Alexis qualified in dentistry at Glasgow in 1982 and worked as a maxillofacial surgery house officer and senior house officer in Manchester, followed by a registrars post in London. She then worked in practice in Berkshire before taking a locum post in maxillofacial surgery in Oxford. Since 1996 she has worked in practice in Gloucestershire, and since 1998 she has worked part time at Birmingham Dental Hospital, first as a clinical assistant in oral surgery followed by a Clinical Dental Tutor in oral surgery.