Students benefit from Harley Academy’s University Partnership

Harley Academy is proud to be partnered with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

As you likely already know, we are the UK’s largest provider of postgraduate aesthetic medicine training. We offer industry-leading medical aesthetics courses for doctors, dentists and nurses.

What you may not be aware of is our partnership with UWE Bristol and our involvement in the appearance psychology space.

UWE BRISTOL – GLOBAL LEADER IN APPEARANCE PSYCHOLOGY

UWE Bristol is an established university and home to the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR). This centre is a global leader in its field.

Founded by Professor Nichola Rumsey, OBE in 1997, CAR has become the world’s largest research group focusing on the role of appearance and body image in people’s lives.

CAR has developed an international reputation as a centre of excellence for psychological and interdisciplinary, person-centred research in appearance. This includes visible difference (“disfigurement”), body image and related studies.

Much of its work provides new insights and approaches that we believe to be vital considerations for the aesthetic medicine sphere.

WHY HARLEY ACADEMY PARTNERED WITH UWE BRISTOL

Appearance psychology is becoming an increasingly important factor in aesthetic medicine.

We’ve worked with UWE Bristol since 2017, when the team developed bespoke training in psychological aspects of cosmetic interventions for qualified aesthetics practitioners, for our Level 7 in injectables. This was the first postgraduate aesthetics qualification to become Ofqual-regulated and was authored by our founder, Dr Tristan Mehta.

As the pioneers of this qualification, we pride ourselves on delivering it to the highest standards through robust and holistic training. Our signature approach helps to develop confident, knowledgeable and safe medical aesthetics practitioners.

Part of this includes being able to understand patients’ psychological drivers for cosmetic procedures. Effective assessment, diagnosis and patient management in this area are key skills every reputable injector should have in their toolkit.

As such, it only made sense for us to collaborate with the foremost authorities on the psychological aspects of aesthetic practice.

HOW THE UWE BRISTOL PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS HARLEY ACADEMY TRAINEES

The UWE Bristol CAR team brings its unparalleled level of appearance research knowledge to our faculty and trainees.

Understanding patient psychology when it comes to injectables

Our Level 7 Diploma ‘Principles of Psychology in Aesthetic Medicine’ module helps our trainees to understand the importance of establishing a patient’s reasons for wanting treatment. Their ‘why’.

It involves becoming familiar with the range of psychological contraindications for treatment, and how to assess for these. There’s more to it than simply screening for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Lastly, it also encompasses learning techniques for managing patients where these types of concerns are identified or suspected.

Independent Prescriber course access for our Level 7 nurse graduates

UWE Bristol recognises the high standards of our aesthetics training here at Harley Academy. As such, it accepts nurse graduates of our Level 7 Diploma in Botox & Dermal Fillers course onto its Independent Prescriber course. This is, of course, on the proviso that you also meet their relevant requirements.

If you’re interested in gaining an independent prescriber qualification, you can find the eligibility criteria on the UWE website.

DEVELOPING PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION TOOLS FOR AESTHETICS PRACTITIONERS

Another aspect of our collaboration involves participating in a trial with CAR and Triskelion in Stavanger, Sweden. 

All three institutions have come together to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an evidence-based framework for psychological assessment and follow-up in routine practice of prospective patients seeking appearance-altering treatments.

Our City of London Copthall Avenue base, The Academy Clinic, has been being used as a trial centre since 2021.

So far, this partnership has generated valuable data that’s being used to improve our understanding of the psychological benefits and risks of cosmetic procedures. This includes ascertaining any long-term outcomes.

Members of our faculty are working alongside the CAR and Triskelion teams to help develop definitive psychological assessment tools and recommendations for associated protocols for aesthetics practitioners.

As the demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures grows, the need for such a framework becomes increasingly crucial for safe, patient-centred practice.

ALLOWS AESTHETICS PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE BETTER PATIENT CARE

This collaboration helps to foster a greater understanding of the importance of psychological factors in aesthetic medicine. From patient evaluation and satisfaction, to their overall well-being.

We’ve seen how the practical applications of this collaboration have already advanced healthcare professionals’ knowledge and understanding in the field. Having the relevant psychological insights and protocols set out clearly by true subject matter experts is invaluable for doctors, dentists and nurses starting out in medical aesthetics.

Harley Academy’s expertise in delivering top-tier aesthetics training has been fused with the research capabilities of UWE Bristol. This adds an additional layer of unique credibility to our Level 7 Diploma in Botox & Dermal Fillers.

We believe this relationship will continue to contribute to the development of evidence-based practices and the integration of psychological considerations in medical aesthetics.

At Harley Academy, your aesthetic medicine education is more than just surface-level training that enables you to become a competent technician. It’s an experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the specialty.

Going the extra mile with your injectables education is what sets you on the path to becoming an aesthetics specialist.

We are thrilled that, by partnering with such an established university as UWE Bristol, our trainees are able to benefit in this way.

All information correct at the time of publication.