i-Marbella had the opportunity to talk to this great professional of Aesthetic Medicine, Dr. Vanessa Garcia in order to have a clearer view about the world of aesthetics.

1. You just moved back to Marbella after several years living in Madrid. Can you tell us the reason for your return to the Coast?

I wanted to work alone and become professionally independent. I did not want to work in other clinics anymore, and it was time to try out on my own. Furthermore, the quality of life and being around my family were other inducements of course.

2. At the beginning you wanted to be a psychiatrist and then you went for aesthetic medicine. Why?

Psychiatry was what inspired me to enroll in medicine, but I thought it would be a hard and painful specialty, but mental illness is something that has fascinated me from my childhood. And at the age of 17, I made a study about Sigmund Freud in college, because I was already attracted to that field! Hahahah .. On the other hand, I am a very observant, meticulous and a perfectionist in terms of aesthetics, thus I thought that these traits of my personality are required to be a good Aesthetic doctor.

3. Do you think we are living the era of an aesthetic obsession ?

Yes and no. I'll explain. Obviously we get quite fierce external pressure from the media to be more beautiful - newspapers, television, the world of pop, fashion etc, but we live much longer and with better quality of life. We take care of our internal health, what's wrong with also taking care of your appearance? If you live longer and better, I think it's interesting to "look good." Let us be aware, inside and outside  - we are like a pack, not a sum of parts. But as in any field of life you need to have a balance!

4. What is your specialty, how do you differ from other aesthetic doctors in the city?

All aesthetic doctors use more or less the same treatment. What makes us different from each other is the creative part, that touch that could be consistent or not with the taste of the patient. I see myself as a "Beauty Coach", advising and realizing what is going to make my patient more beautiful and radiant. You must also be a good psychologist and know that every woman is unique, some more lush, others more discreet, therefore, I cannot do the same treatments to all.

5. What kind of products do you use?

Safe products with respective licenses - safe and fully resorbable! Be very careful, we talked about the creative part before, but here is where the scientific part is involved. You have to go to professionals that have degrees in medicine, a respective Master or training in the field of Aesthetic Medicine. The problems that you may get with a malpractice or using illegal and dangerous products, may be bigger than a mere imperfection!

6. Do you dare to say NO to a patient if she asks for something that doesn´t need?

I do it quite often, not because I can't do what she is demanding, but sometimes the line between what really can be achieved and the expectations of the patient are two totally different things. I think that's the key to being respected as a professional. It is not just about making money, you have to trust your hands and your approach after seeing so many faces, skins and different people.

7. Just out of curiosity, do you have any male patients?

Yes, of course. They soften wrinkles, depilate their back, chest and legs with laser. They do facials, pedicures, manicures etc. Obviously they are still a minority, but it depends on the country and cities too.

8. What is the professional experience you feel most satisfied with?

What satisfies me most is to see my patients happy and confident in what I advise. When they come smiling and thank me, when they bring their best friends, their families .... That gives me enormous satisfaction! The field of aesthetics may seems frivolous, but it's amazing how much you can help when you do everything possible to make them look more beautiful and radiant. Well, I am also proud of my career and to be Bocouture and Radiesse trainer for Merz Pharma in Andalusia. In addition I'm also happy about my new clinic that was opened only a month ago in Marbella and I'm very satisfied with the public response.

9. What is the greatest discovery in aesthetic medicine?

Undoubtedly, botulinum toxin, ie the famous Botox.  People won't stop writing terrible stories about the treatment, but only a few drugs are as safe as this. Therefore, I always give a consultation before each treatment to inform the patient, because believe it or not there is still much confusion about products and treatments!

Secondly, the laser. I love it for skin rejuvenation, hair removal and vascular .... Think about it, only with a shot of lightbeam at a lightwave you can achieve a good result. This is something that fascinates me!

10. What are your dreams professionally that you still haven't accomplished?

My dream came true when I realized that combining the Cartesian part of my character, that is, all physician and scientist with the other part of my personality, more manual, creative and perceptive. They all come together for my passion for beauty and that cocktail proved to be ideal and I think I chose the profession that suits me perfectly! That's something I was always worried about, how to get to know what I'm good at.

11. With all these beauty products at hand, do you have the temptation of trying them on yourself?

Of course! Furthermore, I only use on my patients what I've tried out myself first and that convinces me to suggest it to others. I would never infiltrate anything to my patient before trying them on myself. All conclusions that I have made on how to inject natural botox and not leave a face frozen, is because I've done it myself. I was trying to come up with my own theories on what muscle has to be infiltrated.

12. How does an attractive young doctor like you take care of herself?

Sport, lots of water, healthy food and sleeping well. My treatments too of course, I have applied them all! Hahaha ...

13. In your opinion, who carries the ideal beauty? For example ...

Well... as a great lover of beauty I can tell you thousands of women that I find gorgeous. But the woman who fascinates me not only because she has a beautiful, exotic, sensual and elegant face, is Christy Turlington. Then I also love Giselle Bundchen and Stephanie Seymour, but what I like most is when the woman is complete. Not just a pretty face or a beautiful body, but also the way she moves, smiles... the whole package! The inner light that people display, this is what really makes one beautiful or not!

For more information:True Beauty Clinic 

C/Califa Nº 9 - Nueva Andalucía, Tel. 951279097

Fotograph: Jesus Chacón