Dr Natalia Hancock

02/02/2026

01/02/2026

Conference highlights

• The hype around polynucleotides is finally cooling down (thank goodness), only to be replaced by exosomes. I get asked about exosomes a lot- I’ll share my honest thoughts in a separate post.

• Relfydess is performing exceptionally well with impressive international feedback.

* Research shows that people who perceive themselves as younger tend to function better, stay healthier and live longer. Our brain strongly influences how our body behaves. Therefore ladies, our cosmetic treatments are not just vanity - they can support our health, function, and longevity 🙂

• “Ozempic face” responds best to a combination approach - biostimulators (Radiesse, Sculptra) alongside dermal fillers.

• A survey of Aesthetic Society members looked at the impact of repetitive full-face filler treatments on facelifts:
• No impact reported: 35%
• Increased operative time: 39%
• Distortion of tissue planes due to scarring: 50%
• Increased technical difficulty creating healthy flaps: 30%
• Increased intraoperative bleeding: 19%

Make of that what you will. My view is - everything in moderation. There is no need for repetitive “full-face” filler treatments. Some cheeks and temples I treated over 10 years ago still look great and never required re-injection, especially now that we know fillers last much longer than we once thought.

• In November 2025, the US Department of Health removed misleading FDA warnings on HRT - an important and overdue correction.

• The gut–skin connection is finally mainstream. Improving the gut microbiome is proving effective in managing skin conditions, particularly rosacea. I discussed this with a patient 7 years ago - she was told by her GP that it was “quackery.” I’m glad science has caught up.

• Botulinum toxin is now used therapeutically in rosacea.

• Non-surgical “nose job” should only be performed under ultrasound guidance. Aspiration alone is no longer considered sufficient. For this reason, we no longer offer non-surgical rhinoplasty. We’ve never had complications, but better to be safe than sorry

21/01/2026

I get asked all the time…

02/01/2026

After using it on myself and hundreds of patients over the last 6 months, here’s what I’m seeing

Pros
* Highly purified product — considered one of the cleanest toxins on the European market
Free from complex proteins, preservatives and human albumin (present in some older formulations).
• Most patients notice a visible effect before leaving the clinic.
• Appears to last longer
On me: 5.5 months, around 2 months longer than Azzalure.
• Manufactured in Sweden by a well-established, reputable pharmaceutical company.
•1 vial of Relfydess ≈ 1.5 vials of Azzalure (or other older toxins), which is usually sufficient to treat both the upper and the lower face.
Cons
• New product = learning curve
Dose conversion isn’t always straightforward, and some patients required a top-up.
• £10 more expensive than older alternatives.
• Around 80% of patients in my clinic report more discomfort during injection.

Where the extra discomfort comes from

Botulinum toxin itself doesn’t hurt — what hurts is the diluent (Normal Saline).

Most botulinum toxins arrive as a powder and are reconstituted in clinic.
Relfydess arrives already pre-made and the manufacture put… twice as much Saline in it.
So the level of the discomfort is the same as before (because the dissolver is the same), but
• the injection lasts longer
• there is more tissue pressure from the extra fluid
• the solution is cold, as it must be stored refrigerated

All of this may increase discomfort, even though the toxin itself isn’t more painful.

Bottom line

Promising, clean, fast-acting, and potentially longer-lasting, but can be more uncomfortable on injection.
Like any new toxin, the first treatment involves a dose-learning curve, but once optimised, the results are very impressive.

26/12/2025

Santa’s little helper (don’t worry — he’s a legitimate Cosmetic Science uni student) and I have been busy in the lab
We’ve made face serum samples to test a “magic ingredient” used by some of the most expensive skincare brands.
The ingredient is a complex of growth factors — non-human, non-animal, produced by a large, highly reputable global ingredient manufacturer supplying well-known UK cosmetic brands.
It was honestly easier to get my mortgage approved than to open an account with these ingredient suppliers :)
As usual we are testing placebo vs active — let’s see if the results live up to the hype.
If you’d like to take part in the trial, please contact Veronica
Veronica@drnatalia.co.uk
📞 +44 7584 317821

12/11/2025

Hancock The Junior (the rising star of cosmetic chemistry 🙂) and I popped into the Cosmetic Science Conference today.
As we keep refining every molecule in my skincare line (if only I knew how long this journey would take!!), it’s nice to be growing our own in-house cosmetic chemist.

He helps me with formulations — I cover his car insurance :)
“If you’re good to Mama, Mama’s good to you…” (Chicago)