Best face forward

In the heart of the historic Fulham Palace, nestled among lush greenery, lies a hidden gem – welcome to Vizage, the brainchild of Dr Jasmin Taher.

Dr Taher graduated from King ’s College in dentistry, with an intercalated degree in regenerative medicine and innovation technologies. Her move into aesthetics was born out of a desire to diversify the offerings of the struggling dental practice in which she was based.

“I was renting a small room in Fulham for about five years. It was tiny, but it served me well and allowed me to save up for this; I had a patient who said that I went from a Ford Fiesta to a Rolls-Royce. My husband works in demand forecasting, and he kept telling me to be sensible and save. Ultimately, all I need is a chair; there’s no difference, a chair here or a chair in a small room, but I wanted a space that I’d really feel proud of.”

Reflecting on her transition, Dr Taher shares, “I never anticipated venturing into aesthetics. Dentistry was my sole focus, but the more I practised aesthetics, the more I enjoyed it. Unlike dentistry, where patients often come through the door in a negative mindset, aesthetics patients are excited and happy to come in. In dentistry, you make the tiniest little poke and people will overreact, because it’s a psychological thing. Objectively, skin injections are more painful than gum injections, but because the patient has linked a positive outcome to that pain, they’re much more willing to experience it.”

DENTISTS IN AESTHETICS

Armed with her background in dentistry and a keen understanding of facial anatomy, Dr Taher carved a niche for herself in the aesthetics landscape. However, her journey wasn’t without challenges, including battling stereotypes that relegate dentists to a secondary role in aesthetics, particularly outside the UK.

“I was meant to speak at an aesthetics conference in Europe, but I was removed as a speaker because I’m a dentist. I think there’s a lot of good that comes from the way that the Europeans approach aesthetics, because obviously they see us as the Wild West in the UK, but I think that they’ve gone a little too far in the opposite direction.”

Her years of dedication led to the creation of Vizage, a boutique clinic that embodies sophistication and warmth. From its inception, Dr Taher’s vision extended beyond aesthetics – it was about creating an experience where every individual feels valued and empowered.

“As soon as I walked through the gates and saw the greenery everywhere, I had a feeling inside me that this property was something special. You know when you feel butterflies in your stomach? The whole courtyard is tenanted; there’s architects, and tech companies, but there’s no real client-facing businesses, except for mine. When I came in and saw this room, with its high, vaulted ceilings, I was speechless.”

Renovating a historic Grade I listed building posed its challenges, but Dr Taher’s perseverance paid off. Collaborating with conservation architects and designers, she breathed new life into the space while preserving its heritage.

“I couldn’t change the internal structure; for instance, I couldn’t change the plumbing, so I had to have portable units. We couldn’t have anything external to the building, so we had to go for a special type of air conditioning, which runs through water lines in existing penetrations through the roof made over the past 600 years. “Because of the historic nature of the building, the palace team said they wouldn’t approve anything unless I had an architect. I needed conservational architects to plan the work, and a designer to work alongside me. Every single detail needed approval before works could start, including making changes to the flooring, adding walls; even the paint needed to be a special breathable paint.

“My designer had a vision from the beginning. I felt lucky because, when I came to her and showed her my clinic inspiration, it looked like a standard clinic. She said, ‘No, I won’t let you do this’. Most designers just go with what the client wants, but she said, ‘You’re in a historical building, in a park — you can’t have this modern clinic look. It won’t match at all.’ She then showed me her ideas and the concept evolved and developed. It does feel cosy and warm, but still artistic and unique.

“I’m not going to lie to you, there were points where I questioned why I went for this place. It took six weeks of negotiations just to get approval for a curtain, because it’s being hung from original timber beams! If I just went for any old place on a high street, I could tear it apart and not have to get anyone’s approval. But then, as it was developing, I thought, ‘This was the right decision’. Yes, it was difficult, yes, it was very expensive, but it’s a one-time thing; I have no plans to move. There are four treatment rooms, so it’s large enough for me to stay here.”

FROM EARLY ADOPTER TO KOL

Dr Taher’s journey with Vivacy, from an early adopter to a brand ambassador, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I started using Vivacy products by myself, no one approached me. The brand was running a training event for its customers, and I messaged on Instagram, asking to join the course. I was told the event was only for Vivacy customers. I explained that I use Vivacy exclusively. At the time, it wasn’t a known brand, they had just opened a subsidiary in the UK, so they were really shocked I was already using their products.

“I had already fallen in love with the brand, it’s not that they switched me from another. Early in my aesthetics career, I went through a phase where I was trying every product, then I reached Vivacy, and I really liked how the product looked as it was being injected, as well as the results and the longevity. I wasn’t having any issues with it, so I ended up sticking with it. I was already acting as an ambassador for the brand. I was constantly talking about it without being asked to because I genuinely liked the product. About six months later, I was an official brand ambassador.”

Dr Taher’s expertise extends beyond clinical practice; she’s an educator and speaker, sharing her insights on international platforms. Her advice to aspiring professionals echoes her journey —find your passion and hone your craft.

“My tips for becoming a KOL would be to find a brand that you are naturally aligned with, that you truly believe in, and you know inside out. If you really want to stand out, you want to be a triple threat.

“Firstly, you want the work that you do and the results that you show to be great, so other practitioners will be encouraged to try the product, because they’ll see that great results are possible with this product. Second, you want to be a very good speaker. You need to have the confidence that, when you are on stage, you can present well. I’m very nervous before I go on stage. I’m fine once I get going, but just before, I’m very nervous. If it’s not something you’re born with, you can develop those skills and get training and practice. I’m a naturally confident speaker, but where I am at now compared to where I was at when I first spoke is miles apart, so that’s come with practice.

“The third thing is that you need to be informed. You must back up what you’re saying with facts, so read papers and books. You can’t talk anecdotally, purely based on your own experience. You need to show that you have credibility and have done your research. When I was young, I always felt like I had to compensate, which is why I was so polished when I was on the stage. I’d rehearse, and make sure every word was said exactly how I’d planned. It reached a point where I felt like I was too polished, and that doesn’t come across well, it’s almost robotic. You need to also have confidence in yourself.

“When I look at a speaker, I always ask ‘Do they have credibility to talk about this? They’re not just somebody talking without foundation?’ We see that a lot now on social media. You see people making videos, talking about things they don’t really know about themselves. Social media gives everyone a platform though, so anyone can have an opinion and seem like an expert. Sometimes, the more knowledge you have, the more awareness you have of yourself and doubt. Anytime I post a video on social media, I read research papers. I make sure everything I’m saying is factual.”

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The holistic approach to design is evident in every detail of Vizage, from the meticulously preserved timber beams adorned with delicate flowers to the bespoke scents that gently waft through the premises. Dr Taher’s commitment to sustainability is evidenced by the choice of natural materials like cork flooring and Marmoleum, carefully selected to complement the clinic’s nature-inspired theme.

“Because the clinic is in a park, I really wanted there to be a focus on nature and sustainability. Every room is named after a flower, so we have Jasmin, Wisteria, Violet, and Rose. Vinyl is not a sustainable flooring; Marmoleum is a lot more expensive, but we wanted to have this sustainable focus and nature theme.”

Even the scents were custom-made for the clinic by an aromatherapy specialist.

“I blind-smelled a bunch of different smells to create my perfect cocktail of scents. It was interesting because she asked, ‘What feelings do you want these smells to invoke when patients walk into the common areas or the clinical rooms?’ I said, ‘I want patients to feel calm and reduce anxiety in my room. When they walk into the reception, I want them to feel excitement and happiness.’ They’re all natural scents, nothing synthetic. In the reception, we have real, preserved flowers; it took 100 hours to make that arrangement because the designer did them one by one. Underneath are original timber beams, and I think they are very unattractive, so I wanted to do something to cover them and make them a centrepiece. When you walk in, the first thing you see are these flowers. We wanted it to almost be an immersive experience: the smells, the sights, the textures. We even have a Vizage signature tea!”

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Delving deeper into the history of Fulham Palace, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force once flew barrage balloons to protect the historical site during World War II. The lounge area, perched atop the site’s entrance arch, serves as a reminder of the site’s heritage, with its wavy ceilings and plush carpeting.

“Outside the lounge area, you can see the fountain with ducks swimming in it. We have duck wallpaper in the reception, and we had curtains and pillows custom-made to match. It’s the only room in which we have carpet, which makes it quite cosy and warm, like a living room.”

Dr Taher explained the history behind the site’s name: “This is where the Bishops of London used to live. In the past, Bishops were powerful. They were called the ‘Princes of England’, which is why it’s called ‘Fulham Palace’. There are these great halls inside the main building where they have rooms dedicated to each Bishop.”

LOOKING AHEAD

As Vizage clinic continues to grow and evolve, Dr Taher is steadfast in her commitment to excellence through continuous improvement and unwavering dedication to patient care. With plans to expand the clinic’s range of services and further enhance the patient experience, the clinic’s future looks bright.

“I’m busy, but I really love what I do, and I feel so lucky that I have found an industry that I’m passionate about. I have a great relationship with my patients because I genuinely care and I want everyone to be happy. If someone’s not happy, it really affects me, because I feel like I’ve failed them. It’s a great sector, and I think, if it’s done correctly, ethically, professionally, it will thrive. I’m excited to see where Vizage is going to go.”