Dr. Cesar Daniel Villarreal-Villarreal, MD (Mexico)

Mentor: Dr. Martin Kassir

Dallas, Texas, USA 2019

Major goals for your mentorship experience: I applied to this mentorship program to learn from an expert in aesthetic dermatology how to improve patients’ cosmetic concerns. With Dr. Martin Kassir, this goal was clearly achieved! I learned a lot about fillers, botulinum toxin, microdermabrasion and energy devices.

What did you like best about your mentorship experience?: The best thing was the strong friendship I developed with my mentor. He was great -he was not only my mentor, but he became a true friend. Regarding cosmetic dermatology, I liked the most how he treated his patients in a balanced and proper way, telling them what was most appropriate. Also, he taught me how to think and to understand why certain treatments were being utilized.

Describe any special experiences with your mentor: He and his wife Azy treated me like family, including inviting me to his son Kash's birthday party. I created such a great bond that they told me I'm little Kash’s Tio (uncle). Also, Martin taught me how to dress properly while in the office - he has great taste in style.

Describe a skill acquired during your mentorship that you will definitely use when you return home: He taught me how to recognize when a “gummy smile” is due to  hyperactivity of lip elevator muscles and should be treated with botulinum toxin versus referring the patient to a periodontist for surgical correction. . This was such a great pearl that we submitted it to the JAAD and it was accepted within a week! [doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.08.055]

How will your mentorship experience impact your patient care and professional goals over the next year?: I learned how to properly evaluate patients so as to be able to offer better cosmetic treatments. I hope one day to teach these pearls to other young dermatologists from Mexico and beyond.

How will your mentorship experience make an impact five years from now, including for your region or country?: I believe that this mentorship will impact in my private practice and I will become a recognized cosmetic dermatologist in México and hopefully become a mentor for other dermatologists. I hope that Martin’s words become true and I become the best cosmetic dermatologist in Mexico.

Share a pearl you learned during your mentorship experience: For the “gummy smile”, I learned to assess the ideal width and height of the central incisors. The typical height of central incisors is 9.5 to 11 mm, depending on the gender of the patient. Therefore, if there is excess gum (2-3 mm) visible because of short incisors, the patient should be referred to a periodontist; but if excess gum is visible due to hyperactive lip elevator muscles, botulinum toxin can be injected.