Scrolling through social media, you will be greeted by fillers, lifts, tucks and procedures we haven’t even heard of yet. But when we sit down with Dr Alex Quinn, he tells us that the way we view aesthetics is changing.
Long gone is “Instagram face” which consists of overfilled faces, instead his clients are looking for more natural remedies for their concerns.
Alex left the gruelling, 24-hour shifts of HSE Obstetrics and Psychiatry after suffering severe burnout, and instead dedicated himself to launching his own aesthetics practice, The Alex Clinic.
He and his partner, Bertie, poured their life savings into the business, with Alex personally teaching himself the foundations of business, marketing, and branding by taking books out of Dublin City Library and attending local enterprise courses.
Now a year on, Alex is telling us about the realities of burn-out, how aesthetics are changing and the dos and don’ts of getting your first procedure.
Tell us about setting up your own clinic. That must not have been an easy decision…
It definitely wasn’t easy, but it was the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made. After years working in aesthetics, I wanted to create a space that truly reflected my ethos — where treatments are about subtle, natural results and genuine patient care, not trends or pressure. Launching The Alex Clinic was a leap of faith, but it has been incredible to watch it grow. There were long days, plenty of learning curves, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work — but every patient who walks out feeling more confident makes it all worth it.
What advice would you give anyone who is experiencing burnout?
Burnout can creep up on you. My biggest advice for anyone experiencing it is to learn the power of the word “no.” One of the books I had as a junior doctor included the Yerkes-Dodson curve of productivity — a bell curve with stress levels on the x-axis and productivity on the y-axis. There’s a sweet spot where a certain level of stress keeps you motivated and productive, but too much stress and everything starts to unravel. Knowing when to pull back, delegate, or simply say no is essential. You can’t perform at your best if you’re running on empty, and sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest.
Let’s talk aesthetics! Have trends changed in recent years?
Completely. We’ve moved away from the “Instagram face” era of overfilled features and into a phase of refinement and restoration. Patients now want to look fresh rather than “done.” There’s a real focus on skin health, structure, and preventative care — people want to age well, not fight ageing.
What is the biggest trend right now?
Biostimulators like Sculptra and other collagen-inducing treatments are having a major moment. They work gradually and naturally to restore volume and improve skin quality from within, which perfectly aligns with the current “quiet luxury” aesthetic. Patients are moving towards treatments that enhance their own features subtly and sustainably.
Are there treatments that have fallen to the wayside?
Yes, the era of overfilled lips and harsh-looking cheek filler is definitely behind us. Patients are more educated now and prefer balance and proportion over volume for volume’s sake. We’re also seeing less demand for single-area “quick fixes” and more interest in holistic, full-face approaches that achieve harmony and natural rejuvenation.
What advice would you give someone who is getting a treatment done for the first time?
Do your research — not on social media, but on your practitioner. Getting a treatment done can be a very personal matter, so make sure your doctor takes the time to understand your goals. A good practitioner will say no when needed and will always prioritise safety and subtlety. Start conservatively; you can always build on results over time, but the aim should always be to look rested and refreshed — never “done.”