SUBTRACT before YOU ADD Cosmetic Nurse Zena Dammous’ approach is honest, highly ethical and straight forward. Here, she explains why filler usually comes last in her treatment plans.
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e are at an exciting time in history, as we watch our industry reach a turning point. We have now had over 20 years experience and practice with cosmetic injectables – wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers and everything in between. When I was training to become a cosmetic injector, training academies were few and far between in Australia. Due to this, I made the decision to travel overseas in a bid to learn the core fundamentals of injectables. Beauty trends come and go, which is why it is no surprise that after 10 years of injecting, I’ve noticed a huge change in demand. To understand why this is the case, we must first understand the “business of injectables”. When I am teaching new injectors, aside from focusing on safety and aesthetic outcomes, I am also conscious of preparing them for the reality of injecting. Some of the main questions that run through my mind include: Will they gain employment in a chain clinic where it’s likely they will be exposed to busy environments and KPI’s? Will they look for a role within a clinic owned by a doctor, where they will get to experience learning cosmetic injectables in conjunction with cosmetic surgery and how the two complement each other? Or will they take on a space of their own, and choose to be a sole operator without the direct supervision and support of a guiding more experienced team? Never before have novice cosmetic injectors had so much choice in the pathway they choose to take once completing short courses. In fact, with the plethora of options available to newbies, it is all too easy to feel overwhelmed and in over your head. Therein lies a root cause of the problem our industry faces – once I know how to inject safely, where do I start? 98 | SPA+CLINIC
Personally, I have refined my method through rigorous trial and error. Most importantly, through the self development I have practised and prioritised over the years, I’ve become very clear of my values. The saying goes: ‘if you want to attract better, you have to be better.’ Since developing my values in 2014, I have worked to develop a business that reflects these very same ethics. Integrity, Respect, Harmony, Education and Customer Service are my core values and that of the business. I apply
