‘Ask awkward questions before agreeing to treatment’, urges Harrogate senior aesthetics nurseKnaresborough health and beauty week begins today

Knaresborough’s first health and beauty week begins today.

Sixteen businesses are involved in the venture, which runs from April 22 to Sunday, April 28.

It is one of many events being organised this year by Knaresborough Business Collective.

The collective was set up by independent traders Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill in 2021. The health and beauty week has been created to showcase Knaresborough’s beauty venues.

The event follows the Knaresborough Business Collective’s first week of exclusive offers, Knaresborough food and drink week, in March.

Similar to the food and drink week, the beauty event will give people cut-price deals throughout the week. Salons, clinics and wellness shops will have a range of exclusive offers, many of which are yet to be announced.

Loft salon Knaresborough, is one of the locations offering discounted treatments

In an interview with the Stray Ferret, prior to the Knaresborough food and drink week, Ms Horner said:

“There are so many amazing businesses in Knaresborough it is just a case of showcasing what we have to offer and drawing people in.

“We have launched to event to show what is on offer in Knaresborough, sometimes people get stuck in a routine and need to be shown what options they have. Sometimes people don’t realise these places even exist, so it helps to put them on the map.

“All the businesses are so different they have lots to offer and we had to make sure there was a mutual benefit.”

The collective has also revealed plans to run another event, a retail week in the run-up to the Knaresborough Business Awards in summer.

Deals for this week will be updated daily and shared to the Knaresborough Business Collective Facebook page. Participating businesses will also put posters in their windows.

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co will have offers this week.

The businesses involved are:

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How Harrogate became home to ‘skin tightening specialist of the North’

This story is sponsored by HIFU Clinics UK.

A Harrogate clinic has taken the title of “skin-tightening specialist of the North” after launching a brand-new treatment not offered anywhere else in the UK. 

HIFU Clinics UK, which opened on Westmoreland Street this summer, is five-star rated on Google and has invested tens of thousands of pounds in state-of-the-art clinical equipment imported from the United States. It specialises in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and all its treatments are non-surgical. 

Its new HIFU Ultra Dual® therapy combines HIFU Ultra Med with radio frequency (RF) microneedling – sometimes known as Morpheus 8 – to produce what it says is the “ultimate skin-tightening treatment”. 

Michelle Clarke, director of HIFU Clinics UK.

Founder and director Michelle Clarke said: 

“HIFU is the latest and deepest-penetrating skin-tightening technology on the market. It’s particularly popular with women going through menopause, as that’s when a woman’s body starts to show its age at a faster rate, especially around the jawline, jowl and neck. 

“Most of our clients are between the ages of 40 and 70, and they prefer a more natural, rejuvenated look.

“Going under the knife can be painful, invasive, and it doesn’t even address skin quality. My approach is far more natural, and gives a fresher, brighter look.” 

Michelle has been in practice since 2011 and opened her first clinic in Wakefield in 2016. She is also a tutor and trains practioners from across the UK on how to deliver HIFU treatments. 

Before and after photos showing the effect of HIFU treatment on a client's neck following treatment at HIFU Clinics UK.

A Harrogate client who was delighted with the treatment and her experience.

Over the last 12 years, her reputation has grown and clients – some of them celebrities – now come to see her from as far afield as London and Scotland. 

A Harrogate resident (pictured above) who recently had HIFU treatment said she had a “wonderful experience” on her first visit, adding:

“One of the standout aspects of my visit was the exceptional customer service delivered by Michelle. She went above and beyond in explaining the procedure to me, ensuring I understood everything clearly.

“Her expertise and friendly manner put me at ease throughout the entire process.

“The results of the HIFU treatment were beyond my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier.

“I am truly grateful to Michelle for her professionalism and outstanding care. Thank you for making my HIFU treatment experience exceptional!”

Michelle said: 

“They make the journey because they trust us. This is new technology, so the equipment is improving rapidly, but we always make sure we keep up with ongoing clinical developments. My clients know we will always have the latest state-of-the-art clinical equipment, because we specialise in this. 

“This isn’t just another clinic – we’re the skin-tightening specialist of the North, and we offer something you just can’t get anywhere else.” 

Find out more: 

HIFU Clinics UK offers a personalised full skin assessment by appointment only.  

To book your FREE consultation, call 01423 648949 or email admin@hifuclinicsuk.com.

New aesthetics clinic opens its doors in Harrogate

A new aesthetics clinic has opened in Harrogate today – to offer skin tightening, slimming treatments and vaginal rejuvenation.

HIFU Clinics UK specialises in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), so the treatments are non-surgical.

Michelle Clarke, who has been in the industry for 13 years and is the director of HIFU Clinics UK, says vaginal rejuvenation can be a “life-changing” treatment.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“We are now offering vaginal rejuvenation – changes happen in the female body after childbirth and menopause, so our treatments can help with things like dryness, bladder weakness and more.

“It’s not really talked about, a lot of people don’t even know you can get help for this, but this can be life-changing.”

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HIFU Clinics UK, which is now taking appointments for its new clinic on Westmoreland Street just off Skipton Road, opened its first clinic in Wakefield three years ago.

Ms Clarke said many of her clients were looking for a more natural look:

“Our clients can walk out down the street and to their families, without people knowing they have had any work done.

“They just look fresher and well-rested. So it is a completely different approach to other aesthetic clinics.”

The newly renovated clinic has two rooms for HIFU clients and will be renting out two of its other rooms to other high-end professionals, like beauticians or chiropractors.

While the clinic opened in Harrogate today, there will be an official opening event in September with demonstrations, drinks, canapes and special offers.

Knaresborough salon to hold launch party tomorrow

A Knaresborough salon is holding an official launch party nearly three years after trading began.

Loft, located on Finkle Keep in Knaresborough, began as a lockdown project and opened its doors in late 2020.

Teresa McDowell, who offers laser hair removal treatments at the salon, said the previously derelict building had been transformed into a “quirky and quaint” business.

The salon offers traditional beauty services, such as nails, hair, and massages, as well as aesthetic treatments including Botox and filler. Those that work at the salon are all self-employed.

Ms McDowell said the delayed open day was due to the previous team “not gelling” with one another, but she added the current team was “finally solid” enough to warrant a celebration.

She added:

“We are different to all the other salons in the area.

“The thing I love about the salon is that we don’t follow the trends – we are the trend”.

The open day is free to attend and will include drinks and nibbles, as well as live demonstrations of the services on offer.

Goodie bags will also be available to the first 20 people that attend, as well as discounts for future bookings.

The open day will take place on Saturday, May 27, from 1pm.

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Non-surgical ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ come to Harrogate

A new aesthetic clinic and training academy offering an alternative Brazilian butt lift service is set to open on King’s Road, in Harrogate.

Classic Cosmetics originated in Boroughbridge but is moving to Harrogate to meet demand.

The clinic will offer aesthetic treatments to clients, as well as training to those wishing to pursue a career in cosmetic treatments.

Classic Cosmetics’ treatments include lip fillers, micro-blading and anti-wrinkle injections.

The clinic also offers a non-surgical alternative to the controversial Brazilian butt lifts, which has been subject to health risk concerns.

The treatment in Harrogate will use a hyaluronic acid injection instead of other methods, such as fat transfer.

Brazilian butt lifts, or BBLs, have grown in popularity in recent years, with the likes of Towie star Dani Imbert among those undergoing surgery.

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Alongside its work with clients, the CPD-accredited training academy in Harrogate offers one-to-one courses in aesthetic treatments, including facial fillers, lip blush and eyelash extensions.

Vicki Barnes, founder of Classic Cosmetics, explained those wishing to train in advanced cosmetics treatments “must be trained in physiology and anatomy first”.

Ms Barnes has 18 years of experience in the beauty industry and has trained in aesthetics since 2019.

She said:

“Harrogate has become a selling point for my clients now.

“They will come to train with me and then spend a weekend in Harrogate”.

The clinic will open on Wednesday, April 5.

Lifelong friends celebrate a year transforming faces in Harrogate

This story is sponsored by HGFace.

When Dr Lynda Allman and Jo Banks met 27 years ago at a party in Harrogate, they formed an instant connection, and a lifelong friendship was born.

After retiring from their respective careers in dentistry and nursing, they felt the time was right to create their own business together.

Realising they shared a mutual passion for facial aesthetics, they launched HGFace in 2021, and have just recently celebrated the business’ first birthday.

The medical aesthetics and skin clinic, located in Harrogate’s Windsor House, offers patients non-surgical treatments with a strong emphasis on professional, ethical and safe methods and techniques.

The wide range of treatments available include consultations for wrinkle relaxation treatments, dermal fillers, lip enhancements, PRP, microneedling, chemical peels and dermaplaning.

Lynda, who owned  her own dental practice, Acomb Dental and Implant Clinic, in York, for 20 years, explained:

“We have been great friends for so many years and we always thought we would do something together when the time was right.

“We both have continued with our professional registrations and with around 70 years of clinical experience between us in our previous careers, this has meant that the transition into facial aesthetics was a natural progression for us.”

Lynda first began carrying out medical aesthetics treatments whilst in a dental practice over 15 years ago.

She said:

“It has long been a passion of mine and ultimately what I have loved doing most.

“Aesthetics itself has evolved enormously in the time since I started out. It’s gone from being the treatment of isolated fine lines and wrinkles, to treating the face as a whole. We’ve continually expanded our knowledge and had the benefit of some world-class training. The subject becomes more and more interesting as the years go by.”

Self-confessed “skin geek” Jo added:

“The science and the psychology are so interesting and there is always so much to learn. It’s a good job that we are both life-long learners!

“Unlike the pressures of our previous careers, we can now give our patients the time that our aesthetic and skincare consultations and treatments require. There is no rushing here.

“Listening and understanding our patients is of great importance. We focus on building rapport and trust to make sure our patients are comfortable with and informed about their choices.”

The friends chose to base their clinic at Windsor House, on Cornwall Road. Both agree it is “a fabulous setting”, which is peaceful, discreet and also has parking available.

Whilst they both offer a full range of treatments, Jo tends to specialise in skincare and Lynda in the injectable procedures, such as wrinkle relaxation treatments and facial rejuvenation with dermal fillers.

Jo said:

“Skin care and injectable non-surgical aesthetic treatments go hand-in-hand.

“Well-proportioned features, along with a glowing complexion are the goal. Our aim is never to change a face, rather to enhance what is naturally there already.

Lynda highlighted the importance of good nutrition, hydration and appropriate supplementation.

She said:

“We retail a great range of supplements specifically for the skin. Jo and I would never be without our supplements now.”

Dr Lynda Allman (left) and Jo Banks.

Women tend to make up most of the patient list at HGFace, but the team are treating an increasing number of men.

Lynda said:

“There is a worldwide increase in men having aesthetic treatments. It’s not just the girls who want to look and feel great and full of confidence.”

A more recent addition to the treatment menu at HGface is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment.

This involves harnessing the regenerative powers of natural factors present in our own blood.

A blood sample is taken, centrifuged and the plasma removed. This plasma, rich in natural growth factors can be used in many areas of the body where healing and regeneration are required.

This is proving successful in treating hair loss in both men and women.

PRP can also be used as a great skin rejuvenator. The treatment is pain free and without any down-time.

HGFace is Save Face accredited annually, which means that the clinic has been assessed and has met ‘best practice standards’.

For more information visit www.hgface.co.uk