Postgraduate Diploma Cosmetic and Aesthetic Medicine (Online Delivery)

Module 1 - Anatomy, Physiology and Professional Issues Overview
Aim of the module:

The aim of the module is to address the life sciences underpinning cosmetic medicine and the professional and ethical issues that arise in practice.
Synopsis of module content:

●      Anatomy of the face – the skin, muscles, fat pads, blood vessels, nerves and bones within the face.
●      Physiology and physiological changes relating to these structures.
●      Facial structure functions and their relation to ageing.
●      Facial assessments and treatment plans.
●      Ethics for treating patients for financial gain (treatment dependent).
This module includes mandatory formative assessment activities, to support students learning and development prior to summative assessment tasks.

On completion of this module, students will be able to:
Critically apply in-depth anatomical and physiological knowledge of the face to the selection of appropriate cosmetic medical treatments.
Critically analyse the professional and ethical issues surrounding aesthetic medicine.

Module 2 - Toxin Treatments
Aim of the module:

Address botulism as a disease and the pharmacology of botulinum toxins and treatments.
Synopsis of module content:

●      Botulinum and botulism history.
●      Botulinum toxin pharmaceutical history and licenses.
●      Clostridia as bacteria.
●      Indications for use, common complications and their treatment.
●      Patient selection, injection techniques, indications, safety, adverse effects and combination treatments.

On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Critically apply the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of botulinum use in cosmetic and medical treatment.
Critically appraise the use of botulinum toxin in aesthetic treatments.

Module 3 - Dermal Fillers
Aim of the module:

Teach candidates about facial fillers, volume loss, facial fat pads and how treatment of a volume depleted face can have an impact on the aging face.
Synopsis of module content:

●      Anatomy of facial fat pads and physiological effects of ageing.
●      Dermal fillers
●      Hyaluronic Acids (HA), different manufacturers, cross linking (BDDE), length of fibre, duration of effect, fibroblasts (HA production, hyaluronidase).
●      Indications for Has, complications associated with the administration of Has and the treatment of complications
●      Avoiding complications.
●      Managing patient expectations.
●      Non HA fillers – permanent/temporary, synthetic/autologous.
●      Dermal fillers for specific regions – lips, hands.

On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Critically analyse the evidence base for the augmentation of facial fat pads with dermal fillers.
Critically evaluate the use of dermal fillers in aesthetic treatments.

Module 4 - Skin Treatments in Cosmetic Medicine
Aim of the module:

Understand skin in terms of: Embryology, structure and function.
To understand the effects of aging/sun/cigarette smoking upon the skin, and how treatments such as lasers and dermal peels can alter the skin elements.
Synopsis of module content:

●      Normal skin anatomy and physiology – layers of epidermis, layers of dermis, functions of epidermal layers/elements, function of dermis cells/non cellular elements.
●      How the skin changes with ageing and environmental damage in all aspects and layers.
●      Different types of Fitzpatrick skin types, the effect of ultraviolet light on the skin, sun tanning, sun protection, sun damage on the skin, skin ablative treatments, skin non ablative treatments, lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.
●      IPL Treatments – what are they, how do they work what are the different parameters that can be used in laser treatments, dermal peels, and skin repair and emerging treatments.

On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Critically appraise the processes affecting damage to the skin.
Critically evaluate a variety of skin treatments.

Module 5 - Hair Disorders
Aim of the module:

The aims of the module are to understand hair growth and hair loss and relate that to medical treatments for hair removal and hair replacement.
Synopsis of module content:

●      Normal hair growth cycles.
●      Hair colour and variations.
●      Hair follicle anatomy, physiology and pathology, and how is this related to hair follicle pharmacological treatment.
●      What medical conditions are related to unwanted hair – polycystic ovary syndrome, folliculitis barbae, hormonal conditions, etc.
●      Hair aesthetics – hair removal with laser and IPL systems, specifically excluding mechanical hair removal (shaving, plucking, de-epilation, waxing, electrolysis, etc.)
●      How does laser hair removal produce a reduction in hair growth, which lasers can be used, what is the difference between each type of laser, what is the difference between laser hair removal and IPL hair removal.
●      Difference between hair reduction using “pain free” hair removal systems and using more traditional methods that have greater pain associated with them.
●      What is hair loss – how does it manifest itself, what are the different types of male hair loss patterns, and how can they be treated. What are the non-surgical methods of treatment (light therapy, hair stimulation non-surgical therapy) and what evidence is there to suggest their efficacy.
●      What drug treatments are available for hair loss, how do they work, how effective are they, what are their side effects, what are their pharmacological properties.
●      What surgical methods are available for hair loss.

On completion of this module the student should be able to demonstrate:
Critically apply knowledge of normal hair growth, hair follicle anatomy, physiology on a variety of hair pathologies.
Evaluate and appropriately recommend treatments used in hair removal.
Evaluate and appropriately recommend non-surgical methods used for the treatment of hair stimulation.

Module 6 - Other Aesthetic Approaches
Aim of the module:

The module aims to develop an understanding of the hormonal mechanisms underlying ageing and other effective anti-ageing strategies.
Synopsis of module content:

●      The physiology of aging including hormonal changes in testosterone, growth hormone and the menopause.
●      Menopause, andropause and somatopause.
●      Hormonal replacement as anti-ageing therapy.
●      Vitamins and anti-ageing.
●      The role of nutrition in anti-ageing.
●      Role of exercise as an anti-ageing strategy.
●      Exercise for the ageing person.
●      Platelet-rich plasma infusions and their effect in aesthetics and ageing.
●      Injection lipolysis, derma-rollers and micro needling.
●      Ultrasonic therapies and radiofrequency.

On completion of this module the student should be able to:

Critically apply the scientific evidence base to appraise the interaction between the ageing process and the endocrine system.
Critically evaluate investigations and treatments available for age-related hormonal deficiencies.
Critically appraise a range of anti-ageing strategies.

Delivered over one year, the online part time distance learning Postgraduate Diploma in Cosmetic Medicine has been designed to promote and enhance working professionals knowledge underpinning practice in cosmetic medicine. It consists of six modules (120 credits) each of six weeks’ duration, worth 20 credits each.

The Cosmetic Medicine course is wholly online and can be accessed by any student with a computer and access to the internet. Students are put in virtual tutor groups of 10-15 and they use a discussion forum to interact with the tutor and rest of the group. The format of the six modules follow the same pattern and module structure. During a module, students will use the course website several times a week to follow discussion threads, make their own contributions and interact with the tutor and fellow students. There is no didactic teaching, instead, students are asked questions and prompted to go and search the literature, read it critically and respond on the course website.

Each of the six modules has the same assessment format:

• Academic Forum - 40%
• Reflective Journal - 10%
• Group/individual activity - 20%
• Case based examination - 30%