SE1 Medical Aesthetics’, Emma Costello, shares her story behind her inspiration in aesthetics.
At the age of 67, the mother of Emma Costello, SE1 Medical Aesthetics clinic founder, suffered a devastating stroke. “The consequences were life-changing,” Costello shares, “Among many outcomes, she became partially sighted, with zero peripheral vision, and she could no longer read or write.” For many, this might have been the end of a particular chapter in life, but for her mother, it marked the beginning of a new personal transformation.
“Aged 68, she could read short paragraphs again and write in full sentences,” Costello adds. “This wasn’t an overnight change, it was the result of painstaking dedication. She made a commitment to herself to retrain her body and mind, starting over as best she could.”
Costello has long seen her mother as her greatest source of inspiration. “Her resilience taught me that no matter the circumstances, if you’re physically and cognitively able, it’s never too late to make a positive impact on your own life,” she explains. “Equally, you can always make a positive impact on the lives of others.”
At 38, Costello made her own life-altering decision. “I completely changed my career and retrained in the medical aesthetics industry,” she recalls. “Like my mum, it was a hard transition, but the rewards have been equally life-changing. I’ve never looked back.”
Costello believes this lesson goes beyond one’s personal journey, it’s something the aesthetics industry itself needs to embrace. “If we remove ‘Medical’ from ‘Medical Aesthetics’ for a moment and look at the definition of ‘Aesthetics’ alone, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it: ‘The philosophy of the beautiful or of art; a system of principles for the appreciation of the beautiful.’ There’s no mention of age in that definition.”
Costello feels strongly about the language used in the industry and advocates for a shift in terminology. “In our clinic, we never use the term ‘anti-ageing,’” she emphasises. “We prefer ‘pro-ageing.’ Ageing is a privilege, and it’s time the industry starts to change its wording too. Pro-ageing is about investing in the best version of yourself, at any age.”
Closing with an inspiring quote from Cyndi Lauper, Costello quotes that “age has nothing to do with it. You’ll get wherever it is you want to go at whatever time in your life you want to do it.”
At the age of 67, the mother of Emma Costello, SE1 Medical Aesthetics clinic founder, suffered a devastating stroke. “The consequences were life-changing,” Costello shares, “Among many outcomes, she became partially sighted, with zero peripheral vision, and she could no longer read or write.” For many, this might have been the end of a particular chapter in life, but for her mother, it marked the beginning of a new personal transformation.
“Aged 68, she could read short paragraphs again and write in full sentences,” Costello adds. “This wasn’t an overnight change, it was the result of painstaking dedication. She made a commitment to herself to retrain her body and mind, starting over as best she could.”
Costello has long seen her mother as her greatest source of inspiration. “Her resilience taught me that no matter the circumstances, if you’re physically and cognitively able, it’s never too late to make a positive impact on your own life,” she explains. “Equally, you can always make a positive impact on the lives of others.”
At 38, Costello made her own life-altering decision. “I completely changed my career and retrained in the medical aesthetics industry,” she recalls. “Like my mum, it was a hard transition, but the rewards have been equally life-changing. I’ve never looked back.”
Costello believes this lesson goes beyond one’s personal journey, it’s something the aesthetics industry itself needs to embrace. “If we remove ‘Medical’ from ‘Medical Aesthetics’ for a moment and look at the definition of ‘Aesthetics’ alone, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it: ‘The philosophy of the beautiful or of art; a system of principles for the appreciation of the beautiful.’ There’s no mention of age in that definition.”
Costello feels strongly about the language used in the industry and advocates for a shift in terminology. “In our clinic, we never use the term ‘anti-ageing,’” she emphasises. “We prefer ‘pro-ageing.’ Ageing is a privilege, and it’s time the industry starts to change its wording too. Pro-ageing is about investing in the best version of yourself, at any age.”
Closing with an inspiring quote from Cyndi Lauper, Costello quotes that “age has nothing to do with it. You’ll get wherever it is you want to go at whatever time in your life you want to do it.”
