Věra Terzijská, director of the Veramedica clinic at Slovanský dům in Prague, specialises in aesthetic dermatology, cosmetology, skin surgery and laser treatments. She opened her first practice more than thirty years ago. And even today, she continues to keep up with the times, which are characterised by a return to a natural appearance.
What has made you happy at the clinic recently? Have you managed to acquire any interesting “miracle” device?
Yes, we have. Recently, we expanded our range of treatments with a very interesting biostimulation method using UltraCol polydioxanone particles. It is an innovative biostimulating injectable based on polydioxanone (PDO), which is referred to in aesthetic medicine as “liquid threads”. Unlike conventional hyaluronic acid fillers, it does not primarily add artificial volume. It is not a conventional filler, but is primarily intended to stimulate the body’s own tissue. This gradually improves the quality, firmness and tone of the skin. The skin looks fresher and more vibrant, and its overall structure improves.
At some point, each of us longs for an elixir of youth that will slow down time and turn back the clock on our skin by a few years. At your clinic, you offer an analysis of the skin or selected areas and create a personalised rejuvenation plan. How does it work?
I always start with a thorough consultation, because everyone’s skin ages a little differently and every woman has a different idea of the desired result. There is no single universal recipe for rejuvenation that works equally well for everyone. Our new Aura digital device, which we use for detailed skin analysis, is a great help. It can show us with great precision the skin’s structure and quality, the condition of the pores, pigmentation, redness or visible blood vessels, as well as other imperfections that may not always be clearly visible to the naked eye. We then combine the results of the analysis with a conventional medical examination and with what the client herself would like to change or improve. Based on this, we create an individual rejuvenation plan. It is often not a matter of one procedure, but a combination of several methods that complement one another. Our goal is not to change a person, but to preserve their natural appearance and individuality.
So there is no method that reliably works for everyone?
I think that today we can no longer say that there is one method that rejuvenates best. Contemporary aesthetic medicine increasingly favours natural appearance, and accordingly we choose procedures based on what the skin or face needs or what will improve it. Proven methods such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, lasers, radiofrequency and focused ultrasound continue to work very well and can improve the quality and structure of the skin. One of the major trends of recent years has been biostimulating and regenerative methods in particular, which support the body’s own collagen production.
We have not yet talked about focused ultrasound. What kind of device is it?
It is a technology for non-invasive skin lifting. The device allows precise targeting of the deep layers of the skin – the same layers treated by plastic surgery, but without a scalpel, pain or scars. It is used for sagging facial contours, drooping cheeks, jowls, drooping upper eyelids and the under-eye area, a sagging neck and double chin as well as wrinkles on the décolletage. In terms of sensation, it involves brief warmth or a slight “pinching” feeling, signalling the activation of collagen. More sensitive clients can use a numbing cream. The first effect may be visible immediately, while the main result develops gradually over three to six months. The effect lasts approximately twelve to eighteen months, depending on skin type and lifestyle. After the procedure, which is suitable for both men and women, the client can immediately return to their normal daily routine.
So a healthy lifestyle and mental well-being are important for a youthful appearance?
Definitely. The condition of our skin very often reflects how we live overall. Lack of sleep, prolonged stress, excessive sun exposure, smoking, an unsuitable diet or general fatigue will sooner or later show on the face as well. The skin may appear greyish, tired and drier, and it loses its elasticity and contours more quickly. Mental well-being is equally important.
How do you relax? Do you manage to live healthily even with such a demanding job?
I admit that I am not always a perfect example in this respect. My work is demanding both in terms of time and mentally, and I often feel that the day needs several more hours. That makes me all the more determined to make sure I have moments when I truly switch off. I relax best with a change of surroundings, spending time in nature or travelling. I enjoy exercise, yoga, going to the gym and moments when I can devote time solely to myself or to the people I love. Sleep is also very important to me, although with my workload I do not always manage to get as much of it as I would like. As I get older, I increasingly realise that rest is not a luxury, but a necessity. A person cannot function solely on performance in the long term. I therefore try to find a certain balance between work, exercise, travelling, family and moments when I simply do not have to do anything.
Your clinic has specialists in skin cancer who can identify dangerous moles, freckles or other lesions. How often should people have a check-up?
I consider skin cancer extremely important, because early diagnosis can have a fundamental impact on how the disease progresses. A major advantage is that we can see and detect changes in the skin before they cause any problems. At our clinic, we therefore pay great attention to preventive examinations of moles and other skin lesions. An experienced dermatologist can assess them not only with the naked eye, but above all by means of a dermatoscopic examination and, if there is any suspicion, recommend further steps. In general, I would recommend having moles checked approximately once a year. More frequent check-ups may be appropriate for people who have very fair skin, have repeatedly suffered sunburn in the past, or have a family history of melanoma or another type of skin cancer. We always determine the interval individually.
CV BOX
Věra Terzijská, MD, is the owner of the Veramedica Clinic, located in Prague’s Slovanský dům.
She graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine at Charles University and holds board certifications in dermatovenerology and corrective dermatology. She worked at the Dermatovenerology Clinic of Bulovka University Hospital and opened her first private practice in 1994.
In addition to working with clients, she has long been active in professional publishing and training doctors in her field. She is a certified trainer in the use of fillers, botulinum toxin, and biostimulators.
She is the co-founder of BCA Beauty Academy, an educational project for doctors. She has completed numerous professional placements and regularly attends international congresses (IMCAS, EADW, WDC).
She is a member of the Czech Dermatovenerology Society, the Society of Corrective and Aesthetic Dermatology of the Czech Medical Association JEP, and the Society of Aesthetic and Laser Medicine (SELM).
In corrective dermatology, she has ranked among the fifty best doctors in Forbes magazine.
She lives in Prague.
CONFERENCE
Věra Terzijská’s work is also, among other things, about continuous education – both her own and that of others. “Before the end of the year, I have an important professional event coming up, the B.C.A. Beauty Academy conference, which I am organising together with two colleagues in November,” she says. “We organise it regularly, this year for the seventh time, and we try to prepare the programme so that it is genuinely interesting and useful in practice. The first day is filled with lectures focusing on aesthetic medicine, new trends, methods, materials and practical experience. The second day has a practical focus. We demonstrate the individual techniques and procedures directly on models, so participants can see not only the theory but also how the procedure itself is performed. I consider this combination of expert lectures and practical demonstrations extremely beneficial, and it is something we genuinely care about when preparing the conference.”
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