An interview with Dr. Tal Haim Nachlieli, Owner and Medical Director
of Excellence Clinic
Israel’s global leading aesthetic technology draws the attention of more and more people worldwide, including Chinese females. What kind of aesthetic services are Chinese consumers seeking and are fit for them? What are the new trends in the aesthetic industry of Israel and the world? To find the answers, SpaChina interviewed experienced and professional surgeon Dr. Tal Haim Nachlieli from Israel.
Dr. Tal has been a surgeon for nearly 30 years. So far, he has done over 7,500 aesthetic surgical operations and over 20,000 aesthetic and laser procedures. As the owner of the leading Israeli clinic company Excellence Clinic, he now runs two medical clinics in Israel. Meanwhile, he is the medical director of several high-end medical aesthetic enterprises in Asia. He is also dedicated to global medical aesthetic education by giving lectures and organizing meetings. He has worked in different countries and formed deep insights of different markets, especially Asian market.
What is your major work? What is currently keeping you busy?
Nowadays, I’m extremely busy. I’m the chairman of the Israeli Society of Plastic & Aesthetic Society meeting in Tel Aviv on November 2020 and I hope we’ll have participants from China as well. I have two big clinics in Israel under the brand name of EXCELLENCE CLINIC. I have a cooperation with the biggest clinic in Sochi, Russia. I’m the Medical Director of the biggest aesthetic chain in Vietnam BB ‘Beaute’- BB’ Thanh Mai, and Board Director of a very successful Israeli Venture Capital. In EXCELLENCE CLINIC, we’re in the middle of four clinical trials including two for the FDA. Besides I’m doing presentations for the biggest companies in the aesthetic field.
Israel is globally known for its cutting-edge medical technology. Could you introduce some of the most advanced and award-winning Israeli medical and medical aesthetic techniques?
Israel is well-known as a Startup Nation. One of the leading medical companies is called TytoCare. This company, a award-winning one, created a device which is an on-demand medical exam. It means that your Doctor who is anywhere in the world can get all the relevant data (as Fever, Sore Throat, Cough and many more conditions) from the patient who stays at home. It is very relevant in our days with Covid-19 issue. As for aesthetic medical devices, I must point at 2 devices which are relevant to the SPA market. First is VENUS CONCEPT LEGACY, a multi tool for both facial and body treatment which creates a great facial rejuvenation and body skin tightening and won many awards worldwide. Another great tool is ALMA BEAUTY REJUVE which is a great solution for skin brightening and shining effect. Both devices are very safe and have low risk for adverse events.
What are the major concerns and most popular programs among your customers who seek medical beauty treatments?
Western women are different from Asians. In the Western world, women are mostly interested in breast and body operations. I did more than 5,000 breast augmentation operations in my career. I have had patients for breast augmentation from all over the globe. Asian women have a big concern for facial looks and most of the surgeries and treatments are focusing on the face. Our clinics in Vietnam are worldwide well-known for non-invasive facial contouring. I created programs for V-line, pigmentation and acne scars and we’ve had extremely great results. Mixing Asian and Western technologies makes it better for our patients.
What is the current situation of the medical aesthetic industry in Israel?
Israel medical aesthetic market is a growing one. For the last 10 years, we see a stable 5-10 percent growth annually. As for medical devices companies, most of the Israeli aesthetic companies have been acquired by mega companies (Alma Laser to FUSON, LUMENIS to Baring Private Equity Asia) or became public (Venus Concept, Invasix). All companies kept the research and development units in Israel due to the well-known innovation creativity in Israel. The aesthetic market in Israel is divided by one insurance company who created its own clinics and big 5 private clinics which belong to private doctors. There’s also a low-end cheap market for non-invasive by General Practitioners. In Israel, regulations are very strict for aesthetic surgeries. To get a license for plastic & aesthetic surgery in Israel, you need to study seven years in Medical School and six more years as resident in Plastic Surgery department. As well there are two Board Examinations and at least one clinical trial to get the license. Israel is a great potential for aesthetic market for investors.
Is Israel a hot destination for global medical tourism?
Israel is a very hot destination for HIGH-END medical tourism. Most of the medical tourists are coming for oncology and complicated surgery. Since we’ve part of the biggest medical tourist company in Israel, we see there’s a trend of medical tourism from Asia and especially from China to Israel. In Excellence, we’re treating many tourists who are coming for high-end plastic surgeries. Part of clinics out of Israel are contacted with Israel talent doctors and taking them to work abroad. I, for example, have a license to practice in Russia, Vietnam and Israel.
What new trends are there in the medical aesthetic industry in Israel?
We can divide this question for invasive and non-invasive. For invasive, we see “The Natural Look” coming into our industry. We see reduction in breast implant sizes, more mini facelift with more use of nano fat grafting and combination of invasive & non-invasive. In Excellence Clinic, we use radio frequency devices after each facelift and body contouring operation for faster recovery and better results. Combination treatment is the name of the game for non-invasive as well. Mix of BotA toxin, PRP, Hyaluronic Acids along with energy based devices as Lasers, Radiofrequency, Ultrasound & Plasma had created the new generation and much better results for our patients. I created a protocol which was published last year in medical literature of combination of RF and different Chemical Peels. I’ve found some great solutions for Asian skin and we have excellent results in our clinics in Vietnam.
What are the distinctive requirements and preferences in medical aesthetic treatments for Chinese customers?
China was the greatest challenge and my best experience in my professional life. I found a huge aesthetic market which is in a very fasting learning curve and getting most of its data from Korean market. I must admit that Korean K-Beauty had a great impact on Asian beauty, but they created an “Over Treatment” strategy to make the aesthetic market to much industrial. Nowadays we see more collaboration between East and West techniques. When talking of medical needs, the slogan should be: Safety and Efficacy. I feel that lack of medical education is a huge problem in the aesthetic field all over the world. We have in EXCELLENCE CLINIC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM for both aesthetic surgeries and non-invasive treatments and I’m sharing my 28 years’ experience in the field everywhere.
During my stay in China I’ve felt there’s a great appreciation for Israeli Aesthetic Medical Devices. Besides, I felt very good bonding between Chinese people to Israelis.
Some Chinese ladies have done too much beauty surgery. How to deal with the medical aesthetic risks?
I agree. After many years’ experience in Asia I must say that Chinese women basically are pretty. Too many treatments looks less natural. The problem today is that the young generation is following celebrities and some of them have a bad reputation on plastic and aesthetic surgeries and treatments. We need to remember that every treatment has its risk and it is EXTREMELY important to go to clinics not only because they have great marketing but to go to doctors with dignity and integrity that see the people who are coming to them as patients and not as customers.
As a professional surgeon, what are your tips for people who seek to improve their beauty via medical approaches?
Here are what I call Dr. Tal’s rules for doing the aesthetic treatment in the right place:
Be sure that the first consultation is with the surgeon who will operate/ treat you and not with one of clinic staff!
- What board certification does the doctor hold and how experienced is he?
- Am I good candidate for the procedure?
- What are the benefits and risks of the procedure?
- Have the doctors informed you of the available options?
- Did the doctor give you a demo before operation?
- Did the doctor check you professionally?
- Did the doctor help you understand what to expect and do you have a reasonable expectation of the procedure?
The final conclusion is: Cheap Aesthetic Surgery & Treatments can be VERY expensive.
