The priceless prize for a nip and tuck
For Dr Julie Sinclair, nothing beats seeing a patient smile and say they feel confident again or have a new job
GOING under the knife to tweak what your momma gave you is commonplace these days. Just ask Julie Sinclair, who sees an average of 10 patients a day at her offices in Edenvale, Joburg.
Sinclair, a doctor with a special interest in aesthetic medicine, offers minimally invasive cosmetic treatments to enhance patients’ appearance, give them a sense of wellness and help them fight ageing.
“I probably see easily around 8 to 10 patients a day, maybe a little more than that. Sometimes it can even go up to 16 in a day,” she says.
On a Tuesday morning, the 38-year-old doctor’s schedule is jam-packed with clients.
Her first is Ashleigh Johnston, who has come in for skin needling, a process that is said to promote facial rejuvenation.
In the reception area there are pamphlets on every kind of new procedure, from eyelid lifts and body contouring to advanced Botox treatments. Shelves are stacked with the products that that Sinclair Aesthetics sells.
Johnston, who’s in her mid-thirties, has been seeing Sinclair for about five years. She takes oral collagen supplements, she’s done Botox and has had dermal fillers.
Sinclair says one of the best parts of her job is interacting with her patients. “We share a very close relationship. Most are happy to open up to me about what’s going on in their lives and I really love that.”
Johnston lies down on the examination table and Sinclair applies a topical anaesthetic gel that takes half an hour to work. Then Johnston is ushered into a treatment room and Sinclair pulls on latex gloves and picks up the derma pen for the skin needling.
She hands Johnston a stress ball to squeeze during the procedure, which will cause some facial bleeding.
After half an hour, Sinclair is just about finished. Johnston’s skin looks bloodshot, but Sinclair says the redness will disappear in a few days and she’ll be able to cover some of it with make-up tomorrow.
“Ashleigh will be able to go to work tomorrow without anyone knowing a thing,” she says.
“That’s the great thing about these minimally invasive treatments. The recovery is incredibly quick.”
Sinclair has a number of other clients lined up for consultations. “Many people walk in not knowing exactly what they want to do,” she says.
Surprisingly, her clients are not only female. Many are male. “I have male clients as old as 80 coming to see me for procedures,” she says. “It’s a market that is huge and I think largely untapped.
“Men are realising that women are outstripping them and looking younger. Many men want to look good. But in no way do we feminise men.”
Sinclair, who completed a Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine as well as being board certified in aesthetic medicine by the American Aesthetics Academy, has customers from all around the country, as well as from the UK, Australia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Her after noon appointments are mostly for dermal fillers. While Sinclair says she loves her job, she admits some see the industry as superficial.
She practised as an emergency doctor for six years.
“I have patients who feel really bad about themselves, and that they’re not worth anything. If you can make them feel that they look a little bit more presentable, it really changes their psychological outlook,” she explains.
Sinclair has undergone a few procedures herself to rejuvenate her skin and body.
“I am 38 now, the years are ticking by and while you need to feel good for yourself and your husband, it’s also important that my patients know I practise what I preach.”
Her next requires an anti-wrinkle treatment.
Sinclair will inject botulinum toxin in her patient’s face to eliminate wrinkles.
She starts by injecting her patient just underneath an eye. Sinclair is confident and her hands remain completely steady.
“Lots of the work I do involves very delicate procedures.”
Sinclair acknowledges her job can be incredibly challenging at times. “It’s a high-risk environment, just like anything in medicine.
“Someone’s life is in your hands. When patients are paying for it, they have expectations, and you have to be able to meet those.”
Although business is at an all-time high, Sinclair predicts that cosmetic procedures will become even more popular.
“It’s definitely growing in South Africa, that’s for sure. Overseas, if you are not doing it, there’s something wrong with you.
“Here there is still a stigma, but it is getting less and less.”
After seeing her last patient she heads home to her husband and 4-year-old son.
She says: “Making people feel better about themselves is why I decided to pursue aesthetic medicine.
“There’s nothing better than seeing a patient smile and saying they feel confident again or that they have a new boyfriend or girlfriend, or a new job. That smile on their face is priceless.”