Page 37 - Flipmag-02

O P I N I O N

aestheticmed.co.uk FUTURE OF INJECTING

4. Ventilation
A lip-filler procedure can take anywhere from five to 15
minutes to complete, so even when wearing PPE, this is a
long time for an injector to be close to a patient without
social distancing. Reducing aerosol/ droplet spread during
this time is crucial and, there are a number of devices now
1. Virtual lip assessment becoming available to help. Some use specific filters that
Before the appointment, as much assessment of the lips the patient places in their mouth, while others use suction
and the dynamics of the peri-oral area should be done via devices that sit in front of the patient’s face during the
video as well as standardised photos from the procedure to promote extraction. In my clinics, we
patient. This will help you build an accurate have opted for Radic8; an airflow-extraction
treatment plan, so you can prepare as system that filters and eliminates the
much as possible before the patient “ In a world now virus in the air throughout the entire
enters the treatment room. full of protective clinic.
face masks, how will
2. Mask on/ mask off 5. Post-procedure care:
The best masks for a clinic setting we as injectors approach delayed-onset reactions
are FFP2, while FFP3 masks are administering lip fillers; One of the rare but known
considered most appropriate for complications of dermal fillers is
true AGPs. They should be worn by the UK’s most popular delayed onset nodules. This is where
both patient and injector at all times dermal-filler – normally after a viral illness – an
where possible. The patient should procedure?” immune reaction is triggered, with the
remain wearing their mask all the way up body causing the filler to form hard and
to the point you are ready to clean and prep painful lumps. As of yet we don’t know how
the area, in order to reduce droplet spread. covid-19 could interact in patients with dermal
It should be placed back onto the patient fillers, so it is crucial to make this part of the consent
immediately post-procedure (once they have seen their process and follow up with patients not just at two weeks
results). post-treatment, but further down the line too, in order
to collect data and ensure the continued safety of our
3. Decontamination patients in this new landscape.
As clinicians we’re all aware of how crucial cleaning of Taking these steps will help reduce risk, but, as
the treatment area is pre-procedure, but now, with the mentioned above, will never remove it altogether. We must
more we understand about how coronavirus colonises be realistic and accept that we will be living with the risk
in the nasal and mouth cavities, additional cleanses of of coronavirus until we find a cure. Ultimately, aesthetic
these areas using nasal swabs and mouthwash will be a procedures like lip fillers are wants and not needs, and
prerequisite for pre-procedure preparation. patient and injector safety must always come first. AM

>> Dr Tijion Esho is a multi award-winning UK cosmetic doctor, with clinics in London, Newcastle, and Dubai,
attracting a global clientele. Dr Esho Is the resident cosmetic doctor on ITV's This Morning and E4's
Bodyfixers. He heads up the Esho charity initiative, which provides free corrective treatment to victims
of botched surgery, trauma or those born with congenital defects.

Aesthetic Medicine • June 2020 35