COVER STORY
In the ten years since the opening of Aivee Clinic, Z AND AIVEE TEO have helped revolutionize the dermatology and aesthetics industry with a focus on lifestyle, growing a practice that is rooted with integrity and authenticity
Z and Aivee Teo’s passion for uplifting the health and wellness industry promotes excellence and integrity in everything they do
For Aivee and Z Teo, the ten years of Aivee Clinic have flown by in the blink of an eye. “The best thing is that ten years didn’t feel like ten years,” says Z. “It kind of just flew by. Every day when we wake up, we are still excited and passionate to see our patients.” Aivee likens the experience to motherhood. “It grew right before our very eyes. And we built it together,” she says. “Like having your own kid. You see them grow right before your eyes. And you’re excited to see what is ahead of them, how they will grow.” For both of them, getting into the practice of aesthetics and dermatology was a happy accident. Aivee was not planning to enter the field of medicine. But because her grandfather was a doctor and none of his children pursued it as a career, her father asked her to go to medical school. “Eventually, I thought I wanted to be an endocrinologist,” she says, “No one in the family was a dermatologist. But I had a change of heart and suddenly realized it was something I found interesting in the course of my residency.”
Likewise, it was the same for Z. “I was meant to do family medicine or occupational medicine. That was my father’s practice and I was supposed to take over that,” he says. “Ever since I was young, I was primed to do that. Dermatology was never really in my mind.”
The couple met at the National Skin Center. “We met and it was something we realized we both liked,” says Z. While they fell into the routine of training in aesthetics, the more time they spent together they realized they enjoyed each other’s company. “We found it suited our personality a little bit more. It had to do with beauty and aesthetics, and suited our persona. It takes a certain kind of personality to like it,” he says. “Different fields of medicine require different kinds of personalities. The field of medicine is very wide. And that is why you have thousands of doctors. The idea is you have doctor’s personalities to match the specialty they choose to do. And for us, it fits with dermatology.”
The first challenge they faced together was less to do with the practice, but with their relationship. Z is Singaporean and Aivee is Filipino, and questions were raised by well-meaning friends and family as to how they would balance their careers and a relationship together. “I guess the objection came from people seeing us from two different countries, flying up and down to see each other,” says Z.
People were skeptical; even if Aivee and Z were determined to practice first in different countries while being in a relationship and starting a family. They both mention that people felt a sense that something had to give. “Initially, our parents were not supportive of our marriage,” shares
Aivee frankly. “But we felt that it was meant to be. We worked hard for it, and after we got together and started pursuing dermatology together, our families saw how passionate we were for each other and our partnership. One of the things that really connected us was that we both like building and doing things together.”
Their faith in their abilities as doctors and as partners for each other has obviously been repaid, because of their plucky, never-give-up attitude. “I think in life there will always be challenges and most of the time it will never be easy. I didn’t know what was ahead of me when we decided to commit to each other,” says Aivee. “I think the most important thing is you work hard and try your best as much as you can to overcome the challenges, no matter how big or how small it is. Live it one day at a time and not plan too far ahead.”
“Don’t let people box you up. Do not let them tell you what you should or should not do. Even if our parents or friends know us really well, we as people are meant to be who we are,” adds Z. “We have to decide what will make us happy every day doing.”
A FIELD FASTER THAN iPHONES
With their success, it would be easy for the Teos to rest on their laurels, or perhaps lose focus on what made their name in the first place. However, both Aivee and Z have their feet firmly on the ground and are ready and willing to face the future head-on. The constantly evolving nature of dermatology and aesthetics is what keeps them excited to do their jobs every day. “I always tell everyone that the field of dermatology is faster than iPhones. It just keeps changing, and it used to be every one to two years. Now it’s every one to two months,” says Z. “You really have to be on the ball, constantly tweaking and innovating. In the past, it used to be facials, diamond peels, and acne. But if you just do that now your practice won’t survive.”
He points out the gamut of things the practice now encompasses—wellness, skin, body, and hair. A few years ago, they both realized this was the direction the industry was headed towards. “That’s why we established different specialties to complement the industry,” says Z. “It has worked well for us because patients like it that we are kind of holistic in a sense and not just one-dimensional.”
Nutrition, more than ever, is a major talking point in the wellness industry, and to complement the concept, Aivee Café is a mainstay at the Aivee Clinics, a perfect spot to indulge in healthy fare and chat with dear friends. Other allied services include a focus on sleep science, sports science, and a plan to start rolling out a healthy food delivery service called Dr. Food. “Because we’re introducing new concepts in dermatology, we are seeing an influx of other doctors do the same thing,” says Aivee. “So we’re still challenging ourselves to think of new ways to progress. We’re excited to innovate and think of ways evolve dermatology and aesthetics into something even more.”
“It makes us excited,” she continues, “the fact that we don’t feel like we’ve achieved everything there is to achieve. There is always more to do.” With their busy schedules, both Aivee and Z have perfected a routine that helps them maximize their working hours. “Focus is a discipline,” says Z. “Aivee and I really time manage every single second we have.” The very idea of wasting time is anathema to how the Teos conduct themselves professionally. Recently, the entire family took a 10-day vacation to South Africa. To make up for as much as possible, as soon as the plane landed Aivee showered and went straight back to work to see patients. “It’s also important that you’re hard-working,” she says. “I don’t think blessings will come your way if you just rest on your laurels and relax and
“The best thing is that ten years didn’t feel like ten years,” says Z. “It kind of just flew by. Every day when we wake up, we are still excited and passionate to see our patients.”
feel like you’re entitled. You have to go out of your way.”
“You have to work hard. People sometimes think it came easy, but it was and is a lot of hard work,” she adds. “We make it look easy. However, behind the scenes, there is hard work and effort.
LUXURY AND DERMATOLOGY
The brand’s mission to build confidence and change lives has remained steadfast throughout the last ten years. Both Aivee and Z hold themselves and everyone working in the practice to high standards of authenticity, integrity, vision, and excellence. “We try not to follow what other people do, and instead compete with ourselves,” says Aivee.
Both of them strongly maintain that their focus is not on the financial aspect. While both note that money is important to keep the practice stable, to be a good doctor the focus must always be on the patient. “We are not here as businessmen, we’re not just about pesos and cents. It is really about our practice and making sure we do it well,” says Aivee.
The ability to empathize with patients is also important. “It’s about them, not us,” says Z. “Every patient has to be treated like they are the only person there. They are the ones who matter.”
One of the things Aivee and Z spearheaded was the idea that a visit to your dermatologist should not feel like a routine check-up at a hospital. “We wanted to change the industry,” says Aivee. “We wanted a clinic that felt like home for the patient, or a beautiful hotel. We want the patient to feel pampered, and we were the pioneers of that when we first started.”
The fact that the industry is now a lifestyle is something both of them can take credit for. This kind of forward-thinking is something they encourage young doctors, especially in the field of dermatology, to partake in. However, most of all, their advice is simple. “I think all doctors have to be honest with the patients with what they can and can’t do, and I think patients appreciate that. New doctors or new people coming up might feel pressure to impress and do everything. However, as Aivee and I know from the past ten years, respect is something you earn through years of experience. Experience is something you cannot accelerate.” He cautions against trying to do too much, too quickly. “Your time will come. When you rush, you will make mistakes that will derail your goals,” he says. “Be honest and patient and authentic.”
They both bemoan the idea that someday those looking to make a quick buck might overcrowd the profession. “Some people want to open ten clinics right away, but you have to keep your ambitions in check and be realistic,” says Aivee. “If you open too fast you can’t keep up your growth and you’ll have to earn it back. We are not driven by that. We are driven by happy patients and success stories, and making sure we are in the business for a long time.” The focus for both of them is to remain in this business for as long as they can.
Z adds that while he is proud of Aivee Clinics’ status as being multi-awarded in ulthera, fillers and botox, the prize has always been the ability to make a difference in the lives of their patients. “These sorts of experiences are more memorable for us than anything else,” he says.
Being able to build a doctor-patient relationship over the years is something that has enriched their careers all the more. “It’s not just face and body,” says Aivee. “It’s a journey we go through with our patients. It’s the type of relationships we build. We were able to build relationships with them. You can see the happiness in our patients and the friendships we foster.”
COEXISTING AND COMPLEMENTING
According to Aivee, if she were not in the field of medicine, she would be working in fashion or interior design, both of which are hobbies for her. “When we opened the clinics, I was very involved in interior design. Because it is one aspect that I can do on the side. When I go to the clinic I dress up every day, so I’m able to fulfill the part of me that likes dressing up and putting things together,” she says.
Both of them are mainstays in best-dressed lists for multiple publications, and while Aivee says it is not as important as their practice, dressing up is something they both enjoy. “I’m so happy that in my line of work I’m able to have the opportunity to dress up every day because I enjoy it.” Unbelievable to some, Aivee actually only takes five to ten minutes a day choosing an outfit to wear to work. “My patients think I have stylists or that I plan a week ahead,” she says. “But I can’t do that because I’d rather use the time for something more important. I know my style and myself, and we are comfortable about it. It’s not dressing to impress but to feel good.”
Just like authenticity is important in the workplace, so too is authenticity in how they express themselves through clothing. “If you have your own style, it makes you different. If you copy from people, you just look like everyone else,” says Z. “If you buy stuff from one store only then you look like a model of that brand. There is no originality there.”
Z thinks if he were not in the beauty and wellness industry, he would be an entrepreneur. “I like business, so I’d probably open something to grow it and sell. It’s what I enjoy doing.” Both of their interests align with helping the Aimee brand reach bigger heights. “It’s something that came together and we’re happy we’re able to incorporate our different passions to our craft and for it to blend seamlessly and to be able coexist and complement each other.”
“At the end of the day, we believe that God put us in what we do because as our creator, only He knows our personality,” adds Z. “So the fact that he has given us this is divine grace and it is a perfect fit for us. We always thank God for that.”
RAISING HAPPY AND INDEPENDENT CHILDREN
With their busy lives, Aivee and Z make sure to prioritize time with their children. KenZ, the eldest, is 12, and whose biggest passion is football. “He’s going through a transition, and starting to focus on excelling in his studies,” says Z. “Football was a hobby but now it’s a different level of training because he wants to be part of the school team.” Kenzo, at the age of eight, is beginning to show interest in taking pictures and videos. Keli, the youngest, is blessed with a vivacious personality. “She likes vlogging,” says Z. “Stick a phone in her hand and ask her to vlog and she can go on for 20 minutes. I don’t know how she can do it because I can’t talk for 20 minutes.”
This summer, all three kids attended summer school in Singapore, where they took the bus, walked to school, and ate on their own. “As much as we want to be there, we also want to step back a bit and let them grow as kids and let them be independent in a way,” says Aivee. Z surmises that while they are hands on, they are not helicopter parents, which was evident during the shoot and the dinner after, when Keli
“We wanted to change the industry,” says Aivee. “We wanted a clinic that felt like home for the patient, or a beautiful hotel. We want the patient to feel pampered, and we were the pioneers of that when we first started.”
hung out with the adults behind the scenes. “We want them to be able to develop their own personality by interacting with adults and other people. We want their social skills to improve, no gadgets,” says Aivee.
Because they sometimes bring the kids to the clinic, KenZ, Kenzo, and Keli have grown up with an appreciation of what their parents do, and this exposure means that when asked, they will say they want to be in medicine. “The funny thing is, they’ll say that without us having to tell them,” says Aivee. “We would be happy if they decided to be doctors, but for now, they’re still young.”
Z is more forthright. “I won’t deny that I want them to be doctors. I’m Chinese-Singaporean, we are like this,” he says, laughing. “But from what I’ve learned, I don’t want to be the kind of parent that will box and impose on them. I will encourage them and thankfully they seem interested but I have reached the stage that if they were to choose other things because of their interests, I would not force them.”
BEING EVERYWHERE TOGETHER
Because they are both so busy, alone time for Aivee and Z usually means something simple like having massages together, watching Netflix and traveling. “Our activities with each other are just being with each other every day 24/7. We are always together and don’t fight that much,” says Z, teasingly. “For me, it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we’re together. We can be anywhere.”
Aivee says that if she had the choice to stay at home the whole day, she could happily clean the house. “I love doing things like that: cleaning the fridge, fixing my closet, and packing.” Z’s passion is Liverpool Football Club, and during dinner after the shoot, he spent it surreptitiously checking his phone and watching on a stream. “If there’s a game on I can stay up to 4:00 AM watching,” he says.
Both of them agree that finding time for them is important. “The best ideas happen when we’re away,” says Aivee. “When we’re away from the battlefield, we have time to plan.”
“We are very in sync in that we understand that this is a need of us. Focus, discipline, hard work, passion and pushing ourselves, but also time for rest and family,” adds Z.
BEAUTY WITHOUT BORDERS
With how blessed they have been, Aivee and Z make sure to give back. One of the things they are active with is Beauty Beyond Borders. “At the start of my practice, I had a free clinic 2-3 times a week, and then Z started joining me,” shares Aivee. “He encouraged me to let the rest of the team participate, and after that, we began Beauty Beyond Borders. Our whole team is involved: from doctors, surgeons and nurses. We usually see 500 patients each time, and the experience is very fulfilling.”
Both of them also practice tithing, with 10% of their salary going to missions and scholars to help them study. “We support foundations like MovEd and Red Charity Gala, we support foundations because we feel this is not just for us. Whatever financial rewards we get is for us to share because it could be temporary,” says Z. “We are here for a mission. We have to make our life meaningful and not be self-centered.
We have always felt like we have a purpose in life and that is why God gives us opportunities and to open doors for us to meet other people because God wants us to reach out to other people and make a difference in the work and services we do.”
INSPIRING THE FUTURE
A field that increasingly receives interest from those in the medical field, dermatology and aesthetics can sometimes be viewed with mistrust and skepticism. This is something that saddens both Aivee and Z. “This is a skill, not a commodity like shoes, or a bag, or fast food,” says Aivee. “It’s a career.”
The Teos would prefer more doctors to practice restraint. “You are treating people’s faces and bodies. As professionals and doctors we hope we can keep the integrity of the industry, along with doctor-patient relationships,” says Z. “I’d rather us have patients because they trust us because we give them the best treatments based on pure ability.”
They decry the recent phenomenon of slashed prices to be attractive to new customers. “It shouldn’t be cheaper on a level where it becomes like fast food, but it shouldn’t be expensive beyond reason either,” says Z. “It kills the whole integrity of the profession. We want to inspire young doctors to maintain the integrity of the profession and do it right.”
If the industry were filled with likeminded doctors with integrity, the Teos would not mind the competition.
“If we see young doctors coming up having good practices, with integrity, doing well for the patients, honestly, we are happy,” says Z. “We can’t see the whole country so we wish for professionals that will have good honest practices, who will treat patients right. If we see that proliferating, we’ll be happy.”
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Reflecting on their achievements and what they have gained out of it, Z’s most important aspects to live a meaningful life is to be spiritually sound, emotionally stable, physically healthy, and mentally happy. “A life like that I think would be very fulfilling because you are made of these core components. If any one of those is not in harmony then you might have trouble. You need to maintain balance.”
Aivee mentions living with purpose. “I think the most important thing is to fulfill your purpose in life. You only live once. You have to make sure that you live this life,” she says. “It’s not just for yourself, you are able to really fulfill the other aspect of your life and make a difference for yourself and others. And hopefully, be an example and inspiration to others.”