Elite retreat

Dr Shirin Lakhani explains to editor Anna Dobbie how she is shaping the future of intimate health and aesthetics

Just outside London, Elite Aesthetics has become a go-to destination for evidence-based aesthetic and functional treatments with women’s health at the core. The clinic is led by Dr Shirin Lakhani, a former NHS anaesthetist and GP whose expertise now spans skin health, hormone balance, and intimate wellness. Her Greenhithe clinic draws patients from across the UK and worldwide, thanks to its blend of medical rigour and whole-person care.

Dr Lakhani’s shift into aesthetics began more than a decade ago, partially due to a sense of frustration. “I loved being a GP,” she says, “but I didn’t feel like I was practising medicine the way I wanted to. The NHS was too limiting.” With years of injecting experience under her belt from anaesthetics, she tried an aesthetic training course to keep herself sane. “It was supposed to be one day a week,” she smiles, “but it quickly became my whole world.”

She completed her training in 2013, and, by 2016, had stepped away from general practice entirely. A year later, she opened her purpose-built clinic in Kent – the only commercial unit in its development at the time. “I’d lived in the area for over 20 years,” she says. “I knew it had potential.”

Now, patients travel from all over, including Europe, to access her specialist services. “It’s easy to get to,” she explains. “We’re close to major transport links, and I have trusted local drivers who help with airport and Eurostar transfers.”

The design of Elite Aesthetics is clinical but also feels warm and welcoming – a reflection of the woman behind it. Her team is small and tight-knit, and her approach to learning hasn’t changed since day one. “This industry moves fast, so you have to stay curious.”

CHASING SCIENCE, NOT LINES

While injectables were Dr Lakhani’s starting point, her practice quickly evolved. “You can’t just chase lines and wrinkles,” she says. “If someone’s skin is unhealthy, no amount of toxin will help. That’s why I started working with ZO Skin Health and digging into the science of skin.”

Her curiosity extended further, into hormone therapy, regenerative medicine, and intimate health. “My goal was always to treat people holistically, from the inside out.”

Long before ‘intimate wellness’ became a buzzword, Dr Lakhani was championing it. With a diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists already under her belt, she began exploring platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other functional therapies to support women’s health. “There was so much stigma,” she recalls. “The media kept focusing on ‘designer vaginas’ – it was reductive and completely missed the point.”

She reframed the conversation. “I started using the term ‘intimate health’ which helped shift the narrative. Now, most people understand these treatments are about comfort, confidence, and control.”

For her, that impact is everything. “When a woman tells me she can go trampolining with her grandkids again, that’s what keeps me going. These treatments change lives.”

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

Spend five minutes with Dr Lakhani, and it’s clear she’s played a major role in shifting the conversation around how we talk about women’s health in aesthetics.

“It’s all about consistent education,” she says. “I do a lot of press, but the aim is always the same: help people understand how these treatments can genuinely improve their lives.”

From being the only woman on an aesthetic gynaecology panel at an early ACE conference, to speaking at packed events today, she’s watched the conversation evolve: “A few years ago, intimate health wasn’t even on the agenda. Now, it’s front and centre.”

But it’s not just the medical community that needs to catch up. She believes aesthetic brands have a responsibility too. “So many companies want a KOL who’ll just push product, but if you don’t take women’s health seriously, I’m not interested in representing your brand.”

TRUSTED PARTNERS

She cites her partnership with InMode UK as an example of getting it right: “I used their device for a year before I agreed to work with them. When managing director Victoria Voysey joined the company, the focus shifted – they started taking women’s health seriously. That’s when I signed on.”

She’s also vocal about the brands that are doing things differently. “Evolus has been a breath of fresh air. The product is excellent, the team are supportive, and they invest in our development. That’s rare.”

Although Dr Lakhani’s reputation means she’s often approached by brands, she’s selective about who she works with. “I only collaborate with companies whose products I genuinely use. My patients trust me, and I don’t take that lightly.”

That same ethos runs through her own ventures. “Male patients kept asking if there was one supplement that covered everything I recommend for boosting testosterone levels,” she explains, “so I made one.” Her P-Tox Elite formulation has been featured in the Evening Standard and received rave reviews.

She’s also a respected voice on TV and at conferences and regularly contributes to the media: “The first time I went on This Morning in 2017 to talk about vaginal rejuvenation, the backlash was intense, but by my most recent appearance, the tone had changed. Even though one tabloid called it ‘disgusting’, the public response was supportive. That’s real progress.”

She credits that shift in public perception to better education and more open conversations. “I always encourage journalists to speak with real patients. Once they hear the stories, the clickbait angle usually disappears.”

CREATURE COMFORTS

So how does Dr Lakhani balance everything – the clinic, the product development, the public speaking… and a very stylish Samoyed dog called Loki?

“Loki actually helps,” she laughs. “He needs long walks – that’s my headspace. No phone, no work, just nature. It keeps me sane.”

She also credits her husband, who now runs the clinic full-time after leaving a high-flying career in the City. “He’s brilliant – handles everything from staffing to search engine optimisation, and honestly, I couldn’t afford to replace him!”

Ultimately, it’s that careful curation of people, of partners, of priorities that defines Dr Lakhani’s approach.

“Being selective isn’t a bad thing,” she says. “It just means I know my limits. If something’s outside my scope, I refer. That’s not weakness – that’s professionalism.”

That mix of ongoing research, care, curiosity, and clinical rigour is what sets Dr Lakhani apart. Whether she’s helping someone feel more confident in their skin or supporting their hormonal health, her goal is the same: to help people feel good, not just look good.