“My motto is to always improve your knowledge and abilities for the future. Ultimately, the goal is to both be on top in business and to be happy with what you do” DR. NATTHAPAT “BENZ” MINCHAIYNUNT
IN A RELATIVELY SHORT SPAN OF TIME, EMINENT COSMETIC SURGEON DR. NATTHAPAT “BENZ” MINCHAIYNUNT’S PASSION FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL FIELD, COUPLED WITH A LOVE FOR ART AND SCIENCE, HAS RAISED THE BAR IN THAILAND WITH HIS INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO BEAUTY AND WELL-BEING. parisa pichitmarn MEETS THE TRAILBLAZING SPECIALIST
Dr. Natthapat “Benz” Minchaiynunt, the founder of Alpha Medical Clinic, is not your typical cosmetic surgeon. He is the only Thai specialist aesthete with three certified American Board qualifications in Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, Aesthetic Medicine, and Cosmetic Laser Surgery.
In 2017, Dr. Benz brought his vision of an integrative clinic for both beauty and well-being to life by transforming a 2,000-squaremetre building owned by his family into Thailand’s largest private clinic. Inspired by the meaning of the word alpha (“most outstanding”), his goal was to provoke social evolution in aesthetic practices – to the benefit of his patients – by using the latest technology and his world-class knowledge.
Located on the corner of Ladprao Soi 93, this futuristic haven of integrative beauty services offers top-of-the-line aesthetic, anti-aging, regenerative medicine, and laser treatments. On September 9, 2019, the clinic was visited by His Serene Somdet Phra Wannarat, Patriarch Head of the Dhammyuttika Order and abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara royal monastery, who gave blessings to the clinic, and whose VIP clients include ministers, foreign royalties, elite business owners and celebrities.
“Treating high-end customers can be challenging, but it’s something I enjoy,” says the eminently photogenic physician. “Sometimes it’s more like we are brother and sister. We can advise each other on all things.”
Given his family’s longstanding reputation in civil construction, the fact that Dr. Benz has forged his own path in the beauty and health industry is a stark divergence. Over a hundred years ago, when Minburi was still a province of its own, his great-grandfather rose to prominence as the owner of vast amounts of land, as well as three rice mills (an exceptional amount of affluence considering that era in time). The glory of the family name was further solidified by Dr. Suthee Minchaiynunt, the most prolific patriarch and also Dr. Benz’s great-uncle. Dr. Suthee – the sort of personality who received an invitation to a luncheon with Xi Jinping – is a multi-billionaire entrepreneur, landowner and philanthropist who holds such prestigious titles as the Honorary President for Life of the Thai-chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Those familiar with these billionaires from Minburi will know of their empire in real estate development and
“I DO CONSIDER MYSELF MORE OF AN ARTISTAESTHETE THAN A MERE MEDICAL DOCTOR. MY PASSION IS CRAFTING EXQUISITENESS. I AM OBSESSED WITH GRASPING FOR PERFECTION”
government civil construction projects. Dr. Benz’s father, Visut Minchaiynunt, is the owner of one of the top private civil construction corporations, which has various projects across the country and abroad, while his uncle, Vicharn Minchaiynunt, was an MP, and is a former Deputy Minister of Public Health.
When Dr. Benz began to pursue his own career, he was inspired by some of the first-rate doctors he met on trips abroad. “I used to accompany my mum on trips to visit my brothers, who were then still studying in the UK, and we’d make these medical pit stops along the way. My mother suffers from MG muscle weakness on a portion of her face, yet you can hardly tell that she does anymore because we sought the services of first-rate doctors in Europe and Dubai. Their advanced knowledge of the proper techniques contributed to my initial interest and later achievements.”
Besides wanting to offer Thailand first-class know-how and cutting-edge technologies to match what he had witnessed abroad, Dr. Benz’s move towards aesthetic and anti-aging stems from his ingrained love for art and science. “I do consider myself more of an artist-aesthete than a mere medical doctor. My passion is crafting exquisiteness. I am obsessed with grasping for perfection.”
For his later education, the determined doctor studied in the USA, and received American Board certifications in Aesthetic Medicine (in Nevada), Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine (in Illinois), and Laser Surgery (in Connecticut). His direct contact to luminaries such as Dr. Rox Anderson, considered the father of lasers, and the fact that he learned how to build an actual laser machine himself – down to the angle
“WE ARE NOT LED BY MARKETING, HYPE, OR PROPAGANDA, SO I ONLY CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR EACH PATIENT, WITH TRUE KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO BACK IT UP”
“ATTRACTIVENESS IS A COMBINATION OF CONFIDENCE, SELFSATISFACTION, AND PHYSICAL SPLENDOUR”
of mirror positions – rank among the invaluable experiences that set him apart from your average cosmetic surgeon.
Astonishingly, he earned all the above-mentioned board certifications, then completed a fellow title in Aesthetic Medicine at The American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine in Dubai, within the span of just three years. Credit can be given in part to the time saved on transportation using private aircraft between states, as well as learning about lasers and their latest innovations with a private physicist from Imperial College.
“Investing in time-saving facilities, like private jets and personal tutors, really made the process smooth. However, the crucial part was to pass all the American Board exams in one assessment. That was really demanding. Most people fail to pass on their first attempt.”
With his studies complete, the next step was to launch Alpha Medical Clinic, and to date one of the most outstandingly popular treatments has been the ‘Alpha Melasma’, an impressive eight-hour treatment that can get rid of 95 percent of a person’s whole melasma (dark skin discoloration) within two weeks.
“It’s an effective technique,” he points out. “Who would have thought melasma could be cured so swiftly? Our clients really love it!” Interestingly, Dubai is a world leader in treating melasma, due to the country’s harsh sunlight all year round, and Dr. Benz’s time spent there provided him with expertise on sustainably curing this undesirable facial pigmentation.
Fastidious with details and finicky about using only products of the highest quality, Dr. Benz selects medicines and laser technologies only if they have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). “We are not led by marketing, hype, or propaganda, so I only choose what is best for each patient, with true knowledge and scientific research to back it up,” he says, adding that it’s the clinic’s ethos to propound truly personalised programmes rather than simply push products onto clientele.
When it comes to looking good and feeling great, the doctor makes it clear how both things work in harmony. “Attractiveness is a combination of confidence, selfsatisfaction, and physical splendour. We do scans and thorough check-ups so that the ultimate result is truly ‘age-defying’. It goes all the way down to your hormone levels, but before I prescribe hormones we always discuss both the positive and negative side effects. I think our clinic’s success comes from our integrative approach; of knowing the limitation of each technique and combining additional techniques from other aspects to push the limit. We also spend as much time as is needed with all our patients, and have thorough, well-defined treatment plans that illustrate clear details and goals.”
As one who practices what he preaches, taking care of his own health is something on which the good doctor places utmost priority. “If I feel like my energy level is low, I send my blood samples to the lab to get checked,” he remarks. “When I know what I’m deficient in, I can easily remedy that with shots. If you see that you have low white blood cells, and hence low immunity, you have to protect yourself and take nutritional supplements. Knowing all this in advance helps to prevent illnesses. If you’re in good health, there’s no doubt that longevity is the result. Life extension can be achieved by the optimisation of body chemistry and anatomy.”
This focus on preventative health measures has become so much a part of his lifestyle that it has him practicing anti-aging exercises alongside his usual cardio sessions. “Generally, light exercise, such as simply walking consistently on a slanted treadmill for at least 45 minutes with 15-minutes aerobic exercise, rather than intense workouts, is what keeps one young.”
These tips, on top of preferable food choices, are insights he readily shares with all patients and family members around him, including his younger brother Bank. After failing to lose weight despite strenuous exercise, Dr. Benz managed to diagnose that a lack of growth hormones was what kept his brother from slimming down. Remedying this helped Bank lose 10kg within three months, while still maintaining his proper muscle level.
Besides health issues, this eldest son admits that he is also always chiding his younger siblings for their price-driven buys. “I teach them to look at the craftmanship. That is the actual value,” he says with a knowing grin. “It’s important to look at excellence regardless of the brands, trends, or hype.”
This critical outlook justifies the dapper doctor’s inclination for bespoke British shirts from Turnbull & Asser and suits from Henry Poole. He reckons that he is not one for overly conspicuous clothing, nor will he wear sparkly, eyecatching baubles. As of late though he has been a frequent visitor at Hermès boutiques, but it’s for the brand’s tableware, leather goods, and wooden home furnishings.
“I’ve been spending a lot on furniture lately, and I never seem to stop decorating my home,” he says of his latest pursuit. “I’ve been looking over a large number of Baccarat crystal items, and I just bought a malachite table. Even though it’s weighty and challenging – sometimes problematic – to transport from America, I just couldn’t resist its charming shades of green.”
Once the pandemic settles, he says he looks forward to visiting his second home in London, which has been built with sustainability and eco-friendly concerns in mind (to balanced out his occasionally oversized carbon footprint). “Contributing to the preservation of nature, and the world’s wildlife, is everyone’s obligation,” he adds.
Travel is usually a major part of the doctor’s regular schedule, and what he misses most as of late is the opportunity to attend medical conferences around the world. “I usually fly to conferences to keep my innovation awareness updated. Some of these doctors and speakers are available so infrequently that it’s vital to meet them at these sorts of events, so you can question them in-depth, which isn’t something you can do well at online conferences.”
It’s apparent that Dr. Benz believes in optimising his time, be it professionally or in his private life. “I don’t want to waste time doing the same old thing in the same old place,” he says. “My motto is to always improve your knowledge and abilities for the future. Ultimately, the goal is to both be on top in business and to be happy with what you do.”
“IF YOU’RE IN GOOD HEALTH, THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT LONGEVITY IS THE RESULT. LIFE EXTENSION CAN BE ACHIEVED BY THE OPTIMISATION OF BODY CHEMISTRY AND ANATOMY”