Greek philosophy
Vicky Eldridge visits London’s luxury 6-star wellness and aesthetics clinic – Galen
From the minute you walk through the door of the Galen Clinic, you know you are somewhere special. So much time and attention to detail has gone into creating the luxury 6-star space in the heart of central London, and much like its concept, it’s not all aesthetic.
Founded by Greek power couple Dr Andreas Androulakakis MD consultant plastic surgeon, cosmetic and reconstructive and Popi Makri (clinic and creative director), it is led by a team of specialist doctors, creating a new benchmark in progressive wellbeing, with the aim to preserve vitality, age-proofing the skin, body, and mind to elevate health and happiness. Galen is where your biological potential is supercharged with unrivalled expertise, longevity, and holistic health solutions.
Galen is a modern, holistic clinic drawing on Galenic philosophies by focusing on balance within the body’s systems, using comprehensive diagnostic approaches and offering individualised treatment plans that include lifestyle changes through integrating various therapeutic modalities to treat the whole person rather than just the disease or the aesthetic concern.
The Galen ethos
Galen is inspired by Claudius Galenus, one of the most prominent Ancient Greek physicians, surgeons, and philosophers in the Roman Empire. His timeless philosophies and approaches to medicine and healing centred around maintaining equilibrium, were foundational for many centuries in both Eastern and Western medical traditions.
These Galenic philosophies perfectly represent this modern, all-encompassing London clinic and the services they provide, which are intrinsically connected to the founder’s heritage, status and medical principles of precision and excellence. Galen exists at the axis of scientific innovation and the human experience, with natural results and progressive methodology at its core; it is the perfect marriage of results-driven, scientific, and holistic medical treatments paired with a feeling of luxury, exclusivity, and indulgence.
Clinic design
Located on Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, the Georgian building has been transformed after a four-year restoration project over five floors, working with internationally renowned Athens-based interior designer Sissy Feida and London-based architect firm Corstorphine & Wright.
All spaces, including Dr’s offices, examination rooms, operating theatre, common areas, and custom-made structures were designed to bring excellence while firmly remaining focused on the required functionality of this state-of-the-art clinic.
The goal was to create a unique experience, a place where internal beauty is a significant part of the external surroundings.
The breathtaking crystal chandelier has a staggering 125-foot drop and echoes the brand’s core, offering silent luxury, comfort, calmness, and trust in an environment that values internal beauty as a significant part of the external surroundings.
One of the other many standout features of The Galen Clinic is the luxurious operating theatre located in the basement. The founder, Dr Androulakakis’s vision and brief for the operating theatre were clear: to be calm and bright with blue skies above, ensuring the patient journey remains at the 6-star level of this state-of-the-art clinic.
Dr A
As a world-recognised consultant plastic surgeon, Dr Androulakakis (affectionately known as Dr A) has over 30 years of specialist experience and performed thousands of successful operations. In 2014, he also became director of the medical aesthetic department of the world-renowned Palace Merano Medical Spa.
Dr Androulakakis offers a wide range of surgical and non-surgical procedures. His most recognised treatments include Fat Trilogy Facial Rejuvenation, a signature treatment at Galen created by Dr A. It involves transferring fat and regenerating factors in high concentration to achieve optimum facial rejuvenation.
Dr A’s clientele also comes far and wide for his aesthetic breast surgery. From breast augmentation with the latest technology implants to breast reduction, his breast uplift without implants remains his trademark. Breast reshaping with minimal scars coupled with the ‘natural look’ is consistently accomplished.
Mr Theo Nanidis, BSc (Hons), MBBS, MPhil, FRCS(Plast), a world-renowned expert in breast reconstruction and aesthetic breast and body procedures, is also an extremely important asset to this team.
Functional medicine
Holistic medicine views the body as an intricate, interconnected system, much like Galen’s understanding of the body’s-complexity; treatments are designed to support the body’s natural healing processes rather than just address symptoms or aesthetic issues.
Dr Nathan Curran, GP and functional medicine practitioner BMedSci, MBChB, DipOH, AFMCP, DipNutrMed, is one of the world’s best anti-ageing doctors. Through Galen Clinic, he offers comprehensive advice, tests and treatment suggestions to help in the prevention of disease, age management, quality of life, weight control and hormonal balance and the specialised evolution of longevity.
Functional medicine treatments will include NAD+ Therapy, which improves cognitive function and activates enzymes, which promotes brain function, healthy ageing, and improved metabolism, as well as Glutathione Push IV Drip, a powerful antioxidant delivered directly into the bloodstream to detoxify and support overall wellness.
Other treatments include Biological Age Analysis, which pinpoints ageing from a biological standpoint, using epigenetics to tell you how old you really are, and Mitovit Intermittent Hypoxic training, which prepares the body at a cellular level for stress defence in anticipation of surgical or aesthetic treatment. The clinic also offers nutrigenomic testing as well as mindfulness and meditation workshops to help patients manage stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance overall well-being.
Sports medicine and orthopaedics
Mr George Tselentakis, consultant orthopaedic surgeon FRCS (Tr& Orth), PHD. The orthopaedic team offers consultation for all orthopaedic aetiologies, surgery, and conservative treatments, including autologous injections of PRP and stem cells, which help with joint pain management and regeneration where needed.
Skin clinic and non-surgical aesthetics
Dr Catherine Borysiewicz is a consultant dermatologist specialising in inflammatory skin diseases, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, sun damage and skin cancers, which includes skin surveillance strategies and the early detection of skin cancer using mole mapping, acne and acne scarring management.
Non-surgical treatments will also include Morpheus 8 micro-needling with radiofrequency to improve skin texture and radiance, neuromodulators, Sofwave skin tightening, and advanced muscle shaping and sculpting using TruSculpt technology.
The Galen clinic will also offer only the top Gold and Blue Diamond range of products, exclusively available in The Omorovicza Institutes, and Galen Ultra HydraFacial with an Omorovicza booster healing serum.
At the heart of every Omorovicza product is the patented, bio-fermented active ingredient, Healing Concentrate™. The Healing Concentrate™ has been clinically proven to significantly improve skin hydration, elasticity, and firmness, delivering the unique benefits of the Budapest mineral-rich (hydro)geology.
This multi-disciplinary clinic has built the Galenic philosophy of balance within the body’s systems, using comprehensive diagnostic approaches, offering individualised treatment plans that include lifestyle changes and integrating various therapeutic modalities to treat the whole person rather than just the disease or the aesthetic concern.
To sum up Dr A says, “Our vision for Galen was very clear; we wanted to redefine beauty and aesthetic intervention as a combination of science-engineered healthcare, physical transformation, and emotional well-being by harnessing the power of an unrivalled assembly of experts and specialists. Luxury and comfort combined with medical excellence, with natural results being paramount to the patient experience. In particular, for me was the brief for the operating theatre; to be calm and bright with blue skies above, ensuring the patient journey stays at the 6-star level as with all other Galen treatments and procedures.”
Photography credit: Ben Sage Photography