The New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine Diploma of Cosmetic Medicine

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM) offers a comprehensive two-year training programme designed to equip doctors with advanced skills and knowledge in cosmetic medicine. This programme is the country’s only cosmetic medicine training programme recognised by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), enabling fellows of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) to practice MCNZ Category 2 Cosmetic Procedures without oversight in Aotearoa New Zealand. The MCNZ has recognised cosmetic medicine as an area of special interest (advanced competency) within the field of general practice, and has approved the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM) training programme as the qualification to support this advanced competency.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The NZSCM training programme takes place over two years. Our lectures and practical workshops are held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland over 6-7 weekends each year, covering a diverse range of modalities key to cosmetic medicine practice. You are trained by cosmetic practitioner leaders sharing invaluable experience and knowledge. On completion, the graduation ceremony, marking the culmination of your training, takes place during the NZSCM conference held annually in August.

PROGRAMME GOALS

The NZSCM training programme is designed to instruct and guide doctors to be able to practice cosmetic medicine at the high standard required for the MCNZ to agree to grant vocational registration. The standard of the teaching, the learning requirements, and the level of support and assistance from fellow trainees, the education faculty, and members of NZSCM reflects this. It is expected that trainees will have a successful cosmetic medical practice that is competitive in the market by the end of the training programme.

YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:

The curriculum includes lectures covering a broad range of topics within cosmetic medicine and practical modalities. Trainees will gain knowledge, procedural skill, and consultation skills to build a cosmetic medical practice.

The curriculum includes:

•  Cosmetic medical practice
• The cosmetic medical patient: psychology, sociology, and culture
• The cosmetic consultation: ethics, history, examination, assessment, consent, record keeping, follow-up, and management of difficult consultations
• The cosmetic practice: legal requirements, practice building, and advertising regulations
• The science of cosmetic medicine
• Head and neck gross anatomy, including neuromusculature, muscles, retaining ligaments, compartments, regional anatomy, topographical anatomy, ethnic variation
• The physiology of appearance
• The ageing process: intrinsic and extrinsic ageing, the ageing phenotype, and ageing changes amenable to intervention
• The pathology of appearance: pigmentation, acne, rosacea, scars

Cosmetic procedures:

• Botulinum toxin: pharmacology, practical treatment of the face, neck, and sweat glands in hyperhidrosis, avoiding and managing complications
• Soft tissue fillers: rheology, practical use, assessment, treatment planning, avoiding complications, safe treatment with needle and cannula, and dealing with complications
• Energy devices: introduction and overview
• Radiofrequency surgery: theoretical and practical training
• Regenerative, biostimulatory, and biomodulatory procedures: needling, peels, platelet-rich plasma, emerging modalities
• Other topics: threads, pain management, medical management of appearance

Practical modalities:

• Botulinum toxins
• Hyaluronic acid fillers
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Introduction and overview of energy devices including IPL, laser, and radiofrequency
• Overview of regenerative medicine, biostimulation, and biomodulation (e.g., peels, PRP, dermal needling, skincare, Profhilo)
• Chemical adipolysis using deoxycholic acid for fat reduction
• Introduction to Threads

HOW YOU’LL LEARN

Trainees undergo assessment in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to ensure compliance with clinical standards. Trainees are required to meet legal requirements of MCNZ that assures patient safety while in the training programme and after graduation.

Components of the training programme:

• Six weekend workshops with interactive lectures and supervised injecting on patients
• Monthly Zoom peer group meetings where participants present case studies and share journal articles
• Online video lectures and journal article resources
• MCQ, OSCE exam, and practical assessments
• Meet logbook requirements
• Successfully complete a final practice audit

ENTRY CRITERIA

• Vocationally registered medical doctor
• Certificate of professional status
• Indemnity insurance
• Current practicing certificate
• A passion for cosmetic medicine
• Ability to practice cosmetic medicine in clinic[i]

ENROLMENT PROCESS:

• Applications open 1 September and close 27 September
• Complete an application form and pay the application fee
• Attend a Zoom interview with the NZSCM executive panel to ensure suitability
• Accepted onto the training programme based on suitability and meeting entry criteria
• First-year training fee payment required before the start of the programme in February
• NZSCM training programme agreement to be signed and returned
• Resources and training schedule will be shared with the trainee; some reading will be required before starting the first workshop
• Workshops begin in February

WHAT WILL THIS TRAINING PROGRAMME GIVE YOU?

• NZSCM Diploma in Cosmetic Medicine
• Application for full NZSCM membership
• Advanced competency in cosmetic medicine
• Relationships formed with cosmetic medicine practitioners and experts, along with industry leaders
• Rebate on NZSCM annual subscription when you attend NZSCM Conference

FULL NZSCM MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:

• Triennial re-accreditation assessments to ensure Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) standards of practice, patient care, and ongoing education are maintained
• For FRNZCGP registrants who have attained the NZSCM Diploma of Cosmetic Medicine, they are permitted to practice Category 2 Cosmetic Medicine Modalities  independently, without needing a collegial relationship (along with dermatology or surgeon vocational registrants). They are also permitted to establish collegial relationships with other practitioners in the field of cosmetic medicine.
• NZSCM provides support, advocates for members, and ensures ethical standards and training within the field of cosmetic medicine
• Rebate on NZSCM subscription when you attend NZSCM Conference

Please email Jasmine Jasmine.Lambert@nzscm.co.nz for a list of fees and financial considerations. 

[i] Each trainee approaches practicing cosmetic medicine in clinic differently and start at their own pace; most start small, locuming at a cosmetic clinic, renting a room, or adding services to their current practice. The key is to practice the new skills you're learning, as the workshops alone won’t provide the practical experience needed.

Throughout the two-year programme, you must log a minimum number of treatments across the various modalities, your logbooks can include treatments from the training workshops but working with patients will make this easier. In your third year, you will need to have completed your logbooks and pass a practice audit before graduating so working in a practice is essential for completing the programme. However, you don’t need to have everything set up right away.