In today’s world, self-care isn’t just a trend; it’s a lifestyle. And when it comes to enhancing our natural beauty, we often turn to experts who understand the delicate balance between aesthetics and science. Francisco Sá Pena is one of those.
As the founder of NB Clinic, Francisco is more than just a businessman. His approach is rooted in a deep understanding of human beauty and the power of self-confidence. By combining cutting-edge technology with a keen eye for detail, he helps individuals enhance their natural features and feel their best.
In this interview, we delve into Francisco’s journey, his philosophy on beauty, and the future of aesthetics. We discuss the importance of trust in the hands of skilled professionals, the rising trend of preventive aesthetics, and the profound impact these procedures can have on mental health and overall well-being.
Hello Francisco! How did your interest in medicine and aesthetics develop, especially considering your background in art history?
Due to my bachelor’s in art history, I had the opportunity to dive and study in depth how art and consequentially beauty affected and shaped society throughout the last centuries. A major part of art history is focused on the self and the human figure. Art, in specific, portraits (in all shapes and forms such as paintings or statues) always represented how individuals looked and where they stood in the social hierarchy, but mostly and most importantly how they would like to be portrayed.
With the evolution of aesthetics medicine, I found the perfect opportunity to bring to life this ideal self and ideal portrait, that has been done for centuries, now only out of the canvas and in human flesh.
The doctors I work with, are not only doctors, but in my opinion, artists, who enhance our patients’ natural beauty, always respecting their natural features, almost like those ordered portraits in the previous centuries.
What drove you to start NB Clinic, and what were your goals for the business?
NB Clinic was born from this vision and is the way and place where this big dream of mine could and did come to life. My goals are to make my clients recognize the beauty already within them, through techniques that enhance their natural beauty and/ or mitigate any insecurity of them. I believe our face and the way we present ourselves to the world is more important to us than to those who contemplate it. That being said my focus is always to make my clients feel beautiful, rather than meeting what the world defines as beautiful or following any beauty trends. I think I can risk and say that my big goal is not to create beauty but to unravel the beauty already within people.
How does NB Clinic differentiate itself from other aesthetic clinics, particularly in terms of its focus on young men?
Aesthetic medicine is still associated with a prejudice that only women can and should reach out to it. The fact that NB Clinic belongs to a man and the fact that I chose to be so open about it and talk publicly in our social media about procedures, creates a safe environment for other men to develop an interest in this field without feeling any guilt or shame. Another key element is the fact that our procedures have a big focus on preventive medicine, rather than immediate change, this way, if men approach us, they are investing in their future selves, rather than in a quick fix. I believe men reaching out to preventive aesthetics is an act of self-love and care, rather than a futile and vain act.
Are there any particular individuals or experiences that have inspired you in your career?
I’ve been inspired by several pioneers in aesthetic medicine who have revolutionized and still revolutionized the way we approach beauty and self-care. However, the most inspiring moments come from my own clients and the doctors I work directly with. The passion and care the doctors deposit in each and every client is very inspiring and heartwarming. Seeing the transformations in terms of confidence and self-esteem after a successful procedure in my clients is also incredibly fulfilling and my main motivation. As I said previously, unraveling each person’s beauty as it was done in portraits throughout art is really my biggest goal, motivation, and inspiration.
What are the most common aesthetic concerns among young men today?
The most common aesthetic concerns among young men are associated with aging such as hair loss, sagging skin, acne scars, loss of muscle mass, and increase of fat mass. This was the main reason why for male aesthetics we decided to focus and specialize in a more preventive type of aesthetic medicine and procedures.
Which treatments or procedures are most popular among your male clientele?
Our male clients often opt for treatments such as Botox (or Brotox, as it’s sometimes called) with a preventive or corrective goal; dermal fillers for facial contouring, and laser treatments for skin rejuvenation. Body sculpting treatments like cryolipolysis (fat freezing) and muscle-enhancement procedures are also gaining popularity. Men are increasingly interested in non-invasive treatments that offer visible results with minimal downtime. The least opt treatments for male clients are probably fillers such as hyaluronic acid.
How do aesthetic procedures contribute to boosting self-esteem and confidence?
As I said previously, as we can recall through art history, humans have always had a profound curiosity about the way they look and how they present themselves to the world. It is no surprise that Greek portrait statues were ordered to sculpt the individual in its highest exponent of beauty, rather than as a real and raw portrait of their real self, with all their flaws and insecurities.
This representation of their highest self would make them feel confident and fulfilled in their own skin. Aesthetic procedures work in the exact same way: by respecting the face’s natural alignment and shape we are able to unravel our clients’ beauty. Since our face is the first feature that presents who we are to the world, feeling confident and empowered in our own skin can have a tremendous impact on the way we confront and experience the world around us.
How do you encourage healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise, nutrition, and stress management, in conjunction with aesthetic treatments?
I believe that there is no better encouragement than being the example, in other words, by “walking the talk”. Through my social media and in every medical consultation, I advise and encourage my clients to have an exercise routine, like I do, since I strongly believe “movement is medicine”.
Aesthetic treatments should only come after or as a plus, to this disciplined and holistic lifestyle sustained in a balanced diet, an exercise routine, and in meaningful social connections. Beauty can be, yes, enhanced from the outside by procedures but it always grows and stands from a healthy inside.
How does NB Clinic challenge traditional notions of masculinity and promote body positivity?
By investing in preventive kind of treatments and procedures, we motivate men to see aesthetic medicine as an investment in their future self and health, rather than seeing it as a futile and merely feminine matter. There is a very direct correlation between feeling healthy and looking beautiful, and health isn’t and should never have a genre.
How does NB Clinic promote diversity and inclusivity in its approach to male beauty standards?
By never following any beauty trends and “hit body types” or trends. We look at each and every person as an individual like no other, so our goal is to celebrate each person’s uniqueness rather than meeting a standard goal of beauty. Just the idea of a man taking the time and effort to invest in the way he looks and presents himself to the world, with no shame or prejudice, can be a big celebration in a big advance.
What emerging technologies or trends in the aesthetic industry are you excited about?
I’m always looking for the best and newest options and treatments for my clients. This way I upgrade the equipment as regularly as possible and I try to stay informed about updated studies and procedures.
My newest acquisition for the clinic is the Ultraformer MPT, which is the most advanced HIFU treatment yet. We also have the Fotona laser which is considered one of the best lasers in the market due to its versatile treatment options and its high stimulation of collagen.
I’m very excited about the new BBL (Broad Band Light), also known as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment for its amazing results in skin regeneration. The hyperbaric chamber is also on my must-have list, for its innumerous benefits in terms of health and consequentially in terms of skin glow and beauty in general.
Lately, we’ve also been really keen on investing more in undetectable procedures, also known as “non-aging methods”, specifically in 40 years + individuals, making use of all of the previous methods in a personal and holistic way.
Since 2018, NB Clinic has been Francisco Sá Pena’s haven for all things beauty. Find them at Avenida da Liberdade 166 (Lisbon) or www.nbclinic.pt for the ultimate self-care upgrade.
