
TOTALLY POLISHED'S
BEAUTY BLOG
ABOUT GEMMA OWNER OF NURSEFIRST AESTHETICS - INDEPENDANT NURSE PRESCRIBER
Hello,
My name is Gemma. I’m an Independent Nurse Prescriber and I own Nursefirst aesthetics. I’ve been a nurse for 17 years this September and, while I love nursing, I’ve been searching for something beyond the traditional realms of it. In nursing you’re either medically minded or surgically minded. I’m definitely a surgical nurse at heart — medicine can feel too grey; it doesn’t move quickly enough. “Try this pill, try that pill.” Surgery is finite — instant gratification in solving a problem — which is why I feel such a strong pull towards aesthetics. I love how immediately you can affect someone’s confidence. Nursefirst aesthetics was born two years ago.
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What “nursefirst aesthetics” means
“Nursefirst” means nursing is my foundation — the bedrock — my core belief system. Every
decision we make about your aesthetic treatments is rooted in medicine and underpinned
by holistic care and compassion. I would never recommend something you won’t benefit
from. Your experience with me is a guided consultation, treatment planning, treatment, and
aftercare — not far removed from how you’d be treated in any other healthcare or private
health setting. I’ll always be a nurse first; the pound comes second.
Favourite treatments
I’m going to say it — and yes, it gets a bad reputation — filler. Filler is my favourite treatment. Nothing restores lost volume like filler can. No amount of skincare, microneedling, or peels will give you your cheeks or jawline back. In the wrong hands it can look bloody ridiculous. Done right — done well — it restores balance and symmetry, and
lets you look like you, just a well‑rested version.
I love mid‑face restoration — dermal filler to the cheeks — and I equally love treating chins. Never underestimate the power of the chin: it provides harmony to the face, elongating and making it appear more youthful.
Treatments I’d avoid
MINT cogs / PDO threads. False promises and foreign‑body implants. They can cause scarring, they don’t tend to last, and can give a stretched look. I’d avoid at all costs; they can also interfere with other aesthetic treatments. If someone’s promising you a facelift with threads in the time it takes to have your lunch break, it’s too good to be true. Avoid.
Note on anti‑wrinkle medicines: prescription‑only. I provide education and individual
consultations; I don’t advertise them.
Myth‑bust: do collagen supplements work?
Short answer: no — not in the way they’re marketed. The evidence is mixed and much of it
is industry‑funded. You’re better off choosing a simple biotin supplement and putting the
rest of your budget into decent skincare and proven treatments.
Where I’m based
I work at Totally Polished two Saturday afternoons a month — Ffion shares my availability
on her stories. I also host evening clinics on Wednesdays and Thursdays at my home clinic
in Leeds, LS15 (Temple Newsam).
If you’re looking for someone to guide you in the right direction, book a free consultation
and we can agree a plan to restore your confidence.
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