Wave Makers: An Interview with Dr. Ash Soni, The Soni Clinic

We interview Dr. Ash Soni, eminent US and UK trained plastic and reconstructive Surgeon, founder and owner of the award-winning aesthetics practice, The Soni Clinic.

Whilst attending Medical School at Imperial College, London, did you already know you wanted to become a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon?

In my penultimate year of medical school at Imperial College London, I had the privilege of shadowing a world-renowned plastic surgeon at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, which opened my eyes to the incredible field that is plastic surgery. I loved the finesse, creativity and variety of cases that came with the specialty.

What puts plastic and reconstructive surgery apart from other fields of surgery and how does it influence your work today?

Plastic and Reconstructive surgery as a specialty is all about the details. It is about the extreme precision and finesse that comes with every surgery. As a specialty we operate from head to toe, which is not common in other surgical specialties anymore. Every patient that I see, whether it is for a surgery or an injectable treatment is treated with the utmost care and precision. No patient is the same - anatomy is different, and therefore there is no set formula. My aesthetic practice hones in on the details - the unique characteristics that makes everyone individual, and the constant drive to be the best at my craft.

What made you decide to relocate to the USA and how would you compare both your training and the industry in both the UK and the USA?

Training in the USA was absolutely brutal. You operated a lot and you were given a lot of autonomy and experience early on, but I used to work 110 hours a week so work-life balance was non-existent! My decision to relocate to the USA was based on the fact that I love to challenge myself. When people told me I couldn’t do it, I was on a mission to prove to myself and to others that I could. I was only one of four international graduates to get into plastic surgery in the USA in the year that I applied.

What has been your greatest challenge and how did you seek to overcome it?

My greatest challenge has been getting past the burnout that I experienced at the very end of my training in the USA. I was lacking motivation and lost passion for my field by the end. I worked hard on improving myself mentally and physically, and becoming the best version of myself that I could be. That has been the secret to what I have been able to achieve over the last few years in practice.

Would you tell us about your mission trip to Vietnam for paediatric and craniofacial surgery and what you learnt from this mission?

I was hand-selected when I was practising in the US to go on a mission trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, to teach the local surgeons there our techniques on how to perform paediatric craniofacial operations. I learnt about the privilege that we have in the West compared to Vietnam. Patients were queuing for months in the hospital corridors just to get a chance to get a consultation with a surgeon. It was so rewarding to operate on these cute children, and to impart our knowledge to the local surgeons.

What made you decide to move into private practice and what are the most common procedure requests you receive in the clinic?

I wanted to create something of my own, and again, the challenge of it drove me to set up my own private practice, The Soni Clinic.

The most common procedure requests we receive surgically would be the upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). The most common injectable requests would be Botox, polynucleotides and dermal filler treatments.

What is exciting at the moment in the field of aesthetics and / or longevity?

It is an exciting time in our industry. The shift towards longevity and functional wellness within aesthetics is amazing. We are all thinking about skin health and overall wellness as opposed to just masking the issue, which was previously the way things were done.

How do you feel the role of nutrition fits within your work in aesthetics?

I want my patients to get the most optimal results possible, and therefore in order to do so, we must approach the skin from the inside-out. We all know the importance of the skin-gut axis, and the role that the gut plays in the quality and overall health of our skin. Therefore, I wanted my patients to be able to access the top nutritionists in the country in order to help guide them in optimising their nutrition in their daily lives.

What are your favourite 3 wellness products or practices, and why?

My two favourite supplements would be the Advanced Multivitamin and Immunity Complex by Inessa. I am immunosuppressed as I have Crohn’s Disease and these two supplements save me in my daily life.

The practice of mindfulness and gratitude has also been hugely beneficial in my life, and something I really started to do after I experienced burnout a few years ago.

You have a very busy schedule. How do you manage work life balance with a busy clinic and a young family? Could you share a little about your daily routine?

I think it is all about being as efficient and productive as possible. My day runs extremely efficiently, almost to the minute. I wake up around 5am, and workout by 6am on most days. I am able to drop my kids off to school at least three day a week. I am in my Ascot clinic most days, which is easier as it is local to my family, and I am in my London Clinic at The Langham London twice a week. I think you have to manage your time well if you have a business and a family, otherwise you will struggle in all areas! You also have to be a morning person to follow my schedule!

What about your work brings you the most joy?

Meeting the most amazing patients daily brings me the most joy. Patients who come through my doors all have a story. A story as to what brought them into my clinic. To be able to improve their self esteem and confidence is so unbelievably rewarding to me, and for them to trust me is humbling. People travel from all over the world now to see me, which is absolutely wonderful. I am lucky to have the best patients.

When someone is choosing a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, what should they look out for when deciding on non-surgical and surgical aesthetic procedures?

Firstly, find a provider who really knows their anatomy. In the UK, there are many providers out there who do not have much experience with facial anatomy. Whichever provider you choose, make sure that you trust them from the offset. The consultation is key to building that trust, and knowing that you can put your face in their hands. You should never be pushed into doing procedures that do not line up with your goals, and you should feel as though your chosen provider is guiding you like they would guide a family member.

Do your research, speak to people locally, read their reviews, know their training, and make sure that their before and afters line up with your idea of good results.

To learn more about Dr. Soni and his award-winning plastic surgery private practice, The Soni Clinic, you can visit his website or follow him on social media:

Website: www.thesoniclinic.com

Social media: @thesoniclinic (Instagram) 

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