Safety First and Safety Always in Aesthetic Medicine
Patient safety, we’re taught in school, is a fundamental and essential principle in all fields of medicine, and should follow us into our professional practices. That includes aesthetic medicine, of course. Whether in training or practice, the clinical environment presents the first appearance of professionalism.
We take education very seriously at THMA. With my background as a OR nurse, I have always held high standards regarding strict aseptic technique when performing medical procedures. That's why patient safety is always emphasized in our training. As with all fields of medicine, aesthetics is medical professionals providing medical treatments in a medical clinic.
That means no carpets on floors where bacteria can breed and spread. Regulations also require facilities with designated hand washing sinks, a medical prep area, proper lighting, accessible emergency equipment, and ample space around the procedure bed.
I discussed these safety measures and many more in an Infection Prevention article I wrote in 2019 for the Plastic Surgery Nursing journal of the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses. In this article (which I am now updating), I stressed our duty as patient advocates to follow Infection Prevention Guidelines from provincial health regulators when assessing the proper environment for aesthetic procedures.
“The rooms should be cleaned in-between patients and would include the counter top, sink, prep table, and the examination table. The daily cleaning is best done at the end of the day to prepare the rooms for the next day. The cleaning process is made easier if the floor and counter tops are smooth and without seams. Carpets that are difficult to cleanse thoroughly are not recommended. Furnishings should also be made with non-fabric materials to wipe down easily.”
THMA Training Clinics Follow High Safety Guidelines
I pointed out then – and will again – that the professional reputation of the aesthetic medicine industry has been tainted with an influx of non-medical technicians who do not have the skill set to understand the importance of aseptic techniques. But unfortunately, even some professional nurses have blurred standards of the nursing profession and see an opportunity in aesthetics to offer “treatments of convenience” to receive financial gain.
Education is the key to prevention. THMA Consulting (and other reputable training companies) presents learning programs in the safest possible environments. The clinics we use for THMA in-person training and mentoring adhere to highest safety standards. We stress throughout the top-quality education process that safety first and safety always is a priority in aesthetic medicine.
Aesthetic trainees should do their homework to determine if the practice environment where their Botox training and other training are taking place will meet their own professional standards.