Dr. Bárbara Laís's story begins differently from some of the success stories we tell here. At first, Bárbara had no desire to study pharmacy as an undergraduate, because it wasn't her dream choice, but it was a viable alternative at the time. However, during her specialization, something unexpected happened: the charm of Aesthetic Pharmacy. The content captivated her, sparking a genuine interest and a deep sense of identification. Her path in aesthetic health is a successful one, and she was honored with the Excelência Acadêmica 2023 award.
Dissatisfaction with retail pharmacy and the need for change
After finishing her degree, the pharmacist took the natural path: retail pharmacy. However, the reality of the day-to-day frustrated her. The exhausting schedule, Monday through Saturday, with occasional Sundays and long hours (noon to 9 p.m.), combined with the pandemic context and high demand for sales and services, made the experience draining.
Inspired by the desire for autonomy and professional fulfillment, the pharmacist embarked on a journey of specializations. First she pursued ozone therapy, a promising field that would let her start an independent career. The ozone specialization at Nepuga was the first step, followed by a certification that left her feeling insecure. Determined, she continued with the full specialization, finally finding professional fulfillment.
Despite her personal fulfillment, the pharmacist soon noticed the challenges of the ozone therapy market. Limitations imposed by political issues and the distrust of the medical community, which considered it an experimental practice, restricted opportunities. Aware of the need to diversify, she decided to look for a “plan B.”
The charm of Aesthetic Pharmacy: discovering aesthetics
With the difficulties of working in ozone therapy, Dr. Bárbara Laís faced an important decision: keep insisting on a plan that might not pay off the way she first intended, or find a new opportunity in the job market. That was when she discovered Aesthetic Pharmacy.
Aesthetic pharmacy presented itself as the ideal solution. A rapidly expanding field in Brazil, one that had interested her since her retail pharmacy days. With one year of experience in ozone therapy, she began the postgraduate program in aesthetic pharmacy, finding even more professional fulfillment.
The specializations brought a crucial change: flexibility. The pharmacist could organize her schedule around her needs, balancing work and personal life more easily. That achievement was essential to her quality of life and well-being.
She says that in the aesthetic pharmacy specialization, the theory classes offered very in-depth content, but it was the clinical immersions that determined her training. During the immersions she was able to practice everything taught in theory, without exception. Her questions and the competence of the professors supported her on this journey.
“In aesthetic pharmacy, the theory class content is very in-depth, very detailed, a lot of content, but it's definitely the immersions that are decisive for training. In all the hands-on classes I was able to practice everything covered in the theory classes, and practice is where we really learn, right? That's where the questions come up, and I have nothing to complain about, all my questions were well answered by the professor, so it was definitely decisive for my training.”
Time to start a business: the dream of having her own space comes true
With confidence in all the content and in her skills, the moment came to open her own clinic. An important step for those who want to gain independence and start a project that will depend solely on themselves. The dream of having her own office pushed her to leave the security of formal employment (CLT, Brazil's standard labor-law employment contract) and open her own business. The start was hard, with the typical difficulties of entrepreneurship. Her family's support was essential to overcome the financial challenges and make the dream a reality.
“When I decided to open my office I left the retail pharmacy, I left my CLT job, because it wasn't feasible to do both. At the beginning it was very hard because it's a big investment, so the support, mainly financial, from my family made all the difference in my case. Until the investment that was made paid for itself, there were the other household bills to pay, anyway, that financial support made all the difference for me at the start.”
Today, Dr. Bárbara Laís says she can offer a quality service to her patients, including ozone therapy, which she also completed at Nepuga. Through the integration of treatments, she believes she has a significant impact on the lives of the patients who seek her out because they know the quality and sensitivity of her care. Professionally fulfilled, Dr. Bárbara says her training culminated in her professional happiness, because besides meeting her expectations, it allowed her to reach the quality of life she so longed for.
Rafael Alves
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
