The Interview: Dr Yannis Alexandrides of 111 Harley St. and 111SKIN on his innovative practice and growing skincare line

Dr Yannis Alexandrides is one of the best-known names on London's Harley Street, famed in particular for for his facelifts (he invented the Y Facelift technique) and rhinoplasty. His clinic at 111 Harley St. offers an array of surgical and non-surgical treatments by an expert team, led by Dr Yannis.

He is also the founder of the 111SKIN skincare line, which recently received investment from SKKY Partners, the consumer-focused private equity firm co-founded by Jay Sammons and Kim Kardashian, to fuel its international expansion.

Dr Yannis talk to us about his holistic approach to aesthetics, how the market is evolving and customer demands are changing, and what his plans are for the skincare line following the high-profile backing.

111 Harley St. was established nearly 25 years ago, can you tell us about your medical background and what it was that motivated you to set up the clinic at this iconic location?

I completed medical school in Athens then moved to Miami where I did my plastic surgery training at the University of Miami. I trained at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a very busy trauma centre. This was invaluable experience and laid the foundation of my career as a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon.

Harley Street is known around the world as an epicentre of medical excellence. After relocating to London, I founded my clinic 111 Harley St. in 2001. For me, London is a perfect location allowing me to stay connected with both my professional society of Plastic Surgeons in the US, and Greece.

The distinctive entrance to 111 Harley St.

When the clinic was first established, which were the key services on offer and which were the most popular?

In the early days I offered a wide variety of plastic surgeries including breast and body surgeries in addition to Facelifts and other facial surgeries such as Rhinoplasty. I also did non-surgical treatments such as CO² resurfacing lasers, Dermal Fillers and Botox. As the clinic expanded I built an expert team to provide my patients with the different treatments and body surgeries, allowing me to focus on the Facelifts and facial procedures I now specialise in.

You now have a 360-degree approach combining surgical and non-surgical treatments, as well as other holistic services (e.g. nutrition), why is this approach so important to you?

This approach allows myself and my team to achieve our patients’ goals in the least invasive way. Many patients will have concerns a single procedure or treatment cannot rectify, our treatment plans will typically combine different options to achieve the very best end result.

An example of this would be a patient who is looking for full facial rejuvenation – they may be an excellent candidate for a Facelift, however if they also have concerns such as sun damage that contribute an aged appearance, surgery alone cannot address this. In this example, including non-surgical treatments such as lasers in their treatment plan to address the pigmentation would then mean we are able to gain the best overall result.

In the case of our Nutritionist services, they allow us to offer a more holistic approach – good nutrition plays an important part in overall health, it’s important to be in the best possible health before undergoing a surgical procedure, for patients undergoing body procedures.

While you do take this well-rounded approach, are there particular treatments that you/the clinic are renowned for?

I am best known for my Facelifts and other facial surgeries such as Rhinoplasties. I created the Y Facelift technique which addresses concerns to the lower face and neck, such as jowling. I now teach this technique to other surgeons from around the world.

Inside 111 Harley St.

In terms of the non-surgical treatments, what are the latest developments you are offering and how have the attitudes of the customer changed, for instance, are they experiencing ‘filler fatigue’ or moving away from Botox?

I do see some patients moving towards longer-term solutions such as Micrografting, instead of Dermal Fillers. Micrografting is a biocompatible solution that utilises the patient’s own fat to fill areas that require volume.

We are experiencing high demand for our Exosomes treatments which can be used in multiple different ways with outstanding results. At 111 Harley St. we use various methods and medical devices with Exosomes depending on the patient’s concerns and goals. These nano-particles increase communication between cells and allows us to improve skin quality safely and effectively.

Polyneucleotides are another treatment I am seeing rise in popularity. These biostimulators promote the production of both collagen and elastin within the skin. We introduced these at my clinic, 111 Harley St. back in 2022, and find them to be particularly effective for treating delicate areas of the face, such as the mid-face and under-eye region, which often show the earliest signs of aging.

Can you tell us a bit about your customer base and their motivations for seeking treatments? Is it, for example, people seeking age management solutions, or is it more broad than that?

At 111 Harley St. we see patients seeing solutions to a wide variety of concerns, not purely those related to ageing – our patients range from age 18 upwards. In addition to age-related concerns, we also treat people who have a wide range of concerns such as acne or acne scarring, hyperpigmentation or migraines. Every patient is unique, their concerns can be medical or aesthetic – sometimes both. Ultimately, the work myself and my team do is all about making people feel the best, and most confident version of themselves.

You do of course also have your own skincare line 111SKIN. When was this introduced and what motivated you to do it? Was it initially for customers wanted the best possible post-treatment care?

The first product I developed was the Dramatic Healing Serum, this was inspired by my patients at 111 Harley St. I wanted a product they could apply to accelerate the healing process post-surgery. The serum was such a success, I still use it in my clinic to this day and it inspired the creation of the brand, 111SKIN.

Which are the products for which the brand is best known?

The 111SKIN Repair Serum NAC Y²™ is one of our hero products. It is based upon the formula I originally developed at my clinic. I later developed the Reparative collection, which includes antioxidants to repair and strengthen the skin, reduce fine lines, and promote the production of collagen and elastin.

111SKIN has just received backing from SKKY Partners

Do you find that people who discover the skincare sometimes end up as customers of the clinic?

Yes, and it works both ways – we have many clinic patients who are fans of the brand and discovered the products at 111 Harley St. when visiting for consultations, treatments or procedures. We also have patients who first learnt of the clinic after using the products – as the home of the brand, 111 Harley St. is often a hot topic on the 111SKIN counters in our retailers such as Harrods or Selfridges.

You’ve just received investment into the brand [from SKKY Partners, the consumer-focused private equity firm co-founded by Jay Sammons and Kim Kardashian]. What do you intend to do that in terms of expanding the range and your reach?

With SKKY’s support, 111SKIN aims to strengthen its direct-to-consumer business while expanding its customer base in key markets, including North America and Asia, where the brand has seen substantial growth.

In terms of skincare, what would you say was the optimum basic routine that your customers should adhere to? For instance, is there a step they often neglect?

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of a well-structured routine, one that nourishes, protects, and ultimately preserves the integrity of your skin. At the core of this, there is one fundamental step that people consistently neglect: SPF.

Your skin is constantly exposed to environmental aggressors; UV radiation being the most significant culprit in premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and loss of elasticity. You can invest in the most advanced skincare products, but without daily sun protection, you are allowing damage to accumulate. I recommend applying an SPF50 every morning, regardless of weather conditions.

For an optimum routine, I always advise the following:

• Cleansing – A gentle yet effective cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin.
• Eye Cream – A targeted eye solution, infused with antioxidants, peptides, or growth factors to address specific concerns.
• Moisturisers – To support the skin’s barrier and maintain hydration.
• Sunscreen – The ultimate non-negotiable step to prevent long-term damage.

After all these years in the business are you still as motivated as you were at the start? It certainly seems that way!

Yes, I am certainly still extremely motivated - I really love seeing my patients’ journeys and the confidence and quality of life they gain from their transformations.

Find out more about 111 Harley St. here and 111SKIN here.