Celebrating successful women
Women are leading the UK's £3.2 billion aesthetics sector, building successful businesses and shaping the industry. Despite their achievements, many hesitate to promote their success due to societal expectations. Collaboration and support among women in aesthetics also play a vital role in fostering growth, confidence, and professional excellence.
It is estimated that 78% of practitioners in the UK's aesthetics sector are female, a number that is even higher when it comes to the beauty and wellbeing side of the market (87%). And, with the sector reaching a market value of £3.2 billion with an 8.4% annual growth rate (ONS Healthcare Services Index, 2024), women are leading the way, building successful businesses and claiming their place as innovators in the field.
According to research, women are generally less likely to openly discuss or "shout about" their successes compared to men, often due to societal expectations of modesty and a fear of being perceived as arrogant if they self-promote too much; this can lead to underplaying their achievements and potentially hindering career advancement opportunities.
According to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, women consistently rated their performance on a test lower than men, even though both groups had the same average score. Where men, on average, gave themselves a 61 out of 100, women gave themselves a 46 out of 100.
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"Success in aesthetics, like any industry, requires a combination of hard work, passion, and a genuine love for what you do. Running my own clinic, Update Aesthetics, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It’s a space where I can not only apply my expertise but also create a team that shares my values of safety and patient care. Winning awards like The British Hair and Beauty Awards and being named ‘Best Cosmetic Injector’ was an incredible honour, but for me, it’s always about more than recognition. It’s about making a difference in the lives of my patients, building a reputation for trust and precision, and pushing the boundaries of what we can do in non-surgical aesthetics. The true reward comes when you see how your work impacts someone’s confidence and happiness." Nina Prisk, Update Aesthetics
“As a female figurehead in aesthetic medicine, it is empowering to have the opportunity to champion support and lead the specialty forwards. To my children (both young girls), their friends and the wider community, my business and successes show it is possible to have a successful career as well as care for and support my own family on my own. My passion for helping others (often) women to live their best lives and overcome the visible effects of skin concerns has enabled me to create a multi-award winning clinic, team and treatment programmes. On a day when we celebrate women, it’s important to thank all those who have helped each one of us achieve what we have and, in turn, make a promise to pass it forward to the next generation. So our legacy, as women, in this incredible specialty lives on.” Dr Anna Hemming, Thames Skin Clinic
“Aesthetics has offered me a really safe landing space within the profession. It's allowed me to still maintain really high standards of clinical practice and to critically appraise the evidence and make my own mind up. It has really encouraged me to be an independent clinician, to offer really good care and to listen to women and to adapt my services, which I know, having worked in the NHS, is not something that was easily done at all. Women wear many hats, and because we wear so many hats, we are really good at doing lots of things, and that's one of the many skills that I've really optimised in the aesthetic space - running my own business, being a doctor, being an employee and employer and running something that is a CQC regulated clinic.” Dr Mayoni Gooneratne, Human Health
“I see so many women doing amazing things within the space of aesthetic medicine. I see women juggling incredibly successful careers, running businesses, being international speakers and pushing boundaries within this speciality, whilst also raising families and building impactful relationships, and leaving lasting legacies.” Dr Catherine Fairris, president of BCAM
“Developing the Precision32 microcannula was more than just creating a product – it was proving that women belong at the forefront of innovation. Seeing something I envisioned come to life, knowing it could improve both safety and patient outcomes, was a pinch-me moment.
Women are severely underrepresented in science and innovation, not because we lack ideas or capability but because systemic barriers still exist. From limited access to investment to a lack of mentorship, we are often expected to prove ourselves repeatedly in ways that men are not. Yet, history has shown that when women innovate, we create solutions that are practical, transformative, and deeply impactful.”Dr Mei Yeoh, inventor of the Precision32 microcannula
“As a woman in business it hasn't always been easy but I think one of traits that I have that is shared by so many women is resilience. That for me is the key to to running a successful business. It's being able to get through the tough times as well as celebrating the wonderful times. I think that's what really makes a good and robust leader. I have a team around me of 20+ people and there are still the tough times, there are still situations that on the face of it can be extremely stressful, but it's about how we deal with them and the ability to put things in boxes mentally and to switch off. Entrepreneurship can take over our lives and actually there's so much more to being a woman than just running a business, but running a business for me is a huge part of my identity as well.” Dr Sophie Shotter, founder of Illuminate Skin Clinic and president-elect, BCAM
“There has been a noticeable increase in women launching their own aesthetic businesses, which is fantastic. However, running a clinic is very different from being a great practitioner. There are lots of talented therapists, doctors, nurses and dentists who are highly skilled at what they do, but they aren’t always given the right tools to scale and sustain their businesses. More structured mentorship is needed to help them navigate the transition from practitioner to business owner. Business education should be just as accessible as clinical training, with courses on finance, leadership, and operations readily available and accessible. Industry associations also have a role to play in creating structured pathways for professionals who want to build their own clinics. The goal shouldn’t just be to see more women in aesthetics but to ensure they have the support and knowledge to make their businesses thrive.” Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme. Founder and Medical Director of Adonia Medical Clinic
One of the key messages from the women we spoke to was that women thrive when we work together and support each other.
Vanessa Bird, The Aesthetic Consultant and a member of Women in Aesthetic Medicine (WIAM) is thankful for the support of other women in the aesthetics space. She says, “I would say I find the women in our industry to be incredibly supportive in every way possible and for me, IWDay is a great opportunity to thank them all. They have been very generous with their advice, guidance and support, which has helped me grow and develop my business.
"They are so friendly and welcoming, which is much appreciated when you’re a one-woman business and travelling to events and conferences. I never feel alone, thanks to this amazing network. They continually educate me and teach me new things about our industry, which keeps me engaged and up to date. I have the best circle of women here in the U.K. and abroad who I truly value as professional colleagues and friends.”
Award-winning nurse practitioner Tracey Dennison, who is also a member of WIAM, agrees; she adds, “In the world of medical aesthetics, women supporting women is our greatest strength. By cheerleading each other, sharing best practices, and problem-solving together, we create a culture of growth, confidence, and excellence. When we lift each other up, we all rise.”
Dr Catherine Fairris, president of BCAM, comments, “As President of BCAM, I have had the privilege of working alongside so many impressive women, and I am inspired everyday by the women I meet.
I am a huge advocate of women supporting women and I have built a small network of like-minded women who support me and who I rely on for fellowship and guidance. It can be incredibly tough managing all the different aspects of life as a mother, wife, and business owner, so having a network of people who understand and relate is priceless.”
Piroska Cavell adds, “I think we should embrace our femininity because that is our superpower and stop being so shy about saying ‘I'm really happy to be a woman; this is me and I'm going to be great at what I do because I'm a woman’. I think we need to be shouting that from the rooftops and holding their hands out to her sisters and pulling them up with us.”
