Thames Valley Scar Clinic
Thames Valley Scar Clinic are the Premier Scar and Laser Skin Specialists in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
We provide the best health outcomes for people with scars, skin conditions and age related skin changes that affect well being. Our pioneering approach focuses on optimising patients physical and mental wellbeing. We have a high skilled multi-disciplinary team to deliver that.
Our Dynamic and Specialist Team
Thames Valley Scar Clinic is a specialist scar, skin and rejuvenation laser clinic ran by Consultant Plastic Surgeons who are experts in this field.
The medical team is led by Alexandra Atkins-Murray, a specialist in burns, scars and rejuvenation and a pioneer in Laser and RECELL.
The Clinic at the Beautiful Ashurst Court
Thames Valley Scar Clinic offers you a spacious and relaxed setting for your treatment.
You are going to feel at home here in our home.
Our clinic takes its name from the Thames Valley in which it is centrally located. On the outskirts of Oxford in a small town called Wheatley, it is minutes from the M40 and A40 and perfectly located for anyone in the three regions and beyond.
The clinic is housed in Ashurst Court, a small, private estate consisting of tastefully renovated barns on beautifully maintained grounds.
We have a modern, stylishly appointed space that encourages relaxation and wellbeing with a reception area, a room for consultation and an LPA approved laser treatment room.
Appointments and the majority of treatments will be carried out here in the clinic. The exceptions will be procedures that require general anaesthetic, need to be performed in a hospital operating theatre or for patients under the age of 16. In these cases we will use Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare facility in Stoke Mandeville or Wycombe Hospitals.
Our Industry Collaborators and Their Technology
Lumenis ULTRApulse® ALPHA CARBON DIOXIDE LASER Technology Scars|Skin|Rejuvenation
The ULTRApulse® ALPHA, made by Lumenis, is a state-of-the-art carbon dioxide laser with versatile fractional modes for precise skin resurfacing on any skin type and various conditions. Its superior power and depth of penetration result in exceptional remodelling, with minimal thermal damage and downtime for patients.
The Lumenis ULTRApulse® ALPHA is the ultimate solution for a variety of treatments, delivering exceptional results with confidence, key procedures are:
SKIN RESURFACING
Perfect for skin rejuvenation the ULTRApulse® ALPHA enables a high rate of improvement for age related skin damage and skin tone with minimal downtime and maximal patient comfort. In most patients this is with just one treatment and can be used for any skin type.
FRACTIONAL ABLATIVE RESURFACING (REJUVENATION)
Ablative skin resurfacing procedures use lasers to reduce the signs of ageing, improve skin texture, flexibility and tone and reduce scars and stretch marks. Ablative resurfacing is ideal for patients seeking a dramatic improvement in a single session.
SCAR REVISION
The specialised scar mode (SCAAR FX™) enables advanced treatment of even the most severe scar. Why is it called SCAAR? Because it works by synergistic coagulation and ablation for advanced resurfacing (SCAAR), without the need for surgery.
ACNE SCARS
ULTRApulse® ALPHA dramatically decreases acne scars, even very deep and old ones, as well as repair damaged skin and improve skin tone.
BLEPHAROPLASTY
ULTRApulse® Alpha provides a full laser blepharoplasty solution, combining incisions with eyelid resurfacing. Laser-assisted incisions reduce bleeding during the procedure and post-surgery bruising.
PIGMENTATION CHANGE
ULTRApulse® Alpha can be used to treat areas of sun-damaged skin that has resulted in patches of darkened pigmentation. It also has the added benefit of improving skin tone, which is often associated with this type of pigmentation change.
RHINOPHYMA
Rhinophyma is a disorder causing development of a large, bulbous nose associated with granulomatous infiltration, commonly due to untreated rosacea. Traditional operations were bloody and painful, now ULTRApulse Alpha can treat this effectively by using the laser as a precise surgical tool, reducing bleeding and post treatment recovery time.
LUMENIS M22™ MODULAR AESTHETIC LASER MULTI-APPLICATION PLATFORM Technology Scars|Skin|Rejuvenation
The LUMENIS M22™ is a multi-application platform for the treatment of over 30 skin conditions and hair removal. It has four types of technologies including IPL and NdYAG available on the one machine enabling us to treat a variety of problems.
The Lumenis M22™ is renowned for its exceptional versatility and consistently delivers outstanding results. Its key procedures include:
PHOTOREJUVENATION
This treatment uses IPL to address signs of age-related skin and pigmentation changes. It is less powerful than the ULTRApulse® ALPHA, but effective for mild changes.
VASCULAR CHANGES & LESIONS
The NdYAG setting excels at treating redness, veins, and vascular lesions like telangiectasia and spider naevi.
PIGMENTATION CHANGES
The LUMENIS M22™ provides an effective solution for skin pigmentation, targeting melanin with impressive results.
RECELL® System REGENERATIVE SKIN RESTORATION Technology Scars|Skin|Rejuvenation
Created by Prof Fiona Wood and distributed by AVITA Medical, RECELL® provides point-of-care, regenerative skin restoration known as Spray-on skin™.
It is FDA approved for the treatment of thermal burns, skin defects, and repigmentation of stable depigmented vitiligo lesions. The treatment utilizes the patient’s own skin to create ‘Spray-on skin™’. Our medical founder, Alexandra Atkins-Murray, possesses extensive experience in using this treatment, gained during her tenure working with Fiona Wood in Perth for burn treatment, which establishes her as the most experienced person in the UK.
How does the RECELL® System work?
The surgeon removes a small piece of the patient’s skin to create a suspension of Spray-on skin™ cells, which are then carefully applied to the wound bed to effectively stimulate healing and re-pigmentation.
The RECELL® System stands as the leading technology for addressing hypo-pigmentation concerns, with key procedures that include:
VITILIGO
The RECELL System received FDA approval for re-pigmentation of stable vitiligo lesions in patients 18 years and older in June 2023, marking a significant milestone as the first FDA-approved device for isolating and transferring a patient’s own healthy skin cells to restore pigmentation of stable vitiligo lesions.
SCARS
When individuals suffer a skin injury, they can experience loss of pigmentation as a result of melanocyte damage, which varies based on the severity of the injury. An effective treatment option includes revitalizing the affected area using laser or dermabrasion techniques and harnessing the power of the RECELL® System to successfully restore pigmentation.
Appointments
Contact us today to make an appointment or ask questions!
Our friendly team can help you.
Book AppointmentFind Out More About Us
We have both dedicated our professional careers to helping people whose lives have changed in an instant due to trauma and burns. The journey to a place of acceptance and happiness takes time, and the right people to provide care for the subsequent physical and emotional challenges. Alex was appointed as a consultant specialising in Burns at Buckinghamshire NHS trust in 2015 and soon became the lead for the department. One of the first key developments she initiated was the regional Burns Scar MDT (multidisciplinary team) and clinic bringing together a team of specialists to give bespoke care to each patient. This is now considered a centre of excellence and where consultant colleagues refer anyone in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire with a problem scar. However, not all people with scars can access this so we wanted to translate this approach and Alex’s vast experience in scar management to the private sector. This was the initial concept for the Thames Valley Scar Clinic.
The use of lasers has revolutionised scar treatment and Alex has been at the forefront of that change. The wide ranging benefits of laser such as dermal resurfacing and regeneration can be used to treat patients with other skin problems such as age-related skin change, pigmentation and vascular lesions. Although these issues are not problems that can normally be treated within our public system, we realise the really significant effect on wellbeing they can have. Alex has extrapolated that multi-faceted assessment and bespoke treatment approach we give to our scar patients to all our patients. This has come to define our vision for the Thames Valley Scar Clinic. We are one of the only clinics in the country where the specialist surgeons that look after you also direct the company, and we can guarantee every detail in the care you receive is because we think it is the very best.
- Multifaceted assessment and bespoke treatment plans to ensure your best health outcome.
- All treatment plans overseen by our medical founder to ensure every patient gets the same high level of care.
- To provide less invasive techniques with the most cutting edge technology.
- To provide the highest quality service we can by overseeing all aspects of the clinic and patient pathways ourselves.
Transparency
We make sure you have a treatment plan that is fully explained and includes all relevant costs.
Scientific authority
Our senior team continue to be at the forefront of clinical research and have the most up-to-date knowledge.
Communication
We make sure your journey with us is as easy and informative as it can be, so you can make informed decisions.
Safety
We make sure your safety is our priority by only having the best people, the best technology and our own tailored patient pathways.
Quality
We prioritise quality and value over price. We provide bespoke, high quality care and that cost differs for each patient.
It can be difficult to measure success for health problems that have this level of complexity, but here at TVSC we focus on improving your health outcomes both physically and psychologically and keeping complications low.
We mirror our initial assessment with you at the end of your treatment, and can show you the improvements we have made together.
We aim for you to feel healthier and happier at the end of your treatment.
- Focus on overall well being.
- Led by expert plastic surgeons.
- Pioneers in Laser and RECELL.
- Best and most advanced technology.
- MDT approach to care.
- Specialists in skin rejuvenation.
- Leaders in scarring and full remit of treatments.
- Excellent success rates.
Ms. Alexandra Atkins-Murray is highly regarded as one of the leading burns surgeons in the country. She has gained international recognition for her clinical expertise, research accomplishments, and for establishing a prestigious NHS service in the Thames Valley region.
Trained in plastic surgery in London and Yorkshire, and after earning her doctorate in angiogenesis from the University of Hull, she gained specialized experience in burns and scars in Australia. Her time with Fiona Wood in Perth, widely regarded as the best unit in the world for scar outcomes, defined her practice by integrating excellent clinical work and science. Appointed as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon to Buckinghamshire NHS Trust in 2015, Alex was tasked with modernizing the burns and scar service, which she has accomplished with enviable praise.
The Scar Clinic and MDT, along with the laser service, are recognized as an outstanding regional service. Alex, who previously chaired the London South East Burns Network (LSEBN) and currently leads the burns unit at Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, has established a strong reputation nationally and internationally. Alex remains actively involved in burn and scar research and was recently appointed as the clinical director of Restore Charity, which focuses on burn injury research.
The surgeon’s exceptional skills are highly sought after for her expertise in abdominal wall, gynaecological, and perineal reconstruction. Alex has been instrumental in establishing a highly respected regional MDT service for these issues, working closely with gynecology and general surgical colleagues. She has also given national presentations on this topic, solidifying her reputation as a prominent figure in the field.
The Thames Valley Scar Clinic is a vision Alex has developed over a number of years and in this setting she is now able to offer rejuvenation and treatment on non-scar conditions to her extensive list of procedures. Alex’s experience leading the best teams to take care of patients with complex physical and emotional needs is what will ensure the highest quality clinical care and a holistic approach that underpins the very ethos of the clinic.
Originally trained in Plastic Surgery in Yorkshire, Sara specialised in limb reconstruction with experience in some of the most prestigious units in the world spending time in Australia, America and Asia and was appointed to Oxford University NHS trust as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon in 2014. Since then she has been part of the team that developed the major trauma unit, now consistently one of the most successful in the UK for performance. Sara became the clinical lead for Trauma and Burns in 2022 and encourages the team to achieve excellent care for patients with the changes she has brought in.
Sara has further specialised in nerve injuries and leads the Oxford Nerve MDT for all traumatic nerve injuries. In addition to her trauma work, Sara’s other main interest is children born with limb differences, and she works as part of a team to provide regional care and surgery for these children. Sara brings extensive experience in quality improvement and research, having gained invaluable insights during her time with Robert Acland, a renowned figure in Plastic Surgery in Louisville. Her fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne reinforced her passion for clinical outcome studies.
At Thames Valley Scar Clinic, she adeptly leverages her leadership and innovation to oversee business operations and apply her exceptional clinical skills. In her role as the operational director, Sara decisively drives the day-to-day practice operations and future strategy, drawing on her extensive experience in leading high-performance teams under pressure to guarantee top-quality clinic performance.
Nola Lloyd is a Consultant Plastic and Burns Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Burns and Scar Management at Salisbury District Hospital. She holds MBChB, FRCS (Plast), MSc and DTM&H qualifications.
After graduating from Edinburgh University Medical School in 2007, Nola trained extensively across Scotland, London, the South West of England and South Africa, developing particular expertise in burns, laser procedures, and upper and lower limb reconstruction. It was during her training in Buckinghamshire that Nola worked alongside Alex and developed a shared ethos for scar management.
Nola has also built a strong reputation for skin rejuvenation work, and her contributions to the field have been recognised through publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
nolaskincareclinic.co.uk
Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Howes is a military Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgeon, and one of only a handful of plastic surgeons serving in this senior role within the British Army.
Rachel trained in medicine at the University of Leicester before completing her plastic surgery training in Birmingham and the Thames Valley, where she first met Alex and Sara. She went on to complete prestigious fellowships with Professor Henk Giele in Oxford and with Fiona Wood in Perth — the same fellowship that shaped Alex’s early career.
As the Royal Army Medical Corps lead for burn injuries, Rachel brings unique insight into major trauma and burns care for military personnel. She is now Clinical Lead for Burns and Scars at Oxford, working alongside Sara as part of the major trauma team, and shares with Alex and Sara a vision for fully integrated trauma and burns care.
Rachel’s special interests include trauma, burns, and scar treatment.
The first step to starting treatment for a scar, problem skin or age related change is to have a consultation. This is usually here at the Thames Valley Scar Clinic. Alternatively we can arrange a virtual consultation if preferred (photos essential).
Arranging a consultation with the Thames Valley Scar Clinic is easy. Simply complete and submit the online Consultation Request form and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible to confirm an appointment time.
Alternatively, please email us or phone our admin team who will be happy to discuss further.
Step 1: Book your consultation
Use the online booking form, email or call us to request an appointment with our clinical team.
Step 2: Booking confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email with the following information:
- Details of your appointment date and time.
- Advice on how to share photographs securely with us (if required).
- Details on how to get to the clinic.
- An invoice for the consultation appointment. We require full payment for confirmation.
Step 3: Your Consultation (approximately 30 mins)
The fee for an initial consultation is £250 (whether virtual or at the clinic). The price includes further consultations to clarify questions. The consultation focusses on general well-being including physical and mental health. Assessment is tailored to the problem you are seeking help with, be that a scar, age related skin change or other skin pathology.
Step 4: Treatment plan and follow up with the team
At the end of your consultation we will discuss your treatment options. We will email you a letter summarising your consultation and a treatment plan. The plan includes all costs. This will be valid for 12 months.
The team will be happy to support you throughout your entire journey, so please let them know if you have any further questions. We can also offer a follow up virtual appointment or phone call with one of the team, if you want further information.
Step 5: Confirm and arrange your treatment
If following your consultation you decide you would like to proceed with your treatment plan, we will be happy to help you arrange this at a time and schedule that suits you.
Simply email us and we will be in touch to arrange a date.
We require full payment for confirmation. Finance options are not available but we do accept credit card payments.
Some Laser procedures require a skin patch test before the procedure.
International and out of region patients
If you are an international patient, or live out of region and would need to stay locally for your treatment, we are happy to help make your experience as easy as possible.
Your can enjoy world-class hotels, restaurants and some of the UK’s best cultural highlights while you visit us!
We are happy to offer advice on where to stay and transport information.
Revolutionising Burns, Scar, and Laser Treatment Research: The Continuing Work of Our Trailblazing Medical Founder
We provide bespoke, highly specialised care based on the latest scientific research in scar treatment, laser therapy, and other skin changes that effect our patients’ well-being.
Alex’s early research and MD
Alex has conducted high-quality research throughout her career. In her early years as a doctor, she spent two years working on a science laboratory project focused on angiogenesis and melanoma. Obtaining her Medical Doctorate (MD) in 2011, she has been able to lead multiple projects thanks to the experience gained from this additional research training.
Alex working with Fiona Wood
Her most influential research experience was in Perth, Australia, working with Fiona Wood. The mantra ‘every patient is a research patient’ helped her gain a broader understanding of integrating high-quality research into daily clinical practice, involving the entire team.
Alex as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Once at Buckinghamshire Burns Unit, Alex quickly initiated key research projects with junior doctors, research fellows, nurses, and allied health professionals. The focus has been on conducting systematic reviews of current practices, challenging standard procedures, introducing new therapies, and assessing health outcomes to improve burns care in the UK.
Alex and Restore Research Charity
Alex has been supporting the Restore research charity for several years as a scientific advisor, and has also led some of the charity’s projects at Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. Her input has been vital to the charity’s success, and she recently accepted the role of Clinical Director. Her ongoing involvement will drive the charity’s research, aiming for better health outcomes and furthering the long-term goal of becoming a key international burns and scar research body.
Key Research Papers
See below peer-reviewed research papers that are available at the clinic or on pubmed.
Burns Care Research
Scar Treatment & Laser Research
Other Research
Restore Research Charity is a charity based in Buckinghamshire that funds research primarily from the University of Oxford and Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. Alex is the charity’s Clinical Director.
What the charity does:
Fund
medical research, as advised by an independent committee of scientists and clinicians.
Collaborate
with other charities that have like-minded interests and mutual causes
Support
a Fellows programme for those undertaking cutting edge research.
Inform
the public, the NHS, and scientific community about our new medical knowledge
Engage
with businesses and schools, as well as related services like the fire brigade.
Its mission is to:
- To promote and provide research into the treatment of burns and life-changing wounds with particular emphasis on scarring.
- To lessen the burden, physically and psychologically, of abnormal scarring on the individual and society as a whole.
“Putting the patient’s concerns at the centre of the treatment plan is vital for a successful outcome.”
— Sara Atkins-Murray, Consultant Plastic Surgeon & Director