Berbra Spurgeon: More Than Skin Deep
When you meet Berbra Spurgeon, you quickly realise she’s not just in the business of aesthetics—she’s in the business of transformation. As an Advanced Nurse Prescriber, menopause specialist, and founder of a thriving clinic in the heart of Norwich, Berbra blends precision with compassion, artistry with science. Her clients come for treatments that enhance their beauty, but they often leave with something far greater: a renewed sense of confidence, joy, and self-worth. From her humble beginnings in the Seychelles to becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after aesthetic practitioners, Berbra’s story is one of resilience, passion, and the belief that true beauty always starts from within.
What was it like moving to the UK and starting from scratch?
My Journey: From Seychelles to the UK
I was just 22 years old when I left my homeland, Seychelles—young, partly naïve, but deeply hungry for something more. My original dream was to move to Switzerland, and the UK was meant to be just a stopover. But as life would have it, that stopover became a new beginning.
From a young age, I knew I didn’t quite fit in back home. I longed for a life with more opportunity, more growth. So I leapt—leaving behind my family, my friends, and even my nursing career—and boarded a plane to the unknown.
I arrived in the UK and stayed with my best friend, her husband, and their two children. At one point, I slept on the floor of her bedroom. I was on a visitor visa, not allowed to work, but my restless spirit couldn’t sit still. I took a job underground, working as a supermarket cashier, earning £400–£500 a month in cash. And you know what? I was happy, elated, even.
It wasn’t easy. But those humble beginnings gave me the fire to build the life I have today.
Did you ever imagine your journey would lead to your clinic?
Not. A big hell no, not in a million years.
I never saw myself as a business owner. I was content working hard and doing what I loved. My dream back then was to become a surgeon, more specifically, a plastic surgeon, but I had a very controlling ex-husband. I had zero business ideas and no intention of becoming an entrepreneur.
But now I understand something deeply:
When the universe has a plan for you, there’s no outrunning it.
You can’t undo what’s meant for you.
From the day I landed in the UK on 3rd May, every step, every challenge, every closed door and every unexpected open one… each became a cornerstone in the path that led me to where I am today.
Every rejection shaped me.
Every encounter taught me.
And every decision, even the messy, scary ones, guided me toward my purpose.
Owning my clinic wasn’t the plan.
But it was always the path.
What made you fall in love with aesthetics?
The Dream Was Always There. It Just Didn’t Have a Name Yet
I always wanted to become a plastic surgeon, not for status, but to help people feel better about themselves…
Back then, I thought all these treatments, like Botox and fillers, were reserved for the rich and famous. It didn’t seem like a world I belonged to. I was working in hospital theatres as a scrub nurse in plastics, and I remember telling my best friend, “I want Botox!” because I had this big line running across my forehead.
I didn’t know much about it, but I knew I wanted to give it a try. I even asked an anaesthetist who’d just done a Botox course to inject me, but she refused. Still, that idea never left me. It sat quietly in the background, waiting.
And looking back now, I realise:
I’ve always loved making people feel good, look good, and glow with confidence.
Even back then, I would say, “Don’t we look so boring in these scrubs?”
I wanted to be a glamorous nurse, not just hidden behind a mask and sterile gown.
Now, here I am. Not a plastic surgeon, but still fulfilling the heart of that dream, helping others feel empowered, beautiful, and seen.
Can you tell us how your time at SK:N shaped you as a professional?
How My Time at SK:N Shaped Me as a Professional
Let me tell you a quick story about how I landed my role at SK:N Clinic, because it was far from polished, yet it changed everything.
At the time, I had just left theatre nursing and was working night shifts in the emergency department so I could care for my son during the day. I was exhausted. Tired. And honestly, I felt like I was losing myself, looking older, feeling stuck. I remember thinking, “There has to be more than this.”
On one of my night breaks, I opened Gumtree because this was before LinkedIn took over, and I randomly searched for jobs. I came across a listing for SK:N. I had no idea what the company was about, but I applied… without even a CV.
Two days later, they called asking for one. I sent a CV, barely decent and somehow got the interview. I honestly talked my way through it, not out of dishonesty, but from sheer passion and desperation for change.
To my surprise, I got the job.
Once I started, I realized, I had walked straight into my dream job. I am forever grateful to SK:N for that opportunity. It kick-started my journey into aesthetics. But after some time, I realised I wanted more. While SK:N gave me a solid foundation, I was hungry to grow beyond the basics.
I attended every course, said yes to every event, and pushed myself to a higher standard than the clinic was able to support at the time. I rose through the ranks, from starting at the bottom to becoming the 3rd top injector across 40 clinics. That’s right: I climbed from 12th… to 9th… to 3rd, surpassing even the top doctors. That achievement? It meant everything to me.
But then, the universe stepped in.
Despite my love for SK:N, I was let go. It shattered me. I didn’t want to leave. I felt lost, lingering on the sofa for three months, wondering what to do next. But in hindsight, it was all part of the plan.
Because during those years at SK:N, I was unknowingly calling my future into existence.
I would often say to clients, “By the time I’m 40, I’ll have my own business.” I didn’t know how. I didn’t even believe it fully at the time. But I planted the seed and when the time came, the vision for my clinic was born.
Now I see that SK:N was my training ground not just technically, but spiritually. It taught me what I was capable of. And it made me realise that when one door closes, it’s because another, even greater one, is waiting to be opened.
What pushed me to leap to open my clinic?
How Desperation Birthed My Clinic
What pushed me to open my clinic?
Sheer desperation.
There’s a quote I’ve always held on to:
“If you fall, make sure you land on your back—because if you can look up, you can get up.”
When I was let go from SK:N, I had no backup plan. I was just completing my prescribers’ course at university, but SK:N had put restrictions in place, no opening a clinic within six months or a certain radius. I felt stuck. Blocked.
So, I pivoted.
I took a job at a research company while studying, trying to make ends meet. But life threw me another curveball. I became violently ill with glandular fever and severe tonsillitis, which led to ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) and Fibromyalgia. I was bedridden. There were days when all I could move were my eyeballs. The fatigue and pain were relentless.
But still, I kept going.
I slept during the day and left home at night just to study. I would sit in the university library from midnight to 2 a.m., pushing through exhaustion, clinging to my vision.
And now, when I look back, I understand something I couldn’t see then:
Out of my greatest despair, I birthed my greatest gift, my clinic.
It wasn’t just built from ambition.
It was built from pain, perseverance, and an unwavering belief that there had to be more.
What’s been one of the biggest lessons from running your clinic?
There’s a Chinese proverb that says:
“A man without a smile should never open a shop.”
And it couldn’t be truer.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is this:
My brand isn’t the products I offer or the treatments I perform.
My brand is ME.
At first, I thought success came from the services, the injectables, the skincare, the expertise.
But what truly drew people in… was how I made them feel.
Clients came to me not just for aesthetics, but for connection.
Because I treated them with respect, empathy, and genuine care, not as numbers, not for conversion, but as people.
At SK:N, it was all about metrics. Targets. Turnover.
But in my clinic? It became about moments. Relationships. Trust.
Every client who walks through my door is seen, heard, and valued.
I simply treat people how I would want to be treated, any day, any time, in any setting.
And that’s not just branding.
That’s alignment.
That’s the purpose.
What would make people feel comfortable when they walk through your doors?
At my clinic, it’s never just about the treatment.
It’s about the person sitting in front of me.
I make it my mission to ensure every individual feels seen, heard, and completely at ease—from the moment they walk in, to the moment they leave.
Sometimes, that means refusing a treatment.
Not because I can’t perform it, but because I practice from ethics, not ego.
I always take time to ask:
“Why do you want this?”
Because often, what people are seeking isn’t just on the surface; it comes from something deeper.
We chat, we laugh, and sometimes we talk about what’s going on in their lives.
That connection matters.
It’s healing in its own right.
Like Dale Carnegie once said:
“Be lavish in your praise and hearty in your approbation.”
That’s what I live by.
Because in this space, you’re not just a client. You’re a human being and you matter.
What’s your secret to making treatments feel so personal and not just clinical?
It’s simple:
I treat every person as an individual, not a procedure.
There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Every treatment is tailored and gentle, never aggressive.
I believe in progressive results over drastic changes, because feeling good in your skin should never feel rushed.
I also avoid overwhelming clients with technical jargon. Instead, I speak in clear, everyday language, so they never leave confused or unsure. We often share a laugh over my different terminology because when you’re relaxed, your confidence shines through.
And here’s something I hold sacred:
When you’re with me, you have my full attention.
No computers between us.
I still use paper notes, so I can look at my client in the eye, listen, and give you the space to speak freely. In that way, my client feels seen and heard, before we even discuss a treatment plan.
Why do you think it’s important to focus on inner wellness, not just outside?
I believe true Beauty Begins Where No Mirror Can Reflect
There’s an African proverb I deeply resonate with:
“When there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm.” I hold that truth like a compass
In aesthetics and life, everything starts from within. Whether it’s healing, confidence, or the desire to age well, the outside is merely a reflection of what’s happening inside.
They say beauty is skin-deep.
But I believe that’s a wild understatement.
Real lasting and glowing beauty starts deep within the soul.
And when that inner light flickers dim, no cream, needle, or facial in the world can fully restore what’s missing.
Even ageing doesn’t start on the surface. It begins internally, emotionally, hormonally, energetically, long before it shows on the skin. That’s why I never rush into treatments. I always begin by holding space for each client to talk, to be seen, to be heard.
I’m honest and direct, but always kind, because I know some topics are tender.
And I believe true transformation happens when we work from the inside out.
In my clinic, I don’t just treat the face.
I honour the woman behind the tired eyes…
The one who holds it together for everyone else, who’s quietly unravelling,
Who walks in not just for lines and wrinkles, but for reassurance.
For a safe space. For connection. For herself.
It’s not just about polishing the surface or filling the crack; we gently explore what’s truly brought them to my clinic. Sometimes, my background in coaching and counselling naturally comes through, helping clients navigate difficult emotions or life transitions.
We laugh, we cry, we talk about the things she doesn’t say out loud.
Sometimes, we don’t treat at all.
Because sometimes, what she needs is to be seen, not fixed.
The world will always tell us to chase the fountain of youth,
But I believe the real fountain is inside, made of peace, purpose, and self-love.
When that flows, the glow is undeniable. Irresistible.
Unfakeable.
So no, I don’t just smooth skin.
I listen to stories. I mend spirits. I witness transformation from the inside out.
Because I know the deepest truth of all:
A woman who is well on the inside… radiates a beauty no filter can touch.
How do you help someone who walks and does not feel great about themselves?
I think I might have already answered this question, but I welcome them with my heart first.
Before I ask what they want to change, I try to feel what’s hurting inside. Because the truth is, most people don’t just walk in for treatment. They walk in carrying silent pain: heartbreak, self-doubt, exhaustion, grief, or just the quiet ache of not feeling enough.
So I slow everything down. I sit with them. I ask real questions. And more importantly, I listen, not just to their words, but to the spaces in between. I create a space where they’re not judged, sold to, or rushed, just seen and understood.
Sometimes, I hold their hand. Sometimes, we laugh. Sometimes, we cry. And many times, I’ll gently suggest that today isn’t the day for Botox or filler, that perhaps what’s needed is kindness, not correction. Sometimes, I just give them a free facial.
Because I don’t just work with skin. I work with stories. And my job, my calling, is to remind people of their beauty before I ever lift a syringe. If I can help someone walk out feeling lighter, softer, and more themselves, with or without a treatment, then I’ve done what I came here to do.
