy, the myths and science of hair removal, modern concepts in non-surgical body shaping, the challenges of removing pigmented and vascular lesions with laser and light, a ten minute core of knowledge overview and a review of dermal fillers, followed by a live injection workshop.

Forthcoming events will be announced when details are finalised. For more information on the concept and the latest news on new dates, please bookmark: www.smartseminar.co.uk

The Consulting Room™ 10th Anniversary Party Following the SMART IDEAS event on Saturday 27th April, The Consulting Room™ Team, and many of the medical practitioners and clinic owners who have supported us over the last decade put on our party clothes for an informal bash to celebrate our th 10 anniversary.

The Consulting Room™ Team, including Company Directors Ron Myers and Martyn Roe, along with founding members Dan Huxley (Web Master) and Lorna Jackson (Editor), and our newer members including Lucy Cleaver, Danny Large and Danielle Lowe were proud to celebrate the 10th birthday of our company and flagship website, now the UK’s largest aesthetic information resource you will find online.

The evening kicked off with drinks and tom foolery for the cameras, which saw some creative poses, followed by a buffet and a fun quiz covering the last ten years of both the industry and current affairs, with much cheating going on thanks to smart phones it seems from the photos, (the winners of which were the table from Persona Medical).

An interval saw an interesting challenge to raise money for Help The Heroes, organised by the Mapperley Park Clinic, which saw those with few inhibitions attempt to eat as many Ferrero Rocher as they could in a minute, a

process which was not as messy as we had first thought! With the wine (and champagne!) flowing, along with the home made cup cakes and bags of kid’s party sweets, the atmosphere was celebratory and relaxed. With presentations made to mark the achievement of 10 years, and some emotional words from all concerned, it was a pride filled evening also.

Finally the evening was rounded off with a disco, including a set on the decks by a man with many talents, including being a DJ, Dr. Raj Acquilla (and his glamorous assistant Dr. Tapan Patel)!

More photos from the event will be available soon. Thanks to all those who attended and who have supported us for the last decade, here’s to the next!

Business Corner Blogging – Make it a Team Sport in Your Clinic Business!

Having run a blog site as part of The Consulting Room™ for over 3 years now, we know how hard it can be to maintain a steady flow of quality and relevant blogs when other projects and client work takes a priority. The temptation to put the blog on the back burner is all too easy to take, but you’d be throwing away all your hard work and marketing efforts if you let that happen. If people and search engines see no movement they will, quite rightly assume it’s dead and simply move on, all that built up loyalty and repeat web traffic will be lost.

So what happens when you realise that you don’t have a sufficient number of bloggers to contribute content and you can’t keep up with the pace yourself to reach your marketing goals? Well, how about encouraging everyone, yes I mean EVERYONE in your business to contribute and not just your marketing or website content person/team.

The way to get the ball rolling with this is to first put the word out to your staff, at a Monday morning meeting over tea and biscuits perhaps, that you welcome them all to participate in your blog, whether they are the clinic receptionist, the aesthetic therapist or the medical director, everyone has something to share and different perspectives on your clinic business and the clients (blog readers) that you are reaching out to. Let’s face it, if the staff who communicate most with your clients are not in a position to relay useful content about what people want, ask about, misunderstand etc., then who is!

Of course, not everyone likes to write or feels confident doing so, but they can still be encouraged to create something which can then be edited to correct punctuation or grammar by the regular blogging/web content person, but at least the message will already have been conveyed by the individual so most of the work is done.

You could even go further by creating a company-wide style guide so that everyone knows what your main messages are, how you want to talk to your audience, what the preferred topics are, any specific writing styles or layouts (Q&As, FAQs etc.) that you work to and perhaps some examples to give new bloggers a guide of what’s expected. Of course, it’s important not to be too regimented, no point in saying things like, they must be 500 words long as this will just put people off and the creative idea and message could get lost along the way. Some people may prefer to talk on video as a podcast rather than wrestle with words on a page, it’s all relevant and it’s all blog content. Be flexible and encourage creativity, you might be surprised at who turns out to be full of ideas! Give people deadlines, reasonable and slightly flexible ones, but it’s important to maintain some kind of structure so that you actually get the content you need and you reduce the risk of your blog site going stale from inactivity.

If blogging has not always been part of someone’s job description, it may well be difficult to convince them to start doing this, even on an ad-hoc basis, especially if they view it with disdain as another thing added to their already busy work load. You may therefore need to be creative in your approach to encouraging your staff to grasp the opportunity and run with it, by explaining the benefits to them and their individual career path of having their face and authority next to a blog post, as well as perhaps some in-house incentives or competition.

Additionally, it may be easy enough to get them going to start with, but maintaining that flow of content could be tricky, and before you know it you’re right back to square one pleading with them again over the Monday morning tea and biscuits. Feedback to your team how well their blogs did, in fact, you could even create some in-house awards, prizes or a small competition based on website traffic or client interest generated by specific blog content.

You need to show them that their efforts are bearing fruit and being rewarded in order to maintain their appetite to come to you with further blog ideas and content. The same is very true of social media, if you struggle to think of tweets for Twitter or content for a Facebook page, ask your staff, you’ll be surprised how many anecdotes you will get about questions that patients asked which could be answered on social media to a wider audience, or feedback on the most popular skincare products and the reasons why which you can use to further market your ranges.

Have a suggestion list or scribble pad in the staff area where people can quickly submit ideas if something cropped up during their day, you can then use this to disseminate information and advice to your blog and social media audiences.

Setting up your staff as a blogging team will pose some challenges but with enough incentives and opportunities to tap their ideas, the content and creativity should flow within no time at all.

Legislation IHAS Now Part of AIHO The Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations (AIHO), formerly the Private Hospitals Association has announced that the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) has now become a division of the trade body. Sally Taber continues as director of IHAS, as a division of AIHO and will also sit on the senior management operations board of the new Association. The IHAS executive have all transferred ensuring IHAS continues to provide the same level of service and consistency.

AIHO, which is dedicated to working with the NHS to improve Britain’s healthcare, can now provide a single voice for independent healthcare organisations. Under the direction of new Chief Executive Fiona Booth, the Association is developing a fresh strategy over the coming months that will reflect the new membership.

Sally welcomes the move, stating: “I am delighted that IHAS is joining AIHO at this time of change for UK healthcare. This is a positive step both for IHAS members and for the industry as a whole. This makes us an association that is a true sector representative and I am looking forward to this new opportunity to work together.”

Fiona Booth, Chief Executive of AIHO commented: “The incorporation of IHAS puts AIHO in a strong position to develop a compelling sector voice on how independent health care can help alleviate pressure and tackle rising demands in Britain’s health care to complement that of the good work of the NHS.” The five founder members of AIHO have been joined on the board by five members chosen from the IHAS independent providers board in order to deliver industry wide representation. ISCAS remains a separate entity and the IHAS division continues to manage this service so that people using the service and ISCAS members will not experience any change with ISCAS administration.

Educational Opportunities

Training, Events, Mentoring etc...

Ensure that you are kept up to date with all educational opportunities, including webinars, seminars and conferences. www.cosmetictraining.co.uk is a focused directory that brings together key training opportunities and events. The dedicated and unique reference site will provide information about all areas of the Aesthetic business:

Cosmetic Training Features:      

Conferences & Meetings Bespoke Training and Mentoring Cosmetic Industry Qualifications Training Venues for Hire Training Courses & Webinars Business Related Seminars

With over 40,000 Procedures performed in Britain in 2010 we are constantly seeing emerging trends, new innovations, new products and new procedures. Therefore it’s important for you and your staff to keep constantly updated on all the changes in this fast paced business.

Receive a FREE monthly email update on the upcoming and latest events and opportunities.

For those members who offer training/mentoring or rooms for hire we also offer a range of competitively priced advertising options - including listing of training courses in our directory, targeted banner advertising in our training search results pages and opportunities to sponsor our monthly training update e-newsletter. Click on the image to learn more.

www.cosmetictraining.co.uk

Conferences Dates For Your Diary FACE Conference 2013 FACE 2013, the UK’s premier medical aesthetic conference and exhibition is moving to a larger venue in 2013 to help accommodate the growing lecture programmes. For more information on the huge variety of parallel agendas, please visit: www.faceconference.com 21st – 23rd June 2013 at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London

10th Anti-Ageing Conference London (AACL) 2013 AACL is delighted to host international professionals from around world, including scientists, physicians, gerontologists, health care practitioners, medical centre directors, spa and clinic owners, and those interested and knowledgeable in the field of anti-ageing, preventative health care and complementary medicine to attend these cutting-edge scientific lectures. For more information, please visit: www.antiageingconference.com 19th – 21st September 2013 at the Kensington Town Hall, London

Clinical Cosmetic & Reconstructive (CCR) Expo A business-to-business event that will bring the international surgical and non-surgical community together under one roof. The expo will showcase over 120 international exhibitors: from cutting edge surgical equipment and supplies through to non-invasive products, business services, training and consultancy. There will be 14 days of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) content, including workshops, conferences and live demonstration theatre. For more details, please visit: www.ccr-expo.com 11th – 12th October 2013 at the Olympia, London

IAAFA 2013 The International Academy of Advanced Facial Aesthetics (IAAFA) annual meeting will be later this year, being held in November. The event also includes a charity ball. For more details, please visit: www.iaafa.net 29th & 30th November 2013 at the Royal College of Physicians, London.

Aesthetic Awards 2013-14 in Association With Cosmetic News The third annual Aesthetic Awards in association with Cosmetic News is open to all aesthetic practitioners, clinics, manufacturers and suppliers working in the field of cosmetic medicine and are designed to recognise excellence, innovation and the gold standard in products, treatments and practice. Training providers can now also enter with the addition of two new categories. Nominations for the awards are now open, download a form here (PDF).

7th December 2013, London.

Cosmetic News Expo and Aesthetics Conference 2014 The two-day trade show and conference event brought to you by Cosmetic News magazine.

8th & 9th March 2014 at the Business Design Centre, Islington.

For details of all upcoming UK and Non-UK conferences and exhibitions please visit our Cosmetic Training website.

Clinical Information

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A randomized, double-blind, placebo and active-controlled, half-head study to evaluate the effects of platelet rich plasma on alopecia areata.

Trink A, Sorbellini E, Bezzola P, Rodella L, Rezzani R, Ramot Y, Rinaldi F. International Hair Research Foundation (IHRF), Milan, Italy.

Br J Dermatol. 2013 Apr 22.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common auto-immune condition, causing inflammation-induced hair loss. This disease has very limited treatment possibilities, and no treatment is either curative or preventive. Plateletrich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a new treatment modality in dermatology, and preliminary evidence has suggested it might have a beneficial role in hair growth.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRP for the treatment of AA in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo and active-controlled, half-head, parallel group study.

METHODS: Forty five AA patients were randomized to receive intralesional injections of PRP, triamcinolone acetonide (TrA) or placebo on one half of their scalp. The other half was not treated. A total of three treatments were given for each patient, with an interval of one month from each other. The endpoints were hair regrowth, hair dystrophy as measured by dermoscopy, burning/itching sensation and cell prolifertation as measured by Ki-67 evaluation. Patients were followed for 1 year.

RESULTS: PRP was found to significantly increase hair regrowth and decrease hair dystrophy and burning/itching sensation when compared with TrA or placebo, and Ki-67 levels, which served as markers for cell proliferation, were significantly higher. No side effects were noted during treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study, which is the first to investigate the effects of PRP on AA, suggests that PRP may serve as a safe and effective treatment option in AA, and calls for more extensive controlled studies with this method.

An alternative treatment modality for cellulite: LPG endermologie.

Kutlubay Z, Songur A, Engіn B, Khatіb R, Calay O, Serdaroğlu S. Department of Dermatology, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty , İstanbul , Turkey.

J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2013 Apr 22.

Background: LPG endermologie is a worldwide FDA-approved massage system used in the treatment of cellulite.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate safety, efficacy, and the slimming potential of LPG endermologie.

Material and methods: A total of 118 women (mean age, 34.59 ± 8.02 years) were enrolled in this study. The LPG treatment sessions were performed twice weekly and continued for at least 15 sessions. The outcome was clinically evaluated using digital photography for cellulite grade assessment while perimetric measurements for eight body sites were performed. The evaluation also included measurements of body weight and body fat percentage (BFP).

Results: One hundred and seventeen patients (99%) showed loss in body circumference measurements. A mean body circumference reduction of 2.9 ± 1.6 cm was obtained per site for all patients. There was a mean body circumference loss which was statically significant with p < 0.001. Weight loss was detected in one hundred and three patients (87%). The mean body weight loss was 2.717 ± 1.938 kg for all patients. One hundred and ten subjects (93%) also showed decreases in BFP. The questionnaire indicated high satisfaction in 81 (69%) patients.

Conclusion: LPG endermologie is a well-tolerated and effective alternative treatment modality for slimming and body contouring.

Safety, Tolerance, and Patient Satisfaction With Noninvasive Cryolipolysis.

Dierickx CC, Mazer JM, Sand M, Koenig S, Arigon V. Skin and Laser Center, Boom, Belgium.

Dermatol Surg. 2013 May 2.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive assessment of safety, tolerance, and patient satisfaction has not been established from noninvasive body contouring techniques, such as low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and infrared light, for reduction of subcutaneous fat.

OBJECTIVE: This multicenter study investigated the clinical outcomes of noninvasive cryolipolysis in European subjects.

METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at clinical sites in Belgium and France. Safety was assessed according to reports of side effects. Tolerance was evaluated according to pain scores and patient perception of treatment duration. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to patient surveys, caliper measurements, and assessment of photographs.

RESULTS: The investigators treated 518 patients. No significant side effects or adverse events were reported. The procedure was well-tolerated, with 89% of respondents reporting a positive perception of treatment duration and 96% reporting minimal to tolerable discomfort. Survey results demonstrated 73% patient satisfaction and that 82% of patients would recommend the cryolipolysis procedure to a friend. Caliper measurements demonstrated 23% reduction in fat layer thickness at 3 months. Abdomen, back, and flank treatment sites were most effective, with 86% of subjects showing improvement per investigator assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: With proper patient selection, cryolipolysis is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment method for reduction of subcutaneous fat.

Treatment of Eyebrow Hypotrichosis Using Bimatoprost: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Pilot Study.

Beer KR, Julius H, Dunn M, Wilson F. Kenneth Beer MD PA General, Esthetic and Surgical Dermatology, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Dermatol Surg. 2013 Apr 25.

BACKGROUND: The Food and Drug Administration has approved bimatoprost ophthalmic solution (0.03%) for the treatment of eyelash hypotrichosis. Previous reports of its efficacy in eyebrow hypotrichosis are anecdotal.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution applied to the eyebrows in a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

METHODS: Subjects (n = 20) with mild to moderate eyebrow hypotrichosis enrolled in the study. One group (Bim) applied bimatoprost to each eyebrow daily for 9 months, and another applied vehicle nightly to each eyebrow for 5 months. Subjects in the latter group were re-randomized to apply bimatoprost (Veh-Bim Group) or vehicle (Veh Group) daily to each eyebrow for 4 months. The primary end point was investigator-assessed eyebrow appearance; secondary end points were subject-reported outcomes.

RESULTS: Investigator assessments showed significant improvements from baseline to 6 (p = .002) and 7 (p = .005) months for the eyebrows treated with bimatoprost. p-Values for the Veh-Bim and Veh groups were not significant at any time point. End-of-study subject satisfaction with eyebrow fullness or thickness and darkness or color was greater in the Bim group than in the Veh group. Adverse effects were not observed.

CONCLUSION: Bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution applied daily for 9 months improves the appearance of eyebrows noticeably more than vehicle, without side effects.

Botulinum toxin type A and B improve quality of life in patients with axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis.

Rosell K, Hymnelius K, Swartling C. Hidrosis Clinic, Sophiahemmet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Acta Derm Venereol. 2013 May 2;93(3):335-9.

Hyperhidrosis is a common disorder that may have a severe impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of two novel botulinum toxins, Xeomin®, a type A botulinum toxin, and Neuro-bloc®, a type B botulinum toxin, in the treatment of axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis.

A total of 84 patients, 58 with axillary and 26 with palmar hyperhidrosis, were included in this open study. Axillae were injected with 107 ± 22 U Xeomin® and palms were injected with 213 ± 19 U Xeomin® and 264 ± 60 U Neurobloc® over the thenar eminences to avoid muscle weakness. At follow-up 3 weeks post-treatment, all patients treated for axillary hyperhidrosis reported satisfaction in self-ranking, evaporation decreased > 40%, and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score improved from 12.0 to 1.7 (p < 0.05). In the palmar group 95% were satisfied, evaporation decreased > 50% and DLQI score improved from 10.3 to 1.2 (p < 0.05). Only one patient in the palmar group experienced muscle weakness.

In conclusion, Xeomin® has an excellent effect on axillary hyperhidrosis and in combination with Neurobloc® on palmar hyperhidrosis. Neurobloc® may be an option for use in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis in order to minimize muscular side-effects.

Adverse Events of Non-Ablative Fractional Laser Photothermolysis: A Retrospective Study of 856 Treatments in 362 Patients.

Lee SM, Kim MS, Kim YJ, Won CH, Lee MW, Choi JH, Moon KC, Chang SE. Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Seoul, Korea, Republic of.

J Dermatolog Treat. 2013 May 3.

Background: Non-ablative fractional laser photothermolysis (NAFP) has been used effectively in the treatment of photodamaged skin and scars, with short postoperative recovery times; but, studies evaluating its adverse events and complication rates in Asian population have been limited.

Objective: To determine the frequency and range of adverse events associated with NAF treatment in Korean patients.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 754 1,550-nm erbium-doped and 102 1,927-nm thulium fiber fractional laser treatments in patients with skin phototypes III-IV treated at a single center.

Adverse events were identified and tabulated, as were patient demographics and laser parameters.

Results: From 856 treatments, there were 43 adverse events (5.0%), the most frequent being prolonged erythema (1.8%), postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (1.1%) and aggravation of melasma (0.9%). Less frequently observed adverse events included herpes simplex outbreak (0.6%) and acneiform eruption (0.2%). There were no reports of long-term adverse events.

Conclusion: Nonablative fractional laser skin treatment has a relatively low complication rate. The adverse events found were temporary and did not result in long-term or severe sequelae such as hypertrophic scarring, atrophic scarring or permanent pigmentary alteration.

A Pilot Split-Face Study Comparing Conventional Methyl Aminolevulinate-Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) With Microneedling-Assisted PDT on Actinically Damaged Skin.

Torezan L, Chaves Y, Niwa A, Sanches JA Jr, Festa-Neto C, Szeimies RM. Faculty of Medicine, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Dermatol Surg. 2013 May 2.

BACKGROUND: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approved treatment for superficial nonmelanoma skin cancers. To enhance photosensitizer penetration into the epidermis, microneedling (MN) devices or ablative carbon dioxide lasers are combined with PDT. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of MN-assisted PDT with that of conventional PDT in human skin field cancerization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with multiple actinic keratoses (AKs) and photodamage were randomized to receive conventional methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) with previous gentle curettage on one side of the face and MAL-PDT combined with 1.5-mm-length MN on the other side after MAL application. After a 90-minute incubation, patients were illuminated with a red light-emitting diode and evaluated for improvement of photodamage, clearance of AKs, and side effects before and after 30 and 90 days.

RESULTS: At day 30, global scores for photodamage, mottled pigmentation, roughness, and sallowness improved on both sides (p < .05), but fine lines improved only on the MN-PDT side (p = .004). At day 90, facial erythema (p = .04) and coarse wrinkles (p = .002) also improved on the MN-PDT side, in addition to fine lines for conventional MAL-PDT (p = .01). Erythema (p = .009), edema (p = .01), crusting (p = .01), and pain (p = .004) were more common and intense on the MN-PDT side. One patient developed a secondary bacterial infection at day 7 on the MN-PDT side. Average AK clearance was 88.3%, with no difference between the sides.

CONCLUSION: Microneedling-assisted PDT is a safe and effective method and can produce superior cosmetic results to conventional MAL-PDT for improving photodamaged skin. Further larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the addition of MN decreases actinic keratosis.

SOURCE: PubMed

Interesting News Articles You May Have Missed Due to global copyright laws the Consulting Room™ is unable to reproduce entire news articles; therefore we provide an abstract and a link to the original news article. Although every effort is made to ensure that these links continue to function, there are occasions when third party websites will remove or archive the news article, leading to a broken link. We apologise if you find such a problem, and would appreciate it if you would inform us by emailing admin@consultingroom.com so we can make every attempt to remedy it.

Syneron Launches its Proprietary Sublative Technology for Acne Scars New "Skinhibitions™" consumer marketing campaign to increase awareness about its proprietary Sublative™ technology offered in the eMatrix, eTwo and elos Plus Systems for both skin rejuvenation and now acne scars.

SOURCE: PRNewswire

Top doctors call for removal of every breast implant given to 50,000 British women .

Calls for the Government to remove all PIP breast implants after damning new research shows their shells are faulty putting women at risk. The casings are more likely to degrade than those used in others – leaving women given PIPs at risk of silicone leaking into their bodies, the research showed.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Botox Injections Can Make You Depressed Cosmetic injections to decrease crow`s feet may actually leave people feeling depressed, a new small study reveals. The treatment uses the Botulinum toxin and reduces the strength of the eye muscles which aid in the face`s overall formation of a smile. A study led by Dr Michael Lewis of the School of Psychology, Cardiff, Wales, followed 25 people who had received Botox for facial lines and examined the idea of facial feedback - where the expression we make with our faces affect how we feel.

SOURCE: Medical News Today

Faulty breast implant trial to start in France France will launch one its biggest-ever trials as five managers from company PIP face charges of selling faulty breast implants that sparked a global health scare. More than 5,000 women have registered as plaintiffs in the case, which sees the defendants including 73-year-old PIP founder Jean-Claude Mas charged with aggravated fraud for using industrial-grade silicone in implants.

SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph

Nipple tattooing sweeps UK as women strive for 'perfect boobs' It started with brow definition. Coleen Rooney and her troops arched over the masses with their Scouse brows, taking The Duchess of Cambridge along with them for the ride. But now the Liverpudlian glamazons have taken grooming one step further by darkening and defining their nipples - with tattoos. This new trend of semi-permanent nipple tattooing has swept Liverpool by storm and has already reached the vajazzled land of Essex.

SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph

New Data Support The Benefits Of EXPAREL For Postsurgical Analgesia Following Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have announced results from EXCLAIM, its Phase 4 prospective, observational study to assess the use of EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) for postsurgical analgesia in patients undergoing four common plastic surgery procedures.

SOURCE: Medical News Today

Study Reveals Novel Mechanism By Which UVA Contributes To Photoaging Of Skin A study conducted by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides new evidence that longwave ultraviolet light (UVA) induces a protein that could result in premature skin aging. The findings demonstrate that aspects of photoaging, the process of skin aging by chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, could be linked to genetic factors that accelerate the aging process when induced by the environment.

SOURCE: Medical News Today

Considering cosmetic surgery? Just ASC In the wake of the findings from the Government enquiry into cosmetic surgery, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is first to announce the implementation of one of the report’s major recommendations: for patients to be protected through insurance. The BAAPS was able to work with the world’s leading specialist insurance market, Lloyd’s of London, to create a policy that will safeguard all patients of surgeons who are part of the Association.

SOURCE: BAAPS

Increased risk of cancer death after breast implants Women who have breast implants are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than others who develop the disease, a new study suggests. Researchers said that the disease was likely to diagnosed later - when it is less likely to be treatable - because the devices can obscure signs of tumours which should be detected during mammograms.

SOURCE: The Daily Telegraph

For Those With Psychological Issues, Cosmetic Surgery May Not Be The Solution Patients who have suffered from domestic violence, or who have underlying psychological issues, are more likely to undergo cosmetic surgery. Their conditions may also actually worsen rather than improve following surgery. The study, from the Institute of Education - a systematic review of all available research evidence -- comes in the wake of last year`s PIP (Poly Implant Prothese) breast implant controversy.

SOURCE: Medical News Today

Wales cosmetic surgery probe after breast implant scandal An expert group is to be set up to consider whether tighter regulation is needed in Wales of cosmetic procedures, including surgery. Health Minister Mark Drakeford's announcement follows the publication last month of a report in England which called for tougher rules.

SOURCE: BBC News

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Great Member Special Offer Receive a Free Pair of NoIR LaserShields® IPL Shade 3 Style 35 Goggles when you buy Yamamoto Patient Eye Safety Guards. *** OFFER EXTENDED! *** This great offer is only available to Consulting Room members.

The Yamamoto YL-800w safety eye guard provides high quality protection for your patients eyes when using IPL/Lasers/Radiofrequency and Microdermabrasion.

Suitable for combined Radiofrequency/Laser/IPL devices as they do not conduct any electrical current.    

Colour of eyecup: white Detachable and adjustable rubber strap Comes with nose bridge size medium (can be interchanged with small and extra large bridges included for tailored patient comfort) Softcase included

Purchase these superb Yamamoto patient eye safety guards for only £105.75 (inc. VAT) – that’s a saving of £17.63 on non-member prices already - and receive the NoIR IPL Shade 3, Style 35 goggles (worth up to £52.88) absolutely free!

Take advantage of this great offer!

For more information on the products and to discuss this and other great laser/IPL eye protection deals, call us on 01788 577254.

Equipment Sales SaveOnKit pride themselves on excellent customer service. They stock a large inventory of high quality medical, dental and beauty equipment at vastly reduced prices. They are very pleased to offer a high quality service for all your equipment needs. All orders are processed quickly and sent to UK addresses free of charge; they will ship worldwide.

Below are the various devices that they currently have for sale.

Lutronic Mosaic non-ablative Fractional Laser Er:Glass skin-resurfacing System In good condition and full working order For Sale at £14,000 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED £13,300 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=506 Chromogenex NLite V Pulsed Dye Laser Hair removal Rejuvenation System In good condition and full working order For Sale at £3,800 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=458 Lynton Lumina IPL Laser Hair Removal + YAG Skin Rejuvenation Acne Beauty System In very good condition and full working order For Sale at £9,500 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=651 Depilex Dermapeel Professional Microdermabrasion System In good condition, full working order For Sale at £912 *PRICE REDUCED AGAIN £570 + VAT* More info – www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=537 RVB active 7 touch beauty machine facial toning professional System This unit has had very minimal use and the condition reflects this some items are new in original packaging For Sale at £475 More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=599 Yperion L900 SR PSR002012 beauty treatment head Brand new, in original box. For use with L900 Hair removal and photolifting beauty machine.

For Sale at £912 *PRICE REDUCED £760* More info – www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=539 Eporex K69 Mesotherapy Cellulite Fat Reduction and Skin Rejuvenation System In good condition and full working order, costs £20,000 brand new For Sale at £8,400 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED AGAIN £3,166 + VAT* More Info - http://www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=446 E Light IPL Laser Hair removal Rejuvenation Wrinkle Vascular salon beauty System For Sale at £3,800 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=496 Cosmopro Eye-O-Matic facial restore & skin rejuvenation Full working order. Helps restore and rejuvenate the face and delicate eye contour maximising product absorbency.

For Sale at £285 + VAT More info – www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=598 Nemectron Noblesse for Face and Body Facelift Wrinkles In good condition and full working order For Sale at £1,500 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED AGAIN £950 + VAT* More info - http://www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=437 Beauty Scope BS-888 Skin and Hair Analyser Intelligent skin/sebum/moisture/pigment diagnosis system For Sale at £300 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED £237.50 + VAT* More info - http://www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=438

Over line Xilia Stim 8 Face + Body Skin tightening System In good working order complete with attachments, cables, user manual and stand.

For Sale at £1,400 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED AGAIN £1187 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=434 Nemectron Nembrasion Professional Microdermabrasion System In good condition and full working order For Sale at £1,425 + VAT More Info - http://www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=439 Smart Peel Microdermabrasion with LED Light Therapy professional system In good working order complete with attachments For Sale at £2, 280 *PRICE REDUCED £1,425 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=535 Caci Future-Tec Skin Rejuvenation Beauty Machine In good working order complete with attachments - Vaculase, Microlase, Actuator attachments & foot pedal For Sale at £1,700 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=367 Bio –Therapeutic L.A. Smile Teeth whitening system Cost £12,600 new in 2006. Current model, in good condition, had very little use.

For Sale at £3,000 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED £1,900 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=325 Biotec Bioskin LAS Skin Resurfacing Microdermabrasion System Bioskin Las Technology utilises a unique two-element approach to activate skin regeneration.

For Sale at £1,425 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=344 Nora Bode OxyJet Star Oxyaroma Oxyspray facial and body treatment salon machine In very good condition, had had low usage and in full working order For Sale at £7,500 +VAT *PRICE REDUCED £6,175 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=516 Pollogen ReGen Tripollar Radio Frequency skin body facial beauty machine salon Very good condition, full working order. Unit was removed from a small clinic which closed shortly after it opened For Sale at £8,000 +VAT *PRICE REDUCED AGAIN £7,125 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/Services/Equipment-Display.asp?Equipment_ID=515 No+Vello IPL Laser Hair Removal & Skin Rejuvenation Treatments Beauty System In very good condition and full working order. Supplied new in 2010 For Sale at £6,650 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=638 Beau Visage Facial Skin Imaging Diagnosis Treatment Beauty Therapy System In very good condition and full working order For Sale at £3,800 + VAT *PRICE REDUCED £3,325 + VAT* More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=640 CACI Flash 1 IPL Hair Removal & Skin Rejuvenation Acne Treatments Beauty System In good condition and in full working order For Sale at £4,000 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=649 New Meridian Lapex BCS Pro 2000P Liposuction Cellulite Fat Laser Beauty Machine New in original packaging. Supplied to a clinic which closed shortly after opening in Late 2011. Unit never used.

For Sale at £9,500 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=677 Biorem Skin Master Plus Multi-functional Ultrasonic Beauty Treatment Machine In good condition and full working order For Sale at £1,330 + VAT More info - www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment-display.asp?equipment_id=678

Visit www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment.asp for a full list of classified sales.

Classifieds FOR SALE N-lite V Pulsed Dye Laser – Chromogenex Skin Rejuvenation, vascular and acne treatment laser.

Very good working order.

Included - fibre optic cable, vascular and acne treatment hand pieces, foot switch, 2 pairs eyewear plus black out goggles.

Price: £5,000, offers considered Contact: Emily Wilson, 01752 561738, info@laserasesouthwest.co.uk

Electric massage couch Electric massage couch, white leather, two motors, remote control.

Back reclines. 2 meters long, 75cm wide, goes down as low as 40cm, goes up as high as 90cm. Packed in a strong cartons enforced with wooden bars around it.

Price: £1,050 Now Reduced to £750 The prices exclude delivery. Can be collected from SE13.

New Manicure Table A new manicure table is available (still in packaging) for sale.

White colour with arm rest and fan extractor included.

Price: £250 Contact: Anna Saprykina, 07748325895, anna.saprykina@bodysilk.co.uk

Lynton Luminette Advance IPL machine This is an excellent multi-purpose desk-top medical aesthetic Intense Pulse Light System. It delivers brilliant results for Hair Removal, Vascular Lesions, Thread Veins, Pigmented Lesions, Skin Rejuvenation, and Active Acne.Only 400 and 900 shots fired from each hand piece (out of 20000).

Price: £8000 ovno Contact: Carol Laskey, 01793 686486

Lynton Lumina MF (Medical Flashlamp), IPL System LOW USE AND EXCELLENT CONDITION FULL WORKING ORDER The Lumina Medical Flashlamp system is a platform onto which a whole range high intense pulsed light or laser handpieces can be attached. The Lumina System is designed to be versatile and up-gradable, allowing multiple applications now and in the future. The software control automatically detects the handpiece attached and sets suitable parameters to work to.

This particular Lumina is in excellent condition has had low use and a full service history by Lynton Lasers. The Lumina platform for sale includes the following handpieces: 650 advance handpiece for treating skin types 1-3 hair removal, latest technology offers enhanced performance and greater flexibility in the selection of treatment parameters. Great for fine, fair and resistant hair.

650 handpiece for skin types 1-5 hair removal.

650 handpiece also for skin rejuvenation treatments.

585 handpiece for treating acne, pigmentation, vein/ roscea treatments and port wine stains.

Protective eye wear x 4 for clients and practitioners.

Quartz blocks x 4 for all body areas.

Canon IXUS digital camera – for before and after photos.

IPL policies and protocols.

Treatment information leaflets.

Consultation and consent form and after care sheets.

Lynton's comprehensive service history for IPL.

Price: £18,000 £15,000 Now reduced to £10,500 Contact: Julie Kenyon Vaughan, 07505 635 226, enquiries@pureskinclinic.co.uk

Soprano XL SHR Laser Hair Removal Machine 2008 Model, Regular service, New head replaced in Aug 2012. Shot count 550274. Serious enquiries only

Price: £35,000 ONO Contact: Ravi Jain, 01582762877, web@riverbanksclinic.co.uk

Syneron ‘Polaris’ machine Circa 2006.

Price: £500 ONO

Syneron ‘Aurora’ IPL Circa 2006, with various treatment applicators for hair removal, skin rejuvenation, acne treatment and others.

Price: £2,000. All offers considered Contact: Darryl Sacke, 020 7 224 2247, darryl@wimpoleaesthetics.co.uk

Lumenis Quantum – IPL System (Hair, Veins & Rejuvenation) Lumenis Quantum IPL 2007 with: 695 hand piece – shot count 66402 (hair removal) 560 hand piece – shot count 10701 (rejuvenation & veins removal) 590 hand piece – shot count 1936 (deep pigmentation & deep vein removal).

Owned for the last 2 years but selling due to purchase of new Fotona Laser.

Price: £13,500 ONO

Endermologie Cellu-M6 KMI - (Medical Version) Detailed information regarding the machine can be found at www.lpgsystems.com/products/cellum6/keymodule/ Endermologie Cellu-M6 KMI used for the past 5 years at Epsom Skin Clinic but selling due to purchase of an ALMA Accent RF machine. Regularly serviced by Michael Slater of Body Technic and he is happy to talk about this machine to anyone interested. mikeslater82@hotmail.com or 07904 063661.

Contact to view or demo the machine.

Price: £4000 ONO Contact: Matt or Tom, 01372 737280, tom@epsomskinclinics.com

InteliBrite ADV Plus IPL Laser machine 2012 Model Due to personal circumstances I am selling my Adv Plus system which has had minimal use, the machine is 10 months old.

The ADV+ or advantage PLUS is a compact unit designed for enhanced portability and ease of use. Using a dual handsets the ADV delivers InteliBrite 'Laser' Hair Reduction & Skin Rejuvenation rapidly and comfortably. The integrated carrying loop makes it an ideal choice for multi-site clinics and mobile operators, which the enlarged screen, reduces, setup time. Treats unwanted hair, skin rejuvenation, acne, pigmentation & thread veins etc.

System Features: > InteliPulse Intelligent light delivery software with 5 save files > Standard iCycle constant skin cooling (adjustable to -2 C) > Single second, rapid refresh rate for fast treatment > Single dedicated hair removal handset > Single dedicated skin rejuvenation handset > Advanced 8.2" full-colour touch sensitive display panel > Compact chassis and reduced weight for table-top use > Integrated carry loop for easy transport Extended servicing and warranty until June 2014 For further information the machine is supplied by High Profile Technologies www.hptgroup.eu Company provides comprehensive training

Price: £15,000 Contact: Dianne Johnson, 07799214266, diannejohnson@freshappearance.co.uk

Nue Skin 500 Microdermabrasion Machine This Nue Skin 500 microdermabrasion machine uses both aluminum oxide crystals and organic grains.

Using Skin for Life makes your clientele grow with additional menu ideas by offering skin polishing using any cosmeceuticals of your preference after microdermabrasion. Indications: Ageing-Lines & Wrinkles, Acne Scarring + Blemishes, Photo-damage, Stretch Marks, Enlarged + Clogged pores, Back & Chest Acne, Uneven Skin Tone.

LED Professional Phototherapy free standing simultaneous Red & Blue Light.

Red: Collagen + Elastin Stimulation at fibroblast level for sun damage, anti-aging.

Blue: Superficial Acne Control. Superior results by synergistically combining microdermabrasion with red/blue LED Manufactured in America but is distributed/serviced by Skin for Life in the UK, who also supplies grains, crystals tips and filters etc. Very sturdy machine, no plastic, all metal but still fairly lightweight and easy to transport. LED red and blue lights is a free standing unit.

Price: NuSkin 500 – Microdermabrasion £1,350; Stand For NuSkin 500 £50; LED Unit - £950 Three-together: £2, 200 Buyer Collects

Mattioli Microdermabrader Machine Experience Radiant, Youthful, Glowing Skin with Mattioli Engineering's Microdermabrasion Systems. Using Standard Crystal Grains.

Ultrapeel/Transderm makes your clientele grow with additional menu ideas by offering skin polishing with any cosmeceuticals of your choice after Microdermabrasion. Indications: Ageing-Lines & Wrinkles, Acne Scarring + Blemishes, Photo-damage, Stretch Marks, Enlarged + Clogged pores, Back & Chest Acne, Uneven Skin Tone.

The Ultrapeel Crystal was the first microdermabrader to receive FDA clearance - December 1996. Ultrapeel Transderm Ionto System can be used for mesotherapy drug delivery: No Needles! It provides a non-invasive, effective and comfortable alternative to injections! Local Distributor: Polaris Medical

Price: £2,500 Buyer Collects

Lumenis Quantum SR/HR/DL/Switch System Purchase Year: June 2007. Touch screen with integrated Contact Cooling Fully Comprehensive Six monthly serviced. Includes: Calibration disk, Laser safety glasses, Operator manuals. Left with multiple Thousands of Shots due to Minimal usage.

Treatment Parameter Heads Include: 560SR & 640SR IPL for Photo rejuvenation, 695HR & 755HR for Hair Removal, 1064Nd-Yag for Vascular Treatments and Q-Switched Nd-Yag for Tattoo Removal.

Training and financing options.

IPL Quantum is a true versatility and simplicity together, provides the most advanced technology to equip your practice to earn the money from the day one. IPL Treats: Rosacea, Sun Spots, Age Spots, Telangiectasia, Spider Veins/Leg Veins, Hemangiomas, Port Wine Stains, Epidermal Pigmented Lesions, Dermal Pigmented Lesions, Acne scarring and used for Skin Rejuvenation & Hair Removal. Laser Applications Used for: Photo rejuvenation, Deep Leg Veins, Hair Removal and Tattoo removal.

Price: £19,500 Buyer Collects Contact: Nalini, 07968108512, nalinivibhuti@gmail.com For more second hand and ex-demo aesthetic equipment please visit www.consultingroom.com/services/equipment.asp.

Advertisement S.A.F.E.â&#x201E;˘ System Surgical Smoke Evacuation The Smoke Evacuator vacuums the plume created by laser and electrocautery treatments such as hair removal, tattoo removal and erbium procedures and protects physicians and staff performing these operations.

The U.S. FDA approved and European CE marked SAFE System smoke evacuator is built to handle any type of surgical smoke. Costs are low to purchase and operate.

Application:

The removal and filtration of laser and surgical smoke

Used by:

Hospitals, Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Surgeons, and more

Economical:

Due to the real time filter life pressure gauge

Compact:

9" x 9" footprint, 14" high

Quiet:

Less than 52dBA, quieter than the competition

Filtration:

ULPA: 99.999+%@ 0.12 micron

Weight:

24 lbs.

Electrical:

100-120 VAC, 50/60 HZ 220-240 VAC, 50/60 HZ

Regulatory:

UL, CSA, CE

Tubing:

Vacuum Tubing 7/8" x 8'

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For more information, please contact Martyn Roe on martyn@abs4u.co.uk or telephone 07734 101275

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