WOMEN IN AESTHETIC MEDICINE

Unmasking IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Imposter syndrome disproportionally affects women in business, but why? We asked our Women in Aesthetic Medicine WIAM board to share their experiences

Ever felt like you are going to be found out at any moment and exposed as a professional fraud? Like your successes were a fluke and not deserved? If so, you are not alone. First coined by Clance and Imes in 19781-2, the term “imposter phenomenon”, now more commonly referred to as “imposter syndrome”, describes people who, despite being highly successful in their fields, feel like “impostors”, believing that their success is a result of something other than their own intelligence and ability.

A global meta-analysis of health service providers3 found a prevalence of 62%, with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout identified as key associated factors. And it hits women hardest. According to Hays, seven in 10 women have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, compared with just 58% of men.4 Nearly half (47%) of female employees said these feelings increased the further they progressed in their careers. A separate study from KPMG5 found that 75% of executive women experienced imposter syndrome, particularly around promotions or other career milestones.

SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING—AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

Dr Anna Hemming, founder of Thames Skin Clinic, comments, Dr Anna Hemming, founder of Thames Skin Clinic, believes it’s often shaped by external dynamics. “Imposter syndrome as a female leader doesn’t always come from within,” she says. “It’s shaped by the silence, the glances, the subtle dismissals. I’ve sat at tables where men spoke over me, only to present my ideas minutes later as their own. I’ve watched them rise with confidence while I was still busy justifying. That feeling doesn’t come from nowhere – it’s learned.”

She adds, “The paradox of imposter syndrome is that it thrives in the gap between how others see you and how they make you feel. As women, we walk a tightrope, balancing leadership, motherhood, expectation, and excellence, while pretending it’s effortless. Because that’s what the world has asked of us. And still, we rise.”

For Dr Sabika Karim, founder of Skin Medical, the experience is both personal and ongoing. “Imposter syndrome is something that I, like many women, experience – especially in demanding, high-achieving roles,” she explains. “Despite being a highly qualified doctor with over 20 years in medical aesthetics, I still find myself battling it – whether I’m in clinic, training, lecturing, running a business, or navigating motherhood.”

Dr Karim believes the roots of this issue go beyond individual psychology. “Research shows that women are more vulnerable to these feelings due to a combination of societal expectations, internalised perfectionism, and longstanding gender biases. Over time, this can hold us back from career growth, leadership opportunities, and even everyday confidence.”

OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Learning to acknowledge and manage these thoughts has been key. “I never compare myself to others,” Dr Karim says, “but historically, I’ve set the impossibly high standard of perfection for myself. I’ve had to reframe my inner dialogue, actively let go of the need to be perfect, and accept that showing up as ‘good enough’ is often more than enough.”

One practical tool Karim uses is taking stock of her own achievements. “Celebrating success doesn’t come easily, but my annual appraisal is a grounding moment; it shows me, in black and white, just how far I’ve come. I now take time to write down my challenges and wins and talk them through with a trusted confidante or appraiser. Taking stock helps turn self-doubt into perspective. Imposter syndrome may not disappear completely, but with acceptance of self, reflection, and support, it no longer defines the way I move through the world. And that feels like real progress.”

WIAM board member Vanessa Bird agrees that support is vital. In a 2022 Aesthetic Medicine article6 , she advised: “Surround yourself with supportive people in your life, as it can feel lonely at the top. Whether within the aesthetics industry or externally, you must have a trusted inner circle that can remind you of why you deserve the success you’ve achieved.”

The experience of Dr Mayoni Gooneratne, founder of Human Health, highlights how imposter syndrome intersects with systemic bias, particularly for women of colour in medicine. “During my surgical training, I was often one of very few women – and frequently the only woman of colour – in the operating theatre. While I knew I had the skill and the knowledge, I still sometimes felt the need to prove myself twice over. I remember internalising any mistake as confirmation of what I feared others might already be thinking: that I didn’t belong there, that I wasn’t good enough. Even praise could feel hollow – as if somehow I’d just managed to ‘get away with it.’”

Over time, she’s reframed her understanding of imposter syndrome as a systemic rather than personal issue. “I now understand imposter syndrome not as a personal failing, but as a symptom of systemic bias and I speak about it openly because I know how many brilliant, compassionate clinicians carry the same hidden weight. Naming it, and reframing it, has been part of my journey toward a more grounded, authentic kind of leadership.”

She adds, “Today, I still have moments of doubt – but they no longer define me. Instead, they remind me of how far I’ve come, and how close I am to pushing my own boundaries again. It’s a sign I’m going the right way. It also shows me how much more inclusive and human medicine can become when we honour our lived experiences alongside our expertise.”

So, the next time you feel your imposter syndrome rearing its head, take stock of what you’ve achieved, lean into your support network – and remember, even those we think have it all figured out sometimes feel this way too.