Thirty years ago, beauty treatments meant serious downtime, limited choice, and often, going under the knife. Chemical peels left your face raw for days. Body shaping required liposuction. And the idea of freezing fat cells, or lifting skin without surgery? Pure science fiction.
Today, beauty looks very different.
Shape Studio founder Jorgi Lee in 2021 takes us on a journey of beauty then and now.
Beauty in the ‘90s: A One-Size-Fits-All Industry
It’s hard to overstate how limited the options once were. Facelifts and liposuction were considered the gold standard for visible change, and “body sculpting” meant surgery – along with significant downtime, cost, and risk. When it came to skin, facelifts were the go-to for tightening, while deep chemical peels were used to smooth wrinkles.
Unsurprisingly, these treatments remained largely the domain of the rich and famous, as many people couldn’t justify the expense or invasiveness.
Now: Customised Confidence Without the Downtime
Fast forward to 2025, and it’s an entirely new landscape. Treatments are faster, smarter, less invasive – and far more attuned to what women and men actually want: subtle enhancements, natural results, and the ability to choose a treatment plan that fits their lifestyle, values and body.
That’s exactly what drives Jorgi Lee, who co-founded Shape Studio after a humble kitchen experiment with her dad involving frozen peas and a curious question about fat freezing. That question turned into research. The research turned into investing in CoolTech – a medical-grade fat freezing device with a 95% global satisfaction rate. And from there, a clinic was born.
Big-City Technology, Local Heart
In just three years, Jorgi has transformed Shape Studio into one of the Bay of Plenty’s most advanced aesthetic clinics. Today, the treatment list reads like a who’s who of next-gen skincare:
- Ultraformer III for non-surgical lifting
- Secret RF for skin texture and collagen stimulation
- Milesman Laser for hair removal
- RegenLab PRP for natural rejuvenation
- Xeomin, a more purified anti-wrinkle injectable
- SQT Bio-Needling, a sponge-based microneedling alternative
- CoolTech for non-surgical localised fat reduction
These aren’t just trendy upgrades – they’re tangible proof of how accessible beauty has become. Treatments once reserved for celebrity dermatology clinics in Los Angeles or London are now available right here in Tauranga.
And it’s not just about the face.
From Fixing Flaws to Celebrating Choice
For Jorgi, the evolution isn’t just in the machines – it’s in the mindset.
That’s the ethos behind every consultation at Shape Studio. There’s no pressure. No beauty ideal to conform to. Just science-backed information, the latest technology, and personalised care.
It’s a clinic where you might choose a lunchtime skin lift, a postpartum confidence booster, or nothing at all – and you’ll be supported either way.
What’s Next in Beauty?
With technology evolving rapidly, what we see in clinics today may look different again in five or ten years. But one thing is certain: women will continue to lead the conversation.
From frozen peas to CoolTech, from old-school peels to cutting-edge RF, the story of beauty is one of transformation. And in Tauranga, it’s a story being shaped – quite literally – by women like Jorgi Lee.
