Dr Melissa McKay graduated from Leeds University with a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacology and Medicine and Surgery in 2003. She has worked in the NHS for over 15 years. During this time, she developed an interest in Plastic Surgery and rotated through Surgical roles at Kingston Hospital and Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London where she worked alongside teams dealing with patients suffering from both congenital and traumatic cranio-facial problems, burns and cosmetic plastic surgery. Following which, she obtained a Membership to the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).
She took a decision to move away from progressing in Surgery, and re-educated to qualify as a G.P. in 2009 and focusing on her specialisation of Aesthetic Medicine since 2016. She has perfected her skills in skin, hair and facial rejuvenation procedures including anti-ageing, profile balancing, lip augmentation, hair restoration and liquid rhinoplasty through the thousands of procedures she has performed in 5 countries worldwide in her career.
Can you share the story of what inspired you to found your own business, Dr Melissa Clinic?
The inspiration to establish Dr. Melissa Clinic stemmed from my frustration with the industry's lack of truly individualised care and its tendency toward a 'cookie-cutter' approach. During my time working for large organisations in aesthetics, I often saw the core concerns of clients being overlooked, replaced by a conveyor-belt style of service that prioritised volume over quality.
I identified a clear gap in patient-centered care - one that genuinely prioritises education, empowerment, and achieving natural results, rather than chasing trends or quick fixes. I envisioned a clinic where every client would feel seen, heard, and valued, with a focus on delivering tailored treatments in a safe and ethical environment.
Drawing on my years of experience in Surgery and General Practice, I knew that a combination of medical precision, creative artistry, and corporate-level professionalism would be essential. Founding Dr. Melissa Clinic allowed me to bring this vision to life, creating a space where my ethos of personalised, high-quality care defines every aspect of the client experience.
What would you say has been the most significant moment or milestone in your professional journey that has led to where you are today?
One defining moment in my career was being recognised at an international conference, where I received the Global Excellence Award for Distinguished Healthcare Practitioner from Leaders Without Borders. As a medical professional, my unwavering focus has always been on my patients. Being honoured for my global contributions to elevating the standards of care in aesthetics was both humbling and inspiring. It reaffirmed my belief that placing patients at the heart of my work creates a meaningful impact that extends far beyond the clinic walls.
This recognition highlighted some of the most significant milestones in my professional journey, shaped by personal dedication, global collaboration, and overcoming extraordinary challenges.
On a day-to-day basis, especially when travelling between your practice locations, how do you continue to stay focused and ensure you best prioritise your time?
In all honesty, I'm still learning and evolving on the best ways to do this! Anyone that has been successful, will tell you it is both your inner drive and the support structures around you that keep your forward momentum and motivation and reduce wavering from any goal. Of course, there are practical things that one can do to ease the burden of complexities of daily life, and organisation is key - both for your diary and personal well-being.
I have been lucky enough to develop a key group of reliable team members who manage logistics, appointments, and operational details, allowing me to focus on my clinical work and patient care. This took some time to develop but I firmly believe the values, ethos and culture within emanate and spread through the team allowing smooth operations to occur.
I have had to learn the importance of:
1. Prioritising Tasks
2. Maintaining Energy
3. Reflection and Grounding
4. Preparation for the Unexpected
These practices help me remain effective and present, even when juggling multiple responsibilities across different locations.
Operating at the highest level often involves taking risks. But what role do you believe risk-taking plays in achieving success?
Risk-taking is an essential part of life for anyone seeking growth. It serves as a catalyst for progression, pushing boundaries and opening doors to new opportunities. Without it, true advancement remains out of reach. I am an inherent risk-taker, but of course, these are often based on well-informed decision-making processes and an understanding of the risk. I often feel I have strong instincts that I trust in terms of expanding my services. My knowledge and experience allow me to make calculated, informed decisions rather than impulsive ones.
Occasionally, things do not work out as planned, but the importance of this cannot be underestimated. It is almost as important to learn from setbacks, as it is to learn from success. Sometimes, the lessons learned are greater in this instance. Ultimately, risk comes with challenges that drive innovations.
When it comes to your own business, what is your leadership philosophy, and how do you use this to inspire and motivate those around you?
I adopt a transformational leadership style where I place a significant emphasis on leading with integrity, empathy, and collaboration. I maintain a small, loyal and dedicated team who share the common goals of our company. I focus on ensuring everyone has an awareness of the reasons behind decision-making processes and a deep understanding of the business.
I aim to always lead by example and maintain high ethical standards, inspiring trust and respect in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our customers' highest praise to us is always what a supportive, cohesive and positively energetic team we have.
Individuals are empowered to develop and grow, taking ownership of their roles and encouraged to succeed through inspiring motivational change for continued improvements for the clinic as a whole.
Customer care is arguably the most important factor when it comes to any business involved in clinical procedures. In your view, what's the secret to delivering the very best client experience?
The key ingredient to success is listening. Everyone wants, and needs, to be heard and feel that their needs are being met where possible. This is especially important in a medical environment, such as aesthetics, that can also involve a background of complicated psychology. Of course, there are always limitations to what can be achieved when it comes to medicine, but gaining a deeper understanding of a client's motivations and goals will be key in the delivery and education of the clear and honest guidance we can then provide. Using clear, evidence-based decisions that can be translated to tailored treatment options gives a unique client experience.
Gaining a client's confidence through trust-building, ensuring they feel well-informed, valued and respected creates a valuable client relationship which transcends any industry.
Can you share a specific setback in your career, and how you utilised that experience to learn, grow and improve?
A pivotal chapter was expanding my international practice by partnering with a plastic surgery centre in Prague. This should have catapulted the business in another direction and offered rapid growth through the delivery of a new arm of the business. Unfortunately, this collaboration coincided with the simultaneous launch of two clinic locations across different countries, an ambitious endeavour that began in January 2020 - at the start of the pandemic.
Navigating nine months of closures during that time was one of the most challenging periods of my career, in addition to the travel restrictions that followed and adjustments to a new psyche of our client base. Emerging from those trials reinforced my resilience and taught me the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and staying true to my vision.
These milestones, alongside my personal evolution from Surgery to General Practice and into aesthetics, have shaped not only my approach as a clinician but also my growth as a leader. I’ve learned to value progress through both recognition and adversity, using each experience as a foundation to refine my craft and expand my impact.
Entrepreneurs and founders are notorious for their long hours and facing challenges when it comes to balancing work and personal life. How do you manage this balance, and what strategies do you use to prevent burnout?
Maintaining balance is an ongoing challenge, but I navigate it through the creation of boundaries. I have become better at recognising my limitations, and signs of saturation. I now ensure I plug in time for friends, family, personal well-being, mindfulness and cherishing quality time. My team is also INCREDIBLE at realising when I have had enough, even when I do not! It is a constant battle to relinquish more to allow for me to recharge, but recognising that this is imperative has in itself helped me to manage burnout risks. Celebrating both successes and failures (all part of the growth process) helps keep you from a negative spiral or thought process.
Trust in your team is key, and knowledge that you have responsible individuals around you who are genuinely invested in the success of the company is paramount.
What advice do you have for those aspiring to follow in your footsteps? Are there key principles or lessons you wish you had known when starting your own business??
1. Surround yourself with individuals in life and work that elevate you in knowledge, diversity, energy or motivation. If you find people that do all of these, do not let go
2. Patience is necessary, setbacks are inevitable, and success is a journey built on perseverance, learning, and growth
3. Your business is a reflection of your personality and will grow with you as you invest in your evolving skills, interests and knowledge
4. Trust your chosen people in the times you need support through delegation and increased responsibility. Empowering others is a huge motivator
5. Maintain a network of others in the industry, but also look at other industries to determine how they have overcome challenges
Finally, given your deep experience in the sector what advice do you have for those who have considered non-surgical aesthetic procedures and looking for more information?
Unfortunately in the UK, we have one of the most relaxed systems in place resulting in a number of individuals with little or no medical background undertaking aesthetic procedures. People are often attracted to deals and price points and embark on work with practitioners without a true understanding of what is involved in delivering a safe, effective treatment. Recently, there have been a number of high profile cases that have resulted in serious illness, injury, or worse fatalities at the hands of inexperienced individuals.
My recommendations would be to approach qualified, fully registered medical professionals for such work. Doctors and Dentists will usually have had extensive training in anatomy through their historical careers, and are able to treat and prescribe for a wide range of conditions and offer advice. Nurses have less exposure to anatomy in their core training in comparison. Provided you are working with a medical professional that is accountable for their actions, and you are comfortable with them, use your consultation to determine how they can support you in achieving your goals.
Never feel pressured to make a decision during a consultation. Check reviews, ask about products and consider the aftercare arrangements from the clinic you approach. Aesthetic treatments should be empowering, not a quick fix for deeper issues. Take your time and make informed decisions. A good practitioner should allow you to be realistic, understand what is achievable and focus on subtle enhancements.
The views and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not constitute advice or a recommendation. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Enness and are not intended to indicate any market or industry viewpoints, or those of other industry professionals.
