Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #64

face
InformedBeauty.com.au is an online platform designed
to educate and empower patients seeking anti-wrinkle injections.
Caitlin Bishop reports.
Injectables signify the most popular non-surgical cosmetic
procedure in Australia. Dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle
injections have become so ingrained in our beauty
regimes that they are used routinely as an anti-ageing
measure for both men and women alike.
While the rise of non-surgical cosmetic procedures
provides patients with more options in facial rejuvenation,
this rise in popularity comes with a danger that consumers
will adopt a carefree attitude in undertaking treatment.
Knowledge is power for a
patient, as it assists them in
making educated choices when
seeking cosmetic treatment
InformedBeauty.com.au is an online platform designed
to educate patients considering wrinkle treatment and
raise awareness around one essential fact – cosmetic
injectables should not be taken lightly.
‘Patients need to have a good grasp of both the benefits
and the risks of injectables so they can make an informed
decision about undertaking treatment,’ Queensland plastic
surgeon Dr Terrence Scamp explains. ‘Patients need to
understand the time of onset and duration of the effects of
treatment, and websites such as InformedBeauty.com.au
are an important resource.’
How Informed Beauty began
The site was launched in March this year after a survey,
entitled The Informed Beauty Report, found the majority
of Australian women using anti-wrinkle injections are
inadequately informed.
Allergan was the driving force behind the study, which
surveyed 7,716 women, aged 18 years and over, to gauge
their understanding of cosmetic injectables.
According to the research, more than 85 percent of
anti-wrinkle injection users claimed they were careful in
receiving treatment yet 71 percent of this sample did not
know which product they were being treated with, and 47
percent did not realise there were different kinds of antiwrinkle
injections on the market.
‘The Informed Beauty site is important for the
patient, as it allows them to better understand
anti-wrinkle injections, the way they work
and the options that are available,’ Sydney cosmetic
surgeon Dr Joseph Ajaka explains.
‘Accurate information on the brands available,
common treatment areas and any risks or possible side
effects involved are invaluable for all patients seeking
cosmetic injections.’
The questions
you should be asking
Which brand of injectable do you use and why?
Has this anti-wrinkle treatment been extensively
tested and researched?
How quickly will I see the effects of this injection and
how long will the results last?
Are side effects different between brands?
How satisfied are your patients with the results?
Patient education
With a goal to set ‘the facts straight on wrinkles’,
InformedBeauty.com.au has fact sheets on wrinkles
and ageing, a timeline of anti-ageing tips for every age
group, and expert advice from trained cosmetic and
plastic surgeons.
The Informed Beauty Report found that 78 percent of
anti-wrinkle injection users claim they were well-versed in
cosmetic injectables before their first treatment. While this
sounds like a promising result, there were some significant
gaps in their preparatory undertaking.
For example, 42 percent of these patients did not ask
about the name of treatment they were receiving, 28 percent
did not ask about the treatments used by the cosmetic
practitioner, and 27 percent did not ask if the treatment is
approved for use in their areas of concern.
www.cosbeauty.com.au 69