Spa+Clinic Team 
The global facial aesthetics market will more than double from US $2.5 billion in 2013 to $5.4 billion by 2020 at a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent, according to a report by international business intelligence provider GBI Research.
And one of the most significant opportunities for salons, spas and clinics to generate further growth will be catering to people born between 1980 and 1994, particularly in the area of anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers.
‘This group is seeking age-reversal techniques earlier than its predecessors,’ says analyst Srikanth Venkataraman.
‘Today’s anti-ageing market is expanding to incorporate diverse consumer concerns such as lines and wrinkles, age spots, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, uneven skin tone.
‘The market will also be boosted by the anticipated introduction of topical neurotoxins next year. These are gels that can be applied on the skin without having to use a needle, significantly reducing the pain involved in the procedure and therefore providing better patient comfort.
‘We also believe topical neurotoxins will be priced at a discount to existing neurotoxins.’
Treatments such as RT-001 from US biotech company Revance Therapeutics are currently in development and are expected to dominate the market for Botox-like products.
With this ever-increasing demand for injectables and other minimally invasive anti-ageing procedures such as lasers and light treatments comes a greater onus of responsibility on the providers to keep educating themselves, up to date with trends, techniques, devices and products, and to thoroughly understand the policies that govern delivery of these treatments.
‘If salons, spas or non-medi clinics are involved in patient care they need to ensure a doctor reviews the patients (they are no longer clients) and writes the script for the patient,’ says Dr Gabrielle Caswell, President of both the Cosmetics Physicians Society of Australasia and the newly-formed Cosmetics Physicians College of Australasia.
‘Technically a nurse can inject on behalf of the doctor but the doctor must review and prescribe the medication as it is a scheduled mediation in Australia and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules must be adhered to.
‘Even though the treatment may be conducted in a spa environment, the room becomes a medical consulting room at the time of treatment. Therefore all precautions for infection and adverse events should be met. In reality there should be a resuscitation trolley available, and a sink in the room.
‘It is also important that any doctor you may choose to do injectables, is well experienced, the CPSA and CPCA has the greatest number of injectors, and is a good start for considering their services.’ Visit www.cpsa.com.au
Dr Caswell strongly urges that anyone offering injectables be familiar with TGA regulations, as services providers could be in breach without knowing it and, so at risk of disciplinary action and/or fines. Visit www.tga.gov.au/advertising-cosmetic-injections.
The cardinal points:
‘ All anti-wrinkle injections and fillers are scheduled medications, therefore it is required a script to be written by the doctor for the patient. If a nurse is working unsupervised on a premises without a doctor writing the script they are technically in breach of the laws.
‘ Advertising of scheduled medications is illegal and comes with fines.
‘ As a scheduled medication, it is illegal to offer discounts and time-limited procedures. This is considered inducement and impacts on both the doctor and the salon/spa/clinic, who will usually be dealt with by the TGA and medical board.
‘Technically anti-wrinkle treatment is legal for the crows feet on the face,’ says Dr Caswell. ‘However, doctors can use the medications in an off-licence capacity but they must take a medical history, review the patient and prescribe the medication, and explain to the patient that the products are used in an off-licence capacity by the doctor. The prescribing doctor is responsible for the treatment and the prescription.
‘As a salon, spa or clinic operator, you should be educated about what you are offering as intending patients will ask questions. But those questions are ultimately best answered by the treating doctor.’
Says Dr John Flynn, censor in the chief of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS): ‘A spa or clinic owner should check out the doctor’s CV and asses where the training has taken place and what that training has been.
‘You cannot accept that because they have a medical degree they are automatically across the injectables arena and it certainly does not necessarily mean they are skilled.
‘The college would advise to see if the doctors is a member of the ACCS or one of the other professional groups within the discipline of cosmetic medical practice.’
So seriously does the ACCS take the matter of unskilled or poorly skilled injectors performing procedures that are a real art and require dedicated training, experience and mentoring it is introducing the Diploma in Cosmetic Injectables for medical practitioners, commencing in late February.
This is a first for Australia and sets the benchmark for medical practitioners who want to develop the skills, knowledge and experience in procedures such as dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in order to deliver results for consumers, using only the correct TGA-approved products, and delivered in the appropriate clinical settings.
The ACCS Diploma in Cosmetic Injectables commences with an extensive two day program covering all topics essential to establishing good clinical practice. Topics to be covered will include the science and history of toxins and fillers, facial anatomy, marketing, regulatory overview, treatment plans and medico-legal requirements. Visit www.accs.com.au
Whether you are a doctor, nurse, dermal therapist or practice manager; whether you are new to the industry or an experienced practitioner, there are two outstanding cosmetic medical conferences worth attending each year.
Cosmetex, the largest annual cosmetic surgery and medicine conference in Australasia, is being held this year at The Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne, April 30-May 2. Best in class educators and experts presenting the latest in cosmetic medical practice. Cosmetex has a growing reputation of showcasing the latest innovations, discussing controversies and raising the standards of cosmetic practitioners from all backgrounds and interests. www.cosmetex.org
The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia Inc (CPSA) and holding their much-anticipated Non-Surgical Symposium at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, June 4-7 www.nonsurgical.org
At both conferences there are also exhibition areas where the latest in aesthetic devices and advanced skincare are on show to keep you up to date with the latest and greatest.
