Diversified careers for doctors within medicine: Private Practice in Aesthetic Medicine

Dr Zack Ally of Derma Medical on how GPs can diversify into aesthetic medicine

It is no secret that doctors are amongst the hardest working professionals in the UK, often working long unsocial hours for the sake of making a difference to another person’s life and well being. Many doctors love the nature of their work, but many also feel undervalued and feel they deserve better pay and recognition.

The role of the doctor today can be argued as being very different to many years ago, with many doctors feeling a lack of autonomy in their current role and reducing levels of respect. Medicine as career is not for the faint hearted and requires a lot from an individual.

Whilst many enjoy the thrill of the job, many feel that a healthy work/life balance and flexibility is almost nonexistent. Long training paths and demands of the job make it difficult for many doctors to consider alternative interests outside of their job. Student loan debts, courses and mandatory exam fees also makes doctors generally low risk people for considering ventures outside of medicine.

My name is Zack Ally and I am currently an NHS GP.  Previously I was in a similar situation to many doctors and felt like something was missing. Like many NHS doctors I felt frustrated with the lack of autonomy and respect given to doctors, the intense pressures and targets placed on us, the little time dedicated to patient care and the relatively poor pay for the amount we work.

By the end of my FY1 year I started exploring other options. I wanted to work in an environment where I felt I was properly rewarded for my skills, efforts and knowledge. I wanted to achieve many of the things I felt I were missing in my current job role. That is when I discovered the Medical Aesthetics industry.

Many doctors may not be aware of this industry and the potential opportunities it can offer them. The industry really came to light when apprentice winner Leah Totton raised awareness of the vast range of services that can be offered by doctors trained in this field.

For those of you that don’t know, the industry is currently worth $4.4 billion dollars and growing. A large aspect of this industry involves the administration of both therapeutic and cosmetic Botox® and Dermal Filler treatments.

Treatments are all minimally invasive, non permanent and relatively low risk. Many doctors already have the transferable practical skills to inject making the transition easy. Training is very short (1 weekend) and you don’t need to be a specialist or a consultant to practice.

After researching the area in depth I decided to invest in this opportunity. Within 1 month of acquiring these skills I was already established in clinics working alongside my NHS job one evening per week and most weekends.

After gaining more experience and clientele, I joined the largest corporate in the country,  The Harley Medical Group where I still currently run 7 clinics per month around London and the South East alongside my training NHS job. The work is nowhere near as tiring, long or as intense as hospital work and I have the flexibility to work as long, frequently or as often as I want, adapting this around my NHS commitments.

I quickly discovered that it was genuinely possible to more than double my NHS income in 3-4 aesthetic clinics per month, and have more flexibility, autonomy and empowerment in my job role.

As time went by and experience grew more I then became an Aesthetic trainer at various institutions before setting up my own company: Derma Medical, where I regularly train Doctors in the latest aesthetic procedures and help them find employment within this booming industry.

At Derma Medical, we have helped many junior doctors seek alternative, medical-related routes of employment while still utilising their skills. For those already in training, aesthetic work can be taken-on alongside their existing NHS job. Several of our trainees undertake private aesthetic work at weekends, evenings or annual leave, which is very easy to do, and far more lucrative and enjoyable than a 12 hour locum shift.

For senior doctors stuck in non-progressive trust grade jobs, aesthetics offers an alternative option for work. In summary, after completion of training, doctors have the ability and freedom to open their own cosmetic company or work for an existing one whilst still in training.

As the Medical Aesthetics industry continues to grow year on year, demand for high quality aesthetic treatments administered by highly skilled medical professionals is crucial if we are to ensure the highest standards in medical cosmetics are met. At Derma Medical, we don’t just train you in the latest advanced medical aesthetic techniques, but also provide immediate employment opportunities in the industry not offered elsewhere.

Aesthetic Medicine is a fantastic opportunity for doctors and how a single weekend invested in training with Derma Medical could transform your current circumstances and help you enjoy Greater Wealth, Job Satisfaction and a Better Work/Life balance.