The art of being an aesthetic

The art of being an aesthetic doctor

Of course, it is important that an aesthetic practitioner has the necessary training and qualifications, but how much of the work involves artistry? If experience and high quality training are regarded as important in choosing your aesthetic practitioner, then Dr Máire Rhatigan has these in spades. Her medical background is ophthalmology, having been a specialist in oculoplastic surgery, and she has dedicated the past 17 years primarily to aesthetic medicine.

Dr Máire feels her artistic leanings are what drew her to ophthalmology, oculoplastic surgery and also to aesthetic medicine.

“Creating arty things is something I have always done since I was a kid.

My mum still has my first embroidery project of six tablemats, which get brought out on very special occasions!

I love painting and I’m especially excited if I get given a beautiful photograph which I can turn into an original painting. My favourite is this one of my daughter Shauna with a

Spanish sunset background.”

“In aesthetic medicine, the most important moment is the very start of the journey with a patient when we first decide what we are going to do. What is going to be appropriate and look right are things I think carefully about at the first consultation. In turning a photograph into a painting, I need to examine in close detail the form of the subject, especially if I am painting a face. It is just the same in aesthetics, where I examine all the components of the face, how they complement each other, or which parts don’t complement and can be helped.” Dr Máire is back at her clinic, Orchard Cosmetic, in Newport. Her travels with her family in the past eight years took her to various locations in Spain and Gibraltar. With her two children getting to university age, the decision was made to return to the UK. “Being away was exciting and exotic, especially for the children who attended a number of International schools and made friends from many countries. We are now happy to be back with a renewed sense of all the wonderful opportunities living in the UK gives.” “I am especially excited to return to my clinic to provide aesthetic treatments. Whilst away, I provided aesthetics in Gibraltar and there I found people's desires to be very similar to those on the Isle of Wight.” Máire specialises in Face-Lift without Surgery, which has none of the bandages, bruising, secrecy and hiding away associated with surgical Face Lift but is just as effective with more natural results.

So what else excites this arty doctor? “My new e-bike! So do give me a toot or a wave if you see me cycling around the Island on my bright blue bike.”

Face Lift without Surgery. Left: before treatment, Right: after treatment Face Lift without Surgery. Left: before treatment, Right: after treatment Right: Dr Maire’s painting of her daughter Shauna