Unique courses give dentists and therapists the advantage of accelerated learning to break into a £3 billion aesthetic industry crying out for talented injectors. The Aesthetic Hub teaches delegates to grow their practice, become master practitioners and become confident enough to treat patients.
February sees the official launch of the Aesthetic Hub. It will offer programmes designed to initiate successful aesthetic careers from the very first patient.
The brainchild of master practitioner, Dr MJ Rowland-Warmann, says “the Aesthetic Hub is purely for dentists and dental therapists. Its aim is to train them to become expert injectors and tap into their existing patient base.”
According to dentist Dr Rowland-Warmann, dentists and therapists are skilled injectors. They already understand facial anatomy because they are injecting the face several times a day.
To many in the profession, it feels like a natural step to expand these well-practised clinical skills and further treat patients with facial aesthetics.
Treatment demand is growing in recent years. Patients are more open to non-surgical ‘tweakments’.
Google trends show searches for non-invasive treatments such as ‘filler’ and ‘Botox’ have remained consistently high throughout 2020, with the interest showing no signs of slowing.
Lacking confidence
Dr MJ has more than a decade of facial aesthetics experience at Smileworks, her highly successful, multi-million-pound dental and aesthetics practice. Throughout this time, she has developed consultation techniques and perfected her clinical skills to successfully convert dental patients into aesthetic patients.
Over lockdown, Dr MJ has drawn on her own experiences and created a series of unique aesthetic courses. These courses are specifically for dentists and dental therapists. From novice practitioner to advanced masterclasses.
She explains in more detail: ‘About 70% of clinicians who attend standard aesthetic courses lack the confidence to practise on a single patient afterwards. This is invariably down to one (or more) of the following; the courses aren’t practical enough, delegates are not learning with peers or the content is not precise or relevant to their own practices.’
Practical learning
Dr MJ continues: ‘Delegates are given ample practical learning opportunities at the Aesthetic Hub. Our courses ensure a minimum of one model (often more) per delegate, who they alone treat end to end: from diagnosis to post treatment advice.
‘All the models are provided and are pre-screened for suitability.
‘At every stage of the practical training, students are then supervised and recorded in our purpose-built, video-linked treatment rooms to allow real-time constructive feedback.
‘We also teach delegates methodically, at the right pace and the correct level of educational density to reduce risk of complications.
‘The courses therefore offer a clear pathway to develop skills in aesthetics. We tailor them to the individual to progress effectively.
‘At the end of our two-day course, our delegates leave confident they can reliably treat 90% of the cases they will face in their early practice.
‘The course also plays to the knowledge, dexterity and experience of dental professionals. It will consequently help them build a strong aesthetic patient base.’
Learning with peers
‘Studies show that we learn best when we feel safe in a group of peers who share similar professional experiences and challenges,’ Dr MJ says.
‘Learning environments that allow delegates to feel included encourage deeper levels of understanding and retention.
‘We deliver these courses in very small groups of up to four. This ensures maximum opportunity for developing practical, soft and business skills.
‘When I teach dentists and dental therapists, it is a joy. The learning environment has a real buzz. People with common experiences who understand one another can share knowledge and ideas.
‘There is a striking difference in the understanding of manual dexterity, placement and depth of injection from dental professionals when compared with non-dental professionals. It is a simple fact that they work with their hands all day long. This is reflected in a skill set that is streets ahead of other medical professionals starting out in aesthetics.’
Dr MJ concludes: ‘I have been on aesthetic courses where delegates were drawn from diverse medical fields; paramedics, GPs, advanced nurse practitioners to name a few.
‘Our working environments were incredibly broad. It was challenging to discuss specific elements of running a successful business.
‘We conveniently design Aesthetic Hub courses for dental practice settings. An area I have a deep professional understanding of.’
Practical business and soft skills
Of course, aesthetic practice is not only about injecting. Dental professionals need to know how to attract and retain patients.
Successful sales and marketing skills are so important for success. Dentists and therapists frequently go on courses but struggle with a road map of how to start out in practice.
The Aesthetic Hub ensures every delegate knows precisely what they must do to succeed. These communications result in fruitful interactions and long-term patients.
Dr MJ’s teaching gives delegates the techniques, business skills and confidence to attract the right patients and grow their practices.
Dr MJ is optimistic that her lively, engaging and targeted approach will become widely adopted by the industry as a whole. She hopes it will raise standards and deliver better, safer and predictable outcomes for patients.
She believes dentists and therapists will dominate the future of the aesthetic medicine industry. And her training Aesthetic Hub strongly reflects this.
To mark the launch of the Aesthetic Hub, Dr MJ is conducting a free taster training session to show potential delegates: ‘How to grow your aesthetics practice in four simple steps without spending a penny on marketing’.
You can attend this webinar via the Dentistry Study Club on 23 February 2021 at 7 pm.
For more information visit smileworks-hub.co.uk.
