For many aesthetic practitioners, the popular trend is now to combine different types of aesthetic treatments that deliver even more enhanced results. Not uncommonly, this strategy aims to address several problems at once. For example, injection of Botox and dermal filler together to treat static and dynamic wrinkles or using chemical peels with microneedling to improve skin texture.
Although potentially more effective, such a method also necessitates safe and proper planning to avoid short or long-term side effects. Read on to find out what you can and cannot do to combine aesthetic treatments.
Understanding Aesthetic Treatment Combinations
One of the main benefits when combining treatments is that a synergistic effect can be obtained in a shorter period.
For instance, dermal fillers replace lost volume and neurotoxins such as Botox improve dynamic wrinkles. When these are combined, typically in 1-3 sessions, they offer a more complete anti-ageing result.
On the other hand, patients who only receive a non-ablative therapy (e.g. chemical peels) may take 3-5 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart to achieve similar results in about 6 months, which leads to a longer duration of treatment for solving the same type of problem that the patient needs.
Together, ablative and non-invasive treatments can work to tackle both the epidermis and underlying dermis to expedite wrinkle reductions with little downtime. However, combining aesthetic treatments needs careful planning as there may be higher levels of complications such as increased inflammation or longer recovery.
Combining Aesthetic Treatments — The Do’s
If you wish to combine aesthetic procedures or devices to improve the outcome of your patient’s needs, there are a few golden rules that come with this fairly complex territory.
First, a detailed review of the patient’s medical history, skin type, prior aesthetic procedures, and overall state of health must be realised to make combinations a suitable treatment.
It is also important to consider the mechanism of action of each treatment when predicting potential synergy or antagonism due to simultaneous measures, i.e. whether their effects are likely to be additive, synergistic, or even repressive.
It is equally critical to time and sequence the steps correctly. Additionally, many types of injectables (e.g. filler and Botox) should not be done on the day a patient is also receiving laser treatments as one type of treatment may impact the healing or efficacy of another treatment.
Finally, aesthetic practitioners must engage in life-long learning. The field of combined therapies, potentially incorporating new technologies or protocols as they become available, is constantly changing. Hence, prioritising effective and safe treatments as a combination should be carefully planned and communicated properly to meet patients’ unique needs.
To learn more about the various aesthetic treatments offered by Acquisition Aesthetics, look no further, as we offer a comprehensive range of courses designed for aesthetic practitioners at all levels, from beginners to advanced professionals.
Whether you’re interested in dermal fillers, botulinum toxin, polynucleotides, or complication management, our expert-led training ensures you stay at the cutting edge of aesthetic medicine. With hands-on workshops, online modules, and live demonstrations, our programmes are tailored to meet the highest industry standards, ensuring safe, effective, and innovative practice.
- Get in touch with Acquisition Aesthetics to explore the full range of courses and elevate your skills in aesthetic treatments.
The Don’ts of Combining Aesthetic Treatments
While there is opportunity to experience added benefits from combining aesthetic treatments, it can also be a risky practice.
The bright side is many of these are preventable, but the number one problem is limited education and or a lack of understanding about aesthetic treatment interactions.
Those who perform therapies without a full understanding of the highly individualised nature of the treatments may get into trouble and result in oppositional outcomes. For instance, an area too over-treated can be a huge mistake. Such cases usually have a mix of 3+ aesthetic treatments in one session, which can stress the skin and cause redness, swelling, or even scarring.
Aesthetic practitioners should also be careful not to let safety protocols fall by the wayside. This is the case for many dermal filler products and energy-based devices in which manufacturer guidelines have dictated their use. Not following the protocols can risk patient safety.
Patient Safety First (Risk Management)
The foundation of every aesthetic treatment is risk management and this is especially true when multiple aesthetic procedures are combined.
All patients need to be regularly monitored for side effects during and after their treatment by aesthetic practitioners. This will help practitioners to monitor results and, if necessary, revise the treatment plan based on specific treatments performed, products given, and patient outcomes.
Furthermore, aesthetic practitioners need a management plan for any potential complications that can occur with combination treatments like allergy and infection on the filler location.
If you have a hectic schedule, you might want to enrol yourself into an online course and learn all about aesthetic complications offered by Acquisition Aesthetics. Sign up here today!
Patient Communication and Informed Consent
Clear and open communication with patients (both incoming and outgoing) is important.
To manage patient expectations, aesthetic practitioners should explain what the patients may reasonably hope to gain from combination treatments, the risks, and recovery time associated with each component of a combo therapy treatment, as well as anticipated side effects. Therefore, patients must give informed consent and acknowledge what their treatments are likely to interact with and what the post-procedure care will entail.
Patients should also be counselled on their recovery and what kind of aftercare is needed. Additionally, how a combo treatment can make better results along with any hidden risks should be carefully discussed.
Note: Informed consent documentation is essential to protect both the aesthetic practitioner and the patient with aligned expectations and a proper treatment plan.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
To stay ahead in the competitive arena of aesthetic medicine, aesthetic practitioners must keep learning and adapting to new guidelines, products, and other general updates.
Given that new research and more refined combination therapies will continue to shape the field, all aesthetic practitioners must search for institute-based advanced training programmes that are available.
This helps to ensure patient safety, as well as to provide aesthetic practitioners with the most up-to-date and effective combination treatment protocols.
Here at Acquisition Aesthetics, we are committed to helping aesthetic practitioners stay ahead by offering advanced JCCP-approved training programmes specifically tailored to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry.
Our courses are designed to keep you up to date with the latest research, innovative products, and best practices in combination therapies, ensuring that you can offer safe and cutting-edge treatments to your patients. By engaging in institute-based training like ours, you’ll not only enhance your skills but also solidify your reputation in the highly competitive field of aesthetic medicine.
With a focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, our programmes empower practitioners to navigate new guidelines confidently and apply the most up-to-date combination treatment protocols, ensuring optimal patient outcomes and long-term success.
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FAQs
Which are the best treatment combos for facial rejuvenation?
While creating one of these combination protocols, think about incorporating treatments that work on diverse areas of skin health. Common pairings include neuromodulators (e.g., Botox) and dermal fillers to target both dynamic and static wrinkles, or chemical peels combined with laser resurfacing to correct pigmentation along with skin texture. Combination treatments can improve patient outcomes by targeting a variety of skin concerns in a single treatment plan, resulting in enhanced facial harmony results.
Combine treatments, how to make sure the patient is safe?
Safety begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient and understanding exactly how each treatment works, especially in combination procedures. Learn the guidelines from manufacturers and safety practices. When necessary, space out treatment durations appropriately. For example, performing dermal filler injections 1 or 2 weeks before energy-based devices in order to reduce the risk of inflammation and potential aesthetic complications.
What are the risks of combining treatments, and how can I reduce these risks?
Skin irritation, inflammation, hyperpigmentation as well as increased downtime with some stronger combinations are common risks. Follow standard post-procedure care, and teach your patients how to recover with maintenance treatments or post-treatment care regime and manage their expectations.
Is there an industry debate about combining therapies to achieve more durable outcomes?
Combining aesthetic treatments that treat different layers of skin problems can help with skin improvements over time. For instance, fillers for volume loss and laser treatments for skin rejuvenation are powerful synergistic tools that can accomplish not only facelift-like improvements, but also a holistic facial expression. Although this will take some time, educating patients on maintenance treatments can help increase the longevity of these improved results.
When should I schedule combined treatments to reduce side effects?
Combined treatments should be one time per day and combined in the proper order. Neurotoxin should be injected, at the latest, two weeks before dermal fillers to achieve full relaxation of facial muscles. Likewise, if you are going to pair laser treatments with injectables, injectable treatment should come first because adding heat or energy-based procedures, which may over-compromise the skin and could affect the patient’s skin integrity. This treatment order is however dependent on individuals’ protocol preference that reflects from their own experiences.
How will I document combo treatments?
Maintaining accurate documentation is essential for ensuring patient safety and preventing lawsuits from happening. Follow up treatment parameters including the product used, dose, techniques, and injection sites, should be recorded. Observe and report patient outcomes as well as side effects during or following the treatment. A good record will help with any problems that arise in the future.
How can I improve my own mix of aesthetic combination protocols?
Learning new and innovative strategies in multi-modal treatment by engaging in various aesthetic training can help improve your combo protocols. Attending workshops, conferences or certification programmes will assist in honing aesthetic techniques and knowledge about the newest guidelines for patient safety and treatment efficacy while combining certain aesthetic procedures.
Conclusion
When properly employed, a combined aesthetic treatment plan can maximise patient satisfaction. With proper evaluation, the way each treatment modality works, safety and care in treating patients with aesthetic treatments can achieve remarkable results. However, doing it without having proper training or disregarding safety protocols does have some risks. For this purpose, continuous education and communication with the patient are necessary for a multimodal aesthetic strategy.
Visit Acquisition Aesthetics to explore comprehensive training programmes that can help equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for implementing combined aesthetic treatment plans safely and effectively. Our courses are designed to ensure that you understand how various treatment modalities interact, helping you maximise patient satisfaction while minimising risks. With continuous education and open patient communication at the core of our multimodal strategy, you’ll be prepared to deliver exceptional results that prioritise safety and care.
