In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, we welcome Dr Jenny Doyle-consultant oculoplastic surgeon, head of aesthetics, and co-founder at The Clinic Holland Park-to explore why the periorbital area is often the starting point for facial rejuvenation. Together, we explore the unique anatomy of the eye region, the challenges it poses, and the opportunities it offers for both surgical and non-surgical treatment.

From tear trough fillers and festoons to regenerative injectables, lasers, and the critical role of topicals, we examine how practitioners can combine approaches safely and effectively. Jenny also shares her perspective on patient communication, red flags in consultations, and the growing shift towards regenerative and maintenance-focused treatments.

What You'll Learn

- Anatomy & Ageing: Why the periocular area ages differently and how to assess changes at every level.

- Treatment Pathways: How to balance surgical and non-surgical options with patient safety, downtime, and expectations.

- Consultation & Communication: Practical ways to build trust, spot red flags, and guide patients through long-term plans.

Jenny's insights remind us that protecting vision and delivering natural, safe results go hand in hand-and that the smallest area of the face often carries the greatest impact.

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if luxury in aesthetics was about feeling truly seen, valued, and cared for?

In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, we’re joined by Esther Fieldgrass, founder of EF MEDISPA and a trailblazer in UK aesthetic medicine. Esther shares her decades-long journey, seamlessly blending wellness, beauty, and clinical excellence to redefine luxury. She offers profound insights on fostering human connection, delivering seamless service, and adapting to evolving client expectations in a post-COVID world.

What You’ll Learn

- Personalised Care: How using names at every touchpoint creates a sense of value and comfort for clients.

- Seamless Experiences: Strategies for training staff to anticipate client needs, ensuring effortless and memorable clinic visits.

- Human Connection: Why prioritising empathy and individuality over material luxury creates lasting, meaningful impressions.

Esther’s vision challenges us to elevate aesthetics through genuine, heartfelt care, proving that true luxury lies in the power of human connection.

Follow Esther at @estherfieldgrass

Elly at @the_aesthetics_marketer

Lorna at @lorna_bowes

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, hosts Elly Makinson and Lorna Bowes, CEO of AestheticSource, sit down with Dr Rory Boud, GP, aesthetics practitioner and trainer, to explore the major forces shaping the aesthetics landscape in 2025 and beyond.

From the rise of younger, prevention-focused patients to the integration of cutting-edge technologies, this episode unpacks the shifts redefining what it means to run a modern aesthetic clinic. Together, the trio discuss evolving patient expectations, the growing importance of transparency, and how clinics can balance commercial goals with ethical and sustainable practice.

They also tackle the practical realities of a changing economy, how spending habits are shifting, what this means for treatment planning, and how loyalty and education are becoming the new cornerstones of patient retention.

Whether you’re a practitioner, clinic owner, or brand leader, this episode offers a candid look at where the aesthetics industry is heading  and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve.

Key Topics Covered
The new patient demographic: prevention, personalisation, and empowerment
How technology and innovation are reshaping treatment protocols
Managing consumer education, transparency, and trust in the digital age
Sustainability and ethical practice as the next frontier of aesthetics
Economic trends influencing patient loyalty and clinic strategy

Why Listen
Discover practical insights and forward-looking perspectives from one of the UK’s most experienced distributors and a leading medical aesthetics practitioner. Learn how to future-proof your clinic and align with the values driving patient choice in 2025.

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if the consultation was the most powerful treatment of all?

In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, we sit down with Dr Sophie Shotter-multi-award-winning aesthetic doctor, educator, and President of BCAM-to explore why the consultation is the true cornerstone of every patient journey. Sophie shares how authenticity, trust, and clarity can transform a consultation from a formality into a lifelong relationship.

From the power of listening and honesty, to managing expectations, to weaving in skincare and technology such as Aura 3D imaging, we dive deep into what makes consultations both clinically rigorous and deeply human. This isn't about selling treatments-it's about creating connection, confidence, and care that lasts for years.

What You'll Learn

- Building Trust: Why authenticity and honesty lay the foundation for long-term patient relationships.

- Consultation Skills: How structure, confidence, and style can turn a conversation into a lifelong journey.

- Skincare & Technology: Practical ways to integrate at-home products and imaging tools without overwhelming patients.

Sophie's wisdom reminds us that the consultation isn't just the first step-it's the defining moment that sets the tone for everything to follow.

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, we take a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in our industry today: regulation.

Should injectables be reserved only for healthcare professionals? What’s causing the rise in complications? And where is the UK headed next when it comes to safety, training, and clinical standards?

Joining Elly for this conversation are two respected voices with strong views and deep experience:

- Dr Ed Robinson – NHS anaesthetist and aesthetic doctor with CQC-accredited clinics in Cheshire and Harley Street. Known for his patient-first approach, Ed is a leading advocate for ethical, regulated medical aesthetics.

- Lorna Bowes – CEO of AestheticSource and one of the UK’s most experienced clinical leaders in the aesthetics industry. Lorna brings her perspective as a nurse, educator, and distributor deeply involved in shaping industry standards.

Together, they explore the complications practitioners are seeing on the ground, the grey areas in current legislation, and what meaningful, practical regulation could and should look like in the UK.

Connect

AestheticSource

Ed Robinson

Lorna Bowes

Elly Makinson

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

How can aesthetic medicine best support women’s skin and overall health during menopause? And how does specialist knowledge in menopause transform the way we approach aesthetic treatments?

In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, we’re joined by Dr Hazel Parkinson, an award-winning GP-turned-aesthetic practitioner with a deep passion for women’s health. Hazel’s journey has taken her from the pressures of NHS practice to creating a clinic that blends advanced aesthetic treatments with evidence-based menopause care. Her approach addresses the skin concerns so common in this life stage from dryness and loss of elasticity to changes in pigmentation and healing, while also integrating lifestyle, nutrition, muscle health, and stress management to achieve results that are both visible and lasting.

We’ll explore the science behind maintaining muscle mass as we age, why it’s a cornerstone for skin quality and overall vitality, and how chronic stress silently undermines both hormonal balance and skin regeneration. Hazel will share her insights on common pitfalls in treating menopausal skin including outdated product strategies and over-treatment, and how bio-stimulators, such as polynucleotides, are changing the game for long-term collagen and tissue health.

Connect

AestheticSource

Lorna Bowes

Elly Makinson

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, we’re cutting through the confusion surrounding injectable skin boosters — exploring the science, the techniques, and the reasons behind inconsistent patient outcomes.

We’re joined by Dr Abs Settipalli, a globally recognised aesthetic doctor and educator. With a background in medicine, surgical training, and advanced aesthetics, Dr Abs is renowned for his evidence-based approach, in-depth anatomical knowledge, and passion for raising standards in clinical practice. He also runs a thriving aesthetics clinic in the UK and lectures internationally on safe and effective injectable treatments.

Alongside co-host Lorna Bowes, CEO of AestheticSource, this episode tackles a rising concern in the industry: the growing number of poorly trained practitioners and misinformation around what injectable skin boosters can and should deliver.

We discuss:

• Why the term "skin booster" is misunderstood — and how that affects patient expectations
• The science behind injectable treatments designed to improve skin quality
• How poor technique and unregulated training are fuelling inconsistent outcomes
• What practitioners should look for in a product, training provider, and treatment protocol
• How experienced educators like Dr Abs are helping to raise clinical standards

While AestheticSource do distribute Sunekos®, this episode is a brand-agnostic discussion focused on education, clinical responsibility, and better outcomes for patients.

You can find Dr Abs here: https://www.drabs.clinic/

AestheticSouce here: https://www.aestheticsource.com/

Lorna Bowes here: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lornabowes

Elly Makinson here: https://www.instagram.com/the_aesthetics_marketer/

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

How can skincare retail feel authentic, not pushy? In this episode of Conversations in Aesthetics, Advanced Facialist and Nutritional Therapist  Andy Millward, shaped by his own acne journey, and Victoria Millerchip, Business Development Manager at Aesthetic Source, join me to explore.

Andy shares his detective-like approach to uncover lifestyle triggers, while Victoria exposes how single-brand reliance limits results. Discover practical tips: pair products with treatments, shift from selling to solving, and use open-ended questions for tailored care. Our conversation reimagines skincare with heart, empowering you to blend budgets, trust, and transformative outcomes for clients and clinics with genuine care and impact.

Follow Andy and Victoria on Instagram.

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Elly and Lorna sit down with Ben Pask from Rare: Monitor, whose platform tracks over 100,000 healthcare providers. Their latest report reveals a sharp 5% drop in botulinum providers—largely unregulated ones—driven by stricter regulations. Ben’s data exposes a market pivoting toward professionalism, yet contending with consumer scepticism and concerns over unnatural outcomes.

Together, we dive into why 87% of providers cluster in affluent urban centres, why patients are spending more but visiting less, and the growing demand for holistic treatments like skin boosters and longevity therapies.

Find out more about Rare: Monitor.

Throughout April and May 2025, Rare: are publishing a series of reports on the UK injectable market across Dermal Fillers, Polynucleotides, Botulinum Toxin and Skin Boosters. All of which can be downloaded at rare.consulting. Rare Monitor tracks the activities of over 100,000 UK health beauty and wellness providers. Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers can improve their private market conversion rates at raremonitor.com.

Learn more about AestheticSource at: aestheticsource.com.

Follow Lorna on LinkedIn.

Follow Elly on Instagram.

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Choosing the right laser device for your clinic can feel like navigating a minefield. In this episode, we're joined by Sarah Bow—laser expert, educator, and UK consultant for Asclepion—to help cut through the confusion and marketing noise.

With over a decade of hands-on experience, Sarah breaks down the science behind photoablative, photothermal, and photoacoustic technologies, and explains why the best device isn’t always the most hyped—it’s the one that aligns with your clinic’s patient base and treatment goals.

We dive into the industry’s pivot towards skin health and regeneration, discuss the pros and cons of CO2 vs Erbium YAG, and challenge the idea that more features always mean better outcomes. Sarah shares valuable insights on how to make smarter investment decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and maximise your ROI from day one.

This episode is packed with practical advice for any practitioner looking to grow their device offering with confidence. I also reflect on my own treatment experience with Sarah - expect honest, occasionally contraversial opinions and no fluff.

Host: Elly Makinson
Guest: Sarah Bow / McNulty

Resources: Lasers and Lights, 4th Edition

This episode was bought to you by AestheticSource, researched, planned, and created by Elly Makinson and produced by Urban Podcasts.

We explore Fiona’s experiences, discussing her transition from the upholstery industry to working with Skin Viva and how those early encounters shaped her coaching approach. Fiona shares valuable advice on overcoming feelings of stagnation and fear, emphasising the importance of identifying your core purpose—your ‘why’—and creating structured plans for consistent growth. We also explore the significance of marketing, a crucial skill often overlooked in aesthetics, and how practitioners can better communicate their unique selling points to attract clients and drive business growth.

Through inspiring success stories, we see how tailored coaching can lead to remarkable transformations. Fiona also looks ahead to the evolving trends in the aesthetics industry, such as the shift towards natural, rejuvenate treatments, and how professionals can adapt to meet these changing consumer demands.

 Conversations in Aesthetics is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Tristan shares his journey of founding one of the UK’s leading aesthetic training institutions, highlighting the challenges and successes along the way. He provides insights into what makes effective training, emphasising the importance of high-quality education, practical experience, and adherence to industry standards. Our conversation delves into the significant legislative developments, including the 2012 Health Education England Report, which reshaped the field, pushing for higher qualifications and better patient safety.

We also explore the ethical considerations around who should be performing aesthetic procedures and the ongoing debate for stronger regulation. Dr. Mehta stresses the need for hands-on training and guidance from reputable institutions, offering advice for anyone considering a career in aesthetics, from understanding the qualifications to embracing continuous learning in an ever-evolving industry.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Dr. Soni shares his insights on the intense US training culture, burnout, and the pivotal moment that led him back to the UK. He opens up about building his own aesthetic practice from the ground up during the pandemic, redefining personal branding, and the surprising challenges of starting fresh.

From pitching his vision like a 'Dragon’s Den' contender to handling every bit of his own social media, Dr. Soni’s story is one of resilience, authenticity, and a passion for patient care.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced by Urban Podcasts.

From overcoming a burns accident to creating a holistic clinic that addresses aesthetic concerns and medical conditions like PCOS, Gabriella shares how her experiences fuel her passion for transforming lives. Gabriella shares how her vision came to life with the support of an ideal investor who managed the business side, allowing her to focus on delivering exceptional patient care.

Striking a balance between professional success and family life can often feel impossible. Yet, Gabriella exemplifies how dedication and mindful practices can harmonise these worlds, sharing her strategies for managing the demands of clinic ownership, a building project, and family commitments.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

As the co-founder of Smileworks Liverpool and holder of two master's degrees, Dr. MJ has a wealth of knowledge to share from her extensive experience in non-surgical aesthetics. We touch on everything from the revolutionary impact of ultrasound on her practice to the practical implications of vascular mapping and guided procedures and even debunk common misconceptions surrounding this technology.

We also highlight the importance of patient education and self-awareness among practitioners regarding their skill level with ultrasound. Dr. MJ offers insights into the best practices for achieving optimal results and the indications and contraindications of ultrasound, revealing the potential pitfalls of investing in ultrasound technology and how practitioners can still benefit from ultrasound without owning a machine.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

In a world where "clinically proven" is thrown around like confetti, we look closer at what that means for your skincare choices. We explore the rigorous science behind serums and creams, emphasising the value of research-backed results over anecdotal hype.

We also highlight the importance of professional expertise in interpreting studies to ensure that products meet their claims. Skincare is never one-size-fits-all, so we address common misconceptions and the significance of tailored advice, particularly during hormonal shifts like menopause.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.

Shannon shares her invaluable insights into the shift happening in the aesthetics industry as we move from merely treating the symptoms of ageing towards a more holistic, long-term approach. 

Our discussion with Shannon also unravels the importance of comprehensive research and a robust network for staying ahead in the industry while looking at the advantages of attending international conferences and the newest toxins in the industry.

Conversations in Aesthetics is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts.