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Acne Treatment – Lindsey

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Lindsey is a 30 year old fashion blogger and physiotherapist living in London. She started to have trouble with her skin aged 27 after coming off of the contraceptive pill a few years ago and soon found herself struggling to deal with adult acne.

Unlike traditional acne that tends to spread all over your face, Lindsey’s skin issues were concentrated around her forehead and chin and the inflamed skin was increasingly painful and her confidence was so low that she often didn’t feel like leaving the house.

Working in the public eye as fashion blogger she found herself constantly asking photographers to edit her skin which conflicted with her desire to have natural unedited photos.

“For me, my skin is a big part of my job because my face is kind of my brand as a fashion blogger and it got really hard for me to find my confidence when my skin was really bad.”

Lindsey felt she had tried every product available to try and control her adult acne and it wasn’t until some online research led her to The Private Clinic that she finally began to get some answers.

Laser therapist and specialist in acne skin care, Sarah from our London Harley Street clinic met with Lindsey and went through the variety of acne treatments that we have available at The Private Clinic.

“My consultation was wonderful; my dermatologist Sarah couldn’t have been more empathetic towards the crying, spotty woman sat in front of her willing the acne to disappear.”

After going away to do some more research, Lindsey decided to go ahead with a mix of N-Lite and Obagi Blue Peel Radiance treatments with the hope of bringing her adult acne under control.  In total Lindsey underwent 6 N-Lite laser treatments spaced 4 weeks apart and 2 chemical peels in-between her laser sessions.

“The laser treatment is a little uncomfortable but, completely bearable, and is over in 20 minutes or so. The chemical peel if I’m being completely honest, it burns but it doesn’t last too long and settles nicely.”

Now a year post treatment Lindsey feels her skin is not only clearer but looks brighter and healthier. She feels so much happier and confident especially when taking photos for her style blog and going make-up free.

“I have had the most positive experience ever and I could not recommend it enough.”

Lindsey is going to continue having treatments with us here at The Private Clinic as it is recommended that you have regular top up treatments for the best long-term results.

Be sure to follow The Private Clinic on social media to keep up to date with Lindsey’s treatment and to read Lindsey’s treatment story in full check out her blog here.

Book a consultation today

*All of our patient stories are based on the personal experiences of our patients and represent individual body shapes and results. Please bear in mind that results may vary from person to person. All testimonies are provided voluntarily by our patients and clients. Their comments have not been altered in any way, and their experiences are their own.

Acne Treatment – Gaby

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Acne Treatment Course *

She had the dress, she had the idyllic location, she had the man of her dreams. There was just one thing Gaby felt was missing from her perfect wedding day…the skin she wanted.

Having never really suffered as a teenager, Gaby’s first experience of acne was in her twenties when painful breakouts started to occur and her skin slowly started to look less radiant. Her earlier luck with skin began to feel more like a curse, particularly as there seemed to be no correlation to how well she treated her skin or looked after herself.

As a teacher, Gaby was used to having stressful and busy periods. And so was her skin. She’d have times where the painful cysts and spots would simmer down, but these were normally swiftly followed by doubley sore periods – revenge for her appreciating a few calm days.

It was through her mother-in-law that Gaby first heard about The Private Clinic and, with very little to lose, she decided to attend a consultation just a couple of months before the big day with no grand expectations and very little certainty if anything could be done. Time was limited, her therapist Nicola told her, but not impossible. She pulled together a thorough action-plan utilising treatments and take-home products so the only mark the bride had on her face all day was the biggest of grins.

Gaby undergoing her first Obaji Blue Radiance peel as part of the treatment plan.

Nicola suggested that Gaby underwent a course of acne treatments including three N-Lite sessions, three Obaji peels, and completed a homecare regime specially designed around her skin’s needs including cleansing, moisturising and plenty of sun protection. N-Lite, Nicola told her, would kill the acne-causing bacteria that were at the source of her skin problem, while her peels and home care products would get rid of pore-clogging dead skin cells and help her get that big day glow.

Nicola’s confidence in her achieving the skin she deserved helped convince Gaby she was making the right choice and, with just a few weeks until she jumped on a plane to Israel for the big day, she decided to go ahead.

As the goggles were placed over her head for the very first N-Lite session she felt slightly nervous but she soon relaxed as she realised it was a simple case of lying back and letting the team work their magic. As with most patients, Gaby’s skin appeared to worse before it got better, which led to a couple of nervous days, but keeping in close contact with her team at The Private Clinic meant any concerns were quickly quashed and Gaby was confident she’d made the right decision.

It was a bit of a squeeze to fit in the number of appointments Nicola believed necessary but, committed to the cause of the perfect white wedding, the team worked hard to be flexible around Gaby’s school hours and they all got there, together, with plenty of warm chats about the big day.

And how did Gaby feel at the end of it all? We’ll let the (not so) blushing bride’s photos do the talking…

Book a consultation today

*All of our patient stories are based on the personal experiences of our patients and represent individual body shapes and results. Please bear in mind that results may vary from person to person. All testimonies are provided voluntarily by our patients and clients. Their comments have not been altered in any way, and their experiences are their own.

Acne Treatment – Leanne, 20

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“I have never felt so confident in my skin. My life really has changed for the better. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that I discovered this Acne Treatment.” 

Leanne’s story is a moving example of the life-changing work carried out at The Private Clinic. From the age of 14, Leanne suffered with chronic acne. Her teenage years were full of pain, self-consciousness and embarrassment. She tried every treatment available – creams, topical face washes, ointments, oils and cleansers. Nothing worked; some even seemed to make it worse.

Her doctor told her it was simply ‘teenage spots’ and prescribed contraceptive pills in an attempt to control her hormones. By the age of 16, Leanne was convinced that man-made drugs weren’t the answer, although she didn’t know what was.

At around the age of 20, Leanne’s acne began to improve a little and she felt her mood lifting. She wondered if it had been teenage spots after all. But a year later, the acne returned with a vengeance in places that she had never even had it before.

Reluctantly, she returned to her doctor and was prescribed antibiotics as her skin was now worse than ever – red, sore and infected. She felt ugly. Images of models in magazines with apparently perfect skin made her hate the way she looked.

Leanne began to realise that her skin was having a serious effect on her emotionally. She had forgotten what it was like to feel pretty and just wanted it to stop. The final straw came when she was at a party one day. A little girl pointed to her face and declared, “You’re really spotty!” An awkward silence filled the room. Leanne couldn’t hold back the tears. She ran to the toilet and sobbed.

“It just seemed too good to be true.” *

The turning point came when Leanne saw a lady being interviewed on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ program. The lady had previously had severe adult acne and had tried everything to clear it up, but nothing had worked – until she tried the Private Clinic Acne treatment.

After researching online, Leanne booked an appointment to see a Nurse Practitioner and Dermatology Specialist at The Private Clinic. They asked Leanne about the history of her skin, and noted that it looked very sore and painful. Leanne was told how the treatment worked and what it would feel like – a bit like an elastic band, pinging against the skin. Leanne booked a course of three Acne treatments.

Results with the Acne treatment course are not immediate, but just two weeks after her second treatment Leanne started to notice a difference.  Her chin no longer felt lumpy and bruised, and the itching had completely gone.

One week after Leanne’s third treatment, the difference was remarkable. Her skin was totally spot-free. She still has a few small scars where her spots once were, but these will fade with time. And how does she feel know? Leanne should have the final word…   

“My life has honestly changed. I no longer have any spots at all and I’m not embarrassed for my boyfriend to see me without make-up any more.” 

Book a consultation today

*All of our patient stories are based on the personal experiences of our patients and represent individual body shapes and results. Please bear in mind that results may vary from person to person. All testimonies are provided voluntarily by our patients and clients. Their comments have not been altered in any way, and their experiences are their own.

Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Clinic Buckinghamshire

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Set in the heart of the Chiltern Hills is The Private Clinic of Buckinghamshire. With expert transport links from London and Oxford it is an ideal south-east location close to towns and villages such as Marlow, Amersham, Stoke Poges, Aylesbury,  Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe. Our Bucks clinic is great for anyone considering cosmetic surgery or aesthetic treatments such as dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxing injections.

Our clinic in Stokenchurch has a lot to offer patients with an expert team of plastic surgeons, aesthetic doctors and nurses and specialist skin practitioners. We also have a wide range of cosmeceutical products to purchase to make your skin care regime to clearer, brighter and more rejuvenated skin effortless.

Expert breast surgeon Mr Adrian Richards MBBS, MSc, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 3286812 has a weekly private cosmetic surgery clinic in Stokenchurch consulting for procedures such as breast augmentations, breast uplifts, breast reductions, breast implant removal and/or replacement, breast auto augmentation and tummy tuck surgery. Mr Richards has been voted Home Counties Leading Plastic Surgeon by The Daily Mail, Leading Breast Surgeon UK by The Independent on Sunday. He is a much respected figure in the breast surgery industry having carried out thousands of breast procedures since he decided to specialise in plastic surgery in 1999.


Take a look at some of Mr Adrian Richards before and after photos here or to book a consultation click here.

Mr Prashant Govilkar MBBS MS MCh FRCS FRCS (Plast) GMC Number: 4258041 is another surgeon who consults from our Buckinghamshire clinic. Mr Govilkar specialises in body contouring surgery after weight loss which includes tummy tucks, arm lifts and thigh lifts. A consultation with Mr Govilkar will be held with compassion and dignity and he takes great care to ensure you have realistic expectations from surgery offering his advice for the best treatment plan that will suit you.

To find out more about Mr Prashant Govilkar or book a consultation click here.

Mr Maisam Fazel MA(Cantab) MB BChir MSEd FRCS  GMC Number: 4767420 also consults from our Buckinghamshire clinic. Mr Fazel is a accomplished Consultant Onco Plastic Surgeon with a unique background in breast surgery giving patients the option of using b-lite implants which are a lighter alternative to the conventional breast implant.

To find out more about Mr Maisam Fazel or to book a consultation click here.

We have a specialist skin clinic at The Private Clinic in Bucks. We treat a wide range of skin concerns within our medical aesthetics clinic, if you are after cheek fillers, dermal lip fillers, the non surgical facelift or non surgical nose reshaping and nose to mouth lines we have the answer.  Our experienced Doctors and nurses have been treating locals for decades. See some helpful links here

Popular treatments at The Private Clinic, Buckinghamshire include;

Dermal Filler

Dermal Filler treatments are ideal for anyone who is looking to restore volume into areas of the face that may have been lost due to ageing or weight loss. Dermal Filler can be used in many ways such as for enhancing the size of lips, defining the cheeks, and filling out the dark circles under the eyes, filling nasolabial lines and reshaping the chin or nose.

Wrinkle Relaxing Injections

For those that unhappy with fine lines and wrinkles on their face, wrinkle relaxing injection treatments are a great way to reduce the appearance without the need for any surgical procedures.  Wrinkle relaxing injections can help soften the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet, neck lines and top lip lines.

Wrinkle relaxing injections are also a great treatment to help those suffering with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). The botulinum toxin solution is injected into the underarm to reduce the amount of sweat that is produced.

Thread Lift

We offer two different types of thread lift treatments in Buckinghamshire; PDO Thread Lifts and Silhouette Soft. Thread lift treatments are a great way to lift and rejuvenate the skin. Downtime after a thread lift procedure is low compared to the surgical alternative with only minor bruising or swelling to the area for a couple of days afterwards.

Profhilo

Profhilo is a relatively new anti-ageing treatment that is growing increasingly popular and was awarded winner of the Best Injectable Product in Europe, 2017 at The Aesthetic Awards. The treatment uses hyaluronic acid to remodel the skins structure, nourish the dermal cells and treats skin laxity restoring the firmness of your skin. Profhilo is commonly performed on the face, neck and hands and results in healthier, softer and smoother skin with minimal downtime.

Mel Recchia RGN and Ruth Atkins RGN are our injectable nurses at our Buckinghamshire clinic all of which have a passion for finding the right treatment plan for their patients ensuring that they achieve realistic results and leave feeling happy and satisfied following their treatment.

To book an injectable consultation at our Buckinghamshire clinic click here.

If you feel a surgical option could be of interest click here for eyelift, blepharoplasty or eye bag removal  or click here for one stitch facelift  (as seen in Harpers Bazaar and Tatler as the treatment to watch ).

Why choose The Private Clinic?

  • We have the most experienced and well-respected surgeons, doctors, nurses and practitioners in the industry
  • Our state of the clinic facilities
  • Excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction
  • 24-hour patient helpline to ensure you are always in the best of hands.
  • Comprehensive Patient Guides and information about all treatments.
  • As many post-operative care and follow up appointments with your surgeons, doctors, nurses and practitioners as required.
  • Consultations with our highly experienced patient advisors, nurses, doctors and practitioners
  • See our extensive videos of past patients
  • Read our extensive Procedure FAQs
  • We have a large gallery of before and after photographs
  • Many like to read out previous patient stories

Our experience and medical expertise makes your journey a reassuring one. To book a consultation or find out more about the procedures we offer at our Buckinghamshire Clinic call 0333 9202471 or click here.

Acne Treatment at The Private Clinic

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It has recently been reported that “a lack of trained skin specialists is having a huge impact on acne patients” It means that there are often long waits for those seeking specialist advice on skin issues such as acne.  Those suffering with acne especially may already be feeling frustrated and helpless to then be denied access to a dermatologist can cause a skin condition to become almost be life-ruining.

Here at The Private Clinic we understand how much acne can affect your life and especially your self-confidence. We have over thirty years of medical experience in treating a variety of skin problems and we are now one of the UK’s leading clinics for dermatology and skin. There has actually been a 65% increase in dermatology enquiries at The Private Clinic so far this year compared to the same period of time in 2016.


The N Lite is our most popular treatment for acne. This treatment aims to target the root cause of acne, bacteria. The treatment is suitable for all skin types and it can be used to treat acne on the face, neck, back and chest. It has been described as the most significant advancement in the treatment of acne in decades.

Find out more about the N Lite Treatment here : https://www.theprivateclinic.co.uk/blog/2016/11/05/what-is-n-lite

We have spoken to practitioner Vicki Newman from The Private Clinic at The Gatehouse Clinic, Northampton about her top products and treatments that she recommends for acne prone skin.

In clinic we have a range of different products and treatments to help improve and control acne but here are some of mine, and my patient’s favourites;

The Advanced Nutrition Programme ‘Accumax’ are supplements that work to clear acne prone skin. It contains unique blend of ingredients – including an exciting ingredient called DIM. DIM is a metabolinite known as a hydroxy pathway which sends a message to the hormones to calm down and together they help to maintain healthy looking skin and a flawless complexion. The supplements also won’t cause any dryness or flakiness which is often common in most topical acne treatments.

The Obagi Clenziderm range is a prescription strength range of products aimed at clearing acne. The products are nurse prescribed and ingredients include a solubilized form of 5% BPO which is designed to penetrate deep into the follicle and clear acne fast. Results start from 1-2 weeks after use and the products are also designed to help prevent future breakouts.

Peroxide works for acne as it is a keratolytic agent with antibacterial actions.  The effects from using is can include peeling form the drying action helping the skin become more balanced

I have personally been using the Obagi 360 system and I am astounded by the results, I have used Cosmeceutical products which have been glycolic based for 2 years now and had accepted my skin was as clear and exfoliated as it could be and I was happy but did feel I lacked a little in brightness. After  two weeks of using Obagi I can’t believe the enhancement of my skin in every way, it was brighter, younger, clearer, healthier  and felt tighter. I am so confident now that I feel I do not have to wear make up (unless I want to for special occasions) and a lot of people compliment my skin when I am not wearing make up and say ‘they want it like mine’, which is a shock to them when I say I not wearing any!  The retinal 0.5 within the product is what has achieved this result and it is a fabulous range to use forever or like myself fluctuate between different types of products and use when needed.


The Cleansing Gel with Salicylic Acid from Circadia is another favourite. The product gives your skin a deep cleanse and the beta-hydroxy salicylic acid helps to soften your skin and exfoliate. It works by drying the oil within the skin that normally triggers the acne keeping it under control. I normally recommend that this product is used as regularly as 3-5 times a week although you should attend a consultation first so we can assess your skin.  Used in combination with the Circadia Day and Night Time Control Moisturisers this is a great skin care regime to add into your routine.

Alongside all the great products we offer here, we also have a range of Skin Peel treatments that are perfect for exfoliating and enhancing the skin. The peels available here can be tailored to your skin type and often the peels work to remodel your skin rather than physically peel it although this is a common side effect with the stronger peels. Whatever your skin type is, there will be a peel suitable for you.

So whether it is acne or another skin complaint that you are seeking specialist advice for we recommend your make an appointment at a clinic local to you to come in for free skin consultation where we can look at your skin as well as speak through your lifestyle and skin care regimes and tailor a skin treatment and product plan that is unique to you.

The Private Clinic

Our leading UK dermatologists target root cause bacteria, the underlying factor behind problem acne, and create bespoke plans for all skin types.

Visit us in clinic at;

London Harley Street, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Buckinghamshire and Northampton

To book a consultation to find out more about the acne treatments and products we offer, please call 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form to get booked in at a clinic local to you.

How does the N-Lite work for Acne?

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In a previous blog we spoke with our Aesthetic Therapists from The Private Clinic to answer your top questions about the N-Lite Machine.

Here we bring you part 2 of the Q&A which goes into more information about treating acne especially.

How does the N-Lite work for acne?

The N-Lite laser treatment works in 3 ways: killing the bacteria, stimulating new collagen and reducing inflammation.

For Acne treatments the light of the laser kills the acne bacteria that cause the infection that can result in lesions and spots appearing on the skin. We treat the whole face to ensure the bacteria is killed over the whole area reducing the risk of infection spreading and further breakouts from occurring. The treatment also results in the stimulation of dermal collagen production which is a result of the body’s natural wound healing response; this can help to reduce the appearance of mild acne scarring. We are able to reduce the inflammation of the skin and prevent formation of new breakouts by stimulating the cytokine molecule.

How many treatments are usually recommended for a successful result?

It does depend on the patient’s skin to be able to determine how many treatments they will need to be able to address their concerns. For aggressive acne a course of 5 treatments is recommended although they may need more or a combination of the N-lite treatment and another skin treatment. After the patients initial course of treatment it is best advised to have single treatments every 3 months for maintenance.

What can I expect after my treatment?

After your first treatment you can experience breakouts a few weeks after, this is because the laser can draw out the acne making it appear worse as the immune system has had a shock. After a few days the body’s natural wound healing response will start to clear up the acne, patients will start to see the old breakouts will start to heal and calm down. Some swelling may be present and sometimes patients can have mild bruising on the skin due to blood capillaries lying close to the surface of the skin, but these may subside within a few hours.

Through the rest of the course of treatment results will be gradual over this time; full benefit of the treatment is normally seen within 3 months after the last treatment of the course.

What can I do after treatment to aid my results?

After treatment we will suggest to refrain from using any products with active ingredients (for example, salicylic, glycolic, retinol) in them for at least 48 hours after treatment to allow your skin to settle and recover. After 48 hours you are able to use your home care products, although you would still be advised to wait a few more days before using retinols, salicylic or glycolic products. Swimming, direct sunlight or sunbeds and fake tan should all be avoided for 2-3 days.

The practitioner will recommend continuing using sun protection. Depending on your concerns addressed in the consultation for maximum results we do offer Advanced Nutrition food supplements that can help the skin from the inside out, these supplements are best to take 2 weeks before your first treatment and after your course of treatment.  For Acne we recommend Skin Accumax to help control and reduce acne and breakouts and for those concerned with general ageing well and loss of collagen we recommend the Skin complete or collagen supplements, aiding in the support of production of healthy skin cells.

A product that everyone should be using in their skin care regime is the Blemish and Age Defence from Skin Ceuticals which contains glycolic, salicylic and Dioic acid. This product helps to create a path way in the skin to allow other products to deliver deeper in the skin. You will see the breakouts and oil production of the skin reduce and your skin will generally look a lot healthier.

For acne or breakout prone skin cutting out dairy from the diet can also help to reduce acne, as it could be an indication of intolerance to the lactose. Cutting out refined sugar can help as our bodies are unable to break these sugars down properly, this can result in the body purging through the skin resulting in breakouts and can result in premature ageing of the skin. Beer can be another culprit as it is fermented and sits in our digestive systems which can then be linked to acne of the of the face. Looking after the body on the inside as well as the outside will help to reduce any concerns of the skin, whether it be taking antioxidants or seeing the GP as it could also be an indication of a hormonal imbalance.

Acne treatment at The Private Clinic

We are the UK’s leading non-invasive cosmetic group and have some of the most experienced skin specialists and Consultant Dermatologists working with us. Our nurses and practitioners have performed more N-Lite treatments to date than any other clinic in the country.

Available at Birmingham, London Harley Street, Manchester, Leeds & Northampton