“Not all of us are meant to look the same and that’s the beauty of it. We are all beautiful in our own way ”
The successful Dr. Elio Galán works wonders at his Galan Aesthetics clinic and has earned the trust of celebrities and VIPs in our community. With great professional ethics, affection and total dedication to the patient, for him the most important thing is to realize the individual beauty of each person without drastic changes, promulgating that health and beauty go hand in hand, giving his patients the opportunity for a better life.
-Dr. Galan, tell us how and where did he begin?
In Cuba, I remember that it was a pretty beautiful childhood and I acquired a great education transmitted by my family. Respect and dedication to medicine were instilled by my parents and family from the cradle.
As a child I always felt that love for others, of being able to help, and I materialized that dream when I graduated from general practitioner in 2004.
Here in the United States, my first steps in health were in nursing, a profession where you give yourself 100% to the patient with great dedication and humility. I studied in Miami, did an advanced master’s degree in family medicine, and later did my doctorate at Central Ashdod University.
– Why did I switch to aesthetic medicine?
I was doing a residency in hematology and oncology at Memorial Hospital, but there came a time when I felt depressed, under a lot of stress, so I had to decide what to do, whether to continue or stop. One day talking with a friend, she suggested that I work in the anti-aging specialty.
As I had already worked with hormone replacement in previous years, and anti-aging and aesthetics go hand in hand, I decided to get my anti-aging and aesthetics certifications, and later I did the Boards in these two specialties.
The most beautiful thing is that everything happened and the patients had a lot of confidence in me.
And aesthetics is what you are most passionate about?
If I think that changing a person’s style and having a positive end result is the most fundamental and important thing in my life.
You can’t imagine how much I enjoy a grateful smile, and being told “you changed my life”, that makes me super happy!
And do you see a lot of favorable changes with hormone replacement?
It is a treatment that has revolutionized everything. Today hormone replacement is done in patients of all ages. Without a doubt, the procedure is wonderful for all the changes that are seen in the patient and the ability it gives you to enjoy a healthy life.
Who can not wear it?
It is contraindicated in the case of men who have prostate hyperplasia or cancer of the prostate gland, and in women, in patients with endometrial cancer or breast cancer, or who are undergoing chemotherapy or radio therapy. A complete evaluation of the patient should be performed before proceeding with hormonal therapy.
Do you see aesthetics holistically?
Inner beauty is as important to me as outer physical beauty.
I always approach patients in 3 stages: biological-psychological-social. If you don’t see the individual with that balance, that person is not healthy. I want the patient to be healthy to make those changes that he wants.
I do not take patients to do them, I do procedures that the patient endorses and I never sell a procedure to sell.
I suppose a lot of people come to you asking for exaggerated things, right? What does it tell them?
That happens to me often when a patient goes for example asking for a lip augmentation and does not need another syringe of hyaluronic acid. And I know that if I give it one more injection, I will break the symmetry and anatomy of the lip and it will not look natural. Explaining them with patience and respect, the patient changes his mind and thanks you for the advice you give him.
Do many people come with poorly done jobs on their faces and ask you to fix it?
Yes, it is happening because people want to look beautiful and in their desire for a quick or inexpensive procedure, many times they do not know the nature of the medicine they are going to use and they become victims of poor medical procedures.
Today the population does not enjoy an educational or cultural knowledge of an aesthetic or anti-aging procedure, and this is the first negative so that good results are not obtained.
We have forgotten that aging is a physiological process inherent in the life of every human being, we all want to look young and eradicate wrinkles or fine lines, to name a few cases. Unfortunately, at least 70% of the patients who come to my office say that they do not know what product they used to take r perform a medical procedure. In my case, I show them each product to use, expiration date and any other important information. Educating patients is my reason for work and life. What is learned well is never forgotten.
In some consultations, they try to sell procedures that are not necessary, is that ethical?
I do not sell to sell, I guide the patient to perform the procedure he requires. The motto of my practice is trust and communication; Together we develop an action plan that guides us to a single objective: Positive Results!
And that makes the difference!
How else do you make the difference?
I do not work by numerical figures. I study and take the necessary time with each patient. I do not practice mercantile medicine, I practice humanitarian medicine. In my practice, the patient and I establish protocols to follow and together we work hand in hand and as a team. That makes the difference!
Do you always see all your patients personally?
Yes. In Cuba my mother told me one day “when you go do something, do your best, not to look good with anyone but to look good with yourself.” That motto is part of my life.
The truth is that I have an excellent work team, but I still like to personally attend to patients. In my office I am a musician, poet and crazy (hehe, heh) and that really makes a difference and the patient notices it and thanks you, from making a coffee to having a blood draw, I have no problems with that.
The patient comes for me, I want him to be treated and received as he deserves, and that, unfortunately, is not found in all medical offices.
What state-of-the-art procedure really works?
I really like the PiXel8-RF microneedle system. It is a machine that delivers RF energy directly to the epidermal, dermal and subdermal tissue layers in order to heat and stimulate collagen (it can be used for countless procedures)
I work with all types of lasers. Everything works as long as you use it consciously and appropriately. I like them and I enjoy so many procedures …
How do you do PRP, the renowned vampire facial?
The problem with PRP is that there are clinics that do not do it responsibly, do not use the proper tubes, and do not centrifuge the blood in a centrifuge specifically designed to obtain true platelet-enriched plasma.
I am passionate about working with PRP. I use it to improve hair restoration, in males to treat erectile dysfunction (P-shot), and in women O-shot to improve female orgasm and urinary incontinence problems. The positive changes that are made with PRP are incredible.
What services do you have in your practice?
Injectables: Botox, Dysport and Xeomin.
Dermal fillers all. Microneedling, Dermapen, Pixel8rf, Tensor Threads, Sclerotherapy, double chin treatment with kybella, platelet-rich plasma PRP, for face, neck and hair. All types of lasers, ipl, hair removal, vascular reduction, tattoo removal, and much more.
Anti-aging treatments: Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Sexual dysfunction, O-Shot and P-shot, laser vaginal rejuvenation, intravenous nutrition therapy, weight loss and carboxytherapy.
What plans do you have for the future?
There are many professional growth projects in audiovisual and social media. Continue to surpass myself in the field of aesthetic and anti-aging medicine. I also want to expand my services to other areas of the city.
And personally?
I travel frequently, one of the scheduled places is the Iguazu Falls and another is undoubtedly the Asian continent, Thailand, Thai culture fascinates me!
Follow Dr. Galan in IG: @ doctor.galan
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