The rise of the superclinic: London’s chicest cosmetic clinics – A new generation of luxurious cosmetic treatment centres are here to cater for a discerning and demanding consumer for whom tweakments are as normal as a dental check-up
Once, a little wrinkle relaxer or filler was something to hide, involving sneaking furtively into an anonymous clinic and emerging in dark glasses. But as the demand for facial rejuvenation has skyrocketed, such stigma has faded and a more luxurious experience is desired.
While Harley Street has long been considered the foremost destination for such injectable tweakments, patients often find themselves huddled in worn multi-clinic waiting-rooms and climbing endless flights of stairs before they reach a drab treatment room. Not so chic. But now, an elite group of superclinics is revolutionising the way in which aesthetic treatments are approached. These grand destinations are eschewing starkly medical settings for lavish interiors and light-flooded treatment suites, where a host of experts are gathered under the same roof.
One such superclinic, Ouronyx, is likely London’s most talked-about aesthetics destination. With its sweeping marble staircase, curated art collection and expertly sourced minimalist Italian furniture, it’s akin to walking into a luxury boutique hotel. “We wanted to challenge the old concepts,” says the co-founder Ida Banek, an entrepreneur and professor of psychology. “If you’re not sick, why do you need to be in a clinical, medical setting?”
The rise of the superclinic: London’s chicest cosmetic clinics
Dr Marco Nicoloso, Ouronyx’s medical director and resident doctor (one of six based there, specialising in everything from radiofrequency to hair loss), explains this approach: “If you go to a car mechanic and demand that they only fix the brake fluid, you could still leave with a broken car. You’re not the expert. Often, we find underlying issues could be caused by less obvious problems such as hormones, or something as simple as the wrong skincare regime.”
Scawn found he was increasingly asked to “coordinate” his patients’ pre- and post-surgery protocols. “The role of a surgeon can be siloed: once you’ve done your job you don’t often see your patients again,” he says. “But they were frequently relying on me to help them source further expertise – injectables, skincare recommendations or ongoing wellness advice – which are all important when it comes to maintaining surgical results. They were going from place-to-place in search of this and I knew there must be a more holistic solution.”
When the couple found the perfect building (“high ceilings, spacious treatment rooms, masses of natural light”) they decided to combine their expertise to create a welcoming, curated, club-like venture. “Plastic surgeon, dermatologist, private GP, facialist and even eyelash technician – we’re combining them all in this beautiful space,” says Scawn. Of the Clinic, he says: “It’s less stark, less clinical, yes. But ‘beneath the bonnet’ is everything you need: state-of-the-art operating rooms, lasers, cryotherapy and relaxing recovery pods. It’s the whole gamut under one beautifully designed roof.”