The Chamonix Clinic Blog

World Patient Safety Day 2025: Why It Matters More Than Ever

By Linda Mather (Lead Nurse & Director)

4 minute read

Today is World Patient Safety Day, and I thought it was the perfect moment to pause and reflect on something that has always been at the very heart of my career—keeping patients safe.

The aim of this day is simple but powerful: to reduce risks for patients and to create environments where safety is the standard, not an afterthought. It’s something I carried with me throughout my time in the NHS, and it’s even more critical now in the world of aesthetics.

Why Safety in Aesthetics Is So Important

Unlike in the NHS, where systems, protocols, and regulations are firmly in place, the aesthetics industry remains largely unregulated. That means there are no universal standards for products, practitioners, or treatment environments.

Sadly, many patients don’t realise this—and worse, some practitioners don’t seem to care. That lack of accountability puts patients at unnecessary risk. And as someone who has dedicated over 40 years to nursing, I find that deeply troubling.

How We Keep Standards High at Chamonix

At Chamonix Clinic, we continually set the bar high—not just clinically, but environmentally too. Over the past few months, I’ve attended several professional learning events, including a wonderful day of lectures in Stockholm, and I’ll soon be at another major event in London, focused on innovation and patient care.

These experiences allow me to bring back the latest knowledge, review our policies and procedures with fresh eyes, and make sure there are no gaps. Our goal is always the same: to give every patient the cleanest, safest, and most sustainable treatment possible.

What Patients Should Always Ask Themselves

Whether you come to us or elsewhere, I encourage you to stop and think before committing to a treatment. Ask yourself:

Is my practitioner medically qualified, and what experience do they have in aesthetics?
Does the treatment environment look truly clean and professional?
Have I been asked thorough medical questions, with clear information on potential risks?
Have I been given time to reflect with a proper cooling-off period?
Does this practitioner genuinely care—and will they provide 24-hour aftercare if needed?

This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a strong starting point. And please remember my golden rule: “Good fillers are never cheap, and cheap fillers are never good.”

Final Thoughts

Patient safety isn’t just a phrase—it’s a responsibility, and one I take incredibly seriously. Today, on World Patient Safety Day, I want to thank every patient who puts their trust in me and my team. We never take that for granted, and we will always put your safety first.

Wishing you a safe and happy Patient Safety Day 2025.

Linda xxx

September 17, 2025

Aesthetics Care, Treatments

Why We Don’t Share Photos

By Linda Mather (Lead Nurse & Director)

4 minute read

I thought I’d use today’s blog to shine a light on something we’re often asked: “Why don’t you share before-and-after photos on social media?”

This question came up again today after a patient mentioned something they’d seen online. It made me reflect on how often I hear misconceptions from patients—things they’ve read or watched on social media, presented as fact.

The Problem with Social Media “Advice”

It’s an interesting phenomenon. Imagine telling a firefighter how to put out a fire because you saw a video on TikTok. Or advising a lawyer on how to win a case because someone on Instagram said so. It wouldn’t happen.

Yet in aesthetics, it’s surprisingly common for people with no medical or clinical training to share advice—often confidently—that can be misleading, or even unsafe.

Let’s go with the firefighter analogy. If I read online that spinning a hose anticlockwise is the best way to fight a fire, I might believe it—because I’m not a firefighter, and I wouldn’t know any better. But if I try it and the hose pulls the fire towards me instead, well… that’s a painful way to learn I shouldn’t have trusted a social media reel.

Seventeen Years of Expertise, Not Instagram

The truth is, I haven’t trained to fight fires—but I have spent the last 17 years training, learning, researching, and working full-time in medical aesthetics. This isn’t a hobby, a trend, or something I picked up online. It’s my profession. I didn’t learn it from “Digital Dolly” on Instagram.

Why You See So Many Aesthetic Photos Online

Social media is flooded with glossy photos of freshly-injected lips and faces, often taken under ring lights while patients are still lying down, shiny balm applied for extra impact. These images are designed to attract attention—but they’re not always representative, and they come with serious ethical and legal concerns.

The Legal and Ethical Risks of Sharing Photos

Consent is one issue. Just because someone says “Yeah, you can use my photo,” doesn’t mean that consent covers future use, platform changes, or context shifts. It’s a legal and ethical grey area—and one I’d rather not expose my patients to.

Regulations are another. In the UK, it’s illegal to advertise prescription-only medicines (POMs), and this includes using language or images that could be seen as incentivising them. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has clear guidance and even helpful videos on what is and isn’t permitted. We follow these rules strictly—because protecting patients matters more to us than chasing likes.

Ethics Over Algorithms

So, in short, we don’t share patient photos, and we don’t incentivise treatments involving prescription-only medicines. We operate ethically, professionally, and always with your best interests at heart. That means staying current, avoiding fads that distort natural beauty, and working within the law—always.

Your Face Is a Privilege, Not a Marketing Tool

If you’ve chosen to trust me with your face, know that I honour that trust by keeping you safe. That’s my priority. It always has been.

And to any firefighters reading this—apologies if I’ve got the hose-spinning analogy completely wrong! I’m not a firefighter, so I wouldn’t dream of telling you how to do your job. Just like you probably wouldn’t tell me how to do mine.

As always, if we haven’t met yet, I hope to connect with you in the future—and if we already know each other, I look forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you for continuing to trust the Chamonix Clinic with your care, your time, and most importantly, your face.

Linda xxx

June 16, 2025

Announcements

Finding Time, Letting Go, and Lifting Others Up

By Linda Mather (Lead Nurse & Director)

4 minute read

This blog is coming to you a little later than promised—sorry! Things have been so full-on at the clinic lately, and carving out a quiet moment to write has been trickier than expected. I really enjoy sharing these updates, but sometimes the days just run away with me.

Time seems to be speeding up at the moment. The days and weeks are flying by, and there never seems to be enough of either. Am I just slowing down—or is there simply too much going on?

Exciting Growth and a Bittersweet Goodbye

Right now, the clinic is incredibly busy, which I’m so thankful for. We’re welcoming two wonderful new team members, and both are settling in beautifully. But it’s a bittersweet time, as we prepare to say goodbye to our lovely Emily at the end of June. She’s off to do amazing things, and we’re so proud of her.

Watching her grow, just as I did with Jess before her, has been one of the true joys of running this clinic. These young women came in quiet and unsure—and leave strong, confident, and ready to make a real difference in the world.

The Power of Empowering Others

Running a business isn’t easy. There are plenty of challenges—some visible, many behind the scenes. But the most fulfilling moments aren’t always the biggest ones. For me, it’s the quiet satisfaction of empowering others. Helping people grow, giving them confidence, and seeing them step into their full potential—that’s what really lights me up.

Let’s Make Work a Positive Place

Something I still struggle to understand is why people complain about each other, in or out of the workplace. That’s not to say I’m immune—people can absolutely get on my nerves too! But at Chamonix, we work hard (well… some days we fake it a little!) to create a warm, kind, and uplifting environment—for each other, and for our patients.

It’s not forced. It’s just who we are. Or maybe I’m just very lucky to be surrounded by genuinely amazing people.

Final Thoughts

Life feels busy and full right now, and there’s a lot of change happening. But even in the whirlwind, I’m reminded how lucky I am to work alongside such brilliant people—and to do work that lifts others up.

Thanks for your patience, and thank you for reading. And if you’re going through a busy season too, take a breath—you’re doing better than you think!

Linda xxx

May 16, 2025