Educational Courses

The BMLA Educational Courses will return as part of our 2023 Annual Conference, and will be held on Wednesday 10th May 2022, at voco St David's, Cardiff (conference venue).

A total of six courses are available to book individually, including the ever-popular Core of Knowledge. You can choose to book a package of 4 short courses which will include a discount.

Registration is required and is available as part of your Conference registration or separately. For catering and badging purposes, registration is closing on Wednesday 3 May, midnight UK time. Contact the organisers below if you have missed this deadline.

Educational Courses Fees

Core of Knowledge (additional fee required) - 10:30am-1:30pm

Faculty: Prof Harry Moseley, Stan Batchelor, Julie Robinson

Basic principles of laser generation and review of laser / IPL technology.

Emission characteristics of different types of equipment
Laser hazard classification
Meaning of associated warning labels
Principles of quality assurance
Laser-tissue interaction mechanisms
Penetration of light of different wavelengths through skin and eye
Dangers of central versus peripheral retinal damage
Hazards to eye and skin from accidental exposure
The concept of Maximum Permissible Exposure and Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance
Principles of risk assessment
Laser safety management including the role of the Laser Protection Adviser, Laser Protection Supervisor, Local Rules and Controlled Area
Risks associated with accidental reflections
Personal protection measures including eye protection
Hazards to the patient, e.g. endotracheal tube ignitionIncidental hazards, including electrical, fire explosion and plume emission
Relevant legislation, standards and guidelines
How to deal with an adverse event or accidental exposure

This course is BMLA approved and covers the syllabus specified by both the MHRA and BMLA.

SHORT COURSES 1 TO 5

Course 1 - Hair Removal (additional fee required) - 2:00pm-3:15pm

Faculty: Dr Samantha Hills & Prof Harry Moseley

Hair removal is the most popular aesthetic laser/IPL treatment. To be able to deliver safe, effective treatment it is necessary to understand the therapeutic mechanisms. Laser manufacturers have flooded the market with a confusing array of laser/IPL devices, but which is right for you? It is reasonable to wonder just how effective the treatment is and what the pitfalls are for the unwary. And what about the administrative aspects? This is so often overlooked but contributes a lot to good practice. The course will cover the following points:

Basic principles of laser/IPL hair removal
What to look for when choosing a laser or IPL
Treatment outcomes
Documentation and Organisation

Course 2 - Vascular Lesions (additional fee required) - 3:25pm-4:40pm

Faculty: Dr Sanjay Rajpara & Dr Samira Batul Syed

Vascular lesions range from a small blemish, such as spider naevus, a red papule to an extensive malformation, such as Port Wine Stain, Reticulate Vascular Naevus to capillary malformations associated with a range of genetic disorders. This course will make you understand how to set the laser/IPL parameters to match the lesion, treat extensive areas and exclude those not suitable for laser therapy. It is important to have the knowledge when to treat and when not to treat. Which device is best suited to your patient/client. You will also learn about treating rosacea, angiokeratomas, venous lake, erythematous scars and poikiloderma of civatte and other conditions. Early treatments in childhood bring earlier clearance of various birthmarks although recurrence during puberty is common. We are learning more about masqueraders of vascular anomalies. We will cover this in this course.

The course will cover the following points:

Basic principles of laser/IPL treatment of vascular lesions
How to choose a laser or IPL
Treating thread veins, spider naevi and leg veins and other simple conditions
More challenging vascular conditions and touch base on masqueraders of vascular anomalies.

Course 3 - Treating Pigmentation and Tattoos with Lasers (additional fee required) - 4:50pm-6:05pm

Faculty: Dr Vishal Madan & Dr Daron Seukeran

Management of pigmentary disorders and tattoos is a challenge that most laser practitioners will encounter in their aesthetic/clinical practice. Treating these pigmentary disorders requires a good understanding of the biology of the pigmentary system and pathogenesis of these disorders. Despite this, treatment options may be limited and often disappointing.

In this course we will cover some management of some common disorders of pigmentation encountered in laser practice. We will also provide an overview of the treatment of tattoos and advances in their treatment. We will focus on basic principles of laser/ light-based devises in management of pigmentation including tattoos, conditions that can and cannot or should not be treated with lasers.

Please note that Course 3 and Course 4 are delivered in parallel.

Course 4 - Nuts and Bolts of Photobiomodulation (PBM) (additional fee required) - 4:50pm-6:05pm

Faculty: Dr Reem Hanna

Photobiomodulation (PBM), previously known as low-level-laser therapy (LLLT), is non-ablative treatment modality in the management of pain, accelerating tissue repair and wound healing. Recently, PBM therapy showed positive results in the management of patients with COVID-19 disease. Despite the fundamental clinical benefits of this therapy, there is a lack of understanding among the healthcare professionals on PBM mechanisms of action and light dosimetry to optimise clinical outcomes.

This course will cover the following points:

How PBM works?
Understanding the current PBM Mechanisms of action.
Factors influencing the optimal clinical outcomes.
Light emitted diodes versus laser light source.
Clinical evidence in utilising PBM photonic energy in pain alleviation including neuropathic pain, tissue repair and COVID-19 management.

Please note that Course 3 and Course 4 are delivered in parallel.

Course 5 - Scars (additional fee required) - 6:15pm-7:30pm

Faculty: Jonathon Pleat & Raman Bhutani

The course is designed to provide insight into pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical subtypes of scars. It will also cover topics on treatment indication, pre-assessment, patient selection, and management options for scar treatments including conventional and laser modalities.