AI, used carefully
AI features built into aesthetic clinic software
AI in a clinic should shorten documentation, not make clinical decisions. PillarClinic uses it in three places — skin analysis, session notes and first-draft writing — and every output is reviewed and edited by a person before it becomes part of the record.
Who this page is for
- Clinics offering skin consultations who want a consistent visual baseline
- Practitioners spending evenings writing up treatment notes
- Clinic owners drafting policies and consent wording from scratch
- Anyone wary of AI tools that make claims they cannot stand behind
- Clinics that want to know exactly what an AI feature costs before using it
Where AI genuinely helps — and where it does not
The useful applications in a clinic are narrow: turning what happened into readable documentation, and giving a structured starting point for a consultation. Diagnosis is not one of them.
Documentation is the bottleneck
The clinical work takes the appointment; the writing takes the evening. Drafting from a dictated summary gives that time back.
Consultations benefit from structure
A consistent set of skin observations and images makes progress visible to the client over months rather than being a matter of opinion.
Judgement stays human
Analysis output is an observation aid. Treatment planning, suitability and prescribing remain the practitioner's responsibility.
The three places AI appears
Skin AI analysis
Analyse a client photo into structured skin observations with annotated face and body mapping, stored on the client record for later comparison.
Progress comparison
Compare images and recorded metrics across sessions so change over a treatment course is visible to both practitioner and client.
Shareable skin reports
Produce a client-facing report as a PDF or a secure share link, with disclaimers about what the analysis is and is not.
AI note taker
Dictate what happened and get a structured draft treatment note, with an explicit extraction review step before anything is saved.
Aftercare drafting
Draft aftercare content from the session so the client receives specific instructions rather than a generic sheet.
Consent and policy drafting
Generate a first version of a consent form or clinic policy, then edit it. The clinic remains the author and approves the final wording.
Questions to ask about AI features
AI claims are easy to make. These questions get to whether a feature is usable in a clinical setting.
| Question to ask | PillarClinic | Other system |
|---|---|---|
| Is AI output reviewed before it enters the record? | Yes — notes go through an extraction review step, and drafts are edited before saving. | Ask the vendor |
| Does the tool claim to diagnose? | No — skin analysis produces observations and metrics, with disclaimers on client-facing reports. | Ask the vendor |
| What does AI usage cost? | Credits, shown per feature. Paid plans include a monthly allowance and unused credits carry over. | Ask the vendor |
| Can you buy more capacity when busy? | Yes — additional credit packs can be purchased; usage is itemised. | Ask the vendor |
| What happens if an analysis is deleted? | Stored images and results are removed and the credits spent on it are refunded to the clinic. | Ask the vendor |
| Is AI optional? | Yes — every AI feature can be left unused; the clinical workflow works without them. | Ask the vendor |
Fit for UK clinical documentation
AI output lands inside the same record structure as everything else, under the same access rules.
- Drafts are written in UK English and clinic terminology
- Analyses and notes are scoped to your clinic only
- Client-facing reports carry plain-English limitations
- Every AI action is metered and visible in your credit history
- AI use sits under your own retention and data protection policies
How it fits an appointment
- 1
Consultation
Take a photo, run a skin analysis, and use the annotated map to talk the client through what you are seeing.
- 2
Treatment
Dictate the session afterwards. Review the extracted details, correct anything wrong, then save it into the episode.
- 3
Follow-up
Aftercare is drafted from the session, and the next visit compares images and metrics against the baseline.
Pricing philosophy
AI is metered honestly. Paid plans include a monthly allowance so you can use the features without watching a meter, and anything beyond that is bought in clear packs.
£49 per month, pro plan
- Monthly AI credits included on paid plans
- Unused credits carry over rather than expiring
- Per-feature credit cost shown before you run it
- Credits refunded when an analysis is deleted
Questions clinics ask
- Does Skin AI diagnose skin conditions?
- No. It produces structured observations and metrics from an image to support a consultation. It is not a diagnostic device and client reports say so.
- Do I have to use the AI features?
- No. Bookings, records, consent, prescribing, compliance and aftercare all work without touching them.
- Is a dictated note saved automatically?
- No. The note taker produces a draft and an extraction review, and nothing enters the clinical record until you accept it.
- How do AI credits work?
- Each AI action costs a set number of credits. Paid plans include an allowance each month, unused credits carry over, and you can buy additional packs from your clinic billing settings.
Try the AI features on one consultation
Run a skin analysis, dictate the treatment note, and see the review step before anything is saved.