Leah Totton

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Leah Totton
Leah Totton in 2013.png
Totton in 2013
Born (1989-01-22) 22 January 1989 (age 35)
Derry, Northern Ireland
Other namesDr Leah
EducationBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Distinction)
Occupation(s)Doctor (NHS & private), business owner
EmployerDr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinics
Known forWinning the 9th series of The Apprentice , Owner Dr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinics
AwardsMost Trusted UK Clinics 2023
Website www.drleah.co.uk

Leah Totton (born 22 January 1989) is a Northern Irish practising physician, entrepreneur and former model who won the 2013 series of BBC One's The Apprentice . [1] [2] Her business plan, a cosmetic clinic chain, named Dr Leah Clinics, co-owned with Alan Sugar, launched in 2014. Their business was a success; with their London clinic winning national awards. Dr Leah Clinics expanded to open further branches in London and Essex & the pair have also launched Dr Leah skincare products. [1] [2] [3] [4] Dr Leah received media attention for her glamorous appearance, her success on the show, the success of her resulting business [1] [2] and for advocacy of improved ethics and integrity in the cosmetic treatment industry. [1] [5] Despite the success of her business she remained committed to NHS and returned to work part-time as a GP in 2017. [6]

Contents

Background

Leah Totton grew up in Derry, Northern Ireland. [7] [8] She studied medicine at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, [9] [10] graduating as a physician in 2011, aged 23 after working as a model until that point. [11] She subsequently registered with the General Medical Council. [10] [12]

In 2013, Totton won the £250,000 prize for business acumen on BBC One's The Apprentice , a British reality television competition that offers the winner an opportunity to start a business with British business magnate Alan Sugar. [13] [14] Along with Alan Sugar, she set up a chain of ethical Cosmetic Clinics, Dr Leah Clinics. She continued work as a physician within the NHS on a part-time basis. [2] [13]

Dr Leah Clinic

In 2014, Dr Leah Clinic, co-owned with Lord Sugar, opened in central London. [1] [7] [15] [16] There was criticism at the time regarding Totton's young age and level of experience by several members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). [17] [18] [19] [20] Alongside Lord Sugar she has gone on to open further Dr Leah Clinic branches in Essex and London. [21] Her Clinics have been voted ‘Best Clinic London’ and awarded ‘Most Trusted UK Clinic 2023’ and reported a yearly turnover of £2.7 million in 2022. [22] The pair also launched a Skincare line, Dr Leah Skincare in October 2022. [23]

Industry standards

Totton has advocated better regulation and improved standards in the cosmetic industry. [3] [7] [13] [15] [24] She endorsed a 2013 review by Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS medical director, that expressed concern over lack of proper qualifications for some dermal filler treatments. [15] [20] Her expressed reason for being drawn to the field was to improve standards and help reduce adverse outcomes. [7] [19] [25]

Personal life

She has frequently spoken out on women's issues. [26] [27]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Metro Reporter. The Apprentice winner Dr Leah Totton launches her first clinic as she hopes to 'change the industry'. Metro. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 McCormack, Jayne. Apprentice winner Leah Totton launches business. BBC News, Northern Ireland. 22 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 BBC One. The Apprentice. BBC. May 2014. Retrieved on 16 October 2014
  4. ↑ Audley, Fiona. Apprentice winner Leah Totton opens first cosmetic surgery clinic in London. The Irish Post. 23 January 2014
  5. ↑ Audley, Fiona. Apprentice star eyeing success with 'game changing' cream. The Irish Post. 16 January 2015
  6. ↑ "Dr Leah Totton: 'I'm glad to be working as an NHS doctor - it's different from business, but it gives me perspective'". Belfast Telegraph.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Apprentice winner Dr Leah Totton opens first Botox clinic following £250,000 win. Business Matters. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Apprentice winner Dr Leah joins Tanaiste for Derry dinner". Derry Journal . 22 October 2013. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014.
  9. ↑ McDonald, Sally. Dr Leah: Fraser and I had to split. Sunday Post. 23 February 2014.
  10. 1 2 "The medical register". www.gmc-uk.org.
  11. ↑ Pingitore, Silvia (30 December 2015). "The BBC Apprentice winners: interview with Dr Leah Totton". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Hill, Patrick. Apprentice 2013 finalist Leah Totton targeted by internet trolls questioning if she is a doctor. Daily Mirror. 13 July 2013
  13. 1 2 3 Evening Standard Reporter. The Apprentice: Lord Sugar’s sweet for thrilled winner Leah Totton. London Evening Standard. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Morgan, Clive. The Apprentice 2013: Leah Totton crowned winner of the business contest. The Telegraph. 17 July 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 Sherwin, Adam. Apprentice winner Leah Totton opens first cosmetic surgery clinic. The Independent. Wednesday 22 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Boardroom games". 14 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Sanghani, Radhika. Apprentice winner Dr Leah Totton: 'Botox isn't the same as a manicure or pedicure, it's a medical intervention'. The Telegraph. 12 February 2014
  18. ↑ Dr Bowler, Patrick. Why Dr Leah's Clinics Might Actually Be Brilliant for the Cosmetic Industries. Huffington Post. 23 September 2013
  19. 1 2 Apprentice winner Leah Totton lacks 'expertise'. The Week. 18 July 2013.
  20. 1 2 Surgeons put knife into The Apprentice winner Leah Totton's plan for Botox clinic chain. Belfast Telegraph. 19 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Dr Leah enjoys record year's sales and profit - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". Archived from the original on 12 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Dr Leah Clinics success".
  23. ↑ "Dr Leah skincare launch".
  24. ↑ Hassan, Anas. The world of Botox® and why I strongly support Dr Leah Totton. Pharmaceutical Journal. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  25. ↑ McNally, Kelby. 'I feel so lucky!' The Apprentice winner Dr Leah Totton opens her first botox clinic. Sunday Express. 22 January 2014.
  26. ↑ Frearson, Joanne. Business Reporter 3 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014. "Dr Leah Totton: 'I hope I can inspire other young women to believe in themselves' - Business Reporter". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Thistlethwaite, Felicity. Alan's in his prime!' The Apprentice winner Leah Totton discusses Lord Sugar. The Express. 14 October 2014
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