UK aesthetic and cosmetic surgery clinic chains Sk:n and the Harley Medical group (THMG) have been acquired and relaunched by Lorena cosmetics holdings SPV, a private Scottish company with registered office in Glasgow.
Sk:n collapsed without warning in July 2024, leaving multitudes of irate customers and hundreds of aggrieved staff at 70 sites across Britain; its website boasted it operated ‘the largest network of specialist skin care clinics in the UK’ with ‘more than 450 consultants, doctors, nurses and medical practitioners operating across England and Scotland’.
The new acquisition ‘is part of a broader strategic consolidation that also includes The Skin Experts and ABC Medical, which now join ophthalmology providers Optical Express under the Lorena Investments group portfolio’, explained theindustry.beauty.
Lorena Chairman and CEO Prof David Moulsdale commented: ‘The acquisition and integration of Sk:n and THMG into the Lorena portfolio reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class patient care, regulatory excellence and innovative treatment solutions.
‘By leveraging our almost 35 years of healthcare expertise, we aim to elevate the Sk:n and THMG brands, helping to ensure every patient receives exceptional, medically-led, clinician-delivered care in state-of-the- art facilities.’
He emphasised Lorena is ‘focused on re-establishing consumer confidence’ through a ‘robust’ operational infrastructure, which includes re-employing around 150 former Sk:n and THMG employees at 30 UK clinic locations – including flagship sites in London’s Harley Street and Glasgow’s St Vincent Street – and forming relationships with expert clinicians, including dermatologists, aesthetic doctors and plastic surgeons.
Over half the re-opened Sk:n clinics have also already benefitted from moving to upgraded premises within existing Optical Express clinics, ‘helping to ensure compliance with stringent industry regulations’.
Lorena ‘will also work with aesthetic industry brands to support sk:n in expanding its range of treatments and technologies in 2025’, noted cosmeticsbusiness.com. ‘This includes polynucleotides, a type of injectable treatment that helps improve skin health and appearance, as well as dermatology services and advanced skincare.’
Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director of Lorena Cosmetics, emphasised: ‘We are acutely aware of the impact the previous business liquidation had on patients, employees and suppliers alike
‘As a patient-centric business already delivering care to stringent regulations and the highest standards of service, we are committed
to rebuilding consumer trust by implementing a robust business infrastructure and support for patients affected by the previous closure to ensure they receive the best possible care moving forward.
‘For us, patient care is at the centre of everything we do, and our teams are actively reviewing each individual case, providing support where possible to previous Sk:n and THMG patients.
‘Our aim is to connect with all affected patients to provide clear next steps and encourage them to come back and be served by their previously chosen practitioner.’
