“Non-invasive” does NOT equal “easy and safe”. True or false? Please elaborate?

False. Non-invasive does indicate non-surgical and in that case should mean less downtime and fewer complications. The problem however is that non-invasive does not mean easy and safe.

No aesthetic procedure can be considered easy. The product and technique are of paramount importance. If you are visiting an untrained doctor or a doctor using a substandard product the chances of complications are radially increased. Complications mean downtime, recovery and poor results. This is anything but easy and safe.

How do you choose an aesthetic practitioner? What do you look for? How do you ensure your face is in the best possible hands?

 Training and reputation are key when choosing a doctor with an interest in aesthetic medicine. There are numeroustraining workshops from basic and beginner to advanced. There are also local and international congresses where latest techniques and products are launched, taught and evaluated. All workshops and congresses provide doctors with certificates that should be on display. If there are no certificates on display, perhaps your doctor is not paying attention to technique training.

Also consider reputation. Poor aesthetic results will be spoken about. Trust your friends and let them guide you. There is not a single person considering aesthetic medicine treatments that does not know someone who has undergone some form of treatment themselves.

Finally, research research and research. Find out the products the doctor uses, and study them. Top doctors only work with top products because they know that their reputation depends on achieve fantastic results. Below par products offer give complications and increased risk. Find out what products your doctor is using and research them too.

How prevalent is the problem in SA of people with minimum medical training performing aesthetic procedures?

Botulinum toxin and Dermal Fillers can only be supplied to a qualified medical doctor. That said, there are a few instances where non-qualified doctors have started injecting. This is obviously risky to work with these individuals.

Within the qualified fraternity, most doctors are educated by weekend workshops. There is no official qualification to become an aesthetic doctor. That said, we do have extremely talented training doctors in South Africa with international reputations. They do run extensive training workshops to ensure the quality of treatment is up to international standards. I’ll again make reference to checking up on the level of qualification and training workshops certificates to place value on your doctor’s aesthetic training.

Is it about easy money for some doctors? (Even dentists and gynaecologists are performing these procedures these days. And beauty therapists are doing peels and laser treatments…)

 In some cases yes. Some practitioners do see aesthetics as ”easy money” adding revenue to their practices. That said, some dentists and gynecologists are extremely talented in the field of aesthetics. Some in fact become full-time aesthetic doctors and leave their chosen specialty.

Doctors that are in it for the money will traditionally use cheaper products, attend fewer training workshops and are often found to offer extremely low treatment rates. Again pay attention to products, training and price. If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.

Can a weekend course really equip someone with the knowledge to perform these procedures?

 A multitude of weekend courses can provide sufficient knowledge to perform safe and effective treatments. A single training workshop will not provide sufficient know-how to offer all the treatment protocols. Training courses begin with introduction techniques and work through to advanced techniques and facial sculpting.

They do cost money to attend, so doctors that are serous about aesthetic medicine will proudly display their workshop qualifications and congress attendances.

What about discount prices?

Discounts are part of this world. Every practice will at some point offer a special to their patients. On the strictest grounds this shouldn’t be allowed, but it does happen. Discount to avoid are those involving Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Reduced rates in these instances often mean:

• Over diluted or substandard products
• Expired stock
• Non-registered products

To discount Botulinum toxin is highly illegal, as it is a scheduled pharmaceutical. So if you see a Groupon deal, run!

Can one trust word of mouth recommendations /referrals?

In most cases yes. Doctors, by law, cannot ask for referrals. This means in most cases that word of mouth referrals are genuine. Patient’s will talk and discuss results, costs and experience.
At my MediSculpt practice we try to offer a luxurious environment to feel relaxed and comfortable while undergoing your treatments. All this adds up to a better experience. We try to encourage genuine referrals with gold standard products, exceptional results and a beautiful environment. Hopefully that will be shared, but only if we live up to the standard.

A special Thank You to @longevitymag