Making the Switch – Entering Medical Aesthetics From the NHS

What motivated you to make the move away from this role into aesthetics?

As much I enjoyed medicine as a discipline, I was feeling really dissatisfied with my working life. Training to become a consultant takes a minimum of 7 years after Foundation Training, which includes regular antisocial shifts and rotating through various hospitals around the region. With the pressures the NHS is under, it isn't uncommon to have to deal with patients who are already unhappy with long waiting times and difficulty accessing care, as well as colleagues who are stressed and unhappy at work. All of these things made me want more autonomy over my working life, and to work in an environment that isn't subject to these same stressors. However, I still wanted to use my skills as a doctor and to feel like I was achieving something for my patients.

What were you worried about?

The main thing I was worried about was judgement from my family, my peers and my senior colleagues in the NHS. I thought everyone would think I was crazy for walking away from this career I'd worked so hard to achieve, or that they'd think I was superficial and money-driven to go and work in the aesthetic industry. I also didn't know how I could really turn this into a career; I'd never run a business before and leaving the safety blanket of the NHS felt really daunting.

What were you excited about?

Once I started learning more about the treatments, I was really excited by what could be achieved with injectables and seeing the impact it made on patients. I was also excited to be a part of this community of like-minded healthcare professionals who had similar experiences to mine. I felt so ready to gain some control back over my work life, which would also help to improve my personal life and give me the time and frame of mind to enjoy quality time with my loved ones.

What drew you to training with Harley Academy?

HA was recommended to me by a colleague due to their reputation of training only healthcare professionals, and their high success rate with their graduates going straight into jobs in the industry. Their Level 7 course was a huge draw for me, as I wanted to get as much knowledge and training as possible before I started injecting patients. The thought of only doing a Foundation course and then injecting patients was terrifying to me, and I knew I needed to do a detailed course where I could have the support of mentors while I learned how to inject as this is similar to the standard of training I was used to from my medical background.  

How was your experience with the Harley training programme?

From the very first discovery call, I could see that everyone who works at HA shares a passion for aesthetics and they all believe in the same ethos; that injectable treatments should be delivered to the highest standard by qualified healthcare professionals. This was so important to me and reassured me that I was training with the best people. All the mentors were so knowledgeable and really supportive, they all gave such helpful feedback that boosted my confidence and encouraged me to stay in touch in case I needed to discuss any challenging cases with someone. This is so valuable as I was so used to working as part of a team in my NHS role, so it was really nice to feel like I still had support available. Furthermore, the support team at HA were always so helpful and really helped me to organise all of my sessions and assessments.

What is your current role and how does it differ to what you did before?

I have recently started working at Story Southwell, and I do this part-time alongside my NHS role however I will imminently be switching to a full-time role at the clinic now that I'm finishing my IM training. Previously I rented a room where I would perform my aesthetic treatments, and at one point I was working for a large chain of clinics providing aesthetic treatments. Working at Story feels a bit more intimate but I've also got the reassurance of having a team for support.

What do you love most about your current job?

I absolutely love meeting new patients every day and getting to know them as they become regular patients. As aesthetic practitioners we get to support patients as they go through major milestones like getting married, starting new jobs, etc. and it's a privilege to help them prepare for these events. It's a real joy to see the look on a patient's face after their treatment and to watch their confidence grow. I also love working with the team at Story clinics, it's an honour to be able to work around such experts in the field and I feel like I'm constantly learning new things that will enable me to achieve even better outcomes for my patients.

What would be your advice to someone considering leaving the NHS to join aesthetics?

My advice would be to first of all do your research about the different qualifications and be ready to invest in the Level 7, as I believe it's the best preparation you can have to become a truly safe injector. I would also advise people that it is possible to work in aesthetics without compromising your morals, you just need to find a circle of like-minded professionals which is exactly what I found with HA. I would also warn them that it takes a lot of hard work, building a successful aesthetics career takes years and a lot of the time you'll still be working in the NHS at the same time. Starting a new career can feel overwhelming and lonely, so it's really important to make connections with other professionals in the industry so you have someone to turn to if you find yourself dealing with a challenging case. Most of all, enjoy the journey and grab any opportunities that come up with both hands!

^References

^{[i] King’s Fund. NHS workforce in a nutshell. Published May 2024. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/data-and-charts/nhs-workforce-nutshell}