Cosmetech Maypole Clinic

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Cosmetech Maypole Clinic's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Cosmetech Maypole Clinic is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.cosmetech.co.uk

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

38 | COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC

Co-founder and Managing

Director Lena Gillespie

Clinics in Holywood, County

Down and Chelsea, London

Cosmetech offers non-surgical cosmetic treatments

in two locations: The Maypole Clinic in Holywood,

Northern Ireland, and The Chelsea Private Clinic in

Chelsea, London. Unlike many other clinics in this sector our

treatments are administered by a team of consultant surgeons

who specialise in reconstructive, plastic and maxillofacial

surgery across both the NHS and the private sector. Director

Lena Gillespie explains that her team understand the anatomy

and physiology of the face, which positions them perfectly to

achieve the standards promised at Cosmetech.

We were founded in 2006 in Holywood, County Down when a gap was identified

in the market for non-surgical cosmetic treatments. At this time, botox and

dermal fillers were starting to become mainstream for the general public in an

unregulatedindustry.

My business partner, Mr Ashok Songra, is a maxillofacial consultant surgeon with a

specialist interest in non-surgical treatments after reconstructive surgery. We used

his unique position and expertise to drive the business forward for people who

were looking for non-surgical treatments and who understood the importance of

such knowledge and experience.

Led by clinical and surgical excellence

In 2011, we relocated to our flagship Maypole Clinic in Holywood. This was

in response to increased demand and as the business was thriving, we were

FACTS ABOUT

COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC

»Co-founder and Managing

Director: Lena Gillespie

»Established in 2006

»Based in Holywood, County

Down

»Services: Non-surgical anti-

ageing treatments

»No. of employees: 43

»www.cosmetech.co.uk

Cosmetech Maypole

Clinic

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

38 | COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC

Co-founder and Managing

Director Lena Gillespie

Clinics in Holywood, County

Down and Chelsea, London

Cosmetech offers non-surgical cosmetic treatments

in two locations: The Maypole Clinic in Holywood,

Northern Ireland, and The Chelsea Private Clinic in

Chelsea, London. Unlike many other clinics in this sector our

treatments are administered by a team of consultant surgeons

who specialise in reconstructive, plastic and maxillofacial

surgery across both the NHS and the private sector. Director

Lena Gillespie explains that her team understand the anatomy

and physiology of the face, which positions them perfectly to

achieve the standards promised at Cosmetech.

We were founded in 2006 in Holywood, County Down when a gap was identified

in the market for non-surgical cosmetic treatments. At this time, botox and

dermal fillers were starting to become mainstream for the general public in an

unregulatedindustry.

My business partner, Mr Ashok Songra, is a maxillofacial consultant surgeon with a

specialist interest in non-surgical treatments after reconstructive surgery. We used

his unique position and expertise to drive the business forward for people who

were looking for non-surgical treatments and who understood the importance of

such knowledge and experience.

Led by clinical and surgical excellence

In 2011, we relocated to our flagship Maypole Clinic in Holywood. This was

in response to increased demand and as the business was thriving, we were

FACTS ABOUT

COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC

»Co-founder and Managing

Director: Lena Gillespie

»Established in 2006

»Based in Holywood, County

Down

»Services: Non-surgical anti-

ageing treatments

»No. of employees: 43

»www.cosmetech.co.uk

Cosmetech Maypole

Clinic

39COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC |

HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK

in a position to purchase our own

premises. This clinic holds a D1

medical licence, and spans 5,000

square feet, complete with 13

consultation and treatment rooms.

We did not require the entire site,

and independently rented the

building to other healthcare providers,

adding another revenue stream to

thebusiness.

Our expansion continued in 2013

when we opened The Chelsea Private

Clinic, which occupies over 3,000

square feet with 11 consultation and

treatment rooms. There’s a team of

more than 40 people across the two

sites, and while both clinics perform

similar treatments, including botox,

dermal filler and threadlifts, Chelsea

also offers colonic hydrotherapy and

wellbeingtreatments.

A key element of our success is

our status as a consultant surgeon-

led clinic which is associated with

excellence. Northern Ireland has a

small population and the majority

of consultants and doctors still work

within the NHS and private practice.

Northern Ireland: perfect for

our work

Northern Ireland has one of the

leading maxillofacial units in the world

as a result of injuries sustained during

the Troubles. As such, we knew there

were a number of specialists in this

field who had an interest in cosmetic

treatments, something developed from

their therapeutic requirements post-

reconstructive surgery.

On the back of this expertise, we have

also established our own training

academy. This was crucial to the

development of our business, and

assisted with the training of our own

team. This helps to set a benchmark

and develops our image as an industry

leader, as we train on average five

doctors a month to perform botox and

dermal filler treatments.

Regulatory challenges in

aesthetics

Although this is presently an

unregulated industry, we have always

been passionate about achieving the

Cosmetech Chelsea

At present, any

unqualified

person can

obtain potentially

dangerous

dermal fillers and

inject them in a

non-clinical

environment

which will

obviously

increase the

associated

treatment

risks

“

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

40 | COSMETECH MAYPOLE CLINIC

highest possible standards. We have

always been vigilant in selecting the

best quality of injectable products,

which have the highest safety profile,

and these treatments are only

administered by trained doctors in a

clinical environment.

At present, any unqualified person can

obtain potentially dangerous dermal

fillers and inject them in a non-clinical

environment which will obviously

increase the associated treatment risks.

The general public are not aware that

some of the risks from dermal fillers

can include instant death, strokes

and blindness. There is not a day that

goes by without a story in the media

concerning botched botox or dermal

filler treatments.

We would welcome the introduction

of regulation to protect both the

public and the industry. Competition

is healthy in any business environment

,but because there is a lack of any

significant regulation, competitors can

choose to buy low-cost and dangerous

products which can be administered by

someone with no medical knowledge.

The UK is one the least regulated

countries in Europe in our field, so

far so that it is often nicknamed the

“wild wild West” at international

industry conventions. This year, new

CQC regulation has been implemented

for threadlifts to the UK mainland,

although it remains an unregulated

activity in Northern Ireland.

In spite of success with this one

example of an injectable treatment,

there are still many other treatments

that remain unregulated. This positive

progress leaves us confident about the

future of regulation, but there is still

much to be done if we are to ensure

professional standards are maintained

and the public are protected from

unscrupulous operators.

The general

public are not

aware that

some of the

risks from

dermal fillers

can include

instant death,

strokes and

blindness

“

An environment that

promotes clinical

excellence

www.cosmetech.co.uk

This article was sponsored by Cosmetech Maypole Clinic. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss

Even by the standards of the day –this has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable years in British politics.

The leadership election we’ve just seen marks a huge moment in our country’s history. This government is taking a decisive new direction, embracing the opportunities of Brexit and preparing our country to flourish outside the EU.

As international trade secretary, I’ll be driving forward work on the free trade agreements that are going to be a priority for the government. Free trade isn’t just an abstract concept bandied around by technocrats. It is crucial for a strong economy and for the ability of families to make ends meet. Free trade benefits people in every part of our country, as British firms export to new markets and people doing the weekly shop have access to a wider choice of goods at lower prices.

The essence of free trade is in the title: freedom. It’s about giving people the power to exchange their goods without heavy government taxation or interference. Commerce and free exchange are the engine room of prosperity and social mobility. I’m determined to tackle the forces who want to hold that back.

One of my priorities is agreeing an exciting new free trade deal with the US, building on the great relationship between our two countries and the Prime Minister and US President. But I’ll also be talking to other partners including New Zealand, Australia and fast-growing Asian markets.

And with the EU too, we want a friendly and constructive relationship, as constitutional equals, and as friends and partners in facing the challenges that lie ahead – a relationship based on a deep free trade agreement. Our country produces some of the world’s most successful exports, and the opportunity to bring these to the rest of the world should make us all excited about the future. It is this excitement, optimism and ambition which I believe will come to define this government.

For too long now, we have been told Britain isn’t big or important enough to survive outside the EU – that we have to accept a deal that reflects our reduced circumstances. I say that’s rubbish. With the right policies in place, we can be the most competitive, free-thinking, prosperous nation on Earth exporting to the world and leading in new developments like AI. To do that, we’ll give the brilliant next generation of entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. Since 2015, there has been a staggering 85 per cent rise in the number of businesses set up by 18 to 24 year olds – twice the level set up by the same age group in France and Germany. We’ll help them flourish by championing enterprise, cutting taxes and making regulation flexible and responsive to their needs.

As we do that, we’ll level up and unite all parts of the UK with great transport links, fibre broadband in every home and proper school funding, so everyone shares in our country’s success.

2019 has been the year of brewing economic and political revolution. 2020 will be the year when a revitalised Conservative government turbo charges the economy, boosts prospects for people across the country, and catapults Britain back to the forefront of the world stage.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
Secretary of State for International Development