Beyond the injectable Your cosmetic questions answered: Transform Clinic

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Leading appearance medicine nurse with years of specialised experience, Katie McIndoe has built a reputation for excellence in advanced non-surgical aesthetics and is in constant demand. Katie sits down with Metropol to talk about the evolution of injectables and how treating a client looks different for everyone.

Katie, how do injectables now compare to when you entered the industry 15 years ago?
It has evolved enormously. When I entered the industry, injectables were largely focused on immediate results; softening lines, reducing wrinkles and restoring volume. Today, aesthetic medicine is far more sophisticated. We have a much greater understanding of facial anatomy, the ageing process, and skin health. Products, technology and techniques have advanced significantly, which means we can be much more holistic and strategic in how we treat the face.

Tell me about the shift from short-term to long-term results and how this influences the treatment landscape?
We’ve moved well beyond the idea that aesthetic medicine is about fixing a line or adding volume. I think about the face as something we are supporting over a lifetime. Immediate improvement is part of the treatment plan, but increasingly we’re looking at the quality and health of the skin and tissues as well. This is where biostimulant treatments have become particularly exciting, by encouraging collagen and elastin production and improving skin quality over time.

When you perform a facial assessment, what are you looking for? How does that shape a treatment plan?
A facial assessment is far more complex than looking at someone’s wrinkles and deciding where to inject. We assess facial proportions, symmetry, bone structure, volume distribution, muscle activity and skin health. We also assess the face dynamically, how it moves on expression. A face at rest only tells us part of the story.Most importantly, we don’t assume that the treatment someone thinks they need is necessarily the treatment they actually need. Two people can have the same concern, but completely different anatomy and underlying reasons. Our job is to identify that difference and create a treatment plan specifically for that person.

What is a hybrid treatment and how does one work?
A hybrid approach allows us to treat the facial tissue and skin on multiple levels rather than expecting one treatment to do everything. For example, we might use an injectable to provide structural support or restore volume, a biostimulator to encourage collagen production, and laser or energy-based technology to address pigmentation, redness or skin texture. Each treatment has a specific purpose. The skill lies in knowing which treatments will complement one another to give the best aesthetic result.

What sets Transform Clinic Merivale apart?
As an advanced aesthetic clinic, we offer a comprehensive range of advanced injectables, ultrasound facial mapping, Fotona laser, energy-based and result-focused skin treatments. This allows us to look at the face and skin as a whole and select the most appropriate treatment, or combination of treatments, rather than relying on a single approach. For us, aesthetic medicine is grounded in science, experience and careful assessment, supported by advanced technology.

How should I go about starting my journey with Transform Clinic Merivale?
Start with a complimentary consultation by calling 03 355 1311. Clients often come to us thinking they need a particular injectable, laser or treatment because they have
seen it online or a friend has had it. However, we start by understanding what is actually concerning them, assessing their facial anatomy and skin health, and discussing what they would like to achieve. From there, we create a personalised plan, which may involve one treatment or a combination over time.