New Faces, a New Wimbledon Branch and Two New Treatments at Wellface

There are weeks at the clinic when several things land at once, and this was one of them. Dr Yosra Albeyatti and Dr Amina Albeyatti have joined the team, both of them doctors who share the same careful, unhurried approach to aesthetics that my patients have come to expect. We have opened a branch in Wimbledon, just a few minutes on foot from the station, so treatment is easier to reach for anyone who prefers travelling by tube or train. And we have added two treatments that answer questions my patients ask me all the time.

Those two treatments sit at slightly different ends of the body-and-skin spectrum. Aqualyx is a fat-dissolving injection for small, stubborn pockets that refuse to shift no matter how disciplined you are with diet and exercise. Sclerotherapy fades the fine blue and red thread veins that tend to appear on the legs and elsewhere, the ones that feel out of your control and hard to hide.

Both are considered non-surgical, both are done in clinic during a straightforward appointment, and both start with a proper consultation rather than a booking straight onto the treatment couch. Below is a fuller look at what each one does, what a session feels like, and who tends to get the best out of them.

New doctors and a more accessible location

Dr Amina Albeyatti and Dr Yosra Albeyatti bring the same standards that run through the rest of the team: medically trained, meticulous, and genuinely interested in getting the detail right rather than rushing anyone toward a decision. My patients often tell me they value being able to see a different practitioner when their usual doctor is fully booked, or simply because they would like a second perspective, and having more experienced hands on the team makes that easier.

The Wimbledon branch joins our clinics in Cobham and Esher. If you live or work in south west London, it removes the drive out to Surrey and puts a doctor-led clinic within a short walk of the station. The treatments and the standard of care are the same across all three sites, so you can book wherever is most convenient and expect the same experience.

Aqualyx: a non-surgical option for stubborn pockets of fat

Aqualyx is worth understanding properly, because it is often misunderstood. It is not a weight-loss treatment and it will not slim you down all over. It is a contouring tool, designed to refine a specific, localised area of fat that has stayed put despite everything you have tried. Think of the small pad under the chin, or a pocket on the flanks that never seems to respond, rather than general size.

How Aqualyx works

The active ingredient is a modified form of deoxycholic acid, a substance closely related to the bile acids your body already uses to break down dietary fat. When it is injected directly into a pocket of fat, it disrupts the walls of the fat cells in that area. Those cells break down, and their contents are gradually cleared away through the body's normal metabolic and lymphatic processes over the following weeks. Because the cells themselves are destroyed rather than simply shrunk, the change in a treated area tends to hold well, provided your weight stays broadly stable.

This is a slow, biological process, not an instant fix. Most people begin to notice a difference around four to eight weeks after a session, and a course of treatments is usually needed rather than a single visit. During your consultation I will give you a realistic sense of how many sessions your particular area is likely to take, typically spaced several weeks apart to give the body time to clear each round.

Which areas can be treated

Aqualyx can be used in a number of places where small, defined fat deposits gather. The chin and jawline are among the most requested, where it can soften the appearance of a double chin. On the body it is used for areas such as the abdomen, the flanks, the upper arms and the inner thighs. What all of these have in common is that they are discrete, pinchable pockets rather than large volumes of fat, and that matters. The treatment is at its best on small stubborn zones, and it is not a substitute for the results of sustained weight loss or a surgical procedure like liposuction.

What a session involves and the downtime

A treatment session itself is quick, often somewhere in the region of fifteen to thirty minutes depending on the area. I mark the region to be treated and administer a series of small injections into the fat. It is common to feel some warmth, stinging or a dull ache during and shortly after, and local anaesthetic is often included in the solution to keep things comfortable.

Afterwards, swelling is the main thing to expect, and it can be more noticeable than people anticipate, particularly under the chin. Bruising, tenderness, redness and a firm or lumpy feeling in the area are all normal in the days that follow and settle on their own. Most of the visible swelling eases within a few days to a couple of weeks. It is sensible to avoid strenuous exercise, very hot baths and alcohol for a day or two, and I will talk you through aftercare specific to the area you have had treated.

Who Aqualyx suits, and who it doesn't

The ideal candidate is someone at or near a stable, healthy weight who has one or two localised areas of fat that will not budge. If you are looking to lose a significant amount of weight overall, Aqualyx is not the right tool, and I will tell you so. It is also not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and certain medical conditions and medications need to be discussed first. This is exactly why the treatment begins with an assessment rather than a straight booking. The consultation is where I decide whether your goals and your anatomy are a sensible match for what Aqualyx can actually deliver.

Sclerotherapy: fading unwanted thread and spider veins

The second new treatment tackles a completely different concern. Thread veins, sometimes called spider veins, are the fine blue, red or purple lines that appear close to the surface of the skin, most often on the legs but sometimes elsewhere. They are extremely common, they are usually harmless, and they can be stubbornly resistant to being covered up. Sclerotherapy is a long-established medical treatment for exactly this problem, and at Wellface it is carried out by Dr Amina.

How sclerotherapy works

The principle is elegantly simple. A very fine needle is used to inject a small amount of a solution, called a sclerosant, directly into the targeted vein. That solution irritates the lining of the vein and causes its walls to stick together. The vessel then seals shut and, over the following weeks, is gradually reabsorbed by the body and fades from view. Blood that was travelling through it simply reroutes through healthier vessels nearby, which is why closing off a small superficial vein does no harm.

Several tiny veins can usually be treated in one appointment, and how many sessions you need depends on how many veins you have and how they respond. Fading is gradual rather than immediate, so patience helps. It is worth knowing that sclerotherapy treats the veins you have now; it does not stop new ones forming in the future, so some people return for occasional top-up sessions over the years.

What to expect during and after treatment

A session is generally comfortable, with most people describing only a small sting or cramping sensation as the solution goes in. It is an in-clinic procedure with no general anaesthetic, and you can drive yourself home and return to most of your normal routine the same day.

Compression is the part of aftercare that makes the biggest difference. You will usually be advised to wear compression stockings or wraps for a period after treatment, often continuously for the first day or so and then during the day for a week or more, because the pressure helps the treated vessels stay closed and supports a better result. Gentle walking is encouraged, while it is best to avoid strenuous exercise, very hot baths, saunas and direct sun on the area for a short while. Some bruising, mild swelling and temporary brownish marks along the line of a treated vein are normal and fade over subsequent weeks. Dr Amina will go through the full aftercare with you and flag the small number of things worth keeping an eye on.

Common questions about the new treatments

Is Aqualyx permanent?

The fat cells that are broken down are cleared from the body and do not come back in that spot. That said, the fat cells remaining in the area can still enlarge if you gain weight, so results are best maintained by keeping your weight stable. It is a contouring treatment, not a licence to stop looking after yourself, and it works best as part of an otherwise steady routine.

How many sessions will I need?

For both treatments the honest answer is that it depends on you. Aqualyx usually needs a course of sessions spaced a few weeks apart, and the number depends on the size and stubbornness of the area. Sclerotherapy varies with how many veins are present and how they respond. I will give you a tailored estimate at consultation rather than a one-size-fits-all figure.

Does it hurt?

Neither treatment is considered severely painful. Aqualyx involves a stinging or aching sensation, eased by anaesthetic within the solution, followed by some soreness and swelling. Sclerotherapy tends to feel like a brief sting or mild cramp as each vein is injected. Most people find both very manageable.

Why do I need a consultation first?

Because both treatments are only as good as the assessment behind them. The consultation is where I check that the treatment genuinely suits your concern, rule out anything that would make it unsuitable, and set expectations honestly. It protects you from paying for something that was never going to give you the result you wanted.

Come and talk it through with me

If a stubborn pocket of fat or a scattering of thread veins has been bothering you, the sensible first step is a proper conversation with a doctor who can look, assess and tell you plainly what is and isn't worth doing. Our team, now including Dr Amina and Dr Yosra, would be glad to help. You can book a consultation with me at Wellface in Cobham, Esher or Wimbledon, whichever is easiest to reach, and we will take it from there.