Regenerative medicine and longevity health have emerged as transformative and important fields within the realm of aesthetics in 2024 and will continue to do so in 2024, changing how we approach beauty, wellness, and the aging process. Regenerative medicine focuses on harnessing the body's natural ability to heal and regenerate tissues. These treatments not only address aesthetic concerns but also promote overall skin health and vitality.
As science advances, we are seeing an agreeable paradigm shift across the sector, integrating regenerative medicine principles into aesthetic practices. This is reshaping the landscape, offering innovative solutions that extend beyond solely cosmetic enhancements.
It encompasses many different types of treatments and services, all of which require wider education and a depth of understanding and the BACN recognise that nurses are looking to learn and adopt the wider field of regenerative medicine into their practice. Longevity health in aesthetics emphasises a holistic approach that considers overall wellbeing. Integrating lifestyle interventions, nutritional support, and personalised wellness plans, aesthetic practitioners now address the root causes of ageing rather than merely treating the visible manifestations.
We are seeing a rapid introduction of services including polynucleotides, stem cell therapy, exosomes, improved energy devices such as lasers, HIFU, IPL, radio frequency plus dermatology services, menopause and hormonal health, adjunct menopause related issues, scar management, weight management, nutrition, male hormones and andropause, hair loss, cellular health, inflammation and PRP.
Many conferences now focus on regenerative medicine and our April Spring Symposium will include some of these topics, as will the BACN 2024 September annual conference. These services are all part of a 360° approach to health and wellbeing and are essential in differentiating our practice as nurses working in medical aesthetics. We must remove the beauty salon menu and adopt this more comprehensive approach to aesthetics. ‘Defined as a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic treatments and solutions which positively impacts wellness and age management, this developing sector is gaining ground because the public are able to able to access knowledge about evidenced lifestyle, wellness age-management treatments and pathways devoid of the restriction of disease orientated medicine available in the NHS’ (BACN, 2023). Whilst progress in regenerative aesthetics is ground-breaking, it is not without challenges and ethical considerations. Patient safety and transparent communication about potential outcomes are crucial aspects that practitioners must navigate and striking a balance between innovation, and ethical responsibility is imperative to maintain the integrity of regenerative medicine in aesthetic practices.
The BACN has a Code of Conduct which has recently been updated and can be found on the BACN website and I encourage everyone to read them, as the overarching principles apply to all our practice.
Several publications recently have focussed on a reduction in the use of fillers and toxins with the subject being afforded a double page report in the Telegraph (Jones, A. 2024). The article highlighted celebrities who had moved away from having these treatments, triggered by what we call the ‘perception drift’, where one changes and looks completely different over a period of time, not noticing the insidious change in features caused by too many treatments and perceived ‘tweaks’.
Perception drift is another interesting subject to be examined, and for now only time will tell whether the public are truly moving away from dermal fillers and botulinum toxin, but the adoption of regenerative medicine and treatments promoting healthy skin and better health is what aesthetic medicine truly means.
» Regenerative medicine is reshaping the aesthetic landscape, offering innovative solutions that extend beyond solely cosmetic enhancements «
In other news, I am delighted that the BACN Education Committee led by Rachel Goddard is up and running with a keen and experienced group of nurses responsible for some initial projects, which include prescribing and regulation, regional education, presentation skills for members, standards and regulation, standards and competencies, assessments and assessor training, new members and induction and V300 bursary application. A critical piece of work overseeing the role of the Committee will be the updating and completion of the BACN Competency Framework for Aesthetic Nurses. This is a huge task being led by Anna Baker and, for the first time, will set out a career pathway for aesthetic nursing. The committee is working hard with Rachel at its helm, and we look forward to reporting more later in the year. If you are a BACN member, you will be updated at the regionals. The regional and peer review meetings across the UK led by the regional leaders are going from strength to strength with such positive feedback from our members. They are an opportunity for learning and discussing our aesthetic practice, to support each other, make new friends and buddy up for mentoring or prescribing support. Meeting up with our colleagues is always a joy and it is so satisfying to see the firm friendships that blossom as a result of this. A huge thank you to our BACN Regional Committee and all of the wonderful leaders we have across the UK.
Dates for your diary:
- 19th April 2024: Spring Symposium 2024 at Kings Fund
- 26th–27th September 2024: BACN Autumn Aesthetic Conference at Eastside rooms Birmingham.