Becky Hollands Blog

This session was aimed at healthcare professionals involved in aesthetic treatments. During this session the outline of available techniques of treatments with Botulinium Toxin type A (BNT-A) was provided and an update on the available techniques for the upper face treatment with BNT-A.  The emphasis of the session was on the newly discovered need for examination of patients facial anatomy prior to treatment. The evaluation of various types of anatomical facial variation, caused by different kinds of cosmetic surgery and the implications for BNT-A treatment was discussed.  During this session the new trend in a “softening” approach of BNT-A treatment was also discussed and demonstrated. I found this session particularly informative and relevant to my area of interest. In particular, I was pleased to hear that a new “softer” approach in treating with BNT-A is being promoted by world class specialists. I felt that this knowledge would give me more confidence in the future when I will be consulting with potential clients.  I was keen to learn how BNT-A treatment techniques not only improve the results of the treatment but also ensure the safety and comfort of future clients. It was discussed how cosmetic surgery may change the facial anatomy of clients and the complications surgery may cause when BNT-A treatment is administered. Asking clients if they have had previous facial cosmetic surgery is very useful and will help ensure the desired treatment results are achieved.  I have also realised that the field of aesthetics is constantly evolving and that one must never be complacent about the quality of the treatments that are being delivered to patients.  The aesthetics facial treatment industry is developing rapidly and becoming more available with an ever-growing number of providers. In order to secure clientele it is vital to have the best information in the aesthetic field. The quality of the information provided during the IMCAS congress is considered to be some of the best in the world. This will give me and other aesthetic practitioners an opportunity to incorporate the latest scientific developments into their practice. Congresses such as IMCAS are not only improving one’s practical skills but also provide valuable opportunities for networking and meeting up with collegues.  The quality of the BNT-A treatment and the final outcome of the treatment is dependant on the administration techniques and the practitioners experience in injecting the BNT-A. Therefore, learning new and perfecting existing teachniques will potentially decrease adverse outcomes and and complications for patients.  The IMCAS Congress experience was very enjoyable and I feel that I have gained a great deal of new practical and theoretical knowledge on subjects that are of particular interest to me.  I will continue to improve my skills and theoretical knowledge on the subject of aesthetics treatments. It is important to attend practical and theoretical seminars to assist improvement.  This, in turn, will allow me to continue to provide an effective, safe service to more clients.

As you know, this is my first post since last October and in response to those who have been asking “What have you been doing?”,  please read on.

Over the last five years I have worked with some great clients and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed giving what I hope to be is a great service. As customer satisfaction is top of my list for Becky Hollands Aesthetics, I wanted to do something big for my clients that would really enhance the service.

So in August, I began the ‘Non Medical Nurse’s Prescribers Course’.

After searching high and low across the country, I found the University of Gloucestershire ran this course and I enrolled soon after my interview. I thought travelling further a field and staying near the University would allow me to concentrate on the course and it would give me a better understanding of the subject.

The non-medical prescriber’s course consisted of two key elements.
First to develop the knowledge, skills and competency required to be able to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as both an Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescriber.  Second, to attain the requirements of the Nursing & Midwifery Council to enable registration as a Non-Medical Prescriber develop the professional critiquing and decision-making skills commensurate with this high level of preparation and study.

I completed the course in March after what I can best describe as a challenging six months!

So what has changed for my clients?

If you want me to put it bluntly, we’ve removed the ‘middle-man’. The new non-medical prescriber status allows me to consult, asses, prescribe then administer the treatment without having to refer to a Doctor.

Acquiring and delivering these new techniques means more convenience for my clients and more importantly, it allows for a far more personalised service.  I can now (results pending) prescribe directly for my clients.

Thanks to all those who supported me during these last six months. It means a great deal to have your support and backing for myself and a service that I am committed to improving over the coming years. Looking forward to speaking with you soon.

I’m still waiting on the final results but I will let you know as soon as they come in.

Becky

As a qualified aesthetics nurse, I can reassure all my clients that I am both fully trained in and only use genuine Dermaroller treatments.

The safety and use of Skin needling devices is of frequent debate. The question is, does it matter if the skin needling device you purchase is certified an EU Medical Device? If it does, how can you distinguish a genuine, quality and safety assured device from just a cheap imitation or a device that has not been certified to the same standard? And lastly, how does the certification of the device affect your insurance as a practitioner, even if you are just carrying out cosmetic treatments?

It becomes increasingly evident that unfortunately some companies and individuals see a derma roller purely as a cosmetic beauty tool. They disconnect it from the considerations normally associated with the use of needles i.e. of sterility. Whilst the outcome of a treatment is to improve the appearance of an individual’s skin, therefore a cosmetic outcome, using a device that contains needles that penetrate the skin carries a substantial health risk. To safeguard against possible infections or skin damage, it is therefore a priority to know what brand of derma roller you can trust.

There are a couple of key pieces of information which will help you to identify a derma roller that comes with a honest quality, sterility and therefore safety guarantee and one that just tries to convince you it does. The ambiguity is certainly not helped by the fact it is not currently a legal requirement for skin needling devices which are intended for use to assist cosmetic conditions, as opposed to treating therapeutic conditions, to undergo any form of independent inspection.
The crucial indicator is whether a derma roller is classified as an EU Medical Device Class IIa or not. To meet the requirements of this certification, a company’s manufacturing premises and products have been inspected and approved by an independent European notified body. As the EU notified body is answerable to the individual European government, stringent approval processes are exercised.

The pictures show the possible consequences of using inferior needle quality rollers

(Copyright Ferndale Pharmaceuticals LTD)

The second category of EU Medical Devices of relevance is Class I. It may be surprising to know, that in contrast, Class I Medical Devices and the facilities in which they are produced have undergone zero independent inspections. However, on the face of it, you might presume products to be of the same standard. The way to tell the difference is to look out for a 4 digit number that will follow the CE mark on the packaging. Class I EU Medical Device derma rollers will not have this unique set of the numbers which correspond to inspecting independent notified body. For White Lotus Anti Aging’s Lotus Roller derma roller for example, this is: 0197. To our knowledge, there are only 2 skin needling rollers in the world to be recognised as Class IIa EU Medical Devices under EU Medical Device Directive 93/42.

Adding to the already murky waters, are illegitimate skin needling devices (in terms of safety and quality assurance) that use FDA Approval, FDA Listed or FDA Registered on their packaging and in their marketing. This sounds very impressive, until you realise that this simply means they have self-regulated themselves as a Class I medical device. Basically they have filled out a form and paid a fee. At no point were their manufacturing premises inspected or did the FDA guarantee the sterility or quality of their product.

We anticipate these issues becoming increasingly important for practitioners wanting to gain insurance to practice skin penetration techniques in the future, as skin-needling and the fantastic results that entail continues to catch on in the wider beauty industry and as companies keen to capitalise on this demand continue to introduce dangerous, poor quality imitations, posing substantial risk to consumers.

White Lotus Anti Aging regularly campaigns to promote understanding in the industry and to consumers of what the differences in certifications are and danger signs to look out for, for the safety of everyone concerned. We hope we have clarified any misperceptions.

Heliocare Cream and Gel – Advanced Anti-ageing skin care

For five years I have been providing up to 30 different skin care products to my clients.

The reaction to this Heliocare product has been surprising and has quickly become one of my most sought after skin care products.

The feedback I get from using established sun creams with factor protection of 30 or 50 was not positive

I think this is why

There is a Zinc residue the ‘white look’

It is heavy, like having an extra layer of skin

Can take an age to apply and to be absorbed by the skin

You have to wait several minutes before applying any makeup

It takes no account of your skin type

When the same clients use Heliocare the reaction is very different

Quick and easy to apply

Product is suited to your skin type

Very quickly absorbed into skin

It is ‘light’

There is no residue

You can simultaneously apply make-up

If you are interested in purchasing the Heliocare range I have stock available.

Please complete your details and I’ll get back to you

Really enjoyed being in this piece in Katie Piper’s column in June, here it is in case you missed it.

City Hopper

I visited Brighton last week to attend a fundraising event for the Katie Piper Foundation organised by my friend and nurse Becky Hollands> I met Becky at a medical conference earlier this year and she has now decided to support the KPF through her business.  A member Becky’s family has also been affected by burns, so it is close to her heart.  The event was a great success and afterwards we all went for dinner at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant.  The next day I had to travel to Birmingham to see my dentist.  I managed to tie it in with a visit to see my sister Suzy, who lives there.  I miss her so much, so it was great to catch up!

This week I was delighted to accept a position with the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses – the BACN.  Alongside my colleague, Star Poling, I have been invited to become the East Sussex representative for the association.  My new role will involve helping cosmetic nurses increase their knowledge base.  We will be organising presentations from leading industry experts while simultaneously giving direct help and support to nurses in the same field.

The BACN not a profit organisation, it is owned and run directly by it’s members. It aims to unite all cosmetic nurses and ensure that they have a national voice. The  BACN aims to further it’s support for cosmetic nurses through networking activities.

I’m really pleased to be part of this association and am looking forward to my new role.  For more information about the BACN please go to http://www.cosmeticnurses.org

As a guest of Galderma’s Sales Manager, Jemma Cook, the event took place under a dazzling array of historical aircrafts in the Flight Gallery and the evening’s festivities were bolstered by the knowledge that it was for a good cause – the event raised over £20,000 towards its chosen charity Help for Heroes, set up to help victims of war.

The 1930’s/1940s theme saw period outfits on display alongside modern dresses and a lively and atmospheric swing band playing the night away – skilfully striking a balance between the old and new with a musical ensemble ranging from the vocal harmonies of the Andrews sisters to Ricky Martin and Beyonce. Dinner was an event in itself with the theatrics of the waiting staff and the ingenious gimmick of a Morse code machine on every table (which were connected to a flashing light on a different table so you could playfully interrupt your colleagues’ dinner with a spate of Morse code bulb flashes). The evening called for attendees to “wine, dine and dance the night away”… and well… that’s exactly what we did

With a great weekend of socialising, networking, enjoying delicious food, fine wine and irritatingly memorable swing band music being whistled you could almost forgive delegates for forgetting they were at the conference working… until the following morning that is….!

Absolute Brighton – Katie Piper Foundation

I have been invited by Q-MED to attend their Academy at the Hotel California in Paris on the 10th of June. The Academy is for healthcare professionals including surgeons.  I am fortunate to be one of only three nurses from the South East Region to be selected to attend the Academy.

Entitled ‘Restylane Masterclass’ The Academy will be looking in detail at techniques for working with the ageing process. The masterclass will be focusing on ageing from the thirties to the sixties and understanding our patients needs. There will be several live demonstrations from leading dermatologists and plastic surgeons from across Europe.

I find the experience gives me the fresh knowledge and new insights that I can immediately pass onto my clients.

The use of the Dermaroller in skin treatments is known as advanced micro skin needling.  The Dermaroller is a chemical free treatment that improves the appearance of acne scarring, sun damage, lines and wrinkles, pigmentation problems and stretch marks.

The action of the Dermaroller encourages the skin to naturally repair itself by increasing collagen production to aid healing.  Collagen is a group of naturally occurring fibrous proteins.  Collagen promotes a youthful skin as it plays a major role in maintaining skin strength and elasticity.  New skin cells are generated and the blood supply is enhanced.

The action of the Dermaroller makes it a non-intrusive treatment.  Aside from a redness of the skin for up to 48 hours, there are no painful post-treatment effects.  The effectiveness of the treatment is not affected by day to day activities including playing sport or going to the gym.  This makes the use of the Dermaroller a very convenient option.

The use of the Dermaroller is very far from being a temporary or ‘Quick Fix’ solution.  The full benefit of the treatment is often not realised until some time after the treatment.  It can take up to 6 months to obtain the full results and the regeneration process continues over the following months.