Regenerate your career

Regenerative aesthetic medicine is emerging as a hot selling and demanding course for doctors, making it a lucrative field, says Dr Prabhu Mishra

With the advancement of Information Technology in medicine, a countable number of roles, specialisations and branches in medical science have opened up for the medical students to set their career path on. One of them is Regenerative Aesthetic Medicine.

Over the past decade, aesthetic medicine has gained an individual status separated from skin medicine or dermatology. One of the major factors contributing to the growth of the branch is the rapidly rising aging populations. As a result of the demographic shift, researchers have identified an increase in the number of aged people spending on therapeutics and medicinal services.

Offering career opportunities not just to doctors and aesthetic physicians but also to non-medicine trained staff, aesthetic medicine has evolved as a new way of practicing aesthetics.

WHAT it means

Often touted as a magic bullet for various clinical applications, regenerative medicines also known as stem cell therapy is medically defined as the capability of renewing tissue for the lifetime of an organism. In fact, it has emerged as the latest method to help the body repair and regenerate aging cells, tissues, and organs. As a result, it not only aids recreating youth by improving or rehashing the appearance but also helps in repairing, dysfunctional or injured tissues using stem cell therapy.

Hence, the technology is viewed as an effective treatment for conditions such as neurological conditions, orthopedics, chronic kidney diseases, COPD and other lung diseases, liver diseases, cardiology, auto-immune disorders, ophthalmologic diseases, infertility and cosmetic procedures.

Also, it has been identified as a potential treatment for ailments like Type 1 Diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease and a variety of cancerous conditions.

Scope

According to the industry reports, the stem cell therapy market in India was valued at Rs 1 billion in 2013. Although in its nascent stages, the market is estimated to reach Rs 2 billion in 2018, owing to the growing number of stem cell banks and stem cell depositors. While there are several contributing factors that are playing a significant role in the development and popularity of the stem cell therapy, liberalisation of stem cell research and Government support have emerged as the strong driving forces behind the impending success of the field.

As of now, India has established itself as a major player in the biotechnology across the Asia Pacific region, sharing space with giants like Japan and South Korea. Places like Bengaluru and Karnataka, in particular, are a major hub in work related to stem cells. Experts also estimate India to be investing more than Rs 1,000 crore in stem cell research. Hence, with the rise in popularity, the need of the hour demands guided quality, skill and trained manpower in regenerative aesthetic medicine.

Study Biotechnology

Students with a degree like MBBS and above, BDS, BAMS, MTech, PhD, MSc can apply for the course. The course modules includes orthobiologics, aesthetics for face and genital, PRP therapy, bone marrow stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells and metabolic medicine. Medical students pursuing courses in regenerative aesthetic medicines can opt for mainstream specialisation such as in cardiology or neurology, however, having an additional edge of the training and skills of using the ‘in-demand’ technology to offer their patients more refined and effective treatment.

Although there are a few institutes that offer courses in biotechnology, there is a lack of institutions offering concentrated training and education on stem cell therapy and translational research and rapidly-developing topics in advanced cellular and personalised therapeutic medicines.

Additionally, doctors and medical students graduating in dermatology can enhance their dermato-surgical skills with knowledge and training of regenerative medicines. Although cosmetology and aesthetics are thriving as a high income generating career option, students with additional knowledge of regenerative aesthetic medicine can also work in consonance with a multi-disciplinary team to help victims of burn and accidents.

Students and aspirants can also choose careers in high rewarding roles in quality, research and development, production, clinical research, supply chain and human resources, finance and administrative functions.

The writer is founder of CosmoStem Institute Of Regenerative Aesthetic Medicine, New Delhi