Dra. Laís Mascarenhas has been an Aesthetic Biomedical professional for over 10 years in Belo Horizonte-MG. A graduate of one of the first classes of the Nepuga Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Biomedicine, she now runs a clinic in the capital of Minas Gerais where she offers more than aesthetic procedures: an experience for her patients.
Getting to this point in her career took a great deal of effort and dedication, plus an investment of time and money, to reach her dreams. She also always practiced her profession with love and responsibility for every life she changed, raising the self-esteem of each patient who passed through her hands.
Read in this article the success story of aesthetic biomedical professional Dr. Laís.
Discovering Aesthetic Biomedicine
Before 2010, Aesthetic Biomedicine was still Dr. Ana Carolina Puga's plan, the “child” she was raising to present to the plenary of the Federal Council of Biomedicine (CFBM, Brazilian professional council) and win the qualification in Aesthetic Health.
At that time, Dr. Laís was still an undergraduate in Biomedicine and thought about pursuing an academic career, but for several reasons it didn't work out (thankfully!). “It wouldn't be a path that would truly make me happy. I really can't see myself doing anything other than what I do today”, she says.
While still in college, a professor drew her attention to the Aesthetic Health field within Biomedicine and told her it suited Dr. Laís very well. Right after graduating, in 2012, she went looking for the best specialization. “Nepuga was the market reference at the time, so I chose to do my postgraduate program at the institution.”
The Aesthetic Biomedical Professional's Career
After specializing, Dr. Laís applied for a position at an aesthetics clinic but was not selected because she lacked experience. But as soon as an internship opening came up, she accepted it, even though she had already graduated.
“I think that humility, in a way, of having accepted the position and not clinging to the thought ‘I have a degree, I should be hired as a professional’ is what opened doors for me. Because the market for a newly graduated professional, regardless of the field, is limited”, explains the aesthetic biomedical professional.
And that clinic was her first contact, where she was able to absorb a lot of knowledge and train her skills in both aesthetic procedures and clinic management.
Given this, for Dr. Laís Mascarenhas, financial return can be subjective, since it depends a lot on how the aesthetic professional plans to start practicing.
“If you are someone willing to start by working at a clinic first to understand the routine, understand the methodology, to improve yourself as an employee, I think that's a good first step. However, at this first stage you don't get a good financial return, but having that clinical practice, later on you will have the mastery and knowledge to open your own clinic and start getting a better financial return”, she advises.
What Sets the Aesthetics Clinic Apart: Espaço Beauty
Dr. Laís has worked as an Aesthetic Biomedical professional for over 10 years, and having gained experience managing an aesthetics business during her clinic internship, she always sought to be independent and saw patients in her private office.
During the pandemic, the entrepreneur noticed a pain point in society: people were “trapped” at home, with no contact with nature. That's when the idea came up to expand her business and open a space that offered not only aesthetic procedures but also an experience for her patients.
In November 2020, Dr. Laís opened the Beauty space, located in a mansion in the Pampulha neighborhood in Belo Horizonte-BH, with a beautiful garden and five rooms in operation for appointments.
“Here people have contact with nature, a moment to decompress and relax. My patient arrives and already feels welcomed with all the support we offer, has some time before the procedure, can relax having a coffee with us or with a friend they brought along, and that is one of my biggest differentiators”, says the aesthetic biomedical professional.
The goal is to delight clients in every experience they have in her space. At her clinic, Dr. Laís works with partners who complement her work by offering lash, eyebrow and massage services, and she already has her eye on new partnerships to add more and more value to her clinic.
“I'm interested in much more than just performing the procedure; I want the person to feel good as a whole.”
‘Love and Vocation’ in Aesthetic Biomedicine
A career in Aesthetic Biomedicine can be very attractive because it offers a good financial return and a better quality of life for the professional, thanks to the autonomy and schedule flexibility they can enjoy.
But Dr. Laís knows well that reaching this point in a career takes effort and dedication from the very start.
“Because when you have your own business, you need 100% dedication. But at the same time, I can change my schedule to have more time with my 5-year-old daughter, and I manage to balance motherhood and professional life well”, she explains.
The Aesthetic Biomedical professional stresses that it is essential to choose the profession with the aim of always giving your best first and foremost, and that the financial return and schedule flexibility everyone wants will come with time.
“Do it out of love and vocation, because the return isn't magical or miraculous; it is slow and takes work. You are dealing with lives, with health, so a wrong or poorly done procedure, a lack of knowledge, and you can negatively affect a life. Make sure this is what you want and that you are willing to work for your business and to be the best professional you can be in your field”, she concludes.
Success Stories>Aesthetic BiomedicineJosiele Batista
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
