In this episode, Nav is joined by consultant ophthalmologists Elizabeth Hawkes and James Neffendorf — a husband-and-wife duo balancing private practice, surgical careers, and family life. Specialising in oculoplastic surgery and retinal surgery respectively, they offer a unique lens into the world of modern eye care.
Nav, Elizabeth, and James explore the changing face of training in ophthalmology and aesthetics, the rise of the private sector in delivering care and mentorship, and the pitfalls of short-cutting formal training. They also reflect on building a career with long-term satisfaction, the realities of running a clinic, and how to responsibly expand a practice while raising a family. From ptosis surgery and laser eye treatments to retinal trauma and medtech startups, this conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a sustainable and fulfilling surgical career.
Whether you're a trainee navigating the current system, a consultant eyeing private practice, or simply curious about the day-to-day life of two top eye surgeons, this episode is packed with practical insights and candid reflections.
Follow on Instagram:
Elizabeth Hawkes: @dr_elizabethhawkes
James Neffendorf: @londoneyedoc
Nav: @realplastics
The REAL Clinic: @_therealclinicbat
42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The REAL Clinic:
The REAL Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. Led by some of the UK’s top specialists, it is committed to evidence-based treatments and patient safety.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics elevate their marketing through high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav is joined by Laura Summers, a registered nurse and the visionary behind a 24/7 virtual nursing service for plastic and cosmetic surgery patients. With a unique approach to patient care, Laura discusses the evolution of her service, designed to support individuals from pre-operative preparation through their entire recovery journey.
Nav and Laura delve into the nuances of virtual nursing, exploring how it addresses patient anxiety and provides crucial support when clinics are unavailable. They candidly discuss the stigma sometimes attached to aesthetic nursing and how Laura's passion ensures patients receive the empathetic and professional care they deserve, even identifying potential red flags before surgery. This insightful conversation sheds light on the growing importance of dedicated, holistic patient support in the private cosmetic surgery sector, offering a fresh perspective on elevating the patient experience.
Follow Laura Summers on Instagram: @spealist_cosmetic_care
Find out more about Laura's services at her website: www.specialistcosmeticcareltd.com
Follow on Instagram:
Nav: @realplastics
The REAL Clinic: @_therealclinicbat
42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The REAL Clinic: The REAL Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. Led by some of the UK’s top specialists, it is committed to evidence-based treatments and patient safety.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics elevate their marketing through high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav is joined by Ed Keelan, Partner at Octopus Investments, who was instrumental in helping set up The Real Clinic. With a background in entrepreneurship and venture capital, Ed brings a sharp financial lens to the conversation — sharing the realities behind funding, structuring, and scaling a private surgical practice.
Nav and Ed explore the common mistakes surgeons make when launching a clinic, from misunderstanding their true customer to signing unfair investment deals. They dive into the importance of clear business models, the hidden risks buried in contracts, and the practical steps surgeons should take to build a financially sustainable, scalable practice. This candid discussion pulls back the curtain on the money side of medicine, offering grounded, actionable insights for any surgeon looking to turn ambition into reality.
Follow on Ed's blog on LinkedIn here.
Follow on Instagram:
Nav: @realplastics
The REAL Clinic: @_therealclinicbat
42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The REAL Clinic:
The REAL Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. Led by some of the UK’s top specialists, it is committed to evidence-based treatments and patient safety.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics elevate their marketing through high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav is joined by Rebecca Lee, a PR and communications consultant specialising in medical and aesthetics PR. With over a decade of experience working with some of the UK’s top doctors, surgeons, and healthcare brands, Beccy has built a reputation for helping medical professionals establish their credibility, authority, and media presence.
Nav and Rebecca dive deep into the fundamentals of PR, how it differs from advertising and marketing, and why having a strong media presence is essential for private practice growth. They explore SEO PR, the power of networking, and what makes a doctor or surgeon stand out in the media. Rebecca also shares insights into how journalists source expert opinions, why rapid response times matter, and what it really takes to build long-term visibility in a crowded industry.
Whether you're a surgeon looking to elevate your profile, a medical professional interested in PR strategies, or simply curious about the business side of aesthetics and healthcare, this episode is packed with valuable insights from an industry expert.
Follow on Instagram:
Rebecca Lee: @rebeccaleecommunications
Nav:@realplastics
The REAL Clinic:@_therealclinicbat
42 South Films:@42southfilms
About The REAL Clinic:The REAL Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. Led by some of the UK’s top specialists, it is committed to evidence-based treatments and patient safety.
Sponsor:The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics elevate their marketing through high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav is joined by Mr Georgios Orfaniotis, a renowned plastic surgeon specialising in facial rejuvenation surgery. With an extensive background in reconstructive microsurgery and experience across the UK, Greece, Taiwan, and Australia, Georgios has honed his expertise in deep plane facelifts, neck lifts, and lip lifts—offering natural and long-lasting results.
Nav and Georgios dive deep into the evolving landscape of day-case facial surgery, the benefits of performing complex procedures outside traditional hospital settings, and the meticulous techniques behind extended deep plane facelifts. They also discuss lip lift surgery, its growing popularity, and why precise surgical execution is key to achieving the best outcomes.
Whether you’re a fellow surgeon, a patient considering facial surgery, or simply fascinated by the intricacies of aesthetic procedures, this episode is packed with valuable insights from one of the field’s leading experts.
Follow on Instagram:
Georgios Orfaniotis:@dr_georgios_orfaniotis
Nav:@realplastics
The REAL Clinic:@therealclinicuk
42 South Films:@42southfilms
About The REAL Clinic:
The REAL Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. Led by some of the UK’s top specialists, it is committed to evidence-based treatments and patient safety.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics elevate their marketing through high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav is joined by Tom Weiss, Director at Scottvale Insurance Solutions and a specialist in medical malpractice insurance. Tom shares his insights on how clinics and surgeons can safeguard their practices through tailored insurance solutions. With his unique background in mechanical engineering and the medical device industry, Tom has a deep understanding of the risks faced by healthcare professionals and how to mitigate them effectively.
Discover practical advice on professional indemnity, personal insurance, and navigating the complexities of medical malpractice coverage. Whether you’re a seasoned surgeon or a clinic owner, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help you protect and grow your business.
Follow Tom: Scottvale Insurance Solutions
Follow Nav: @realplastics
Follow The Real Clinic: @therealclinicuk
Follow 42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The Real Clinic:
The Real Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery, and eye care, located in London’s Battersea. With a commitment to evidence-based treatments and patient safety, it’s led by some of the UK’s leading medical specialists in plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and anaesthesia.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is proudly sponsored by 42 South Films, a London-based video production company helping surgeons and clinics enhance their marketing with high-quality video content.
In this episode, Nav sits down to talk with Dr. Maryam Zamani, a world-renowned Oculoplastic Surgeon and facial aesthetics doctor with a global reputation for a subtle, beautiful and ultra-precise approach to help achieve elegant eyelid contours and fabulous skin.
Maryam shares with us her journey of tenacity, taking the scenic route & building her global skincare empire, MZ Skin.
Follow Maryam: @drmaryamzamani
Follow Nav: @realplastics
Follow The Real Clinic: @therealclinicuk
Follow 42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The Real Clinic:
The Real Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery and eye care centrally located in London’s Battersea. Founded by some of the UK’s leading medical specialists who bring with them a wealth of expertise in plastic surgery, ophthalmology and anaesthesia, the state-of-the-art clinic has a strong ethos of providing only the best, evidence-based treatments and prioritising patient safety above all else.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is sponsored by 42 South Films, a London based video production company helping surgeons and clinics improve their marketing through high quality video content.
In this episode, Nav sits down with Mark Solomos, a Consultant plastic surgeon in London (including Nav's Real Clinic in Battersea). Practicing exclusively privately Mark has over 20 years experience and to date has done over 20,000 operations including amongst others some 4,000 noses and 10,000 breast surgeries, making him one of the most prolific surgeons in the UK.
Follow Mark: @marksolomos
Follow Nav: @realplastics
Follow The Real Clinic: @therealclinicuk
Follow 42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The Real Clinic:
The Real Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery and eye care centrally located in London’s Battersea. Founded by some of the UK’s leading medical specialists who bring with them a wealth of expertise in plastic surgery, ophthalmology and anaesthesia, the state-of-the-art clinic has a strong ethos of providing only the best, evidence-based treatments and prioritising patient safety above all else.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is sponsored by 42 South Films, a London based video production company helping surgeons and clinics improve their marketing through high quality video content.
In this episode, Nav sits down with Gary Monaghan. Gary has been involved in the Cosmetic Surgery industry for over 20 years. In more recent years, Gary has become an expert in the building of clinics for plastic surgeons, including Nav's Real Clinic in Battersea. Gary's expertise extends to every element of project management from finding a venue, business plans and cashflows, architects, builders, layout design, equipment purchase, staff sourcing, contract sourcing, CQC and business planning.
Follow Gary:
Follow Nav: @realplastics
Follow The Real Clinic: @therealclinicuk
Follow 42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The Real Clinic:
The Real Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery and eye care centrally located in London’s Battersea. Founded by some of the UK’s leading medical specialists who bring with them a wealth of expertise in plastic surgery, ophthalmology and anaesthesia, the state-of-the-art clinic has a strong ethos of providing only the best, evidence-based treatments and prioritising patient safety above all else.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is sponsored by 42 South Films, a London based video production company helping surgeons and clinics improve their marketing through high quality video content.
In this inaugural episode of the Real Clinic Podast, Nav sits down to talk with Francesca Ogiermann-White, Tatler’s Health & Beauty Editor-at-Large, about how surgeons can feature in Tatler's Guide and build an impact through PR opportunities.
Francesca also talks about The Beauty Triangle and her work bridging the disconnect between patients and practitioners – while steering a new dialogue that informs and inspires.
Follow Nav: @realplastics
Follow The Beauty Triangle: @the_beauty_triangle
Follow Francesca: @francescaogiermannwhite
Follow The Real Clinic: @therealclinicuk
Follow 42 South Films: @42southfilms
About The Real Clinic:
The Real Clinic is a renowned centre for excellence in aesthetic treatment, cosmetic surgery and eye care centrally located in London’s Battersea. Founded by some of the UK’s leading medical specialists who bring with them a wealth of expertise in plastic surgery, ophthalmology and anaesthesia, the state-of-the-art clinic has a strong ethos of providing only the best, evidence-based treatments and prioritising patient safety above all else.
Sponsor:
The Real Clinic Podcast is sponsored by 42 South Films, a London based video production company helping surgeons and clinics improve their marketing through high quality video content.