This award will recognise the aesthetic nurse who is deemed to have contributed most to the profession and/or has provided the most outstanding care and treatment to their patients in the last 12 months. The winner will be judged on their clinical expertise, continuous professional development, commitment to patient safety and the difference they make to their patients, clinic and the profession as a whole. There will be no voting process and the winner will be decided by the judging panel.
My aesthetic career started in 2007. An intense couple of years of education and training followed. In 2009, I established Laferla Medical Cosmetics a private clinic in Cardiff. I achieved ‘Independent Nurse Prescriber status” at UWE in 2012. My business and clinical experience have been gained working fulltime in aesthetic practice for the past 11 years, undertaking over 10,000+ non-surgical treatments at both my private clinic and on a consultancy basis for national clinic chains within the UK. My clinic is also part of the Athena Group of Aesthetic Clinics and Practitioners. To remain at the forefront of medical aesthetics, I maintain a strong focus on CPD. This continuous commitment ensures that my patients receive the most up-to-date, effective and safest evidence-based treatments available. In addition to my clinical practice, I have a strong focus on improving industry practice in Wales and the UK. As an NMC approved mentor I offer ongoing advice, support and mentorship to colleagues and deliver training events for Schuco International - dermal fillers, PDO threads and Plasma Sublimation. My achievements in past 12 months include:
1. BACN Lead Nurse for Wales – Past 6 years. Personal Recognition Award from BACN for the development of the Guidance and Expert Support Service in 2017.
2. Clinical Trainer Status - Schuco Aesthetics.
3. Author status for the PgCert, PgDip -cosmetic medicine modules -USW
4. Ofqual approved clinical supervisor and assessor status for the L7 certificate in aesthetic practice.
5. L7 PgA in Applied Clinical Facial Anatomy for Cosmetic Interventions.
6. Elected Board Member - Wales Aesthetic and Cosmetic Society. With a key role to establish the society and co-plan and organise the first ever aesthetic conference in Wales.
7. Established a working relationship with the local government in Wales, with the aim to offer support and supply all A&E departments in Wales, with best practice guidelines and protocols for the management of complications in aesthetic practice.
8. Established working relationship with local councils with the aim to include cosmetic procedures on the “Specialist Licensing Register” in Wales.
9. Undertaking Diploma/MSc in Cosmetic Medicine at USW.
After graduating as a registered nurse with first class honours, I became a senior unit manager at Hope Hospital (now Salford Royal) in charge of the acute medical assessment unit and leading a team of 72 staff.
From there, I went on to do a clinical research MSc which was the start of my work within the research and cosmetic industry.
I was the clinical research manager for Phototherapeutics LTD, an academic company started at the Paterson Institute, Christie Hospital in Manchester.
The Omnilux LED was the first light source to obtain FDA & MHRA approval for its multiple medical indications. This was the start of a lifetime’s interest in light therapy.
I am currently undertaking my PhD in photobiology and Dermatological disease.
Achievements in the last 12 months include:
• Working with Save Face to support a client who had a severe adverse reaction to aesthetic treatment received elsewhere,
• Working on the final stages of my PhD research
• Presenting findings at the Neostrata European symposium in London on a new glycol ala for photo rejuvenation. This stable and effective treatment improves sun damage, photo-ageing and acne.
• Being nominated as a finalist for Safety in Beauty’s Cosmetic Nurse of the Year.
I started in my career in Medical Aesthetics in 2007. Starting out as a mobile practitioner and qualifying as an independent prescriber from Stirling University in 2008. By 2009 I was approached by the larger pharmaceutical companies and began to train on their behalf. I trained for Allergan, Aestheticare and Galderma.
I opened my first aesthetic clinic in Edinburgh in 2009 and was delighted to be recognised by peers, patients, awarding bodies and the press for continued success and expertise, winning many awards. This year has been no exception: now with a Distinction awarded for my Postgraduate Certificate in Aesthetic Medicine from Northumbria University under my belt, I continue to uphold Tatler’s title of ‘Best for Credentials’. I’m continuing to work towards my MSc Degree in the same speciality and I’ve almost completed the Post-Graduate Diploma.
In 2017 I completed the approved University mentoring qualification and am now a mentor for fellow practitioners undertaking the MSc qualification on the same program.
To date this year my clinic has won Best Clinic Scotland and Best Independent Nurse Prescriber at the ‘Look awards’ and Best Clinic at the ‘Medical Cosmetic Awards’.
As faculty of Galderma’s Country Mentor Trainer (CMT), it was an honour to chair the Global Galderma Nurse meeting in Paris in January last year and again in Sweden this year. Representing this faculty as a speaker at BTS Congress in Sweden was a highlight.
Another proud achievement this year came from being on the programme board (representing BACN) of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) undertaking efforts to improve standards of clinical practice and clinical settings across Scotland and also with Scottish Government.
I have also recently devised a new anti-ageing treatment which has now been trademarked and clinical studies are underway.
After 6 months working at Sk:n Clinics as a Nurse Prescriber, in June 2016 I joined Clinetix, initially on a part-time and now on a full-time basis.
Over the past 12 months my achievements have included:
• Building a busy diary and taking on a part-time patient list
• Establishing an engaging and relevant social media presence
• Growing patient numbers through excellent word of mouth reputation
• Professionally assisting tutors on the ATA introductory training courses
• Spoke alongside Dr Emma Ravichandran at the BACN 2017 Conference on perioral rejuvenation
• Assisted in developing protocols within clinic to improve the running of clinic and patient safety
• Taken part in an audit to comply with GDRP
• Launched a Saturday clinic to meet patient need
• Teaching assistant on the ATA ‘Getting started in Aesthetic Medicine’ courses
I was invited to assist Dr Emma Ravichandran on stage at the BACN conference in Birmingham by fielding audience questions. I also recently took part in a live social media demonstration where I carried out a toxin treatment and discussed the merits of IV Vitamin drip therapy. Through these events I have made great progress in building my confidence and the achievement of my professional goals.
Over the past 3 years I have worked closely with aesthetic source and trained delegates in the North of England on then Neostrata Chemical Peels & Skincare.
I am currently carrying out the Northumbria Aesthetics Master’s Program. I have just finished having my first student on this course, which I feel was a great achievement also.
I now employ 6 staff members. I have done this with no external funding, hard work pays off, this is a massive achievement to me.
Cliniva Medispa is also the home of Cliniva Cosmetic Training. I am the owner also, of this very successful and popular training centre for Drs, Dentists & Nurses who are wanting to enhance their skills within aesthetics.
The clinic and myself have already been highly successful since opening in May last year. We were highly recommended for Best New Clinic at the Aesthetic Awards 2017. This was only seven months after we opened. We won Best New Clinic at MYFace MYBody awards 2018.
In 2002, following intensive and individual training on Onabotulinumtoxin A by a renowned Cambridge based Reconstructive Consultant Plastic Surgeon, I formed the Cosmex Clinic. Still today the Consultant and I frequently refer patients recognising each other's skills sets. I quickly became trained in soft tissue fillers and the other modalities of treatments we administer within the clinic. I qualified as a Nurse Prescriber in 2012. Over the last 16 years I has developed competency and expertise with evidence of trainings and workshops of over 130 certificates, continuing to deliver clinical excellence to Cambridgeshire and beyond.
As an original founder member of the BACN in 2009 and then vice chair I am privileged to continue being a Honary member and the BACN Aesthetic lead for 75 members in East Anglia. Within these roles I continue to offer peer support through regular meetings of the closed support group I lead and am always ready to share my experience with case studies or any problems that may occur for colleagues.
I continue to guide members through the NMC revalidation process which I led for Aesthetic Nurses UK wide. I was involved within the BACNs conception of a register for qualified mentors, addressing the needs for beginners and advanced members. I regularly has mentees with my clinic via the BACN or annually from Northumbria Uni. I am also an accredited NMC mentor.
I was honoured to be invited the Inaugural Galderma Faculty and under took an intensive Harvard style three day workshop; Train the Trainer. I teach small groups informally and formally. I am a KOL for Galderma and represent the UK for the Global Faculty of Aesthetic Nurses with meetings in Paris and Sweden with a co-authored educational paper about to be published. Other roles include peer reviewing for aesthetic journals and the ACE consensus group,I sit on several advisory and editorial boards. I have been awarded the PGCERT and PGDiploma in Aesthetic Practice and am working towards my MSc dissertation.
Elizabeth Rimmer (Dip, BSc, MSc, Independent Nurse Prescriber) is the Founder, Clinical and Medical Director at London Professional Aesthetics.
Elizabeth is a registered nurse with over 21 years of clinical experience. Elizabeth completed a Nursing Diploma at the prestigious St Bartholomew’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (1995) and then went on to study further, initially to a BSc and then on to achieve a distinction at MSc, qualifying as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Independent and Supplementary Nurse Prescriber. Her background is working in general practice, where she spent 17 years. This has provided her with a solid foundation of experience of managing a wide range of skin problems from acne, rosacea and eczema through to wound healing.
In 2010, Elizabeth established her own aesthetics business, London Professional Aesthetics. In 2014 LPA opened the doors to their state of the art clinic, designed around CQC standards, in Old Street. LPA provides a medical skin service specialising in a range of non-invasive medical skin treatments and medical skincare products for use at home.
In the past 12 months (June 2017-2018), Elizabeth Rimmer has attained the below achievements:
Sarah White is the Founder Director of “Sarah White Aesthetics and Laser”, in the North of England.
Sarah worked in the NHS, initially as an RGN and latterly as a paediatric nurse (RSCN). She entered aesthetics 11 years ago and has grown professionally such that she now boasts INP status and is also an advanced aesthetic trainer.
Sarah is central to her successful team. She has focus, drive and discipline. Sarah has exacting professional standards of safe practice, tangible results and value for money that is instilled in her practitioners. She continually strives to meet targets and set new bolder boundaries, investing in the latest technology to ensure she is able to offer optimum results for her clients at affordable prices.
Her major strength lies in her holistic and collaborative approach to skincare, rejuvenation and well being and she has successfully built up a team of allied professionals, cosmetic, vascular and gynaecological surgeons, a dermatologist, GP and cosmetic dentist providing seamless cross referral between experts.
Acquisition of the latest technology (laser, radio frequency and ultrasound) has seen her average yearly treatments increase by 82% to over 7000.
In the last 12 months Sarah has accepted 693 new clients. This is a 44 % increase on the previous year. In the last 12 months Sarah has had to increase her working days and frequently works until 9pm as she is so sought after.
Sarah’s clinic was an Aesthetic Awards finalist in 2017.
She is a SkinCeuticals Ambassador and has been invited to speak at major events.
She also spoke on behalf of HealthXchange at the ACE conference.
Anna Gunning, founder of The Laser and Skin Clinics is a highly experienced clinical director and aesthetic nurse with a background of 17 years’ experience developing and expanding her multi-award winning group of aesthetic clinics in Ireland. Best known for introducing the latest technologies and products to the aesthetics market in Ireland, Anna is highly respected for her experience, expertise and safe practice resulting in a number of prestigious accolades throughout her career namely, Best Clinic Ireland 2018 at the MFMB Awards, Aesthetics Awards Best Clinic Group UK & Ireland 2016 and Aesthetics Awards Best Clinic Ireland 2015.
Focusing on education, training and combining technologies to achieve superior results, Anna has a particular interest in promoting safety in aesthetics and is one of the founding members of DANAI Dermatology & Aesthetic Nurses Association of Ireland. Her clients can be reassured she only uses the most advanced FDA approved technology and products from the most renowned suppliers in the industry. Being the only clinic in ROI to hold SaveFace Accreditation, she is continually working towards creating a safer environment for her clients.
Over the past 12 months Anna has furthered her education through professional training and continuous professional development and also enjoys attending yearly conferences IMCAS, FACE, ACE, CCR, Cosmetic Conference Vegas and Master Physician Program to update her skills.
With a database of 25,000 clients at her clinics Anna’s ethos focuses on providing the best possible care, in the safest environment while delivering superior results.
