Meet Dr Olivia McCormack: The Dentist Bringing Precision to Aesthetics at Wellface

A Little About Me: The Dentist Bringing Precision to Aesthetics at Wellface

Every so often a new face joins the Wellface team and it feels like they were always meant to be here. I like to think I'm one of those people. I'm a qualified dentist who now spends my days helping patients look like fresher, more rested versions of themselves, and I've quietly become one of the practitioners our patients ask for by name.

If you have watched me introduce myself on our Instagram, you will already have picked up on my warmth. I'm calm, unhurried and genuinely interested in what people want from their skin rather than what I think they should have. That combination of clinical training and easy bedside manner is exactly what a doctor-led clinic is built on, and it is why Dr Yasmin Tayeb, our founder, was so keen to bring me into the fold.

In this piece I want to properly introduce myself. Where I came from, why a dental background matters more than most people realise in aesthetics, how I approach a consultation, and the treatment I cannot stop talking about at the moment. That would be polynucleotides, and there is a good reason I love them.

From dentistry to facial aesthetics

I trained and worked as a dentist before moving into aesthetic medicine, and that path is far more common than you might expect. Some of the most respected injectors in the country started out in dentistry, and once you understand what dental training actually involves, it makes complete sense.

Dentists spend years studying the head and neck in extraordinary detail. They learn the muscles of facial expression, the way nerves and blood vessels travel through the face, and how the bones and soft tissue sit together to create the shape we recognise as a smile or a frown. They also spend their careers giving injections in one of the most sensitive and richly supplied areas of the body, the mouth and lower face, where accuracy is not optional. A millimetre matters.

That foundation translates beautifully into aesthetics. When I assess a face for anti-wrinkle treatment or dermal filler, I'm reading the same anatomy I have studied for years. I know where the danger zones are, where product should and should not go, and how a small, well placed adjustment can change the balance of a whole face. Precision under a needle is second nature to me, and I bring a steady, gentle hand that patients notice straight away.

There is also the softer side of dentistry that carries over. Dentists are used to treating nervous people. They learn to explain things clearly, to check in constantly, and to make an anxious patient feel safe in the chair. I do exactly that in the treatment room, which is why so many people who describe themselves as needle-shy end up completely relaxed with me.

How I came to Wellface

I'm refreshingly honest about how I ended up here. I had been following Dr Yasmin Tayeb on social media for a long time, watching her build Wellface from the ground up as a fellow dentist who had moved into aesthetics. Yasmin was, in my own words, an inspiration to me.

One day the two of us reached out to each other, and as I put it, the rest is history. What started as admiration from afar turned into a working partnership. I now describe the team as incredible, both as clinicians and as people, and I'm proud to be part of it. That is not marketing language, it is genuinely how I talk about my colleagues.

This matters more than it might seem. At Wellface, every practitioner learns from the ones around them. The doctors compare notes, discuss cases, and hold each other to a shared standard of natural, tasteful results. When I say I want to emulate the rapport Yasmin has with her patients and the results she achieves, I'm describing the culture that keeps the whole clinic honest. Nobody here is chasing a look. We are chasing a happy patient who still looks like themselves.

The treatments I offer

I work across the core injectable and skin treatments at Wellface. In practice, most of my consultations fall into a few areas.

Anti-wrinkle injections are a large part of what I do. My dental grounding in facial muscles means I can soften frown lines, forehead creases and crow's feet while keeping natural movement, which is the difference between looking rested and looking frozen. I'm a firm believer that expression should stay intact.

Dermal fillers are another mainstay. Whether that is subtle cheek support, softening the lines that run from nose to mouth, or refining the lower face, I approach it as restoring balance rather than adding volume for its own sake. Lip work is popular too, and my lighter touch suits patients who want hydration and a gentle enhancement rather than an obvious result.

And then there is skin. This is where my enthusiasm really shows, and where polynucleotides come in.

Why I love polynucleotides

Ask me for my favourite treatment and I don't hesitate. Polynucleotides. The results I'm seeing make me genuinely happy, and that is worth paying attention to, because polynucleotides are one of the more interesting developments in skin rejuvenation in recent years.

What polynucleotides actually are

Polynucleotides are fragments of purified DNA, most often derived from salmon or trout, that are highly compatible with human tissue. When they are injected into the skin, they do not simply plump or fill. Instead they act as a signal to your own cells, encouraging the fibroblasts that produce collagen and elastin to get back to work. They also hold onto water and help calm inflammation, so the skin becomes better hydrated and more settled over time.

Think of them as a repair treatment rather than a cosmetic top-up. Fillers add structure and anti-wrinkle injections relax muscles, but polynucleotides work on the quality of the skin itself. That is why we describe them as regenerative. They help the skin rebuild from the inside rather than masking the surface.

What the results look like

Because polynucleotides work by prompting your own cells, the changes come on gradually. Most people start to notice their skin looking a little brighter and more hydrated within the first few weeks, with the more meaningful improvements in texture, elasticity and tone building over a couple of months as new collagen forms. Skin tends to look smoother, firmer and healthier rather than suddenly different.

The treatment is versatile too. It works well across the face and is especially popular for the delicate under-eye area, where it can soften fine lines and improve the quality of thin, crepey skin. It is also used on the neck, the décolletage and the backs of the hands, all the places that give away the years but respond well to a boost in skin quality.

What a session involves

A polynucleotide session is quick, usually around thirty minutes to an hour depending on how many areas are being treated. The product is delivered through a series of tiny injections into the skin, and a course of two to three sessions spaced a few weeks apart is typical to get things going. After that, most people maintain their results with a top-up every six months or so.

Downtime is minimal. You may see some small bumps at the injection points, along with a little redness or occasional bruising, but this usually settles within a day or two. Sensible aftercare helps. For the first 48 hours it is best to avoid strenuous exercise, hot baths, saunas and direct sun, and to keep makeup off the area for the rest of the treatment day. Most people carry on with their week without a second thought.

How I approach a consultation

One of the things that sets a doctor-led clinic apart is that treatment starts with a proper conversation, not a price list. When you see me, I want to understand what is actually bothering you and what you hope to achieve, then I will tell you honestly what will and will not help.

Sometimes that means recommending less than a patient expected. If someone comes in asking for filler when their real concern is skin quality and dullness, I will say so, and I might suggest polynucleotides or a skin booster instead. My dental training gives me the anatomical confidence to plan treatments carefully, and my nature means I would rather do the right thing slowly than the dramatic thing quickly. Subtle tweaks, natural results, and a patient who leaves feeling like themselves. That is the brief I set myself every time.

Common questions about seeing me

Is it unusual for a dentist to do aesthetic treatments?

Not at all. Dentists are among the most anatomically trained clinicians when it comes to the face, and many leading aesthetic practitioners come from a dental background. Their detailed knowledge of facial muscles, nerves and blood supply, along with years of experience giving precise injections, makes the transition into aesthetics a natural one. I'm a fully qualified dentist who has trained further in aesthetic medicine.

Which treatments can I see you for?

I offer anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and lip treatments, along with skin rejuvenation such as polynucleotides. If you are not sure what you need, that is exactly what a consultation is for. I will assess your face and skin and talk you through the options that genuinely suit your goals.

Are polynucleotides right for me?

They suit most people who want to improve the quality of their skin rather than change the structure of their face. They are a popular choice for dullness, fine lines, thin under-eye skin, and general loss of firmness and hydration. The best way to know is a consultation, where I can look at your skin and advise whether polynucleotides, another skin treatment, or a combination will serve you best.

How soon will I see results from polynucleotides?

Early improvements in brightness and hydration often appear within a couple of weeks, but polynucleotides are a gradual, regenerative treatment. The fuller results in texture and firmness develop over the following weeks and months as your skin produces new collagen. A short course gives the most reliable outcome, followed by occasional maintenance.

Will anti-wrinkle treatment make me look frozen?

Not in my hands. My whole approach is built around keeping natural expression while softening the lines you dislike. Because I understand the facial muscles in such detail, I can be conservative and precise, adjusting the dose so you still look animated and like yourself.

Come and meet me for yourself

The easiest way to understand what people mean about me is to sit down with me. I will listen properly, explain your options in plain language, and only recommend what I believe will genuinely help. Whether you are curious about polynucleotides, considering anti-wrinkle treatment, or simply want an honest opinion on your skin, I'm a lovely person to start with.

Wellface has clinics in Cobham, Esher and Wimbledon, and you can book a consultation with me or any of our doctors at whichever branch suits you. Get in touch to arrange a time, and let me help you decide on the right next step for your skin.