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How did you get into aesthetics?
I fell into aesthetics really after having botulinum toxin injections myself and loving the results. I attended a foundation course and had initially planned to just treat family and friends. Unfortunately, I had some health issues which led to me leaving the hospital as they were unable to re-deploy me to a suitable department. This gave me passion and drive to grow my business and enabled me to work under my own rules whilst looking after myself. Patients walk in and out with no manual handling which is perfect for me.
What is your signature approach when it comes to treating patients?
I am a natural artist, and my signature approach is to create the best version of a person, to give them back a lost confidence and spring in their step. I like to maintain a natural-looking, fresh result. I would say my signature treatment and what I am known for in my area is lips and the peri-oral region.
Why did you choose the Dermaroller XCellarisPRO Twist?
When I entered aesthetics, I was naive and was initially focused on toxin injections/anti-wrinkle treatments and dermal fillers. I have now learnt that skin and skin health is so important, the ironed sheet on the bed so to speak. I started my needling journey in lockdown training with WOW Fusion (which I still love) but felt for some patients I needed clinica machine to enable deeper needling.
I researched all popular medical grade [microneedling devices] on the market but kept coming back to the XCellarisPro Twist
When I was at IMCAS I met Kerrie Smythe, Wigmore’s Sales Team Manager, and had the chance to be a model and have the treatment myself. From that moment onwards I was sold! Not just from the treatment, but also I could tell that the aftercare for the practitioner would be good as Kerrie and the trainers were passionate—there was also a good offer on! I knew within two months that I would break even, then be in profit if I marketed the procedure correctly. The great thing about aesthetics is if your patients like, know, and trust you then you never really have to sell them anything, they take your advice and
book in.
How do you get the best results for your patients with this microneedling device?
It is important to give a bespoke treatment. I change the needling depth according to their individual concerns. I must admit my patients are a little pampered and I numb under the eyes and top lip with LMX. If needling deeper than 1.5mm I will numb the whole face/neck/stomach—wherever I am treating. I am a great believer that reduced discomfort leads to returning patients and returning revenue.
Who or what conditions does microneedling suit best?
Eighty per cent of my patients are between 40-60 years of age, so peri- and post-menopausal treatments are my main focus. Mainly those that have started HRT are noticing that their skin is slightly dryer and feels dull or are in the early stages where skin lacks lustre and a nice bounce. If a person is feeling dull (hormone related or not), a medical grade skin treatment can really improve their mental wellbeing too. Also, if a patient is averse to injectable treatments, microneedling and waking up their own fibroblast activity can be really beneficial to help slow down the ageing process. I have recently started needling scalps too as a sudden drop of oestrogen can cause hair thinning and needling can wake up dormant stem cells in the dermal papilla.
How does microneedling complement the aesthetic treatments you offer?
I also have a Lynton laser so medical grade needling and medical grade laser go hand in hand. I also explain to my patients at their initial consultation the importance of skin health whilst having injectable treatments. What is the point of spending hundreds of pounds on dermal filler if the epidermis isn’t looking its best?
It’s all about patient education. Often, they have been contemplating booking a consultation for months or years, so it is only ethical to discuss the face as a whole including skin/skincare even if they had initially come to talk about jowls.
What do you enjoy most about working in aesthetics?
I absolutely love being my own boss! I have gone from being a nurse, hating asking for money at the end of a treatment, to an empowered businesswoman. I also enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge as well as networking at conferences. Finally, of course, I love my patients and enjoy seeing them becoming the best version of themselves.
What do you think are the industry trends to watch?
In the six years since I started, regenerative treatments such as polynucleotides and exosomes are really power housing their way into clinics. I think this is great as there has also been a swerve, in my opinion, to achieving and maintaining more natural looking results. I am also interested to see how AI impacts the market. I have children and see the use of filters that are not necessary in perfectly lovely photographs, I worry that AI might give a wrong perception of “normal” to the aesthetic industry moving forward with potential increase in body dysmorphia.
Michelle Worthington is a registered nurse with her Level 7 in Aesthetic Medicine. She owns a successful aesthetics clinic and loves to share her wealth of knowledge as a trainer. Michelle is passionate about achieving and maintaining her patients results using a combination of injectables, skincare and laser treatments. Based in the Midlands she lives with her partner Mark and their three children.
