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Beautiful skin at the touch of a button
17 January 2010 By Cheryl O’Sullivan
When Naomi Mackle meets a new client, the first thing she does is give them a mirror and ask them what bothers them about their appearance.
It an unusual introduction, but it’s an essential part of the treatment process for Mackle, a doctor who specialises in skin conditions. Last year, she opened a cosmetic clinic alongside her general practice in Adare, Co Limerick, and business has been good to date.
Mackle has had an interest in dermatology from the time she qualified as a doctor in 2000.NowaGP, she completed a diploma in practical dermatology from Cardiff University in 2005 and now works as a tutor in dermatology for the university.
While Mackle said that the work of a GP often involved dermatology, the specialist clinic offers a different approach.
‘‘Many conditions are traditionally managed by long courses of antibiotics, and some patients are simply not happy with this," she said. She bought a laser treatment system last year, allowing her to expand the services on offer.
‘‘It’s all about improving the skin and how patients feel about themselves," said Mackle.
Her work includes treating conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne, as well as performing minor operations such as the removal of moles and skin cancers. On a more cosmetic level, she performs chemical peels, Botox, lip enhancements and laser hair removal, and Sculptra, which is a non-surgical face-lift.
She said she had seen a wide variety of clients in the new clinic. ‘‘Some clients know exactly what they want, others know very little about the various treatments," said Mackle.
‘‘I offer advice, but I am essentially there to do what the client wants. I will try to point them in the right direction, but it depends what they want and what their budget is."
Although the recession has reduced demand for unnecessary treatments, Mackle said her business had been growing each month. ‘‘I opened during the recession, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to," she said. ‘‘If you offer a good service and your prices remain competitive, I see no reason why the business wouldn’t continue to grow every year."
She said that the business had a large catchment area of customers, with Adare just 14 miles from Limerick city. The cosmetic clinic has three employees and Mackle intends to increase staff numbers over the next two years to help manage the workload.
Mackle said she believed it was a mistake to think that market research and advertising would deliver instant results for a new business, so she has invested in a website and places a lot of value on word ofmouth referrals.
She regularly attends industry conferences to update her knowledge and skills and source new products for the cosmetics business.
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