Claire Lavery Aesthetics

Claire Lavery Aesthetics Aesthetic Nurse Prescriber & Obagi Skincare Ambassador. Natural results specialist, Leeds

A few days before going on holiday, I found myself replaying a patient treatment.The treatment had gone well.The patient...
07/06/2026

A few days before going on holiday, I found myself replaying a patient treatment.

The treatment had gone well.

The patient hadn’t contacted me.

There were no signs that anything was wrong.

Yet I kept replaying it.

Looking for something I might have missed.

And eventually I realised something.

I wasn’t worrying about the patient, they hadn’t given me a reason to worry.

I was worrying about leaving.

I think when you’re someone who takes responsibility seriously, holidays can feel strangely uncomfortable.

Because there is never a point where the risk reaches zero.

There is always a patient healing.

A treatment evolving.

An email waiting.

A result still developing.

Something uncertain.

There is always something that could happen.

And I realised I was waiting for permission to relax.

Almost as though somebody would eventually say:

“Well done Claire.

There are now zero risks in the clinic.

Off you go and enjoy your holiday.”

The problem is that day never comes.

The reality is that none of us need to reach a point where nothing can go wrong.

We only need to reach a point where we’ve done our job properly.

Careful assessment.

Honest advice.

Thoughtful treatment.

Appropriate support.

That’s the job.

The rest is uncertainty. 💜

I’d be more worried by a practitioner who says they’ve never had a complication.That might sound strange coming from som...
06/06/2026

I’d be more worried by a practitioner who says they’ve never had a complication.

That might sound strange coming from someone who injects patients every day, but hear me out.

Complications exist in medicine.

They exist in surgery.

And they exist in aesthetics.

A complication doesn’t automatically mean somebody is careless, reckless or poorly trained.

In fact, one of the biggest myths in aesthetics is that complications only happen in bad clinics.

The reality is that good practitioners spend a lot of time preparing for things they hope never happen.

We train for them.
We prepare for them.
We carry emergency medications for them.
We discuss them during consent.

Not because we expect complications.

But because we respect them.

Personally, I’d be far more concerned by a practitioner who believes complications could never happen to them.

Because confidence is important.

But humility is important too.

The safest practitioners aren’t the ones who think they’re immune from complications.

They’re the ones who prepare for them anyway.

My patients tell me they feel “listened to” “cared for”. A “fully booked” clinic day for me might only mean 4–5 patients...
31/05/2026

My patients tell me they feel “listened to” “cared for”.

A “fully booked” clinic day for me might only mean 4–5 patients.

And honestly, early on in aesthetics that used to make me question myself.

There can be a lot of pressure in this industry to:
do more,
see more patients,
fit more in,
keep scaling.

And social media can sometimes make success look very loud, very fast paced and very volume driven.

But that was never the kind of clinic I wanted to build.

I wanted time built into my day.

Time to consult properly.
Time to assess properly.
Time for patients to ask questions.
Time to create the right treatment plans.
Time to think.

Some practitioners genuinely thrive in high volume clinics.

But personally, I wanted my clinic to feel calmer, more considered and more relationship based.

Not because I lack ambition.

And not because the business is unsuccessful.

But because this model genuinely suits both me and my patients better.

I think there’s sometimes a misconception that seeing more patients automatically means greater success.

But success in aesthetics can look very different depending on the practitioner, the clinic and the experience they want to create.

And honestly, building the clinic I actually wanted to run was one of the best business decisions I ever made. 💜

OUT OF OFFICE 🇬🇷☀️After a busy few months, it’s time for a little sunshine, sea air and a proper switch off.I’m now away...
30/05/2026

OUT OF OFFICE 🇬🇷☀️

After a busy few months, it’s time for a little sunshine, sea air and a proper switch off.

I’m now away on holiday and will return to clinic on 12/06/2026.

Messages will be responded to on my return.

Thank you, as always, for your patience and support.

Claire 💜

If I showed these photos to most people, they probably wouldn’t know what treatment she’d had.They’d just think she look...
29/05/2026

If I showed these photos to most people, they probably wouldn’t know what treatment she’d had.

They’d just think she looked fresher.

That’s what I love about Sculptra.

Sculptra works differently to traditional filler. Rather than simply adding volume, it stimulates your own collagen over time, gradually improving support within the skin.

The result is often difficult to explain.

People don’t usually say:
“Have you had Sculptra?”

They say:
“You look well.”
“You look fresh.”
“You look less tired.”

And for many patients, that’s exactly what they’re looking for.

Not to look different.

Just a little more like themselves again.

29/05/2026

Every. Single. Night. 🐧

These photos were taken five years apart.And I think they explain aesthetics better than most words can.This is what sub...
28/05/2026

These photos were taken five years apart.

And I think they explain aesthetics better than most words can.

This is what subtle, thoughtful treatment should do over time.

Not make somebody look different.
Not make somebody look “done.”
Not suddenly erase every line from the face.

Just support the face well as it ages.

Softer.
Fresher.
Less tired.
Still completely recognisable as themselves.

I think a lot of people are scared of aesthetics because they think treatment always ends up obvious eventually.

Good work should age with you.

I think this patient is a really lovely example of that. 💜

27/05/2026

I always say ‘just relax’ then realise I’m no good with silence 🤣

Do I need to stop my retinol in summer?”Honestly… no.People use retinoids all over the world, including in countries far...
25/05/2026

Do I need to stop my retinol in summer?”

Honestly… no.

People use retinoids all over the world, including in countries far hotter and sunnier than the UK.

Retinol does not suddenly become “dangerous” because the sun comes out.

What it DOES mean is that your skin needs proper protection.

Retinoids increase cell turnover, meaning fresher newer skin is coming to the surface. That skin needs protecting properly with daily SPF, sensible sun exposure and common sense.

The bigger issue is usually this:
people use active skincare… then don’t wear enough SPF.

Or they apply retinol perfectly every night and then spend all day in direct sun on holiday with no hat and SPF applied once at breakfast.

That is the problem.

There are some situations where I may advise reducing frequency temporarily if somebody is becoming irritated, excessively dry or overexposed to sun.

But for most people, the answer is not:
“stop your retinol all summer.”

It’s:
“protect your skin properly.”

We have normalised questioning prices instead of questioning unsafe practice.It’s strange how people now question pricin...
25/05/2026

We have normalised questioning prices instead of questioning unsafe practice.

It’s strange how people now question pricing more than they question whether something is safe and appropriate, or whether the person carrying out the treatment is medically accountable and practising safely.

I see it in aesthetics all the time now.

People questioning why something costs what it does far more than they question:
Who is prescribing?
Who is assessing?
Who is managing complications?
Who is actually medically accountable if something goes wrong?

And honestly, I think the way aesthetics is now marketed online has played a huge role in that.

Treatments are marketed like quick purchases now.

Cheap deals.
Flash offers.
“Models needed.”
Three areas for this.
Lips for that.

“Why don’t you go to my lady? She only charges £150 for three areas.”

And somewhere along the way, people started viewing aesthetics as though the treatment itself was the value.

Not the consultation.
Not the assessment.
Not the experience to recognise risk.
Not the ability to manage complications.
Not the confidence to say “no” when something is not appropriate.

A colleague of mine recently carried out a full skin consultation, created a treatment plan, recommended products, explained everything thoroughly… and the patient then wanted a full refund because she found the products cheaper online.

And honestly? That says a lot about where aesthetics has ended up.

The value in aesthetics was never just the product or the syringe.

The value is in the person deciding whether that treatment should happen at all.

Knowing what to recommend.
Knowing what not to recommend.
Recognising risk.
Adjusting plans when needed.
Understanding anatomy.
Understanding skin.
Managing complications.
Saying no when necessary.
Using high-quality, traceable products safely and appropriately.

The treatment itself is only one small part of the appointment.

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