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The Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine Society of South Africa (AAMSSA) is a dedicated non-profit organisation committed to the advancement of scientific and ethical practices in aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. Our goal is to enhance both professional standards and patient care in this field.
AAMSSA maintains affiliations with prominent international and local bodies, including Complications in Medical Aesthetic Collaborative (CMAC), the International Union of Aesthetic Medicine (UIME) and the South African Medical Association (SAMA), and actively engages with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) on matters concerning the scope of practice for aesthetic practitioners.
Additionally, we collaborate with esteemed medical societies such as the Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons of Southern Africa (APRASSA), the Dermatology Society of South Africa (DSSA), and the South African Society for Dermatologic Surgery (SASDS).
AAMSSA represents a diverse group of medical professionals in South Africa and neighbouring countries who have a special interest in aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. Membership in AAMSSA offers unparalleled opportunities for career advancement, skill development, and integration into a community of like-minded individuals.
We pride ourselves on promoting world-class, ethical, and medically sound standards of treatment.
At the core of AAMSSA’s mission is the commitment to providing leadership and support in the pursuit of excellence in clinical care, education, and professional standards in aesthetic medicine. We are dedicated to improving patient outcomes and experiences in aesthetic procedures and treatments.
For further information, please visit our website www.aestheticdoctors.co.za
Meet the Executive Committee:
Dr Alastair Clark
President
MBBCh, GPSI Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine
Dr Clark was installed in October 2007 as one of twenty international Global Trainers to give instruction to doctors internationally.
He designs and delivers courses in the disciplines of filler volumisation, neuromuscular manipulation with botulinum neurotoxin, non-surgical thread lifts, IPL and laser, chemical peels, as well as physical treatments of the skin. Dr Clark has presented and given live demonstrations at numerous international congresses in Europe, Asia, and South Africa. Owner and practitioner at Sandton Aesthetic Institute.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- President AAMSSA
- No industry affiliation
- Medico-Legal Committee
- Portfolios: CMAC International Chairman, CMAC International Expert Panel, CMAC Global Faculty
Dr Debbie Norval
Past President
MBBCh (Rand) Dip Pall Med (UK), M Phil Pall Med (UCT), Adv Dip Aesthetic Medicine (FPD)
Dr Debbie Norval graduated as a medical doctor from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1991. Postgraduate training includes a Diploma in Palliative Medicine through the University of Wales, Masters of Philosophy from the University of Cape Town, an Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine through the Foundation for Professional Development and a City and Guilds Diploma in Adult Teaching and Training.
Dr Norval is the convenor of the Johannesburg Aesthetic Doctors Journal Club and sits on the scientific committee of the Aesthetic Medicine Congress of South Africa (AMCSA). She is the Past President of the Aesthetic and Anti-aging Medicine Society of South Africa (AAMSSA) and serves on the CMAC International Expert Panel. Here busy clinical practice is located in Parktown North, Johannesburg.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Past President
- Medico-Legal Committee
- Portfolios: Guidelines, AAMSSA Bulletins/Updates, Social Media
- CMAC International Expert Panel
Dr Cobus van Niekerk
Vice President
MBCHB (Pretoria), BSc MEd Sc (Hons)(Stellenbosch)(Cum Laude), MRCS A&E (Edinburgh), Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine (FPD)(Cum Laude)
Dr Jacobus van Niekerk is a GP with a special interest in aesthetic medicine and ethics, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is an AAMSSA (Aesthetic & Anti-aging Medicine Society of South Africa) Exco Member, with Medico-legal, Ethics and Social Media as his portfolio. He graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1997 and received his BSc Med Sc Hons (cum laude) in Reproductive Biology from the University of Stellenbosch in 2001. He worked in the United Kingdom in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Trauma & Intensive Care and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg in 2007 in Accident and Emergency Medicine. Dr van Niekerk serves on the Aesthetic Medicine Congress of South Africa (AMCSA) Scientific Committee. Dr van Niekerk is a local and international speaker and completed the Advanced Diploma of Aesthetic Medicine (ADAM), cum laude.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Vice-President
- Medico-legal Committee
- Portfolios: Social Media Indiscretions, Functional – Integrative Medicine, Scope of Practice Beauty Therapists, Research, Ethics, UIME
Dr Shahien Dollie
Treasurer
MBChB (UCT), Adv Dip Aesthetic Medicine (FPD) (cum laude)
Dr Dollie has completed multiple hands-on, intense, focussed sessions on facial anatomy, physiology, dermatological pathology, and numerous masterclasses on Non-Surgical Aesthetic Procedures ranging from PLLA suspension sutures to Nanofat/SVF grafting. Dr Dollie has a private practice in Nelspruit, South Africa.
Dr Dollie enjoys local training in South Africa, attending and has delivered live presentations at local and international aesthetic conferences in Europe, Asia and South Africa, including IMCAS (Paris, Bali, and India), AMWC Monaco, International Kholkida Congress Georgia (Tbilisi). Furthermore, he has authored several aesthetic articles in electronic and print media. Dr Dollie has a passion for education and is an active advocate for the practice of world-class aesthetic medicine on South African shores.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Treasurer
- Medico-legal & Regenerative Committee
- Portfolios: Functional – Integrative Medicine, Scope of Practice Beauty Therapists
Dr Riekie Smit
Secretary
MBChB (UOFS), MSc Sports Medicine (Pretoria), Adv Dip Aesthetic Medicine (FPD)
Dr Smit has a private practice in Pretoria, South Africa. The focus of her practice is aesthetic and skin treatments.
Dr Smit is the founder and ex-officio president of the Aesthetic and Anti-aging Medicine Society of South Africa and chairperson of the Aesthetic Medicine Congress of South Africa.
She is an international trainer on aesthetic medical subjects and author of medical articles, journals, and scientific publications. Her field of expertise includes skin rejuvenation, facial injectables (neuromodulators and fillers), thread lifting, chemical peels, mesotherapy, PRP, lasers, and LED.
Dr Smit is the course developer for the officially recognised Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine in South Africa. She is also a faculty member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, training doctors in Asia, Africa, Europe, and UAE.
Dr Smit is a global KOL for various aesthetic medical and pharmaceutical companies in the industry.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Secretary
- Medico-legal Committee
- Portfolios: Memberships
Dr Alek Nikolic
Committee Member
MBBCh (WITS) ATLS (ACS) MBA (UCT)
Dr Nikolic is a general practitioner with a special interest in aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine and is at the forefront of the latest developments in his field. He is very driven and has lectured extensively and has performed live demonstrations throughout South Africa and Internationally including Bangkok, Rome, Paris, Monte Carlo, Prague, China, and Warsaw.
Dr Nikolic’s focus is on skincare, skin ingredients, and cosmetic dermatology treatments such as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers.
As a long-standing member of the Exco and having been in the medical aesthetic industry for 17 years, he has a great passion not only for mentoring other doctors but also for helping to shape the aesthetic medical industry’s future.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Portfolios: Research & UIME
Prof Jacques Snyman
Committee Member
MBChB ( Pretoria), MPharmMed (Pretoria) and MD 1995, University of Pretoria
Jacques Snyman is a renowned expert in various fields of clinical pharmacology and has contributed significantly to the advancement of clinical pharmacology in South Africa. He has lectured extensively locally and abroad on various topics, including research ethics, inflammation, pharmacodynamics, outcomes research, etc. At present, he focuses on clinical trial design and development of managed care products for implementation in the medical insurance environment.
He has published more than 80 papers in international scientific journals, is the Business Development Director at Agility Global Health Solutions (Pty) Ltd, the Chair of the South African Medical Association research ethics committee since 1999, President: South African Chapter of ISPOR since 2009, a member of the South African Pharmacology Society, and founder member of the College of Medicine SA in Clinical Pharmacology.
He has held positions as Professor and Head of the Dept of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria; Past President of the South African Pharmacology Society; Past Chair of the Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences (University of Pretoria); and member of numerous faculty committees. Snyman has research interests in inflammation and immune modulation, clinical trial design, pharmacodynamics, and clinical outcomes research (pharmacoeconomics), along with editorial commitments in MIMS and sits on the Editorial Board of Therapeutic Drugs, Adis International.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committees: Medico-Legal
- Portfolios: Research, UIME, SAMA
Dr Levashni Naidoo
Committee Member
MBChB (KZN) (cum laude), Specialist Dermatologist
Dr Lev Naidoo completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, graduating MBChB (cum laude) in 2006 and obtaining the Fellowship of the College of Dermatology with distinction in 2014 when she was awarded the Peter Gordon Smith medal for academic excellence. During her postgraduate training, she was a recipient of the D43 Fogarty Fellowship Programme, which allowed her to complete a short-term fellowship in Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at the University of Columbia in New York. She went on to complete her master’s in Medicine in 2015. Post-fellowship, she remained at the University of KwaZulu-Natal as a consultant and lecturer. She relocated to Johannesburg in 2018, where she founded her own clinical practice. She serves as an Exco member of the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine Society of South Africa as well as the South African Society of Dermatological Surgery, and is a member of the Dermatological Society of South Africa, the Vitiligo Society of South Africa, the Skin Cancer Foundation of South Africa, and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. She serves as KOL for several skincare companies and is passionate about offering her services to enhance the integration of skincare and skin procedures among her colleagues, as well as developing platforms to improve public education on skin health and skincare.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Portfolios: Education & Webinars
Dr Nerina Wilkinson
Committee Member
MBChB, FCS – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr Nerina Wilkinson is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with 25 years of experience in aesthetic medicine. Her clinic, situated in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, is an integrated clinic combining plastic surgery, aesthetic medicine, and skin science. She is a shareholder of the prestigious Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Cape Town.
Her memberships include the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and she is an Exco member of the Aesthetic and Anti-aging Medicine Association of SA. She is a lecturer and trainer for the Allergan Medical Institute, presents scientific papers at congresses, and publishes in health-related magazines.
Dr Wilkinson has a major interest in aesthetic surgery of the face and breast, closely integrating surgical with other non-invasive procedures.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Regenerative Committee
- Portfolios: Guidelines
Dr Manoj Bagwandeen
Committee Member
MBChB (Natal) Adv. Dip Aesthetic Medicine (Cum Laude)
Dr Manoj is a GP with a special interest in Aesthetic & Anti-Ageing Medicine and has been performing medical aesthetic procedures since 2012 at the Cape Medical Aesthetics Centre (CapeMAC) based in Cape Town.
He has been the Head of the Campus Health Services ⚕at the University of the Western Cape since 2003.
His passion and deep interest in medical aesthetics has taken him around the world, where he strives to keep in touch with the latest and greatest procedures and interventions to then offer his patients in South Africa.
Dr Manoj is also an appointed teacher for various international companies, and he loves teaching his colleagues the more advanced uses of Botulinum Toxins, Dermal Fillers and energy-based devices such as lasers at his training facility in Cape Town.
Dr Manoj is a strong proponent of adhering to high values and ethics amongst his colleagues in the medical field and, as such, has been given the responsibility of guiding AAMSSA and its members as an Executive member in this regard. Dr Manoj was elected to the AAMSSA Executive in August 2023.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Portfolios: Social Media Indiscretions & Ethics
Dr Barlodien Kotze
Committee Member
Since 2009, Dr Kotze has devoted herself passionately to the field of aesthetic medicine, witnessing its remarkable growth in South Africa. Over the years, she has been actively involved in training and refining her expertise to provide the best care to patients. It fills her with immense pride to witness the progress of the AAMSSA and the unwavering support and dedication it extends to the field and its members.
Believing in a cause is not enough; action is imperative. Dr Kotze firmly believes that one cannot simply stand on the sidelines. Instead, she is eager to step up and contribute her skills and knowledge to help make this shared vision for the field of aesthetic medicine even more extraordinary.
She feels that being part of the AAMSSA Exco is an incredible honour and is genuinely excited about the prospect of working alongside like-minded professionals who can strive to advance the field, advocate for ethical practices, and foster a sense of unity within this community.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Regenerative Committee
- Portfolios: Guidelines
Dr Edward Ngwenya
Committee Member
Dr Edward Ngwenya is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Senior Lecturer (University of Pretoria), as well as a Non-Executive Board Director (South African Medical Association).
He has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and medical degree (MBBCh) from the University of the Witwatersrand, and achieved a Fellowship in Surgery [FCS(SA)] and a Master of Medicine in General Surgery (MMed Surgery) from the University of Pretoria, for which he received the Golden Key award –an award bestowed only to candidates who graduate in the top 15% of the country. He further specialised in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery [FCPlast Surg (SA) and Master of Medicine in Plastic Surgery (MMed Surgery)], which is his current vocation.
Having a double surgical speciality, Dr Ngwenya is thus skilled in diverse surgical procedures and knowledgeable as an authority in his field. His interests include but are not limited to, breast surgery (cosmetic and reconstructive), body contouring (body shaping procedures), onco-plastics (cancer surgery), and cosmetic surgery. He is also experienced in non-surgical aesthetics, thus often requested to present and train doctors both locally and internationally.
Dr Ngwenya runs his own private practice from Fourways (Life Fourways Hospital) and Kempton Park (ARWYP Medical Centre).
A man with many talents, Dr Ngwenya has an unassuming and gentle nature and is very passionate about his vocation.
He is a man who wears many different hats; a dedicated family man, a decorated academic, a passionate public speaker, a successful medical professional, and an astute businessman.
He serves, inter alia, as the National Vice-Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) Board of Directors, Executive Committee of the Breast Interest Group of Southern Africa (BIGOSA), South African Health Business Academy (SAHBA), and Board Trustee for the Professional Provident Society (PPS Holdings).
Dr Ngwenya embodies all that defines passion, dedication, excellence, and an astounding finesse in one’s vocation.
Current Roles & Responsibilities:
- AAMSSA Committee Member
- Portfolios: Education & Webinars, SAMA