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Medical grade skincare · Chiswick and Covent Garden

Skin Analysis and Skin Consultation

An Observ 520x skin analysis with Dr Harry James: your skin photographed under seven modes of light, read with you on screen, and a plan built from what it shows.

Dr Harry JamesEvery treatment, personally

A face photographed by the Observ 520x, with the areas each light mode reveals marked

At a glance

What it does

Seven light modes reveal sun damage, pigment, hydration, texture and redness beneath the surface

Comfort

Nothing touches the skin, and the scan itself takes minutes

Your plan

You see the images with Dr Harry and your skincare plan is built from them

Price

£75 covers the scan and Dr Harry’s recommendations, and is credited against any products or treatments you go on to buy

Guide price

£75 covers the scan and recommendations, credited against products or treatments

Practitioner

Dr Harry James
MBChB PGDip (CAIT), GMC 7528423

Clinics

Chiswick, W4 and Covent Garden, WC2

Consultation

£75, book online

What daylight hides

Drag to see what the mirror cannot.

The same face in Daylight and in True UV. Under ultraviolet the sun damage, pigment and congestion that daylight hides fluoresce and show as a map. This is what Dr Harry reads with you at the consultation.

Manufacturer images of one face. An illustration of the two modes, not a patient of the clinic and not a result.

A face in the Observ 520x Daylight modeDaylight
The same face in the Observ 520x True UV mode, with sun damage, pigment and congestion fluorescingTrue UV

The seven light modes

One face, seven ways of seeing it.

Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Daylight mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Parallel polarised mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Cross polarised mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x True UV mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Wood’s light mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Pigmentation mode, with the features the mode reveals marked
Skin photographed in the Observ 520x Vascularity mode, with the features the mode reveals marked

Soft, even light from every direction. The baseline, and what the mirror shows.

The mode images are the manufacturer’s, showing one face under each light. They illustrate what each mode reveals; they are not patients of the clinic and not results.

What a Skin Analysis Is

A skin analysis is a consultation that starts with evidence rather than a mirror. At Dr Harry Clinic it is done with the Observ 520x, a diagnostic skin imaging system that photographs the face under separated modes of light. Each mode isolates one layer of what the skin is carrying: the surface texture and pores, the pigment and vessels sitting underneath, the oil and hydration across the T zone and cheeks, and the sun damage that fluoresces under ultraviolet long before it shows in daylight.

The images appear on screen straight away. Dr Harry goes through them with you, mode by mode, and explains what he is seeing and what it means for your skin. From that, he builds a plan: the medical grade skincare that will reach the problem, any treatment that would help, and what to leave alone. The scan is repeated at review appointments so change can be compared side by side rather than remembered.

What the Observ 520x Shows

The Observ 520x uses a patented 360 Light Technology that changes the direction and the wavelength of the light falling on the face. Seven modes are used in the consultation.

  • Daylight. Soft, even light from every direction, with no shadow or emphasis. The baseline for the whole consultation, and what you see in the mirror.
  • Parallel polarised. Enhances the reflection from the surface of the skin, so the hydrolipid film, pore structure, fine surface texture and beginning wrinkles show in detail. It is also the mode for reading scars, which sit on the epidermis.
  • Cross polarised. Filters the surface shine out, so vessels, inflammation, pigmentation and discolouration below the surface show clearly. Ageing skin becomes more transparent under this light, so irregularities inside the skin become easier to see.
  • True UV. A low, harmless dose of invisible ultraviolet makes the cells of the skin fluoresce. Sun damage, pigment clusters, dry patches and congested pores each glow in their own way, and the bacterium linked to acne shows as bright red spots.
  • Wood’s light. A recreation of the classic Wood’s lamp. Oil across the T zone and U zone shows as a light purplish haze, and thinning skin and loss of pigment become visible.
  • Pigmentation. Maps pigment across the face, from freckles and sun spots to melasma, so it can be seen as a whole and tracked from one visit to the next.
  • Vascularity. Maps the vascular pattern, redness, broken vessels and flushing, and separates it from pigment, which is what tells rosacea-type redness apart from sun damage.

Together the modes answer the questions a mirror cannot: whether pigment is sitting high enough for skincare to reach, whether redness is vascular or inflammatory, how much sun damage is already there, and how well the barrier is holding water.

Who a Skin Consultation Suits

Anyone whose concern is the skin itself rather than lines or volume. That includes pigmentation and melasma, sun damage and uneven tone, redness and flushing, dull or dehydrated skin, congestion and breakouts, and skin that has started to look tired without an obvious reason. It is also the right starting point before any medical grade skincare programme, because prescription strength products such as the Obagi range are chosen for what the skin needs, not for what it looks like on the surface.

If you are already a patient, a skin consultation is often added alongside injectable treatments, since skin quality decides how good any result looks. Members of the clinic have their skin reviewed as part of their programme.

What Happens at Your Appointment

Come with a clean face: no makeup and no skincare on the day, because the scan reads what is on the skin as well as what is in it, and product residue shows up under the light. The consultation begins with your history and what bothers you, then the scan, which takes a few minutes with your face resting in front of the device. Nothing touches the skin and there is no downtime.

Dr Harry then reviews the images with you on screen, mode by mode. You will see your skin in daylight, under polarised light and under ultraviolet, with the features each mode reveals pointed out and explained. The plan that follows is specific: which products, in what order, and what to expect over the first weeks; whether a treatment such as a skin booster, polynucleotides or a collagen stimulator would help; and when to come back and rescan so the change can be measured rather than guessed at.

Skin Analysis and Medical Grade Skincare

The full Obagi Medical range is stocked at the clinic and dispensed after a consultation, because prescription strength skincare works when it is matched to the skin it is going on. The analysis is what makes that match: it shows where the pigment sits, how the barrier is coping and how much sun damage there is to correct, so the regimen is built for your skin and reviewed against the next scan. Members of the clinic pay member pricing on all skincare. See the Dr Harry Membership.

Price

A skin consultation is £75 at both clinics. The fee covers the Observ 520x scan and Dr Harry’s recommendations from it, so once the scan has been done it is not refundable. It is held as credit for you and comes off any products or treatments you go on to buy. Cancellations within 48 hours of the appointment are non-refundable. Follow-up scans are part of your review appointments.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

01Is the Observ 520x safe?

Yes. The scan is photographic. The daylight and polarised modes use ordinary visible light, and the ultraviolet modes use a low, harmless dose of UV for a moment while the image is captured. Nothing touches the skin and there is no downtime.

02How long does a skin analysis take?

The scan itself takes a few minutes. The consultation around it, going through the images with Dr Harry and agreeing a plan, is a normal consultation appointment.

03Do I need to remove makeup before the scan?

Yes. Arrive with a clean face and no skincare on. The polarised and ultraviolet modes pick up product residue on the surface, so anything on the skin would show in the images instead of the skin itself.

04Can the scan detect skin cancer?

No. The Observ 520x is a skin analysis tool for texture, pigmentation, hydration, oil, vascularity and sun damage. It is not a diagnostic device for skin cancer. Any mole or lesion that is changing, bleeding or worrying you should be seen by your GP or a dermatologist.

05Does it work on all skin tones?

The scan is used across skin types. How each feature appears under the different lights varies with skin tone, and Dr Harry reads the images in that context rather than against a single reference.

06How often should my skin be rescanned?

At your review appointments, so the new images can be compared side by side with the first set. That is how progress on a skincare plan is measured, rather than by how the skin looks on the day.

07Is the £75 refundable if I decide not to go ahead?

No. The £75 pays for the scan and the recommendations that come from it, which you receive at the appointment, so it is not refundable once the scan has been done. It is not lost either: it stays on your account as credit and is taken off any products or treatments you buy from the clinic.

Your appointment

Four steps, one visit.

The consultation room at Dr Harry Clinic
A patient with her face in front of the Observ 520x
The Observ 520x with a skin analysis on its screen
Dr Harry James at the consultation desk

Our locations

Two premium clinics across London

West London

Dr Harry Clinic, Chiswick

The consultation room at Dr Harry Clinic
Dr Harry Clinic, Aesthetic Clinic in Chiswick300 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 1NP
Telephone020 3633 8687
HoursMonday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm, by appointment only
Getting hereChiswick Park station (District Line), 3 min walk. Bus routes 27, 237, 267, E3. Free parking on surrounding streets.

★★★★★ Rated 5.0 on Google

Central London

Dr Harry Clinic, Covent Garden

Dr Harry James in the consultation room
Dr Harry Clinic, Aesthetic Clinic in Covent GardenJubilee Hall, 30 The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8BE
Telephone020 3633 8687
HoursThursday and Friday, 10am to 7pm, by appointment only
Getting hereNearest: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line).

★★★★★ Rated 5.0 on Google

All treatments are available at both our Chiswick clinic and Covent Garden clinic.

Reviews

What patients say.

5.0
★★★★★Google rating
  • ★★★★★

    Dr Harry is absolutely amazing, I can’t recommend him enough. I had my usual skin maintenance treatments yesterday, and for the first time I decided to try a lip booster. Harry was so informative, knowledgeable, and reassuring throughout, and he made me feel completely at ease. I was originally offered standard lip filler, but as I’m in my 60s I wanted something more subtle and natural-looking, the lip booster felt like the perfect choice. I left the clinic with only a little swelling (nothing too bad at all) and my lips already look healthier, more youthful, and beautifully natural. I’m genuinely thrilled with the result and can’t thank him enough. Five-star-plus treatment every time. His prices are very reasonable, and his manner with patients is kind, professional, and wonderful. I’m already looking forward to my next appointment, even if I have to wait a few months because the results last so well. Thank you Dr. Harry ❤️

    Ivana SwanCovent Garden · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    Dr. Harry is incredibly knowledgeable and really takes his time to talk you through everything, answer any questions, and ensure you’re comfortable throughout the whole appointment. I never felt rushed, and he explained the treatment and expected results clearly, which made me feel really confident in the process. I’m so pleased with my results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him.

    Natasha-LaraChiswick · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    Great experience for an ultrasound-guided filler dissolution treatment. Dr Harry was very patient, caring and professional. I really appreciated the thorough consultation and felt well looked after throughout the treatment. Very happy with the results!

    Kasey SongCovent Garden · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    I visited Dr Harry after having my lips done by a few, other practitioners and my experience was positively incomparable. Harry was extremely thorough with his questioning, support and actual practice, I felt reassured and at ease, alike did my Mum, at the hands of Harry. I had 0.6ml of lip filler and was extremely impressed that he reevaluated my lips afterwards, adding in the remaining filler into specific areas. I did not have 1 single bruise, despite coming up black and blue in the past, and my lips are the most symmetrical they have ever looked. 1 million percent the best investment I have made to my face and I would never recommend going to anybody else! I visited the Chiswick clinic and it was beautiful🫶🏼 thank you Harry

    EmmaChiswick · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    I went to Dr Harry Clinic after both a recommendation and doing a lot of research, as this was my first anti-wrinkle injection treatment and choosing someone I truly trusted was really important to me. From the moment I arrived, Dr. Harry immediately made me feel at ease. He was so lovely, professional, and took the time to explain everything in detail. Most importantly, he really listened to what I wanted - especially my preference for a very natural look. Two weeks later, I had my complimentary follow-up appointment and I was already so happy with the results. At the follow-up, Harry was an absolute perfectionist, carefully assessing everything to ensure it was as balanced and natural as possible, with a small top-up where needed. Overall, my experience exceeded all expectations. If it’s your first time having treatment, or you’re looking for a new injector, I genuinely cannot recommend Dr Harry Clinic enough. One of the best decisions I’ve made.

    Yasemin AksoyChiswick · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    Dr Harry is absolutely amazing, I can’t recommend him enough. I had my usual skin maintenance treatments yesterday, and for the first time I decided to try a lip booster. Harry was so informative, knowledgeable, and reassuring throughout, and he made me feel completely at ease. I was originally offered standard lip filler, but as I’m in my 60s I wanted something more subtle and natural-looking, the lip booster felt like the perfect choice. I left the clinic with only a little swelling (nothing too bad at all) and my lips already look healthier, more youthful, and beautifully natural. I’m genuinely thrilled with the result and can’t thank him enough. Five-star-plus treatment every time. His prices are very reasonable, and his manner with patients is kind, professional, and wonderful. I’m already looking forward to my next appointment, even if I have to wait a few months because the results last so well. Thank you Dr. Harry ❤️

    Ivana SwanCovent Garden · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    I visited Dr Harry after having my lips done by a few, other practitioners and my experience was positively incomparable. Harry was extremely thorough with his questioning, support and actual practice, I felt reassured and at ease, alike did my Mum, at the hands of Harry. I had 0.6ml of lip filler and was extremely impressed that he reevaluated my lips afterwards, adding in the remaining filler into specific areas. I did not have 1 single bruise, despite coming up black and blue in the past, and my lips are the most symmetrical they have ever looked. 1 million percent the best investment I have made to my face and I would never recommend going to anybody else! I visited the Chiswick clinic and it was beautiful🫶🏼 thank you Harry

    EmmaChiswick · via Google

  • ★★★★★

    I went to Dr Harry Clinic after both a recommendation and doing a lot of research, as this was my first anti-wrinkle injection treatment and choosing someone I truly trusted was really important to me. From the moment I arrived, Dr. Harry immediately made me feel at ease. He was so lovely, professional, and took the time to explain everything in detail. Most importantly, he really listened to what I wanted - especially my preference for a very natural look. Two weeks later, I had my complimentary follow-up appointment and I was already so happy with the results. At the follow-up, Harry was an absolute perfectionist, carefully assessing everything to ensure it was as balanced and natural as possible, with a small top-up where needed. Overall, my experience exceeded all expectations. If it’s your first time having treatment, or you’re looking for a new injector, I genuinely cannot recommend Dr Harry Clinic enough. One of the best decisions I’ve made.

    Yasemin AksoyChiswick · via Google

Studio portrait of Dr Harry James against a pale grey backdrop, smiling, in Dr Harry Clinic scrubs.
Dr Harry JamesMBChB PGDip (CAIT)

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Every journey begins with a consultation.

Schedule a consultation with Dr Harry James to discuss your goals and discover the right treatment plan. Dr Harry will assess your concerns, explain suitable treatment options, and create a personalised plan designed to achieve your desired results.

Chiswick, W4 and Covent Garden, WC2020 3633 8687

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