Upon arriving at Dr Raj Acquilla’s clinic in Chelsea, I had a consultation on my medical history and what I wanted to achieve from my treatment. I explained that I wanted my eyes to look more refreshed and open, with a slight elevation of my brows and to address my forehead lines. These are some of the most common concerns seen in the clinic, however, Dr Acquilla’s approach is totally personalised and goes beyond just the treatment alone. He likens his technique to that of a couturier, who designs a treatment on your individual needs and even your personality. After all, JLo and Taylor Swift would both wear very different dresses for the red carpet, and the same goes for facial aesthetics. He asked me to describe who I am, my personality, how I like to wear my makeup and how I want to be perceived, too. He also studied my orbital eye shape in great detail. “For example, Kiera Knightley has quite narrow orbital aperture and almond eyes that will close off when smiling. Whereas someone like Natalie Portman has more open eyes—she is more ‘Disney’ than Kiera Knightley,” says Dr Acquilla. “Whereas on you, it will make you look softer. It’s more youthful and attractive, but it’s going to change they way that you look and how people perceive you,” he told me.
