Dr Qian

Modern Day Superhero: Dr Qian Xu

We bet when Dr Qian Xu trained to be a doctor she never in a million years thought the profession she had chosen would be that of the new superstars!

Dr Qian, the aesthetic doctor and founder of Skin Aeathetics, found herself in the eye of the storm during the Covid pandemic and as like many doctors in her chosen field, she was forced to close her doors. However, instead of hiding behind those closed doors, she decided to put her training to practice and offered her services in A&E. And as if that wasn’t enough, it was whilst she was here that the world was gripped with the shortage of safe masks for staff at hospitals and once again instead of sitting back, she started a fundraiser to help get more PPE.

All hail our new heroes!

Tell us a bit about yourself and the work you do. What makes you strive and what is important in life?

I’ve been a doctor for about 12 years, and for the past 8 years, I’ve been specialising in skin rejuvenation and facial aesthetics. Alongside that, I’ve also been workingin Emergency Medicine (A&E) to keep up my medical skills. These medical skills came in particularly handy during the coronavirus pandemic. While I couldn’t practice aesthetics, I was able to help out my local A&E to fight the virus. With my aesthetics work, I’ve always been more interested in skin health and skin rejuvenation, rather thanjust doing botox and dermal fillers. I think it’s because I used to suffer from skin problems, and have experienced the confidence boost once I got rid of my spots. So I want to help others do the same. I also believe that ageing is not something we should fear and try to reverse, but it it’s something we should learn to manage to slow itdown. Educating people about skin health and empowering them to feel happier and leada better quality of life is also something I feel very passionate about.  

What was quarantine like for you?

I had mixed feelings about the quarantine. On the one hand, it gave me some time off from my business so I could reflect on what I have achieved and where I wanted to take it in the future, on the other hand, I struggled with home schooling just like every other parent! I’ve always been very outgoing and enjoy meeting people face to face, so when that came to a complete stop, I found it quite hard. I’m really looking forward to being able to go out to meet with friends again, although I’m not sure if it will ever return to the ‘normal’ as we knew it. 

What would you like to continue after quarantine?

Those who can work from home, should continue to do so. We have proven that the technology is good enough for most people to work from a distance, so we should make the most of it for the sake of our planet. Perhaps there should be more co-working spaces for people to work near home, but in a more sociable environment. Anything that can be done to reduce the commuting time would be a good thing.  

What are your thoughts on the BLM movement?

This is not a new movement. It has been around for a long time, under different names. While I believe this is an important issue, and there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to achieve true equality, I don’t agree with the marches and protests that took place right in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. That placed a lot oflives at risk, and probably impacted the movement negatively rather than positively. 

What is the one item you realised you can’t live without?

My Retinol! This is the most important part of my skin care routine, and if I stop using retinol for a couple of weeks, I really notice the difference.  

What’s the one item you realised you actually don’t need or even want?

Makeup. I have nothing against makeup, but I don’t feel like I need it because I’m really happy with my skin. I might occasionally put on some eye makeup, but I can’t remember the last time I put foundation on.  

What have you missed the most?

Meeting with my friends for drinks. 

First place you want to go or travel to?

My daughter has been learning about St Lucia at school, and she really wants to go there. So I promised her that we will go there next year if the pandemic is under control.

What’s the one thing that has kept you sane during lockdown and why?

My family. Although my children can be a handful sometimes, most of the time, they are very good and they always know how to make me laugh. They help me find my perspective. If we are all healthy and happy, then nothing else really matters.

What’s next for you?

Going forward, I will be bringing more of a health focus to what I do. It will be more about holistic age prevention rather than quick fixes, and where appropriate, I will be offering blood tests to aid diagnosis. My consultations, advice and treatments will aim to help people feel and be younger from the inside out.

https://www.saclinic.co.uk/

Photographer: Erica Bergsmeds