Glow-getter

Before taking the plunge and officially launching Dr Ana the Skin Clinic on May 11 in Birmingham’s aesthetic district, renowned medical professional Dr Ana Mansouri worked with SkinCeuticals for 18 months.

“I was based in a multi-speciality plastic surgery centre in this area, and I was building the non-surgical part of that clinic,” she says. “During that time, because we were bridging the gap between surgical and non-surgical, preparing patients for surgery, and maintaining results post-surgery, I had a heavy focus on integrated aesthetic medicine.

I saw first-hand the benefits of combining medical-grade skincare before, during, and after surgery, as well as for non-surgical procedures.”

Dr Mansouri was particularly impressed with SkinCeuticals’ science-backed approach to skincare and how it integrated into post-procedure care. “Although I was already using a lot of medical-grade, prescription skincare, there was a bit of a disconnect between the skincare brands and the medics. There needed to be more patient-friendly products that weren’t too harsh, that the patients would enjoy using long-term.”

Dr Mansouri fell in love with the SkinCeuticals range and the extensive scientific research behind it. The USA-based brand sent her to Duke University in North Carolina to further deepen her knowledge of the company’s history and science, solidifying her belief in the products. When the opportunity arose to work with SkinCeuticals and open a hub in the West Midlands, she considered it a “dream come true”.

THE MIDLANDS AESTHETIC

Birmingham is an up-and-coming city with a growing number of professionals moving there from London, thanks in part to the development of the new HS2 high-speed railway.

“SkinCeuticals hasn’t had a huge UK presence outside of London,” she says. “The medical quarter in particular is a great spot because of the visibility, and this is the first clinic in this area that is a shopfront.”

The flagship bridges the gap between a retail space and a doctor-led clinic. Dr Mansouri aims to attract a younger, more dynamic clientele in Birmingham, in contrast to her previous more mature patients.

“I’m interested to see how things are going to play out in terms of building a new patient base here. Traditionally, because I worked in a surgical centre, I had an older, more mature clientele that was either preparing for surgery or tidying up things after surgery, whereas now we’re looking at younger professionals. My current clientele also travels a lot, so they’re not necessarily based in this area, but it’s quite easy to get here from the station. I’ve got patients from all over the Midlands travelling to see me because what I do is also very niche in terms of being undetectable, tasteful, and light-handed.”

Dr Mansouri understands that younger patients are generally more open about their aesthetic treatments and less concerned about maintaining privacy, which presents an interesting challenge for her: “A younger clientele may be more inclined to share before and after photos and be less concerned about remaining undetectable. Most of my current patients don’t even want their sisters or husband to know.”

Dr Mansouri believes in offering a personalised approach to skincare and aims to make the SkinCeuticals product range more accessible to patients: “I recognise that the extensive range can be overwhelming to navigate, and having a physical clinic allows patients to have a scan and consult with a professional, ensuring a customised skin care regime within their budget.”

ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS THREE

Dr Ana the Skin Clinic offers a comprehensive approach to treatments, combining various modalities to optimise clinical outcomes.

By integrating lifestyle factors, skincare, and treatment modalities, Dr Mansouri ensures that patients are well-prepared for their procedures and achieve the best possible results. She believes in the power of combining multiple modalities to enhance the efficacy of treatments, emphasising that “one plus one can add up to three.”

As well as gaining popularity for injectables, particularly ‘baby Botox’, the clinic’s Hydrafacial treatments combined with SkinCeuticals products have garnered a lot of patient attention. The team has also developed its own Hydrafacial protocol that incorporates antioxidants, mist, masks, and LED therapy.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

What Dr Mansouri finds most rewarding about her work is the ability to improve patients’ confidence and make a positive impact on their lives: “Unlike my time in the hospital, where patients often approached appointments with apprehension, my patients look forward to their visits. Also, the constant learning and growth opportunities in the industry continue to stimulate and fulfil me.”

Dr Mansouri is involved in teaching, speaking engagements, writing articles, and conducting webinars internationally. Alongside her work, Dr Mansouri is also embracing being a new mother and, sometimes, balancing her various roles can be challenging: “I find support from other inspiring and strong women in the industry, who share their experiences and provide guidance. There are lots of mums in aesthetics who are juggling it all and are very honest about how difficult it is, so talking to them has been helpful. “

At the time of my visit, the bottom floor of the clinic was still under construction, so there is still some work to be done before the branch achieves its full potential. I look forward to seeing whether the completed flagship inspires other skincare brands to follow suit.