After a winter spent cocooned in boots and shoes, now that spring has made its welcome arrival, I realized it was high time to attend to my toes. The world’s first name in feet, Margaret Dabbs OBE, recently opened a new clinic in Belgravia near my home, and I decided to visit the latest addition to her stable of clinics.
Globally regarded as the brand leader specializing in premium feet, hand and leg treatments and products, Dabbs’ clinics provide the perfect fusion of science and aesthetics, offering highly trained, HCPC registered podiatrists with state-of-the-art equipment coupled with a unique range of exceptional, results-driven luxurious products and treatments. Underpinning the success of the brand are the special formulations created by Dabbs herself, which use the finest ingredients sourced from around the world, such as Australian Emu Oil.
The picturesque clinic, housed in an elegant Georgian building with a jaunty chocolate-brown awning, Ionic columns, encased in white wrought iron railings bordered with potted plants, is located on the intersection between West Halkin Street and Halkin Place (a stone’s throw from Motcomb Street, one of London’s best bijou shopping enclaves). I am welcomed warmly into the bright, immaculate clinic and introduced to my HCPC registered podiatrist, Jose.
I am here to experience Margaret Dabbs’ world-renowned Medical Pedicure, which involves a thorough consultation, diagnosis and treatment for foot health. Jose leads me downstairs to one of the four spotless treatment rooms. Amongst Dabbs’ roster of treatments, the Medical Pedicure is arguably the most celebrated. Akin to a simultaneous visit to a facialist and hygienist for the feet, it is probably the most thorough foot M.O.T. available in the world. The Medical Pedicure is always carried out by a fully qualified Podiatrist trained to Dabbs’ exacting standards. Whatever a client’s particular concern - be it hard skin, corns, calluses, dry skin, bunions, ingrown toenails or fungal nails, Athlete’s foot or myriad other issues - all are addressed within the 45-minute appointment.
Jose exudes an unparalleled level of professionalism and competence and immediately sets to work fixing my feet. As he tends to my toes, I relax on a supremely comfortable high-tech reclinable chair whilst he tells me that his fascination with feet developed during his childhood in Chile, where several family members suffered from diabetes and concomitant complications involving feet. He also brings various issues pertaining to my feet to my attention. He elucidates the probable cause of each concern, and how to avoid their recurrence. As he deftly removes calluses and trims my toenails, he tells me about the great strides that have been made by Margaret Dabbs London over the past few years in the use of laser to treat both acute and chronic injuries and fungal nail infections. At the end of the treatment he buffs my nails until they acquire a shell-like sheen, and recommends I visit for a check-up every three months or so.
I look down in awe at my rejuvenated feet; they are so plump, pink and smooth that they appear to have undergone a complete overhaul. They also feel considerably lighter. After my Medical Pedicure, I am led upstairs and introduced to the delightful Erinda, who paints my toenails a glorious shade of scarlet. My feet have never looked better, and they are picture perfect, just in time to unveil in the dazzling spring sunshine.
The Medical Pedicure at Margaret Dabbs costs from £90 for a 45-minute treatment with a Margaret Dabbs London Podiatrist.
Belgravia
4 West Halkin Street
London SW1X 8JA United Kingdom
020 3375 3756
