A History of UK Aesthetic Firsts

Each of the devices below represents a UK first for PHI Clinic, with documented installation or launch dates and verifiable manufacturer relationships.

PHI Clinic introduced miraDry to the UK in January 2014, marking the first availability of the FDA-cleared microwave-based treatment for permanent reduction of underarm sweat anywhere in the country. The launch coincided with PHI Clinic's opening on Harley Street. Since then, our clinical team has performed hundreds of miraDry procedures, building one of the most extensive miraDry case series of any UK clinic.

miraDry uses precisely controlled electromagnetic energy to permanently eliminate the sweat and odour glands in the underarm area. Two treatment sessions, typically spaced three months apart, are recommended to achieve optimal results. Because the underarms contain less than 2 percent of the body's sweat glands, treatment does not compromise the body's natural temperature regulation.

PHI Clinic became the first UK clinic to install the Cutera excel V laser system, as documented by Aesthetic Medicine magazine. Distributed in the UK by Sigmacon, the excel V combines two precision wavelengths, 532nm and 1064nm, in a single platform, allowing treatment of vascular conditions, benign pigmented lesions, and a wide spectrum of skin concerns from one device. The award-winning system has since become a standard of care for clinics treating complex vascular and pigmentation cases across the UK.

PHI Clinic was the first clinic in the UK to offer AviClear, the world's first and only FDA-cleared energy device for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe acne. AviClear uses 1726nm laser energy to selectively suppress sebaceous gland activity, addressing acne at its source rather than masking symptoms.

PHI's role as the UK launch clinic reflects Dr Tapan Patel's position as a Key Opinion Leader for Cutera, AviClear's manufacturer. In Cutera's clinical studies, 87 percent of patients treated with AviClear saw at least half of their acne clear at six months following the three-session protocol, a result class that has redefined the treatment options available to UK acne patients beyond conventional topical and oral therapies.

PHI Clinic was the first UK clinic to install UltraClear, the first cold-fibre fractional laser to receive FDA clearance for all skin types and tones. Operating at a 2910nm wavelength, UltraClear delivers a uniquely cold laser beam that minimises unwanted thermal damage to the surrounding skin, significantly reducing the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk traditionally associated with ablative laser resurfacing in darker skin types.

The treatment is particularly valuable for patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, who have historically been underserved by conventional ablative laser systems. In a single platform, UltraClear addresses sun damage, age spots, fine lines, pigmentation, uneven texture, scarring, and enlarged pores.

PHI Clinic was the first UK clinic to introduce NovoJet, a needle-free jet injection system originally developed from satellite micro-propulsion research at Seoul National University. NovoJet delivers active ingredients into the dermis through a 150-micron nozzle at controlled depths between 0.2mm and 2.0mm, without traditional needles, and without creating open wounds.

The system offers two distinct delivery modes. Nano-SPIKE delivers solution from a short distance, producing nano-spike droplets that penetrate the skin barrier for superficial rejuvenation and enhanced active ingredient absorption. Micro-BOMB places the device in direct contact with the skin to deliver solutions deeper into the dermis, with a micro-subcision effect that helps remodel scar tissue and stretch marks.

NovoJet is particularly valuable for patients with needle phobia and for regenerative treatments where dispersed intradermal delivery improves outcomes, including skin rejuvenation, scar and stretch mark improvement, acne treatment support, and scalp and hair regenerative protocols.

In May 2025, PHI Clinic became the UK launch partner for Multifrax, described by its developers as the world's first portable, simultaneously-firing dual-wavelength resurfacing laser. Dr Tapan Patel is the named UK Key Opinion Leader for the device, as documented in Aesthetics Journal and Consulting Room.

Multifrax combines 1550nm and 1927nm wavelengths via proprietary SimulScan technology, allowing both wavelengths to be delivered individually or simultaneously in a single treatment pass. This means a single Multifrax session can address wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, melasma, and sun damage at multiple skin depths, concerns that traditionally required separate treatments or multiple devices.

Beyond being first to introduce specific devices, PHI Clinic has been chosen by leading manufacturers as the UK launch venue for new technologies, and Dr Tapan Patel holds Key Opinion Leader positions across multiple advanced platforms.

ResurFX: UK industry launch hosted at PHI Clinic, March 2015

In March 2015, Lumenis, the world's largest energy-based medical device company for aesthetic, surgical, and ophthalmology applications, selected PHI Clinic as the UK launch venue for the ResurFX fractional non-ablative laser system. The industry event was documented by The Harley Street Journal and included a live demonstration by Dr Tapan Patel, described in the announcement as "a recognised industry leader for facial rejuvenation treatments."

ResurFX uses a 1565nm fibre laser to deliver fractional non-ablative skin resurfacing, stimulating collagen production with minimal downtime. The choice of PHI Clinic as the launch venue, less than 18 months after the clinic opened, reflected the manufacturer's recognition of Dr Tapan Patel's clinical authority in laser-based facial rejuvenation.

Dr Tapan Patel, Medical Director and founder of PHI Clinic, is a UK Key Opinion Leader for Endolift, the minimally invasive laser skin tightening treatment performed using the Eufoton LASEmaR 1500, as announced in Aesthetics Journal. Endolift was featured on Channel 5's 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, with Dr Tapan Patel performing the procedure as the non-surgical doctor on the programme.

PHI Clinic has also hosted dedicated UK industry events for EndoliftX, the next-generation Endolift platform, with Dr Tapan Patel opening the discussions on the device's clinical applications.

Beyond individual firsts, PHI Clinic houses one of the largest collections of medical aesthetic devices of any clinic in the UK. The clinic operates across four floors at 102 Harley Street, comprising treatment pods, surgical theatres, laser rooms, and a dedicated training academy where international clinicians and global cosmetic brands come to learn or showcase best practices in aesthetics.

This breadth of technology matters clinically. It allows our team to build genuinely bespoke treatment plans, selecting from a wide range of modalities (injectable, laser, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and regenerative) based on what is right for the individual patient rather than what is available in a limited device range.

PHI Clinic's role as a UK launch partner is anchored by the clinical authority of our team. Dr Tapan Patel, our Medical Director and founder, is a Global Key Opinion Leader for Allergan Aesthetics (the manufacturers of BOTOX® and Juvéderm®), a Key Opinion Leader for Cutera (the parent company of AviClear and excel V), the named UK Key Opinion Leader for Multifrax, and a UK Key Opinion Leader for Endolift. He has trained clinicians internationally and was the first non-surgical doctor invited to deliver an exclusive teaching lecture to members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), at their annual conference in October 2018.

This concentration of Key Opinion Leadership across multiple device manufacturers is part of why global brands consistently choose PHI Clinic as a UK launch partner. Bringing a new technology to market in a regulated medical aesthetics environment requires not just early access, but the clinical expertise to use it safely and effectively from day one.

For patients, our history of UK firsts translates into something practical: access to genuinely advanced treatments, delivered by clinicians who have been trained directly by the people who developed them.

It also means a more considered approach to recommending treatments. Because we work closely with manufacturers from the earliest stages of UK availability, our team has a deeper understanding of which patients each technology is genuinely suited for, and equally, when it is not the right choice. That depth of experience supports the natural-looking, evidence-led results PHI Clinic is known for.

If you are considering an advanced aesthetic treatment and would like to understand which option is most appropriate for you, a consultation with our clinical team is the best starting point.

Book a consultation at PHI Clinic, 102 Harley Street, London.