If you’ve ever spent your morning dreaming of restarting your career, this feature is for you. Every Monday we chat with someone from a different profession to find out what it’s really like. This week we chat with award-winning aesthetic doctor, Dr. Ed Robinson.
The most common procedure is… anti-wrinkle injections. This is the bread and butter of most non-surgical clinics, typically costing between £200 and £350 per treatment. Recently, biostimulators and laser resurfacing have gained popularity as people seek improvement in skin quality rather than just reduction of wrinkles.
Positions held could start around £30,000… while experienced practitioners can earn between £50,000 and £70,000, and sometimes much more with commission or profit sharing. An injector’s salary varies greatly depending on their medical history, location, clientele, and whether they are self-employed or employed.
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In a typical week, I work two full days… for the NHS (around 28 hours) and four days in clinic. Sunday is my day of rest and recovery. As a business owner, it’s very difficult not to find something to do all the time, and setting boundaries is something that is becoming more and more important to me.
It is not uncommon for patients to make references to celebrities… during their consultations, and social media videos analyzing celebrity glow-up tend to attract a lot of attention.
But… treatments should be bespoke and celebrate individuality, without trying to make everyone look the same or like someone else.
The best recent example of excellent celebrity cosmetic work is… Kris Jenner. A comprehensive approach, respecting her anatomy and almost impossible to say exactly what she did. Definitely a mix of non-surgical and surgical treatments, but she still looks like herself, only refreshed, younger and rejuvenated.
Kris Jenner, 69, pictured earlier this year. Photo: Reuters
Do your research before committing to a practitioner… One of my patients developed a series of nasty abscesses on his face after dermal filler injections by a non-medical practitioner. They had to be drained, with several rounds of dissolution under antibiotic cover. The patient had received poor follow-up advice from his practitioner and was left with significant scarring. We have now done many skin resurfacings to improve this result, which works well, but it is a slow process.
Warning signs include… treatments offered in non-clinical settings, prices that seem too good to be true, and a lack of medical training. Almost all complications require rapid assessment and administration of prescription medications, which non-medical practitioners are simply not qualified or equipped to perform safely. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about qualifications, insurance, and handling complications.
More money:
“I’m a private investigator – here’s a common mistake that helps solve cases”
“I’m a nanny – that’s how we raise our children wrong”
“I had no training, but I sculpted the Queen”
We have seen large increases in… requests for lip fillers, jawline contouring and skin tightening products after posts from celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, while on the other hand, when Molly Mae spoke candidly about dissolving her filler, we also saw a big increase in this area. Although they raise awareness of aesthetics, they can create unrealistic ideals and expectations (especially when celebrity budgets are taken into account). It is important to understand that treatments must be tailor-made and respect the patient’s anatomy.
Kylie Jenner – Kris Jenner’s youngest daughter. Photo: Reuters
I refuse clients if… the treatment will not benefit them, is not safe, or they seek results based on comparison rather than personal confidence. If something doesn’t feel natural, I’ll say no. Sometimes saying no is the healthiest option.
The biggest mistake I made was… failing to manage patient expectations. I now enjoy under-promising and over-delivering in my practice. Non-surgical “adjustments” involve making small adjustments that can add up over time, but it requires patience and adherence to treatment plans. Patients who expect dramatic changes will often be disappointed, and managing those expectations and the difficult conversation of saying no to someone is certainly something I have learned over the years.
Pressure from social networks and filtered images… raise unrealistic expectations and many younger patients are lured into treatment by people they follow online. Education, regulation and open conversations about body image are very important and clinics must take responsibility in refusing inappropriate treatments. I am a strong advocate of encouraging my patients to dissolve dermal fillers that are not suitable for them.
My best tip for keeping your skin young, fresh and wrinkle-free without intervention is… Daily FPS. It is the most effective anti-aging measure one can take. UVA and UVB contribute significantly to the aging process and are present all year round. Combine it with good sleep, hydration and a balanced lifestyle for maximum benefit.
For the clean girl aesthetic… focus on skin care: gentle cleansing, hydration, vitamin C and SPF. If you don’t want to explore the injectable route, regular medical facials can lay the foundation for healthy skin. The effect of optimizing lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, fitness, diet and hydration is massively underestimated.
I spend a lot of time in the clinic treating patients… GLP-1 analogues like Mounjaro which experienced a reduction in facial volume and skin quality. This is not due to the medications per se, but just rapid weight loss in general. Biostimulators, which regenerate tissues, are particularly effective for this purpose. These kinds of things are important to keep in mind when losing weight, especially as we age.
The era of aging gracefully is not over… it has simply evolved towards positive aging. Many people now view treatments as part of self-care, just like fitness or skincare. The goal is to look and feel the best you can for your age, without completely erasing age or trying to look like someone else.
The biggest threat to the industry is… the lack of regulation in the UK. Non-physicians may use injectables without regulatory oversight, putting patient safety at risk. Stricter regulation is urgently needed to improve patient conditions and prevent avoidable adverse effects.