A NEILSTON nurse who runs a medical aesthetics clinic is in the running for a prestigious award.

Jacqui Cooney launched Beautiform Aesthetics in 2018, offering anti-wrinkle and dermal filler treatments, subtle lip enhancements and prescription skin treatments.

She initially provided a mobile service before moving into a purpose-built clinic attached to her home in the village in August 2020.

The venture has since gone from strength to strength and 52-year-old Jacqui is now a finalist in the AlumierMD Rising Star category at the UK Aesthetics Awards 2022.

She was selected after receiving glowing feedback from patients and is looking forward to attending the awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London, on March 12.

“I was very surprised to find out,” said Jacqui, whose husband Jim runs the administrative side of the business. “You are up against Harley Street clinics and mine is just a single practitioner one, so it is quite humbling to think that your results are good enough to be competitive with these huge entities.”

The Rising Star award will recognise a talented doctor, dentist or nurse with less than five years’ experience in the aesthetic speciality, with the winner chosen for their clinical expertise, continuous professional development, commitment to patient safety and the difference they make to their patients.

Jacqui, who has had had a long career in medical care, including a 15-year stint with the district nursing team in Barrhead, is also an aesthetics tutor and is currently mentoring three nurses through prescribing training.

She was inspired by working on the maxillofacial ward at the former Southern General Hospital, in Glasgow, and a desire to help people boost their self-esteem.

Jacqui, who has just under 800 patients, added: “I worked a lot with the plastic surgeons and they were completely marvellous.

“I thought if I could just do a tiny bit of that with injectables but without people going through surgery, that would be incredible.

“My ethos behind it all is very medical and I do very natural enhancements. I don’t believe in any way that those huge lips people get are the way forward. I’m very much against that.

“What I get out of the business is the satisfaction that I’ve helped someone medically.”