UCL offers Minimally-Invasive Master’s in Aesthetics (MS) for prescribing pharmacists

UCL offers Minimally-Invasive Master’s in Aesthetics (MS) for prescribing pharmacists

September 2021 sees the introduction at UCL’s Division of Surgery & Interventional Science of the first comprehensive Master’s of Surgery in Aesthetics. UCL is the first ever Russell Group university to offer such a course – and this is a global first too, since other courses are Master’s of Science (MSc), not Master’s of Surgery.

The new programme includes two courses – one is an MS Aesthetics (Minimally-Invasive Aesthetics), for those with a medical or dental (BDS) or those who are an advanced nurse practitioner registered with NMC, or those who are prescribing pharmacists registered with GPh - and the other is an MS Aesthetics (Aesthetic Surgery), which is designed for surgeons.

The programme will be led by Afshin Mosahebi, Professor of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL with remote on-line teaching from UCL’s world-leading faculty in aesthetic surgery and non-surgical aesthetics at the Royal free Hospital.

Professor Mosahebi said, “There is a need for regulation and training in the UK. Currently there is an absence of any standards or accredited training for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

“In 2015, Sir Bruce Keogh’s recommendation was that the Government’s mandate for Health Education England (HEE) should include the development of appropriate accredited qualifications for providers of nonsurgical interventions and it should determine accreditation requirements for the various professional groups. The current regulatory framework places no restrictions on who may perform nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. No qualifications are required to carry out these procedures and, in the absence of accredited training courses, anyone can set up a training course purporting to offer a qualification. As a result, a number of self-accredited training organisations have sprung up.”

Aesthetic surgery and regenerative medicine have emerged as key growth areas within healthcare delivery across the world. An increasing number of healthcare professionals now offer treatments designed to refresh facial and overall appearance by surgery or minimally invasive procedures (immobilising facial muscles or providing dermal fillers).

Professor Mosahebi, said “As this sector of medicine is outside of the NHS in the UK, its governance and standards of care have been the focus of much debate over recent years. In an attempt to put some rigour into this area, there is a growing push to fully legitimise this sector of medicine with The British Association of Aesthetic Surgeons (BAAPS) advising patients to ensure that their surgeon or practitioner is fully licensed and accredited - and they are in full support of the UCL programme.”  

BAAPS is supportive of the UCL Master’s endeavour which helps to improve the standards of training in the aesthetic field. BAAPS research strategy will help to form the research element of the Master’s and direct the future improvement and safety of aesthetic practice.

Course Details

The two courses will be based on a format of a mix of lectures, tutorials, expert forums and workshops with a blend of learning approaches which will involve online learning and self-study - along with intensive simulated operative skills training.

UCL is still taking applications for its two MS Surgery courses:

1. MS Aesthetics (Minimally-Invasive Aesthetics) will include principles and practice of aesthetics and research context, epigenetics and regenerative aesthetics, fundamentals of minimally-invasive facial aesthetics, minimally-invasive aesthetic practice and advanced minimally-invasive aesthetic practice.

• Applicants should have medical or dental (BDS) or be an advanced nurse practitioner registered with NMC, or a prescribing pharmacist registered with GPh.
• Discover more and apply: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/minimally-invasive-aesthetics-ms

1. MS Aesthetics (Aesthetic Surgery) is designed for surgeons.
• Discover more and apply https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/aesthetic-surgery-ms