Spotlight interview with Victoria Sampson

Scroll down to read the full interview with Victoria Sampson, cosmetic dentist based on Harley Street, London.

1. How has the coronavirus affected your life? How has it affected the lives of your family and friends?

COVID-19 has turned all our lives upside down. The things we used to take for granted like popping out for a coffee or catching up with a friend over lunch are things we now long for. I have never before rationed my food or thought about wearing a mask outdoors. I think it has been difficult for us all, especially given the fact we don’t know when this will end or how life will be afterwards. When I speak to family or friends about it they all share the same fears and concerns, hence why I started a series of live chats with a clinical psychologist on my Instagram to discuss mental health during this pandemic. It is important for us all to maintain our mental health and stay positive.

2. How are you staying calm and sane during your quarantine?

For a workaholic like me, not being able to work proved very difficult initially. I decided to create short-term, medium-term and long-term goals for this quarantine. Every day I create a checklist of things I want to achieve that day, including simple things like clearing out my desk, to more complex tasks like finishing a research paper. I have maintained a routine and made sure I workout every day (even if it means dancing in my living room!). I also make sure to stay connected with my family and friends, and also be available for my patients through my Instagram if they need me.

3. How has COVID-19 affected your job?

As a dentist, COVID-19 has meant that I am unable to work as normal. New research has emerged that dentistry is the highest risk for not only contracting the virus, but also spreading it. Therefore, we have all had to shut our doors and put down our drills. Unlike many jobs we cannot ‘work from home’ and are now only available for phone call consultations and remote prescribing of analgesia and antibiotics. The NHS has also asked for us to be on call for redeployment to the front line to help our medical colleagues. I am still waiting to hear when they will need me but until then I have been keeping myself busy answering any patient queries and also embarking on some exciting research to do with oral health and COVID-19.

4. How do you enjoy spending your time while in quarantine?

I have always been known for living life at 100 miles per hour. This is the first time since I can remember where I have taken time to relax and reconnect with myself. I love cooking so have been learning new recipes and trying new things out. A lot of my dental colleagues have also been kind enough to host webinars and live classes on Instagram to continue our professional development. I have been taking different classes every day and bought a bunch of books to learn about new techniques and dental procedures. I am aiming to create a lifestyle for myself now that I will be thankful of in the future when things get back to normal. It is important to also seperate the day from the evening and the weekday from the weekend. During the weekend I relax by painting and reading!

5. How are you staying positive and hopeful for the future?

After every moment of deep depression and/or recession there has been positivity and expansion. Whilst this is not a normal war, we are adopting war time efforts, collectively battling against a single enemy, coronavirus. After world war one, the roaring twenties ensued, after world war two, the USA experienced phenomenal economic growth, and a baby boom. During the latest recession in 2008-2010, Uber, Airbnb, Pinterest, WhatsApp Inc. and Venmo were all launched. I have no doubt that there will be a surge in creativity, development and positivity for us all once this is over. This has been a time where we have all been able to reflect, reprioritize and appreciate. I am very hopeful for the future and hope that our world will honor and appreciate the healthcare force a lot more after this.

Fun facts:

3 things getting that changed your life this week:
- New Nespresso capsules
- My cashmere tracksuit
- My new Narguile Candle from Diptyque
First place you’re going after quarantine: The dance floor
I’m binge watching: Money Heist
I’m reading: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
I’m cooking: Cacio e Pepe
I’m trying to: Run 10km under an hour

You can find Victoria on Instagram by searching @drvictoriasampson for her personal, and @thedentalsisters for her fun, professional account!

Jenna Rennert, Vogue Beauty Editor, loves the Platinum Lip Plump

Since we are currently spending most of our day at home, it is important to reflect on this time and make the best of it while we can. Since there is nowhere to go, what better time than now to reset and reboot your skin? There is no need for heavy makeup at home, so keep reading for some helpful skin tips.

Whether you are experiencing breakouts, dry skin, oily skin, melasma, rosacea, signs of aging, or just want to be preventative, look no further! The Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty skincare collection features a wide variety of luxury medical-grade products. Everything is clean, gluten free, fragrance free, paraben free, sulfate free, dye free, formaldehyde free, propylene glycol and hexylene glycol free. The line includes everything from a lip plump, to lash enhancing serum, to a retinol, to cleansers, to moisturizers, to serums. According to Jenna Rennert, Vogue Beauty Editor, the Platinum Lip Plump is “no joke!”

If you are looking for some help with your skincare routine, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram by messaging @laradevganmd or @devganscientificbeauty, or by emailing Beauty@LaraDevganMD.com. We are currently offering free skincare consultations so that during this time in quarantine, you can perfect your routine and have glowing skin by the end! We know that browsing through many products can get overwhelming, so we want to make sure that everyone feels good about the products they order! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Real User review: Platinum Lip Plump

Before and After Platinum Lip Plump

If you have not already tried it, the Platinum Lip Plump is one of our best-sellers and is definitely worth every penny. Rich in hyaluronate, niacin, ceramides, palmitoyl tripeptide, and other nourishing nutrients, Platinum Lip Plump promotes lip hydration, visible volumization, improvement in pink color, and anti-oxidant protection immediately upon application.

One of our users, Sara (@saramoussallig), decided to share her experience with the Platinum Lip Plump on her personal blog Instagram page. After sharing a video with users of her applying the product, she also features her before and after image. In this photo, one can see how the lip plump worked to increase the size of her lips, naturally tinted them, and provided a glossy coat on top. Sara feels that the Platinum Lip Plump is “excellent for those who want to look different from time to time or for those who simply want the look of lip fillers but do not want injections.” What makes the Platinum Lip Plump great is that not only is it nourishing and hydrating, but the hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 inside will help nurture your lips and keep them plump. Additionally, you can use it on top of you favorite shade of lipstick!

If you have never tried the Platinum Lip Plump, it is definitely something to consider, especially if you desire fuller-looking lips and do not want to try injectables. The light tingling sensation will only take place for 1-2 minutes after applying and the “plumpiness” lasts for about 2 hours after one application. It is important to stay inside the lip lines when applying, or else it will turn the skin light pink. If you are interested in reading more about the product and would like to purchase, click here. Additionally, if you use any Scientific Beauty skincare products and absolutely love them, tag @devganscientificbeauty on Instagram to share your story, we would love to hear from you!

Dr. Devgan donates medical equipment and skincare products to those on the front lines

Earlier this week, Dr. Devgan set out in New York City on a mission to give back to the community. Being that her medical practice and skincare line are both located in the heart of the city, which is now one of the hardest-hit cities for COVID-19, she knew she had to do something to make a difference. Whether it be 10 pairs of gloves or 100, every donation counts.

Dr. Devgan gave back to the neighborhood heroes, the emergency department staff of Lenox Hill Hospital, by bringing a surplus of rubber gloves, surgical masks, as well as personal protective equipment, and of course, Hyaluronic Serum and Recovery Cream. Being that Dr. Devgan is a board-certified medical professional, she knows and understands how important self care is. These are difficult times and the skincare donations are to help those on the front lines feel the best versions of themselves. Not only had she donated these items, but has also listed her ventilator and airway support equipment for use anywhere it is needed in New York City.

It is times like these where we need to come together to help the greater whole. COVID-19 is a serious pandemic and its outcome depends solely on every single person’s actions. If you have access to any sort of supplies, whether it be medical, food, clothing, or anything along those lines, it would definitely be helpful to donate them to your city’s officials. If you need assistance on where or how to donate, here is a helpful article. If you have any questions about COVID-19 or would like more information click here.

What impact will COVID-19 have on the aesthetics industry?

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of life as we knew it: our hygiene, our travel, our desires, and our behaviors. When the novel coronavirus is under control and the world's quarantines are lifted, how might this impact the aesthetics industry?

First, I think aesthetics will return to minimally invasive procedures before anything else. Injectables, botox, fillers, suture suspension lifts, and nonsurgical skin procedures are considered low risk and low downtime. I think people will feel most comfortable with these procedures early on as we are figuring out what our new normal looks like.

Second, I think at first, interest in surgical procedures will favor those that can be done under local anesthesia or IV sedation before more major procedures are done. Currently it has been advised that all ventilators in the US be put on hold for life-saving purposes. We will not return to using ventilators for elective surgery until we are past the peak of COVID-19 and certain that we have enough hospital resources to help anyone who is sick.

Third, I think there will be a major shift to medical-grade skin care and at-home measures for the times in between aesthetic appointments. High-quality medical grade vitamin C, retinoids, hyaluronics, scrubs, and cleansers will likely begin to play a larger role for those who have previously relied on in-office treatments like lasers.

Fourth, I think our protocols for sterilization and screening will be ramped up. I anticipate that plastic surgeons will wear masks and face shields for routine well patient appointments. Deep sterilizations will be frequent. We may use temperature screening or even rapid COVID-19 testing to decide who can be treated. If widespread serologic testing becomes available, having IgG for COVID-19 (a marker of having recovered) may become a passport to travel and behave freely. As treatments and vaccine research evolve, our new normal will begin to more closely resemble our old normal.

What do you think will happen next in the aesthetics industry?

-Dr. Lara Devgan