Dr Genevieve of Yūgen Aesthetics has been working as an NHS doctor for several years, and has, more recently, ventured into the world of aesthetics. She took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to me about trends within the industry, her top tips for maintaining results after a treatment, and why she thinks tweakments are still taboo.
What drew you into working in the aesthetics industry?
When I first started getting aesthetic treatments, I realised this was something I wanted to do, and that I could provide really good care for people getting tweakments. I’m a doctor, so I understand the body, but as someone who has had treatments myself, I know what people expect and what they are going through when they decide they want a treatment. I’ve felt those nerves, researching and ruminating for months. So I know that I can relate to people thinking about getting treatments - because I’ve been there too.
What are your thoughts on trends within aesthetics?
I, personally, have turned away young girls looking to follow the lip filler trend. It’s not sustainable and not a healthy ideal. My ethos is natural beauty. If you can tell someone’s had something done, that’s not quite right.
I don’t think that as aesthetic practitioners we should be aiming towards trends. Once you start doing this - although it might be good financially - ethically it’s not right, in my opinion. I understand why people might do it, as you can make a profit, but you have to think of your own practitioner integrity. And I think that’s often the difference between medics and non-medics.
Trends come and go, but by focusing just on these, you’re not adding longevity to your career as a practitioner, and I don’t think you’re really looking at your client as a person, but rather as just a pair of lips, which is not very holistic.
What are your top tips for maintaining results after a treatment?
To maintain results after a tweakment, follow all the aftercare advice your practitioner gives you. And always make sure you stay hydrated, particularly after hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, as HA is hydrophilic and attracts lots of water to it. Smoking is never a good idea anyway, but don’t smoke after a treatment - you break down your products much faster. And, in general, just take care of yourself. Wear a good SPF every day, as prevention is always better than any cure. I wear factor 30 every day, but if it was a particularly sunny day, I’d use a factor 50.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about having a tweakment?
My advice to anyone thinking about getting a tweakment would be to have a consultation, but not to get your treatment on the same day, especially if it’s your first time. Sleep on it and take some time to think carefully.
As a practitioner, it’s important to give people time to weigh up everything you’ve discussed with them and for them not to feel pressured into a treatment. People should always feel comfortable and ready. It’s a big decision to have someone inject something into your face and you can be very nervous about it. I remember I ummed and ahhed about whether I really wanted to go ahead with a treatment for around 6 or 7 months before booking my first appointment. Having time to reflect after my consultation really gave me the chance to think about it and decide whether it was right for me.
Choosing the right practitioner is important too. I chose my aesthetic practitioner because I knew they were medically qualified. I knew what they had trained in and what products they were using. I also knew that I would have a good follow-up if I needed it, and that they would be there for me if anything went wrong.
Why is there still such a stigma around tweakments?
I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s easier to hate than create. When it comes to aesthetic treatments, there’s a lot of stigma, mainly because of the media and our focus on celebrities.
We all see when treatments go wrong, but we never notice when they go right. And the key to a good treatment is that you shouldn’t notice - we should just see the confidence that comes from having them. We actually all come across aesthetic treatments that have gone right every day - we just don’t realise because they are so subtle.
It’s so powerful when you do actually hear the flipside and come across people in the public eye who do say, “I’ve had this treatment and it helps my own personal growth”. A really good example of this is Katy Perry, who came out and said that she has had tear trough fillers and it’s made her feel more confident. But, of course, that doesn’t make for an exciting headline.
Thanks for your insight and advice, Dr Genevieve!
If you're a medically qualified practitioner and would like to be featured in the Glowday Practitioner Spotlight series, get in touch with me at victoria.palmer@glowday.com or via Instagram @victoria.glowday