JULIE SCOTT

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES IN AESTHETICS

PUSHING THE LIMITS

As I write my first column, I have reflected on how did I get here? When I look back over my career in aesthetics, what stands out most aren’t my achievements but the moments I said yes before I felt ready. Those moments, often uncomfortable at first, have shaped my journey far more than any planned path ever could.

Like many practitioners, I began my aesthetic career, with one simple goal: to build a successful, ethical practice where patients felt safe, heard, and cared for. That alone felt ambitious enough, but as my clinic grew, I realised that personal and professional growth doesn’t happen by following a neat, predictable route. It comes from being willing to take chances, to keep learning, and to push yourself a little further each time, even when you’re not entirely sure where it will lead.

Five years ago, I could never have imagined the opportunities that would follow: collaborating with world-leading dermatologists, becoming co-chair of Wigmore Presents, being a guest lecturer for the University of Manchester’s MSc, joining the DANAI board, working alongside organisations such as the JCCP, BCAM, Allergan and the BDD Foundation, and helping shape conversations around mental health and patient safety in aesthetics. Those opportunities didn’t just appear; they came from pushing beyond the limits I had quietly set for myself, with the decision to say, “why not?” when the safer answer would have been “not yet.”

THE TURNING POINT

One of the most transformative experiences for me was joining Interface Aesthetics as a clinical trainer. Teaching was something I had always been passionate about, but standing in front of a room full of talented peers brought a new kind of vulnerability. I quickly realised that growth isn’t just about taking on new roles, it’s about allowing yourself to be shaped by the people around you.

At Interface, I was surrounded by individuals who were doing things I hadn’t yet dared to do. Instead of seeing that as intimidating, I saw it as inspiring. I learnt that progress comes when you are both willing to learn from others and confident enough to offer something back.

That sense of giving without the expectation of anything in return has always guided me. Many of the opportunities I’ve had have come from collaboration, from being open to sharing ideas and knowledge, and from contributing simply because it feels right, not because there’s something to gain.

It reminds me a lot of how the NHS works: progress and patient outcomes are driven by collective effort, by people who give generously of their time and skills for the benefit of others. Aesthetics can feel individualistic at times, but I’ve learnt that our field becomes stronger when we adopt that same spirit of shared purpose.

INTEGRITY IN AESTHETICS

Another lesson has been around authenticity. Early in my career, I used to look at others in the industry and wonder if I needed to be more like them – louder, flashier, more visible, all of which went against my naturally introverted self.

Over time, I’ve learnt that success, in its truest form, comes from staying grounded in who you are. You don’t need to mould yourself to fit someone else’s version of success; in fact, people recognise and value authenticity.

What’s far more powerful is noticing qualities in others that you admire and drawing inspiration from them without losing your own essence. When you lead from a place of authenticity, your voice carries weight because it’s real, not rehearsed.

That’s also where collaboration takes on a deeper meaning. True collaboration isn’t about networking or self-promotion; it’s about creating a community around you, adopting a growth mindset where you believe in others, and they believe in you.

Over time, you build a kind of professional tribe: people who challenge you, champion you, and remind you of your worth on the days when you forget it yourself. Surrounding yourself with the right people is one of the most valuable forms of professional development there is.

NAVIGATING SELF-DOUBT

Of course, none of that growth happens without a degree of challenge. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve had to confront my own self-doubt, the false belief that I couldn’t diversify, that I was “just” a nurse, or that certain roles or spaces weren’t meant for me.

Those beliefs don’t disappear overnight, but they lose their power when you start taking small, deliberate steps beyond them. I’ve come to see pivoting not as a sign of uncertainty, but as an essential part of growth. Each time you stretch a little further, you realise you were capable of more than you thought.

That sense of progression, of always moving forward and staying open to new possibilities, has become what success means to me. It isn’t about climbing ladders or chasing recognition; it’s about staying curious, contributing, and staying true to your values.

Although when I do enter awards, it’s never about self-promotion; it’s because I want to highlight what’s possible when we focus on making a genuine difference. When you approach things in that way, the right opportunities have a way of finding you naturally.

FROM ONE PRACTITIONER TO ANOTHER

I sometimes have practitioners come up to me asking for advice, and they’re often disappointed when I explain that there’s no set formula for success or a grand plan.

They expect me to have a blueprint, a step-by-step guide to follow, but for me there really isn’t one. Every professional journey is made up of small, brave decisions. What matters is saying yes when something excites you, even if it scares you a little, and trusting that you’ll grow into it.

If there’s one thing, I hope readers take from this first column, it’s that success in aesthetics, or in any field, isn’t just about skill or ambition. It’s about authenticity, generosity, and belief. It’s about being open to collaboration, being receptive to others, and nurturing a sense of shared purpose. And above all, it’s about giving yourself permission to evolve.

So, wherever you are in your journey, whether you’re just starting out or feeling ready for your next chapter, remember this: the most meaningful opportunities often come when you stop waiting for the perfect moment and simply decide to begin.

Scott Shares.

Reflections for practitioners who care deeply.

JULIE SCOTT

Julie Scott RGN, NIP, PGDip(Aes) is an independent nurse prescriber, Level 7 qualified aesthetic injector and trainer with more than 30 years of experience in the field of plastics and skin rejuvenation. She is an aesthetic mentor and international speaker, who has won the Aesthetics Awards ‘Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year’ in both 2022 & 2024, and ‘Best Clinic South of England’ 2023 awards. She also sits on the Aesthetics Reviewing Panel for the Aesthetics Journal, is a Board member for DANAI and is an ambassador and KOL for the JCCP and several leading aesthetic brands.