Dr. Moyal is at the cutting edge of new injection techniques to offer a variety of treatment choices for his patients.

Name: Yoel Moyal MD CCFP EM
Clinic: Clinique Revolution du Plateau
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Website: clinicrevolution.com

Can you tell us more about your career transition from specializing in Family Medicine to Emergency Medicine to Aesthetics?

I have worked in Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine since graduating and recently became interested in esthetics as a means of doing more procedures and fine techniques. I also use my esthetic practice to balance out the often hectic environment of the Emergency Department with the quiet, serene environment of my office.

How do you market yourselves to patients and what do you do that your competitors aren't doing? 

Marketing medical esthetic services to clients is tricky as our ethical code in Quebec does not allow for the solicitation of a client/patient by a physician. We can inform people of the services we offer but can not incite patients to have a procedure done.

This applies to injections of Botox, dermal fillers and other medical-surgical procedures. Treatments such as laser hair removal, IPL and other esthetic services not performed by a doctor can be marketed. Doctors may not sell, endorse or associate any product or brand  to their name in Quebec.

Are there any treatments or technologies that you're especially excited about that haven't hit the market yet? What do you think about new therapies like stem cells or others? 

I am excited about autologous fat transfers for restoration or augmentation and hair cloning for hair transplantation.

As a physician it is wiser to offer services that are exclusive to our profession such as injections or surgical procedures. It is difficult to compete in a market where anyone can offer the same services. For example in Quebec anyone can offer IPL , laser hair removal or tattoo removal but only doctors can inject. A doctor offering laser hair removal in his clinic can not compete with an esthetician doing so in her basement.

That being said, at our clinic we offer Laser hair removal as some people want to go to a clinic where there is medical supervision but the majority do not place much value on that. The majority of our practice revolves around  minimally invasive procedures such as injections of Botox and dermal fillers.

I do not encourage physicians to invest heavily in machinery as the technologies are often overpriced and often underdeliver in terms of results. Many estheticians can obtain similar results (in most cases) with mechanical (low cost) treatments with less risky side effects compared to  new technologies.

Technology has its place but not as much as savvy salespeople would have you believe.

The way to add new technologies is to introduce them into your practice based on the foreseeable demand from your own established clientele and the clienetele that you wish to attract. For example, your current clientele is between 45 to 65 years old doing BOTOX and dermal fillers regularly , the majority of your clients have sun damaged skin or pigmented lesions , they often ask if there is anything to be done. You should consider adding resurfacing technology or IPL at this point.

If you are considering adding a new service then careful market research in the territory you serve is vital- do not take the salesman’s word for it that  there will be people will be breaking down your door to try your newest machine and spend significant amounts of money.