Turning fifty, and that is a good time for some self-reflection... In my work as a cosmetic doctor, I think extensively every day and with each client how to make someone look better for their age, and I often contribute to preventing, mitigating or removing external aging characteristics.
What I don't often think about is what it is that made me the cosmetic doctor I am today, and why I've developed in this direction. Making people look healthier, fresher and more beautiful is the passion of my life. Over the years, of course, I've also figured out for myself what to do about it:). A challenge, of course, because I am well aware that it is important not only for myself but also for most clients to keep looking natural. Aging gracefully is my goal! I would like to age in a healthy and beautiful way, and attention to the skin is of course an important part of that.
Not a dip at 50 for me because I don't look the way I did 20 years ago. I've had a dip before, but never because of my age or lost beauty. No, my dips were not about getting older, but about more drastic things, and it was those dips in my life that helped me be who I am today.
My choice to study Medicine came from home; my father was a doctor with a home practice. The fact that my brother got melanoma at 17 made me realize how important lifestyle and skin protection are. Healthy skin, our largest organ, protects us from external harm. If that barrier fails, you get sick, you get skin cancer. Preventing skin cancer by protecting and caring for the skin is therefore of paramount importance to me! I can sometimes do quite a bit about that with my clients and those around me, but I do this with the full conviction that we save or extend many lives by ensuring healthy skin. Fortunately, I am not alone in this, and I have world-renowned doctors who are role models for me. Dr. Des Fernandes, plastic surgeon, with the world-renowned Environ, advanced vitamin step-up system with vitamin A and Dr. Zein Obagi with ZO Skin Health therapeutic skin improvement protocols and deep exfoliation, Dr. Pinell dermatologist and professor of chemistry with his SkinCeutics as integrated skincare. The fact that we also prevent wrinkles and keep looking fresh with our behavior about skin improvement is a nice bonus in that regard, isn't it?
At 27, far too early, my mother died unexpectedly. My mother and grandmother, who survived the Japanese camp together, were the ones who lovingly taught me from an early age to always persevere in everything you do. My mother owned her own business and I learned how to deal with business challenges. My mother and grandmother made me go from a shy girl to an inquisitive go-getter who wanted to own my own business as a cosmetic doctor.
So we all have our own experiences that make us the people we are today. With some self-reflection, I can explain my own passion a bit. As a KNMG cosmetic doctor and owner of now 3 Van Lennep Clinics and a team of almost 20 employees, we are continuing on the current course. We keep the client number one, strive for innovation and further development with our advanced skin-improving treatments and injectables, and continue to operate with our team in the top segment of cosmetic doctors and skin therapists.
I look forward to continuing to care for your skin and appearance for many years to come,
XX, Ludy
