Dr. Lara Gergova is no stranger to the aesthetic medical industry and besides her respectful cabinet in Moscow, Russia, Dr. Lara has also just announced a cabinet opening in Dubai, UAE, offering a slew of new facial and body treatments. We got up close with Lara who shared with us her professional secrets, as well as skincare trends to take note of next year and more.
“I believe the future of beauty will focus on youthfulness and vitality.”
What’s your background in the beauty industry and how did you decide to become a beautician?
It was my childhood dream to become a beauty doctor, so no wonder that I have chosen medicine as my profession. I truly love what I’m doing, I love to help people, I love to see smile on my patients faces and most importantly I see that I’m doing something valuable for people. That’s the main thing in any profession- to know you are doing something right!
What are the trends right now in the beauty industry, both for men and women?
The trend for at least the past 5 years is significant growth in non-invasive treatments, like injections and skin tightening. However, there is also, now, more and more discussion about minimally invasive treatments. That way you get more dramatic and consistent results with not much downtime.
Let’s talk about some of them! Which treatments are your favourite ones?
I would highlight the Thread lifts. They re-emerged as a popular aesthetic treatment lately. Threadlifts were used a number of years ago and were performed with permanent sutures. These sutures had issues with scarring and coming to the surface. The new threads are dissolvable, which addresses these issues. The composition of the threads also stimulates collagen. So, the threads act not only to lift tissue, but to create some volume.
What about less radical treatments?
If you are looking for some effective but less radical beauty treatments I would suggest Microneedling with radiofrequency (Profound). It is a treatment that stimulates collagen with heat created by radiofrequency under the surface of the skin. This is delivered in conjunction with microneedling, which stimulates collagen as well, but also improves the surface of the skin including the texture and pigmentation. So, you get both texture and tightening in one treatment, which wasn’t the case with some of the earlier skin tightening treatments. This can be used for deep acne scars in all skin types, which can be difficult to treat with other modalities. However, the downtime is a bit more involved.
One of signature procedures of Dr. Lara Gergova is “nonsurgical rhinoplasty…”
Absolutely! If you’re interested in giving your “selfie nose” a try but are leery of going under the knife for a permanent change, there is a great solution for you. One of the most exciting plastic surgery developments in recent years has been the “nonsurgical rhinoplasty.” It uses temporary fillers to reshape the nose with transformative results and I personally love it!
Do you ever say no to clients when it comes to Botox or other injectables?
I do. Often clients come in so informed, and they think they know exactly where they want it, and I have to advise against it. I’m not in it for the money, and my clients trust me. I do so many faces and nobody knows because my work is so natural. So I’m very careful about what I will and won’t do, no matter what the client asks for. You really can mess up a face with Botox and fillers injected incorrectly. It’s actually a skill that’s so, so hard to teach.
The Instagram blog of Dr. Lara Gergova is quite popular . Do you see any impact of social media on client’s choice and decision?
For sure! Nowadays with social media, people are more open about aesthetics — both girls and guys. For me, the population of guys who have come to do such treatments has grown. Five years ago it was less than three per cent, but now it is almost 20 per cent. It’s a very positive tendency.
What is the one most important piece of skincare advice you want our readers to know?
I always tell my patients that healthy skin is so much more than skin deep. Nurturing your skin is as much of an inside job as it is an outside job. Your diet and lifestyle play a major role in the radiance and health of your skin — something many people do not realize.
Three skincare products by Dr. Lara Gergova to include in the regime?
If you are strapped for time, feeling lazy or want a quick skincare routine, you just need to use a gentle cleanser, a good moisturiser and sunblock.
Common skincare mistakes many people make?
Skipping out on using a sunblock. Working in the office or indoors does not mean your skin is protected even though you are not be directly affected by the sun. Lights, technological devices and even the heat from the stove emit harmful rays and infrared light, which can damage the skin. Thus, it is important to use a sunblock that protects your skin from all the different types of harmful rays. I also feel that a lot of people only start aesthetic treatments when they are in their 40s and 50s, but I think it is important to start when you are young as there will be less damage control when you are older.
How will the future of beauty look?
The ‘clean’, healthy and unadulterated look is here to stay. With the surge of products on the market to improve your complexion, firm up skin and lengthen eyelashes, I believe the future of beauty will focus on youthfulness and vitality.
Do you have any big plans for the near future?
Yes, I’m planning to open a clinic in Dubai and to constantly implement new technologies to my aesthetic treatments for better results.
