In this episode of The Cosmetic Cast, we talk to Dr Mayoni Gooneratne, a functional medicine doctor, aesthetic practitioner and former NHS surgeon with a passion for female wellness.

The aesthetics industry is increasingly recognising the importance of a holistic approach that integrates treatments with lifestyle and wellness advice. This approach considers the whole person and seeks to enhance not just physical appearance, but also overall quality of life.

Together with Hamilton Fraser's founder and CEO, Eddie Hooker, and journalist Vicky Eldridge, Dr Gooneratne explores how this fusion of aesthetics and wellness has created opportunities for practitioners to diversify their service offering. Tune in to find out about her journey from aesthetics into functional medicine and how you too can integrate this into your practice.

Dr Mayoni Gooneratne is co-founder of the British College of Functional Medicine and founder of Human Health Clinic, both of which are referred to during this podcast.

For more relevant reading, see our article, ‘Integrating wellness and a holistic approach into your practice’.

This episode of Hamilton Fraser’s Cosmetic Cast explores how aesthetic clinics can be more inclusive in their practice. Our special guest, Dr Vincent Wong, is a multi-award-winning facial aesthetics doctor specialising in facial balancing and harmony, and in facial feminisation and masculinisation within the LGBTQ+ community.

Recorded during Pride, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world, Vincent shares his story of how his personal experiences with discrimination have fuelled his passion for creating a more supportive environment in aesthetic clinics. Drawing on his experience of coming out and dealing with trauma, Vincent explains how clinics can be more inclusive and show their support for Pride in a meaningful way. Tune in to hear Vincent’s insights and discover why language, terminology and pronouns are important, and how we can all do better. Vincent’s book, ‘Healing Scars’ is available here

Dr Chadha is Director of Acquisition Aesthetics training academy, an award-winning educator and a top ranking plastic surgeon. She also co- founded AUCC, a non- profit, aesthetic charity conference, and is the medical director, founder and owner of a number of clinics in London specialising in non- surgical aesthetic injectable treatments.

We caught up with her behind the scenes at ABC 2023. Dr Chadha talks us through what inspired her to go into aesthetic practice, offers unique insights into finding a training provider that is the right fit for you, and shares tips on how she juggles being a busy mum and a plastic surgery doctor.

Having owned three dental practices and with over 21 years’ experience carrying out facial aesthetics, Dr Singh, Founder and CEO of the Botulinum Toxin Club, is a leading light in the aesthetics sector.

Dr Singh led the session on ‘the 8 As of the patient journey’ at ABC 2023. We caught up with him behind the scenes, where he shared his story and the mistakes he’s made along the way.

Listen in to find out how he made the transition into facial aesthetics and to hear his top tips for success – from patient retention to balancing the clinical and business aspects of aesthetics, avoiding common pitfalls, keeping motivated and avoiding burnout, and much more.

Award-winning cosmetic doctor, aesthetic injectables trainer and expert in advanced procedures, Time Clinic’s Medical Director, Dr Bawa, is a regular guest speaker on the international stage.

We caught up with him at ABC 2023, where he led the session on ‘how to start your business’. Tune in to hear his tips – from making the transition from the NHS into aesthetics, marketing advice and how to use photographs in consultations and manage patients’ expectations, to what he would have done differently, how to future-proof your business, and much more.

We caught up with Professor David Sines behind the scenes at ABC 2023. Chair of the JCCP and the leading national expert on the new regulations, David led the national review on education and training standards for the non-surgical sector in England. Listen in to find out all you need to know about the proposed regulations and licensing scheme - described as the ‘biggest shakeup in a generation’.

From top tips to stay informed and compliant, to when the new legislation will come into effect and how you can future proof yourself as the aesthetics sector becomes more regulated, David has the answers you are looking for.

Our annual Aesthetics Business Conference (ABC) – the UK’s premier dedicated business conference for aesthetic practitioners - returned for its sixth year on 19 September 2023.

ABC 2023 was the first opportunity for the sector to learn about the major legislative changes and licensing scheme coming to the sector, in our medicolegal sessions with the Joint Council for Medical Practitioners (JCCP). 

The carefully selected industry speakers never fail to deliver, and this year was no exception. From getting started in aesthetics to managing the patient journey, choosing the right training for you, marketing tips, insurance and how to prepare for the new regulations, ABC had it covered.

In this episode of Aesthetics Unlocked we wrap up 2022, taking you on a whistlestop tour of the highlights of Hamilton Fraser’s podcasts.

What a year it’s been! We kicked off with our very own Shelly Hemmings, who shared her insights into all things insurance and what to look for in a training course. We learnt all about how to be a paperless practitioner with Pabau. Manrina Rhode took us through her cosmetic dentistry journey.

Lorna Bowes, a customer with Hamilton Fraser since 1996, joined us to talk all things skin and share her insights into the award-winning work of AestheticSource in searching for the best clinically proven products and ingredients in the world. We learnt all about the reality of going from being an NHS nurse to a practitioner and businesswoman with Natalie Haswell.

Shannon Kilgariff talked us through what goes on behind the scenes at events, and why they are so important in the cosmetic industry. And we enjoyed catching up with Gareth Lewis of the BACN, a long-time partner of Hamilton Fraser, about the support they offer their members.

Tune in to meet 2022’s all star cast of Aesthetics Unlocked, and find out what Eddie and Mark foresee for 2023, including who we have in the podcast pipeline. We thoroughly enjoyed talking to all our guests this year and would like to extend our thanks to our listeners for all your support.

Summer may be over, but with an array of aesthetics events to attend this autumn including CCR, and our own Aesthetics Business Conference, we are excited to welcome Shannon Kilgariff, editor and content manager at the number one learning resource and events company for medical aesthetic practitioners, Aesthetics Media.

In this episode of Aesthetics Unlocked, Shannon shares her vision for the Aesthetics Journal – the industry touchpoint that helps us all stay connected each month – and offers her tips and tricks for making the most of events.

What has she changed under her stewardship to stay relevant? What are the secrets to a successful event? What can we learn from live events now that they’re back? And how do you select which events to attend when there are so many to choose from? From the importance of content and freebies to the aesthetics of the stand, tune in to find out all you need to know, including Shannon’s response to our new closing question for season three, “who would you most like to interview, and why?”

This month, our host Viki Hooker is joined by special guest Gareth Lewis from the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN), along with Eddie Hooker, CEO of Hamilton Fraser and Mark Copsey, Associate Director of Hamilton Fraser Cosmetic Insurance.

Tune in to find out who are the BACN, and how could your business benefit from membership?