Empowering Women in Business Within Aesthetic Medicine

The representation of women in business has been developing in recent years. According to a 2023 report by Rose Review Progress, 20.5% of all company incorporations in 2022 were female-led, up from 16% in 2018.¹ 

With women becoming their own bosses, it can be difficult to find a work-life balance, spending quality time with family and being successful. We spoke to four female leaders in the aesthetic industry about their top business tips and how they overcome challenges in the workplace.

Khatra Paterson, nurse prescriber and founder of KP Aesthetics Clinic

Tell us about yourself…

I’m a nurse prescriber and founder of KP Aesthetics located in Hale which has a team of five professionals. I’m proud to be a key opinion leader for InMode, the company behind the Morpheus8 device. My background in midwifery and health visiting, along with my experience in menopause care, has given me a passion for supporting women and helping them feel confident during this period. I am a survivor of female genital mutilation, and it’s important to me that I can empower women to take control of their own bodies.

I am also a wife to Brian and a nurturing mother to two wonderful boys, Morgan and Harris.

Your role models…

I’d say Oprah Winfrey and Tina Turner. Both went through tough times from a young age but used this adversity to do great things. I am inspired by their strength and resilience to be confident that I can also achieve success!

Challenges women face in their business and how you overcame them…

Lack of confidence – I know the magic happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. It’s important to go at your own pace and not compare your year one to someone else’s year 10. I have always sought ways to improve my confidence with the help of my peers, invested in training and surrounded myself with people who support my goals. I also prioritise my professional development to keep learning and build confidence. 

Lack of representation has been a big challenge – when I began my business, I didn’t know any women of colour leading the way. The scarcity of women of colour in leadership roles results in a lack of diversity. I have made great connections and friendships since starting my business. Together we have supported each other and created successful medical aesthetics clinics that are safe, ethical and profitable.

Achieving a work-life balance…

Balancing the demands of a business and family life can be challenging for women with families. Growing a team has allowed me to spend time with my family. Instead of admin days being on weekends, I move them into the week. A business is like a child you can’t switch off from!

Top tips for business success…

Three key elements have stayed with me throughout my growth: providing an experience, having a strong online presence and encouraging feedback.

Julie Scott, independent nurse prescriber and founder of Facial Aesthetics Clinic

Tell us about yourself…

I’m an independent nurse prescriber and Level 7 qualified aesthetic injector. I’m also a trainer and faculty member for HA-Derma, the exclusive distributor of Profhilo, trainer for Interface Aesthetics, faculty member for ZO Skin Health and owner of Facial Aesthetics in Rivenhall, Essex. In 2022, I won The SpringPharm Award for Nurse Practitioner of the Year, and in 2023, I achieved The Hamilton Fraser Award for Best Clinic South England at The Aesthetics Awards. I’m so proud of both achievements!

I also have a wonderful husband and daughter who have always supported me on my journey.

Your role models…

Maya Angelou has been a role model of mine for a while. Her strength and ability to overcome horrendous prejudice, injustice and abuse is incredibly powerful and inspiring. To not only overcome these challenges, but to become a civil rights activist and defend women’s rights, is something that I find so moving and meaningful.

Challenges women face in their business and how you overcame them…

It is challenging to break into any industry and be acknowledged for your hard work and success. For me, a part of overcoming these challenges was growing a support network of like-minded people.

Achieving a work-life balance…

I always strive to improve my work-life balance as both need care and attention. It is difficult to manage at first, but keeping family and work separate is the first step. This has become easier as my daughter has grown up, but we all still need time to stop and rest.

Top tips for business success…

I believe success is knowing who your ideal patient is. Plan everything – the way you speak, your media, environment and day-to-day around the ideal patient. A successful clinic will be surrounded by the right patients because of this planning, allowing you to run the business you always envisaged. 

Miss Lara Watson, maxillofacial surgery doctor and founder of SW1 Aesthetics Clinic

Tell us about yourself…

I’m a dual-qualified doctor and dentist working in aesthetics. I am the co-founding CEO of Acquisition Aesthetics and clinical director of SW1 Aesthetics in Westminster. I’m proud to be a founding director of non-profit organisation Aesthetics United which hosts an annual charity conference. I’m also an ambassador for charities including Refuge UK and Operation Smile, as well as a key opinion leader for Galderma. I currently live in Oxford with my husband and two daughters.

Your role models…

I look up to my mother immensely. As a child, my father was away for long periods of time with work. Therefore, she was left with two small children, a tight budget and living away from family and friends. I didn’t realise it at the time, but since having children, I appreciate how difficult this was for her. Her circumstances meant that she couldn’t pursue a career. The progression we’ve made as a society towards an equal playing field and my relative freedom in chasing my professional aspirations whilst raising two toddlers is something I don’t take for granted.

Challenges women face in their business and how you overcame them…

Being a woman in business means juggling multiple responsibilities which are conflicted. Before I start work at 8am, I’m often three hours into my day. This involves waking and feeding children, prepping and planning activities for the day and managing general admin.

For me, the key to overcoming this has been planning, seeking and accepting help and appreciating that you don’t have to be perfect at everything. Some days I’ll commit more time to work knowing that it will pull me away from my family, but on others, I’ll dedicate time exclusively to my kids. The other issue I’ve found is a tendency to be hypercritical and hyper-analytical of our performance and abilities, which becomes a distracting obstacle rather than a constructive thought process. We need to become better advocates for ourselves, and give the same encouraging counsel we often reserve for our friends.

We must stop obsessing about barriers and disadvantages and focus on the advantages of being a woman in business. We are great multitaskers, hard workers and perfectionists – all useful attributes to succeed in any field. Let’s stop looking at the weaknesses and start celebrating the strengths.

Achieving a work-life balance…

This is done with great difficulty! Diarising events for weeks in advance – even if it’s an evening with my husband, dinner with a friend or a day out with my eldest – is crucial. Setting boundaries and sticking to them is also a must – I do my best to protect little pockets of time at the weekends for family and fun only.

Top tips for business success…

If you don’t know how to do something, the best way to learn is to try. There’s no shortcut or quick fix. Commit to doing the work properly – it’s far more enjoyable, and if it doesn’t result in success, at least the journey is a step in the right direction. 

Francesca Ogiermann-White, health and beauty editor-at-large of Tatler and founder of the Beauty Triangle

Tell us about yourself…

My role as Tatler’s Health & Beauty Editor-at-Large sees me editing the annual Beauty & Cosmetic Surgery Guide as well as the Spa Guide, both of which are a joy to oversee. I am also the founder of my business The Beauty Triangle, a consumer-facing platform, which educates and empowers modern audiences via monthly panel discussions with expert practitioners. At home, I am a mother to Felix, who is just over one and is my proudest achievement yet!

Your role models…

I have always looked up to my mother who set up her own company at the same time as having me in her early 20s. Watching her build this into a successful business, whilst managing three children, and then selling it 25 years later has always been something that I’ve admired.

I have memories of her in 1980s-style power suits with a perm and lots of blue eyeliner. To this day, I believe that our appearance plays a significant role in enabling us to project our professional persona.

Challenges women face in their business and how you overcame them…

Many of the successful women I have encountered struggled with ‘imposter syndrome’. It is common knowledge that, as women, we only apply for a job when we feel we meet 100% of the criteria, whereas men would apply for the same job knowing that they meet far fewer. I fall into this camp, and often put on my ‘game face’ when going in for a big meeting or hosting an event.

Achieving a work-life balance…

I try to limit the time on my phone when I’m with Felix. I make sure that our key moments are always a priority: reading him a story before I go to work or giving him his bottle before bed. It helps to have these anchor points as you start to get busier.

Top tips for business success…

Do something that makes your heart sing! If you truly love what you do for a living, it never feels like work and success often follows.