One Doctor’s Training Journey: From ‘Useless’ to ‘Amazing’
Dr Olia Novikova is finally on solid ground to a career in medical aesthetics. But her journey didn’t start out well. After a training she says was “extremely useless,” the Saint John, NB, doctor turned to THMA to steer her in the right direction.
“It would be unsafe to perform aesthetics with this inferior training.”
Dr. Novikova is a well-established and respected anesthesiologist at Saint John Regional Hospital. She’s living and working in the New Brunswick port city now after emigrating to Canada from Kurdistan in 1999, with stops in Halifax and Vancouver first before she settled in N.B.
She began looking at a change of pace from her busy professional life as a medical specialist. “Long hours of work,” was the big reason to look for career options, she told us, adding with a laugh, “I guess I’m getting old!”
Medical aesthetics had immediate appeal, she said, because of her personal passion for beauty and a professional background in helping people feel good. Her next step she now regrets.
She did two fillers and Botox training sessions, one in Halifax and then another over two different days in Toronto. Neither turned out well.
“I was misled and made a mistake,” she says. “The education I received was abysmal. It was a waste of my time, a waste of my money. It was extremely useless.”
In particular Dr. Novikova was alarmed by the instructors’ lack of attention to facial anatomy. She was also shocked that at no time in Halifax or Toronto was there mention of risks and how to manage complications.
“I knew right away it would be unsafe for me to perform aesthetics with this level of inferior training.”
Happily, when the good doctor explained her situation to an industry rep from Revanesse, she was told to contact THMA clinical trainer Brandy Donald at Luxe Medical Aesthetics in Miramichi. She was familiar with THMA and our reputation as a leader in medical aesthetics training. When she received a newsletter from THMA the same day she contacted Brandy, she took that as “a sign I was now doing the right thing.” Her research and conversations with us convinced her to register for our Medical Aesthetics Foundation Course in mid-February.
The THMA approach was a breath of fresh air.
She has regrets about not coming to us in the first place, but let’s give Dr. Novikova full marks for recognizing that patient safety is paramount in medical aesthetics, just as it is in all professional medical fields. We’re as happy as she is that her ship has been righted and pointed in the right direction.
“It was an amazing experience, “she says about her virtual learning in the Foundation Course and the Hands-on Training component with Brandy. “Tracey is very knowledgeable and Brandy is an amazing teacher.”
“It’s a very detailed course. My anatomy knowledge has been significantly improved and so has my knowledge of complications and what they do when something happens. Those things are so important.”
Brandy was similarly impressed with Dr. Novikova’s commitment to top-tier training in medical aesthetics.
“After a poor learning experience from the previous program she took, she found the THMA approach to be a breath of fresh air. She’s regained the confidence to take her injecting career to the next level. With her medical background and natural eye for beauty, she will do amazingly well.”
Up next for Dr. Novikova will be Supplementary Course training and mentoring with THMA. She’s also looking for a space to work in Saint John, ready to begin the transition to a change of pace and a change in career.
“I have the equipment, I have the knowledge and skills. I just need an office. I’m very excited about this!”
We’ll definitely be cheering her on, and helping Dr. Novikova do the rights things now to hone her skills and prepare her for practice. Her journey may have had a rocky start, but the path now leads her to a final destination with great success in medical aesthetics.