MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.
Issue link: https://medesthetics.epubxp.com/i/156138
BROTHERS IN BUSINESS Joining Forces Though the Shah brothers agree that their combined practices turned out to be a perfect fit, they didn't originally set out to launch a practice together. "My brother and I were pretty much apart throughout medical school and college. We were all over the place," says Milan. "But we both did our residencies in Bakersfield at Kern Medical Center, and the town kind of grew on us. Bakersfield is a large town and the community is tight-knit, so it's a great place to build a practice." Near the end of his residency, Milan began to take an interest in aesthetic medicine. "My background is general surgery and medicine, but I liked that aesthetic medicine involves so much patient interaction; yet I could still do procedures. So I decided to focus on that." Meanwhile, older brother Darshan, who had received his board certification in general surgery, went to the Mayo Clinic to train in plastic and reconstructive surgery. In 2002, he returned to Bakersfield to launch a small plastic surgery practice. "I started by myself, renting office space," he says. "Then Milan graduated from residency and was looking around for a position. I needed help. So in 2004 my brother joined me, taking over the nonsurgical portion of the practice." Brothers Milan and Darshan Shah offer a fullrange of plastic surgery and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures at Beautologie in Bakersfield, CA. 62 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 | MedEsthetics The partnership—with Dr. Milan Shah offering a wide range of nonsurgical aesthetic and laser procedures, and Dr. Darshan Shah continuing the surgical practice—was an instant fit. "We each specialize in what we love to do," says Darshan. "I don't do Botox. He doesn't do surgery." An Upward Trajectory From that relatively modest start, the practice has grown steadily. "We developed a lot of community, business and personal contacts, and we have a great patient base," says Milan. In 2005, the practice began hiring additional plastic surgeons and changed its corporate name from Dr. Shah and Associates to Beautologie. Now, with six physicians and more than 50 employees, Beautologie has opened additional locations in Malibu and Fresno, California, each with a full-time, on-site physician. "And we are definitely not done growing," says Darshan. All Beautologie locations offer breast, body and facial cosmetic surgery, plus a medspa menu including Botox Cosmetic, dermal fillers, endermologie, laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, vein removal, skin care, chemical peels and spray tanning. "We are always looking for the best way to make ourselves better for our patients and