Claire Lavery Aesthetics

29/05/2026

If I showed these photos to most people, they probably wouldn’t know what treatment she’d had.

They’d just think she looked fresher.

That’s what I love about Sculptra.

Sculptra works differently to traditional filler. Rather than simply adding volume, it stimulates your own collagen over time, gradually improving support within the skin.

The result is often difficult to explain.

People don’t usually say:
“Have you had Sculptra?”

They say:
“You look well.”
“You look fresh.”
“You look less tired.”

And for many patients, that’s exactly what they’re looking for.

Not to look different.

Just a little more like themselves again.

29/05/2026

Every. Single. Night. 🐧

28/05/2026

These photos were taken five years apart.

And I think they explain aesthetics better than most words can.

This is what subtle, thoughtful treatment should do over time.

Not make somebody look different.
Not make somebody look “done.”
Not suddenly erase every line from the face.

Just support the face well as it ages.

Softer.
Fresher.
Less tired.
Still completely recognisable as themselves.

I think a lot of people are scared of aesthetics because they think treatment always ends up obvious eventually.

Good work should age with you.

I think this patient is a really lovely example of that. 💜

27/05/2026

I always say ‘just relax’ then realise I’m no good with silence 🤣

25/05/2026

Do I need to stop my retinol in summer?”

Honestly… no.

People use retinoids all over the world, including in countries far hotter and sunnier than the UK.

Retinol does not suddenly become “dangerous” because the sun comes out.

What it DOES mean is that your skin needs proper protection.

Retinoids increase cell turnover, meaning fresher newer skin is coming to the surface. That skin needs protecting properly with daily SPF, sensible sun exposure and common sense.

The bigger issue is usually this:
people use active skincare… then don’t wear enough SPF.

Or they apply retinol perfectly every night and then spend all day in direct sun on holiday with no hat and SPF applied once at breakfast.

That is the problem.

There are some situations where I may advise reducing frequency temporarily if somebody is becoming irritated, excessively dry or overexposed to sun.

But for most people, the answer is not:
“stop your retinol all summer.”

It’s:
“protect your skin properly.”

25/05/2026

We have normalised questioning prices instead of questioning unsafe practice.

It’s strange how people now question pricing more than they question whether something is safe and appropriate, or whether the person carrying out the treatment is medically accountable and practising safely.

I see it in aesthetics all the time now.

People questioning why something costs what it does far more than they question:
Who is prescribing?
Who is assessing?
Who is managing complications?
Who is actually medically accountable if something goes wrong?

And honestly, I think the way aesthetics is now marketed online has played a huge role in that.

Treatments are marketed like quick purchases now.

Cheap deals.
Flash offers.
“Models needed.”
Three areas for this.
Lips for that.

“Why don’t you go to my lady? She only charges £150 for three areas.”

And somewhere along the way, people started viewing aesthetics as though the treatment itself was the value.

Not the consultation.
Not the assessment.
Not the experience to recognise risk.
Not the ability to manage complications.
Not the confidence to say “no” when something is not appropriate.

A colleague of mine recently carried out a full skin consultation, created a treatment plan, recommended products, explained everything thoroughly… and the patient then wanted a full refund because she found the products cheaper online.

And honestly? That says a lot about where aesthetics has ended up.

The value in aesthetics was never just the product or the syringe.

The value is in the person deciding whether that treatment should happen at all.

Knowing what to recommend.
Knowing what not to recommend.
Recognising risk.
Adjusting plans when needed.
Understanding anatomy.
Understanding skin.
Managing complications.
Saying no when necessary.
Using high-quality, traceable products safely and appropriately.

The treatment itself is only one small part of the appointment.

24/05/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions in aesthetics is the obsession with “how many mls.”

“How many mls was that?”
“I only want 1ml.”
“4ml sounds like loads.”

But the number of syringes alone, tells you very little about how you will actually look.

And honestly, most patients have never actually been shown what 1ml looks like.

People hear “4ml” and immediately picture somebody looking hugely overfilled because the number itself has become associated with “too much filler.”

But treatment is not that simple.

Face size matters.
Anatomy matters.
Ageing matters.
Product matters.
Placement matters.
The area being treated matters.
And the overall treatment goal matters.

This is also why I rarely lead consultations by talking purely in mls.

The number itself means very little without proper assessment and context.

Some patients can have multiple syringes placed strategically across the face and still look incredibly natural.

Others can have a small amount placed badly and look obviously overfilled.

Good aesthetics treatment should never become a numbers game.

A good treatment plan is so much more than the amount of mls. 💜

23/05/2026

Everyday I realise just how emotionally attached I become to my patients’ skin 😭☀️

Me:
SPF.
Barrier repair.
Pigmentation control.
The right skincare.
Consistency.
Protection.

Patient:
“It’s ok Claire my makeup has SPF in it.”

Every night I pray for strength 🤍😁

22/05/2026

One thing I hear quite a lot in clinic is:

“My husband is dead against aesthetic treatment.”

And honestly, I always find it interesting.

Because most women are not coming into clinic wanting to look fake, frozen or unrecognisable.

Most just want to look a bit fresher.
Less tired.
More confident.
More like themselves again.

But I also think it highlights something bigger about women in general.

A lot of women still feel they need permission to spend money on themselves.

They will spend endlessly on other people without guilt.
Children.
Homes.
Families.
Partners.

But when it comes to doing something for themselves?
There is often hesitation, guilt or judgement attached to it.

And I think sometimes people still misunderstand what good aesthetic treatment actually is.

The best work is often subtle.

You probably would not notice it as “treatment.”
You would just think somebody looked well.

Ultimately, I don’t think women should feel ashamed for wanting to feel confident in themselves.

And I also don’t think anybody should feel pressured into treatment either.

The right treatment done for the right reasons should feel like a personal choice.
Not something controlled by trends, pressure… or somebody else’s opinion. 💜

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

I love these photos because my patient still looks natural.

The concern here was never one single line.

There was volume loss through the mid-face, heaviness around the lower face and reduced support overall, all contributing to a more tired appearance.

So instead of focusing on one area in isolation, I treated the face more globally to create balance and support.

No overfilling.
No sharp cheeks.
No dramatic change in appearance.

Just a softer, fresher and more supported result.

This is why assessment matters so much in aesthetics.

If you only focus on the line somebody points at, you can miss what is actually causing the heaviness or tiredness in the first place.

And understanding that is what creates natural, believable outcomes.

No filters.
No editing.
No makeup.

Just honest photography and careful treatment planning.