A History of UK Aesthetic Firsts

A History of UK Aesthetic Firsts

Since opening on Harley Street in January 2014, PHI Clinic has introduced more aesthetic technologies to the UK than any other clinic. From the first energy device for acne (), to the first cold-fibre fractional laser cleared for all skin types (), to the world's first dual-wavelength resurfacing laser (), our role as a UK launch for leading global manufacturers has shaped how medicine is practised across the country.

This page documents that . It is in two parts: the devices PHI Clinic was first to bring to the UK, and the technologies for which PHI Clinic has served as the UK launch venue or Key Leader anchor.

Why being first matters in medical aesthetics

When a leading device manufacturer chooses a UK launch clinic, the decision is rarely about commercial reach. It is about clinical credibility, safety standards, and the expertise to use a new in its earliest days on the market.

Being selected as a UK launch partner means a manufacturer has assessed the clinic's governance, the experience of its lead practitioners, and its track record with technologies. For our patients, the implication is meaningful: when a is introduced at PHI Clinic, it has been by who have been directly trained by the developers, often before the wider UK market has access to it.

That said, newer is not automatically better. A core part of our is rigorously assessing each new technology before recommending it. We introduce devices we believe outcomes, not simply because they are new.

Each of the devices below represents a UK first for PHI Clinic, with installation or launch dates and manufacturer relationships.

PHI Clinic introduced to the UK in January 2014, marking the first of the FDA-cleared microwave-based treatment for permanent reduction of underarm sweat anywhere in the country. The launch with PHI Clinic's opening on Harley Street. Since then, our clinical team has performed hundreds of procedures, one of the most extensive case series of any UK clinic.

uses electromagnetic energy to permanently eliminate the sweat and odour glands in the area. Two treatment sessions, typically spaced three months apart, are to achieve optimal results. Because the contain less than 2 percent of the body's sweat glands, treatment does not compromise the body's natural temperature regulation.

PHI Clinic became the first UK clinic to install the Cutera laser system, as documented by Medicine magazine. Distributed in the UK by Sigmacon, the excel V combines two precision wavelengths, 532nm and 1064nm, in a single platform, treatment of vascular conditions, benign lesions, and a wide spectrum of skin concerns from one device. The award-winning system has since become a standard of care for complex and cases across the UK.

PHI Clinic was the first clinic in the UK to offer , the world's first and only FDA-cleared energy device for the of mild, moderate, and severe acne. AviClear uses 1726nm laser energy to suppress sebaceous gland activity, acne at its source rather than masking .

PHI's role as the UK launch clinic reflects 's position as a Key Leader for Cutera, manufacturer. In Cutera's clinical studies, 87 percent of patients with AviClear saw at least half of their acne clear at six months following the three-session protocol, a result class that has redefined the available to UK acne patients beyond and oral therapies.

PHI Clinic was the first UK clinic to install , the first laser to receive FDA for all skin types and tones. at a 2910nm wavelength, a uniquely cold laser beam that minimises unwanted damage to the surrounding skin, significantly reducing the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk associated with ablative laser in darker skin types.

The treatment is particularly for patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, who have historically been by laser . In a single platform, addresses sun damage, age spots, fine lines, pigmentation, uneven texture, scarring, and enlarged pores.

PHI Clinic was the first UK clinic to introduce , a needle-free jet injection system originally developed from satellite micro-propulsion research at Seoul University. active into the dermis through a 150 nozzle at controlled depths between 0.2mm and 2.0mm, without traditional needles, and without creating open wounds.

The system offers two distinct modes. Nano-SPIKE solution from a short distance, nano-spike that penetrate the skin barrier for superficial rejuvenation and active ingredient absorption. Micro-BOMB places the device in direct contact with the skin to deliver solutions deeper into the dermis, with a micro-subcision effect that helps scar tissue and marks.

NovoJet is particularly for with needle phobia and for treatments where intradermal delivery outcomes, including skin rejuvenation, scar and mark improvement, acne support, and scalp and hair .

In May 2025, PHI Clinic became the UK launch partner for , described by its as the world's first portable, laser. is the named UK Key Opinion Leader for the device, as documented in Aesthetics Journal and Consulting Room.

Multifrax 1550nm and 1927nm via proprietary technology, allowing both to be delivered individually or in a single pass. This means a single Multifrax session can wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, melasma, and sun damage at multiple skin depths, that traditionally required separate or multiple .

Beyond being first to specific devices, PHI Clinic has been chosen by as the UK launch venue for new technologies, and Dr Tapan Patel holds Key Opinion Leader across multiple advanced .

ResurFX: UK industry launch hosted at PHI Clinic, March 2015

In March 2015, Lumenis, the world's largest medical device company for aesthetic, surgical, and ophthalmology applications, selected PHI Clinic as the UK launch venue for the laser system. The industry event was documented by The Harley Street Journal and included a live by , described in the announcement as "a recognised industry leader for facial rejuvenation treatments."

uses a 1565nm fibre laser to deliver fractional non-ablative skin resurfacing, stimulating collagen with minimal downtime. The choice of PHI Clinic as the launch venue, less than 18 months after the clinic opened, the manufacturer's of Dr Tapan Patel's in facial rejuvenation.

, Medical Director and of PHI Clinic, is a UK Key Opinion Leader for , the laser skin tightening treatment performed using the LASEmaR 1500, as announced in Journal. Endolift was on 5's 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, with Dr Tapan Patel performing the as the doctor on the .

PHI Clinic has also hosted dedicated UK industry events for EndoliftX, the next-generation Endolift platform, with Dr Tapan Patel opening the discussions on the device's clinical .

Beyond firsts, PHI Clinic houses one of the collections of medical of any clinic in the UK. The clinic operates across four floors at 102 Harley Street, pods, surgical theatres, laser rooms, and a academy where international clinicians and global cosmetic brands come to learn or best in aesthetics.

This of technology matters clinically. It allows our team to build bespoke plans, from a wide range of modalities (injectable, laser, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and regenerative) based on what is right for the individual rather than what is available in a limited device range.

PHI Clinic's role as a UK launch partner is by the authority of our team. , our Medical and founder, is a Global Key Opinion Leader for Allergan Aesthetics (the manufacturers of BOTOX® and Juvéderm®), a Key Opinion Leader for Cutera (the parent of and ), the named UK Key Leader for , and a UK Key Opinion Leader for . He has trained clinicians internationally and was the first non-surgical doctor to deliver an exclusive teaching lecture to members of the of Aesthetic (BAAPS), at their annual conference in October 2018.

This concentration of Key across multiple device is part of why global brands consistently choose PHI Clinic as a UK launch partner. a new technology to market in a aesthetics environment requires not just early access, but the to use it safely and effectively from day one.

For patients, our history of UK firsts translates into something practical: access to advanced treatments, delivered by who have been trained by the people who developed them.

It also means a more considered approach to recommending . Because we work closely with from the earliest stages of UK availability, our team has a deeper understanding of which patients each is genuinely suited for, and equally, when it is not the right choice. That depth of experience supports the natural-looking, evidence-led results PHI Clinic is known for.

If you are considering an advanced and would like to which option is most appropriate for you, a consultation with our team is the best starting point.

Frequently asked questions

PHI Clinic on Harley Street was the first clinic in the UK to offer AviClear, the first FDA-cleared energy device for the of mild, moderate, and severe acne.

miraDry, the FDA-cleared for permanent of sweat, became available to UK patients at PHI Clinic in January 2014.

PHI Clinic on Harley Street was the first UK clinic to install UltraClear, the first cold-fibre fractional laser to FDA clearance for all skin types and tones.

PHI Clinic was the first UK clinic to NovoJet, a needle-free jet injection system delivering active ingredients into the dermis at depths through 150-micron .

PHI Clinic was the UK launch partner for in May 2025, with Dr Tapan Patel as the named UK Key Opinion Leader for the device.

The Lumenis ResurFX non-ablative laser system was to the UK aesthetic at PHI Clinic on Harley Street in March 2015, with Dr Tapan Patel performing the live demonstration at the launch event.

Manufacturers select launch partners based on governance, the expertise of lead practitioners, and the clinic's track record with . PHI Clinic's Medical Director, Dr Tapan Patel, holds Key Opinion Leader positions with Aesthetics, Cutera, Multifrax, and Endolift, and the clinic operates one of the largest medical device collections of any aesthetic practice in the UK.

Not . At PHI Clinic, every new technology is rigorously assessed before being into patient care. The fact that a device is new does not make it the right choice for every patient, and a core part of our consultation process is the that fits each individual, regardless of whether it is the latest available.

can be booked by calling or via our online form. During your consultation, our team will discuss your concerns and goals, and recommend the approach best suited to you.

Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person and treatment to treatment.

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© 2024 PHI Clinic