The Top Online Resources When You’re Starting in Aesthetic Medicine
Are you thinking about branching into the world of private aesthetic medicine, and not sure where to start? You’re not alone.
Because the aesthetics industry in the UK is highly unregulated, and as there are no clear-cut training pathways, it can be difficult to know where to begin. After all, even though (unfortunately) the rules surrounding practice aren’t strict, we still have obligations as medical professionals to adhere to our own strict standards and professionalism.
While nothing beats hands-on training and practical skills - and it’s imperative we make sure we are highly trained and safe for our patients - this also has to be backed up by knowledge. And not only by knowledge of the science, anatomy, and medicine behind aesthetics, but also of the industry and business as a whole.
Textbooks are amazing, but in an industry that is changing so rapidly, you want to be as up-to-date as possible. I have had some incredible interactions with very established people in the industry, as well as those just starting. I think on the whole this is a kind specialty that likes to give back and support, and I would like to signpost a few things that I wish I’d known about from day one!
To that end, I’ve put together some of the online resources that I found the most helpful when I started my aesthetics journey.
Top online resources to support your aesthetic training
Paid
The video training from Dr Tim Pearce is worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. These modules are the best I’ve ever seen, and it is a resource that you can revisit again and again. It’s like the best of the industry beamed into your livingroom.
Developed by Dr Tapan Patel, I cannot overstate what an excellent resource this has been for me and my development as an aesthetic practitioner. Covering all aspects of consultation, anatomy, Botox, fillers, and multiple masterclasses. If you invest in one thing outside of your practical training - this should be it!
While nothing beats face-to-face training, I have found Harley Academy’s eLearning and online training modules are absolute gold. They give you the option to purchase the eLearning content associated with their Level 7 and Cosmetic Dermatology degrees separately, and it is really excellent learning. It’s a good starting point if you aren’t able to afford a full diploma yet, but want to get started.
Aesthetic Complications Expert Group
The Aesthetics Complications Expert Group, or ACE Group, are an incredible support system and safety net for all practitioners, and I would absolutely recommend that you pay the fee to join them as soon as you start practicing. Their guidelines are available for purchase in a wonderful book, and there are CPD modules on their site.
Aesthetic Medicine magazine does have quite a few free resources of their page, as well as access to great webinars from leading industry professionals. It is a leading industry journal, and a subscription will help you keep up-to-date on everything that is going on in the aesthetics world.
Free
The Aesthetics Journal and website
The Aesthetics Journal is like the Bible of the aesthetics industry, published and sent out (free if you’re in the UK) every month with all the latest innovations, announcements, case studies, and news about the aesthetics industry. Equally good is their website online, which is always offering new and fascinating articles that can be read for CPD credit.
Cosmetic Pharmacies
I was a bit late to this one, and feel very foolish that this was the case! All of the private aesthetic pharmacies will provide training on their products, and a lot of it is free. And it’s not always just product-specific - I have attended brilliant webinars on business and getting started in the aesthetics industry in general, and it has cost me nothing. Pharmacies that deal with a lot of medical-grade skincare often have excellent webinars delving deep into skincare science. It is a wealth of information that it worth investing your time into accessing. I’ve listed the ones that I have found to be the best in providing content below:
Wigmore Pharmacy - they are just incredible - not only offering training in ZO Skin Health - a stellar range of medical-grade skincare - but also an absolutely goldmine of free webinars in business and getting started in aesthetic medicine. Their content is so good it almost feels like a secret weapon that I should keep from anyone who hasn’t engaged with them yet, but everyone should look at their training.
HealthXchange Academy - they offer so much training in skincare biology and full training on the complete Obagi Medical range (again for free) and the quality of their webinars are unparalleled. I have re-registered and re-watched so many of them to try take in all of the amazing knowledge.
Aesthetic Source - they have done so many wonderful webinars, especially during lockdown, again focusing on skincare science as well as going through their medical-grade skincare ranges like skinbetter science, Neostrata, and Exuviance. They have a selection of their webinars archived, and they are definitely worth a watch!
eLearning for Healthcare (for NHS medical professionals)
I have used eLearning for Healthcare so much in my NHS work as a junior doctor, but they have two very comprehensive learning programmes (it would take you months if not years to go through all the material) in plastic surgery and dermatology. While obviously much of that is not applicable to our scope of practice, some of the basics of skin physiology and pathology are extremely helpful to go through. Recognition may also help to flag when referral to derm or plastics is the best option.
Training from medical aesthetic companies
It is worth looking at all the big companies that manufacture medical aesthetic products, as they often offer free training online or webinars on their specific products and medical aesthetics topics. This includes VIVACY, Teoxane, and Sinclair, for example. Merz Institute of Advanced Aesthetics have some great CPD-accredited courses here, particularly around ageing and facial anatomy. There is also a virtual consultation area, which can be a helpful resource.
Bonus: The Aesthetics Show
This is another great offering from Harley Academy, and has only just started recently. It airs every week on YouTube. They show advanced injection techniques and wonderful aesthetic cases, talking you through the consultation and treatment plan
It’s actually wonderful that there is such a wealth of knowledge out there that we can tap into to improve and strengthen our aesthetic practice. These are a few of the resources I’ve found the most helpful and enjoyable.
If you have any others, feel free to add in the comments below!
Get a goldmine of information on How to Set Up an Aesthetics Business from Dr Elle Reid & The B Word from Paragon Aesthetics.
It shouldn’t be complicated or controversial to say that a medical specialty should be medical. Unfortunately, in this case, it sometimes is.
Aesthetic medicine is exactly that - a medical specialty. Unfortunately, lack of regulation in the UK has trivialised this specialty, and while it clearly is related to beauty, it is vitally important that it is understood to be completely distinct and separate from beauty. Medical aesthetics treatments are NOT beauty treatments.
Beauty treatments, make-up, fashion - these all follow trends that are influenced by place, time, and culture.
Medical treatments should not be based on trends.