MAKING THE jump

Dr Raquel Amado recounts her experiences transitioning to aesthetics from dentistry

DR RAQUEL AMADO

Dr Raquel Amado, founder of Dr Raquel Skin and Medical Cosmetics, is a renowned Level 7 aesthetic practitioner, senior clinical trainer, key opinion leader, and international speaker. A 2007 Dentistry graduate from Portugal, she specialises in regenerative aesthetics and holistic wellness, focusing on full-face rejuvenation with long-lasting, natural results.

Dentists are in the perfect position to venture into the world of aesthetics. I’m not the first practitioner to make this connection, and I certainly won’t be the last. My opinion differs slightly, however, in that becoming a specialist in aesthetics requires you to dedicate yourself to it completely – it can’t just be done “on the side” of dentistry if you want to excel.

A few years ago, I took this leap myself and while the road has been rocky at times, I haven’t looked back since.

Most dentists begin their careers with the dream of helping their patients love their smiles and grow in self-confidence. But for many new dentists, that’s not the reality; they aren’t really prepared for what the day-to-day of dentistry will be like. After a while, that initial dream seems increasingly unattainable, and frustration sets in; they aren’t fulfilled by their careers. If anything, it’s the complete opposite – many dentists hit burnout, and dread going into work only to be met with unhappy, anxious patients, compounded by immense amounts of stress and the constant feeling of being overworked.

In fact, studies have linked dental professionals with high rates of depression and even suicide – something not readily discussed within the industry or even among the public at large.

When I came to the realisation that I didn’t find my dentistry career fulfilling, I knew I needed to get out. It was around the same time that I discovered aesthetics, and from speaking with colleagues and from my subsequent time as a trainer, I found out that I was not alone; many dentists begin to search for a new venture when they reach this breaking point. Aesthetics seems like a natural next step, as the two specialities appear to go together.

Now that I am an established aesthetics practitioner and have been a Level 7 senior clinical trainer for over five years, I meet so many dentists who are looking to break into aesthetics but aren’t sure how. The best advice I can give is: if you want to be successful in aesthetics and make a career for yourself in the sector, you ideally need to think about retiring from dentistry and making the change full-time. You must go all in.

GETTING PAST THE STIGMA

One of the main roadblocks to moving into aesthetics is the stigma associated with dentistry.

There is a historical association between dentistry and pain or an unpleasant clinical experience. Although cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, many people associate dentists with painful medical procedures – fillings, tooth removal, even wire braces from when they were teenagers! Retiring from dentistry and moving into aesthetics requires totally disassociating from this stigma.

Dentists are perfectly placed to become aestheticians, as they have an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the face. Dentists are used to working in confined spaces with syringes and instruments, and, of course, rebuilding smiles takes an artistic eye.

We are also experts in pain relief, and the delicate and dexterous process of injecting the mouth – one of the most sensitive parts of the body. You really couldn’t ask for better expertise.

However, in my opinion, patients are much more likely to look to professions such as nursing for potential aestheticians, because of the negative associations they have with dentists. One of the major hurdles to developing a successful aesthetics clinic is to build a client base – which is a challenge without the obstacle of patients’ negative associations of going to the dentist.

BUILDING YOUR OWN PRACTICE

As part of breaking the stigma, you need to physically distance yourself from your dental practice into a separate space for your aesthetics business. The waiting room in a dental practice is not the best environment for aesthetics patients to be in. They will be surrounded by a mix of patients in pain, those nervous about extractions or root canals – all in all, quite an oppressive atmosphere. Aesthetics patients need to be in a more positive setting, where they can be excited about their treatments and their “new look” – it’s a completely different experience.

I know that setting up your own practice can seem intimidating – but from my experience, it’s vital to success. Even if it’s a single, small consultation room in your current dental practice to begin with, expanding into a new, dedicated space – without a dental chair and the smells and sounds associated with being at the dentist – means that treatments won’t be linked to pain and the dreaded dental check-ups.

My own business didn’t begin to take off until I completely severed my ties from dentistry; I was able to start my aesthetics practice with a clean slate and build a whole new brand. I began with a small consultation space and have since grown my clinic, but throughout I have promoted the same relaxed, luxurious environment for my patients. The consultation room shouldn’t be too clinical, as patients need to feel comfortable and excited about their treatments – but it must still be a professional space that inspires confidence in your patients.

Of course, this means a significant investment in your new business – so you need to be prepared to take an initial financial hit, especially if you decide to go into aesthetics full-time. Don’t jump into aesthetics without a plan and without being in a secure enough position financially to be able to make it work. It’s a big commitment and you need to be ready for it.

You won’t be fully booked from day one, so one option might be to register for locum work as a dentist or work part-time at an alreadyestablished aesthetics clinic. This will give you a secure stream of income for future expansion, as well as give you time to develop relationships with new patients and build your reputation.

If your experience has been working in a dental practice, you’ll be stepping away from a “normal” job with a guaranteed salary, into a much more uncertain – but exciting – world. You’re going from being an employee to becoming your own boss, potentially – so make sure you understand what this entails. You need to be self-disciplined, and you need to be prepared to put the time and effort in to make your clinic a success.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND SKILL UP

If you haven’t done it before, setting up and running your own business requires a set of skills and knowledge that not everyone will have. Investing in a business coach will relieve the pressure of trying to figure things out on your own and will help you understand how to build a brand.

Being a skilled aesthetician is just the first part of the battle; you’ve got to be able to market yourself and grow your patient base, and that takes an investment in time and money. Don’t overlook the business side of your new practice in the excitement of moving into a new industry.

Your experience in dentistry will set you up for aesthetics clinically speaking, giving you a good foundation for dealing with issues around patient care, consent and managing patient expectations. However, you will need to invest in expanding your expertise, as aesthetics – as with all medical sub-specialisations – is a constantly developing field. You need to seek out new skills and qualifications to increase your knowledge of evolving industry innovations and techniques.

It’s a journey that never ends – you will continuously be learning new practices and industry standards, to offer the best level of care to your patients, and to attract new clients. It takes time and dedication, but furthering your knowledge pays off, leading to a client base that trusts you and returns repeatedly for treatments.

WORTH THE EFFORT: MY LIFE AS AN AESTHETICS PRACTITIONER

I won’t lie – changing professions and moving into aesthetics has been a difficult experience at times, but it is well worth it. I now have a genuine enthusiasm for what I do and go home with a smile on my face.

My patients are always happy to see me and are excited about coming into my practice. I have built genuine, trusting relationships with them as they return time and time again to my clinic. Together we develop bespoke treatment journeys, really getting to the crux of their issues. It’s so satisfying to see my patients become more confident in themselves.

I don’t have the stress of having to operate a “defensive practice”, with the constant worry of patient dissatisfaction or litigation – something I’m sure will resonate with many reading this.

I love my career, and it is so much more rewarding than I ever felt in my life as a dentist. It may seem daunting, but hopefully, by sharing some of my experience, you’ll see that moving from dentistry to aesthetics is something well within your grasp – and well worth the effort.