Medical aesthetics is a booming industry. It has grown spectacularly in recent years and this trend looks set to continue, with each year’s innovations and technological advances surpassing the last.
One of the biggest growth trends is the field of non-surgical beauty treatments, the minimally invasive procedures such as Botox injections, liquid fillers and dermal peels.
After years of poor regulation within the industry, new legislation means that there is increased demand for properly trained and qualified practitioners that are approved by the relevant governing bodies and groups. Alongside the rise in popularity of aesthetics treatments, consumers are increasingly seeking the reassurance that comes from choosing qualified medical professionals as their beauty treatment practitioners.
This represents a unique and lucrative opportunity for those with a healthcare background who are looking to pivot or expand their services. However, to fully take advantage of this increasing market, it is essential for those new to the aesthetics industry to get the best possible training in these non-surgical treatments.
A select group of industry-leading training providers have been approved in what is rapidly becoming the Gold Standard in aesthetics training – the OFQUAL-regulated Level 7 Certificate in Injectables.
What is the Level 7 Certificate in Injectables?
The Level 7 Certificate in Injectables is seen as the pinnacle of training in facial aesthetics. It was introduced in response to recommendations that followed the Keogh Report in 2013, which called for higher standards and tighter regulation within the aesthetics industry.
One of the subsequent recommendations was for injectable aesthetic procedures to be undertaken by qualified healthcare professionals, such as doctors, dentists, nurses etc. The Level 7 Certificate is designed to equip these healthcare professionals with the skills and training required to carry out non-surgical aesthetics treatments safely and competently, aiming to assure the highest possible standards of patient care and wellbeing,
The certificate is regulated by OFQUAL – the UK Government’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation that maintain standards and confidence in vocational and technical qualifications – and it is suitable for experienced healthcare professionals, as well as those who are new to the field of non-surgical aesthetics.
What’s involved?
There are a number of stages to the Level 7 training. These include in-person tutoring, hands-on experience with live patients, mentorship days, and a self-study aspect utilising video courses and written elements.
Candidates are required to complete theoretical and clinical assessments, and submit a treatment portfolio of 40 cases. Although there is no fixed timescale for completion of the course, candidates regularly attain the full qualification within 6 months.
Why is it important?
Amid the calls for better regulation within the cosmetic industry, the former President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Rajiv Grover, stated that “the public must remain vigilant as ‘non-surgical’ does not mean the same as ‘non-medical.’”
The advice was for patients to be more discerning in their choice of practitioner, to ensure that their procedures were carried out in line with industry best practices and improved levels of safety and care. This led to an increased demand for qualified medical professionals that offered these beauty treatments.
In response to these higher standards and growing demand, quality training providers began offering aesthetics courses specifically for healthcare professionals. The Level 7 Certificate in Injectables is one such course, and is regarded as the leading training in the field of non-surgical facial aesthetics procedures.
This qualification provides the reassurance that patients are increasingly demanding from their treatment practitioners. And as more and more patients begin to seek out medically-trained professionals with this qualification, it provides an advantage to those practitioners who have invested in training at this level.
As a result of beauty trends, technological advances and government legislation, medical professionals are uniquely placed to take advantage of the rapidly-growing demand for non-surgical aesthetics treatments within the booming beauty industry.
The Level 7 Certificate in Injectables is one way of attaining the highest-quality training that will enable those with a healthcare background to confidently and competently expand their current services or develop new careers in this exciting, thriving and highly profitable market.