The Big Interview

By: Ruth Kerrison
Created on 07th June 2010

Dr Tracey Bell, cosmetic dentist, aesthetic physician and founder of Age Perfecting treatments and the Tracey Bell brand, has a story to tell. She counts celebrities such as Abbey Clancy and Natasha Hamilton among her clients and is an inspirational speaker of international standing. Today she talks to CosmeticSurgeryToday...

Q You initially qualified as a dentist - what attracted you to this field?    A I liked the fact that I could see the end result and believe it or not, dentistry is artistic and creative. It really is. I create smiles and shape faces, which is a bit like creating a masterpiece - everyone is an individual work of art.

Q Is it true that your first dental practice had no roof when you moved in? How did you build that up into the award-winning practice it is today?
A Unfortunately that is true - but with builders in the family this wasn't the biggest of issues! Basically I built the Tracey Bell Clinics and the whole product range from this single dental practice in the Isle of Man in 1995.

From day one we dared to be different and ruffled a few feathers in the process. I could see that clients wanted more from their dentistry. Patients were finally realising that a trip to the dentist doesn't have to be a painful experience. I was willing to show them that the best dentistry can - and indeed should - be provided in a relaxing setting that makes each visit a positive experience.

We took the time to really care for every single one of our clients and this set us apart from the competition and built our client base and reputation. It also gave me the opportunity to create the first Tracey Bell Clinic in October 2006.

In June 2007 I opened a state-of-the-art clinic in Liverpool offering my own exclusive range of treatments and I have since expanded the brand with clinics across the country.

Q Having entered the aesthetics industry as a dentist, you now run a
very successful business incorporating non-surgical cosmetic procedures, weight management, spa treatments and even your own product range - how did all this come into being?

A Tracey Bell Clinics came about because of what I call my truth moment. As a successful dentist I could buy myself anything I wanted. I had the big house, the cars, the perfect life and I felt good. However the truth moment was when I looked in the mirror one morning and thought: "Oh my
god - what's happened to me?" I looked tired and old beyond my years. I knew I had to do something to put that spring back into my step.

I booked a consultation at a famous clinic in the UK to discuss Botox. There I was met by a doctor in a white coat in a sterile and totally impersonal office. I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed telling him I wasn't happy with my wrinkles and in the end decided not to have it done. If I felt like that then I knew dozens of other people would as well. Surely I could change things.

I knew dentists could do Botox so I booked myself on a Harley Street training course to learn all about injectables. I was the youngest on the course - and the only female - but I loved what I was learning to do and knew that my future was in changing the face of aesthetic medicine.

I travelled the world, meeting amazing people such as Rajiv Grover, Jaques Otto, Danni Vleggar and Wendy Lewis who all in their own way inspired me to create the Tracey Bell brand.

The brand has now diversified into Skinscription, Slimscription, Smilescription, Spascription and now even Sexscription! We focus on delivering packages rather than one-off treatments so people who want a youthful makeover can have a mix of Botox, microdermabrasion and Restylane, as this combination will always deliver the most natural-looking results.

Q You recently launched a 'Super Clinic' in the Isle of Man - what was the impetus behind that?

A A lot of clients were going abroad for surgical procedures that they believed
were cheaper, quicker and more private. Looking at this further I discovered that more than £200 million is spent abroad on surgery each year and I knew that we were missing a trick here in the UK.

I came up with the concept of the UK's first ever destination clinic that would offer the privacy of going abroad, but with the standard of care you would expect in the UK.

 The Tracey Bell Super Clinic is located in the most beautiful countryside and is only a 40 minute plane journey from the UK. It is a luxury centre of excellence that offers residential packages with five star treatment and nursing care. The difference is simply the people, the service, the information and of course the results. We also pride ourselves on offering the newest breakthrough procedures.

Knowledge is power and through continual education and research our techniques evolve and improve to ensure we offer our clients the best treatments that are possible.

Q You offer a wide range of treatments, which is the most popular amongst your clients?

A The number of people having Botox in our clinics has risen by more than 25 per cent in the last year. There really has been a dramatic increase in the number of clients seeking injectable cosmetic treatments and I predict their popularity will continue to rise.

The average age of the clients we are injecting in all our clinics has fallen from 45 to around 33. Tracey Bell clients are extremely savvy and are noyouthful looks. They want to look good and most importantly feel good and can see how procedures like Botox can enhance their individual natural beauty.

Q What is your motto in life and why?

A I am a passionate believer in the maxim 'work hard, play hard', being not only CEO of a group of successful companies but also, and most importantly, mother to my five beautiful children: Alex, Sam, Ben, Meg and Max.

Like mothers everywhere, I work hard to provide the best possible life for my children. But I also want to help people make the best of themselves, because I see daily the difference I can make to someone's life.

Beauty is something different to all of us, yet it can bring us confidence, contentment and a real zest for life. I put that spring back in to my client's step and I love doing it. There is nothing better than
giving someone that wow factor so they feel ready to take on their own challenges looking and feeling their best.

I want to be the best I possibly can be and want to help others see - and ultimately fulfill - their full potential.

Q As mother to five children as well as running three clinics, training other aesthetic practitioners and developing your own product lines, how do you find time to do it all?

A I get up very early. Seriously. My alarm gets me out of bed at five-thirty everyday and the first thing I do is grab the dog and go for a run along the pier while the brood are safely tucked up in bed. Then the chaos begins - organised chaos of course!

It is easy to work hard when you are doing something that you are fiercely passionate about. My determination to bring beauty and confidence to all of my patients is born from my belief that we all have the right to feel good about ourselves.

This drive and determination - and the fact that I am five foot nothing - has led to the nickname 'the Mighty Atom'.

Q What is the typical consultation process in your clinic?

A When you feel good within you look better on the outside automatically. Yes Tracey Bell produces physical change, but most of all we focus on the emotive change in our clients. And for that reason most consultations follow no 'typical' formula.

We discuss what the client is not happy with and why, then talk about how they want to feel post treatment. It normally isn't about giving them a new face - most of the time they just want their old face back and to regain confidence that they may have lost.

Q You obviously have a great relationship with your staff, all of whom call you by your first name - how important do you think that is to your business?

A Extremely. The Tracey Bell brand is, well, me - what I am about and what I believe in. It is vital for the brand's success that my staff and my patients develop a strong personal relationship with me.

I am very hands on in each of my clinics and spread my time evenly between them, so if a client wants to have me personally carry out a treatment then they can. I also hope that by being so hands on my commitment and enthusiasm inspires those around me.

This personal edge makes all my clinics somewhere wonderful to  be.We call our clinics the magical kingdom because miracles happen here.
 
At Tracey Bell we age less, love more and love life! t going to wait until the horse has bolted to do something to safeguard their