Dr Riekie Smit – President
MBChB (UOFS), MSc Sports Medicine (Pretoria) Adv Dip Aesthetic Medicine (FPD)
Dr. Riekie Smit completed her bachelor in medicine and surgery (MBChB) at Free State University in South Africa, followed by post graduate MSc Sports Medicine at University of Pretoria and an Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine at FPD higher institute. Her clinical practice in Pretoria, South Africa, is dedicated to aesthetic medical and sport conditions.
Dr. Smit’s academic contributions include the development and current academic coordination of the Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine at the FPD higher education institute, an officially recognized 2-year postgraduate program in South Africa. She is also a faculty member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, involved in physician training in various countries.
As 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, Dr. Smit has played a significant role in the organizational development of aesthetic medicine within the region. Her published work includes contributions to medical articles, journals, and scientific publications, with a focus on areas such as skin rejuvenation, facial injectables, thread lifting, chemical peels, mesotherapy, PRP, lasers, and LED technologies.
Dr Shahien Dollie – Treasurer
MBChB (UCT), Adv Dip Aesthetic Medicine (FPD) (Cum Laude)
Dr Shahien Dollie, an MBChB UCT alumnus, completed his 2-year post graduate Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine cum laude at Pretoria’s FPD campus. He has subsequently completed multiple hands-on masterclasses and intense focussed sessions on facial anatomy, physiology, dermatological pathology, as well as numerous non-surgical Aesthetic procedures ranging from Botulinum Toxin and Fillers to PLLA suspension sutures and synthetic hair implants. Dr Dollie enjoys local training, is a regular speaker at international congresses such as IMCAS and AMWC and is an active contributor and full member of the IMCAS Academy and Dermatological and Surgical International League. Furthermore, he has authored several aesthetic articles in electronic and print media.
Dr Dollie is an AAMSSA Exco Member since 2019 and has a passion for education and is an active advocate for the practice of world class aesthetic medicine on South African shores. Aesthetic medicine is a rapidly advancing field of medicine, filled with unique ethical and regulation related challenges. As new technologies, techniques and procedures come to the fore, medical doctors involved in this rewarding subspecialty need to maintain a firm grasp on upholding the professionalism of the doctor -patient relationship honoured by all specialties of medicine.
Dr Alastair Clark
M.B., B.Ch.., 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.
Dr Manoj Bagwandeen
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 during August 2023.
Dr Levashni Naidoo
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 Masters 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, The Dermatology Room. She serves as an executive committee member of the Aesthetic and Anti-aging Medicine Society of South Africa and 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 amongst her colleagues, as well as developing platforms to improve public education on skin health and skincare.
Dr Barlodien Kotze
I’m a General Practitioner with a special interest in Aesthetic Medicine. For over a decade, I’ve dedicated myself to helping patients achieve natural, refreshed results.
I obtained my M.B.,Ch.B. from Stellenbosch University in 2001, followed by a Diploma in Sedation and Pain Control in 2010. In 2019, I completed the Advanced Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine through the Foundation for Professional Development. Since then, I’ve invested in over 26 professional courses, both locally and internationally. At heart, I’m always learning—and always seeking new ways to deliver the best outcomes for my patients.
I’ve been running my own aesthetic practice for 16 years, during which I’ve remained committed to continuous growth—both in my own skills and in supporting the development of others. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of training colleagues in the art of Botulinum Toxin and HA filler techniques, and of speaking at local congresses on topics that matter in our field. Sharing knowledge and encouraging high standards in aesthetic medicine is something I feel strongly about, and I remain passionate about education as a way to strengthen and uplift our professional community.
Since 2009, I’ve watched this field grow in South Africa, and my passion for it has only deepened. It’s been a privilege to serve on the AAMSSA Executive Committee this past term, and to be part of a team that upholds integrity, inclusivity, and clinical excellence. AAMSSA has played a key role in uniting and uplifting our community, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far.
Dr Alek Nikolic
MBBCh (WITS) ATLS (ACS) MBA (UCT)
Dr Nikolic is a General Practitioner with a special interest in Aesthetic and Anti-Aging 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 skin care, 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 in mentoring other doctors but also in helping to shape the aesthetic medical industry’s future.
Prof Jacques Snyman
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 African. 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.
Published more than 80 publications in International Scientific Journals. Is the Business Development Director 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, is a member of the South African Pharmacology Society, the founder member of the College of Medicine SA in Clinical Pharmacology.
Held positions as the Professor and Head of the Dept of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Past President of the South African Pharmacology Society, Past Chair Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences( University of Pretoria) and is a member of numerous faculty committees such as: Research Ethics Committee, Faculty Day Committee, CPD accreditation committee, Ministerial appointed member of the MCC, Ministerial appointed member of EDL programme and has research interest in the Inflammation and immune modulation; Clinical trial design, Pharmacodynamics, and Clinical outcomes research (pharmacoeconomics) and has editorial Commitments in MIMS and is on the Editorial Board of Therapeutic Drugs, Adis International.
Dr Reza Mia
When it comes to the world of Aesthetic Medicine, Dr. Reza Mia does his best to stay at the top of his game. He makes sure that he takes every opportunity to learn more, whether it’s through reading textbooks cover-to-cover, educational videos, primary & secondary research or attending local and international aesthetic courses and conferences. Not only to educate himself in the latest technologies and treatments, but to ensure that his patients are always offered the latest in Aesthetic treatments.
Dr. Mia previously participated in a global study assessing the various injection techniques of Restylane’s SkinBooster dermal filler, making a tangible contribution to the field. He added to his list of accomplishments when he became the first doctor in South Africa to complete the Silhouette Soft advanced training course. Dr. Mia was given the esteemed honour of being appointed the Hyalual Key Opinion Leader for South Africa. Hyalual Switzerland is an innovative company specialising in scientific development, manufacture and service provision in the field of anti-ageing therapy, aesthetic medicine, rejuvenation, correction and restoration of the skin.
Having graduated from the University of Witwatersrand with a medical degree at the age of 23, Dr. Mia sought to enhance his studies and boasts an MBA from the University of Liverpool, having obtained multiple distinctions. He fulfilled a life-long ambition of his when he passed the mentally challenging entrance exam to become a member of MENSA in 2013. Dr. Mia was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship for Entrepreneurship from the London School of Business and Finance for an MSc Finance & Investment degree where he majored in investment banking and capital markets, graduating with Merit. Most notably, Dr. Mia completed a dissertation in Aerospace OEM analysis. He completed his advanced diploma in aesthetic medicine in 2017 and lives by his guiding motto of Art meets Science in his various projects and inventions.
Dr. Mia’s innovative spirit and artistic eye has extended far beyond the medical and aesthetic world to that of aerospace engineering and luxury transport. With this invaluable expertise, Dr. Mia brings the knowledge and skill that he gains from aerospace engineering and design and applies this back to aesthetic medicine to give his patients a truly unique experience and final result. This concept was validated when Dr Mia began exploring a novel device that he envisioned designed to deliver babies who were in breech without the need for surgery. The converse is also true, with knowledge and ideas passing from aesthetic medicine to the aerospace field. “At the end of the day, it’s all engineering, science and art anyway, for the benefit of people everywhere”.
Dr. Mia gained valuable experience when he assisted Dr. Robert Rey and Dr. Ridwan Mia in the first and to date, the only Peri-umbilical breast augmentation to be performed on the continent. Dr. Mia has also worked in the department of plastic surgery as a medical officer and has spent considerable hours assisting his brother in hundreds of plastic and reconstructive surgeries. These practical lessons have provided him with a greater insight into the interaction between aesthetic products and the human body.
Dr. Reza Mia is a natural born artist who has spent years honing his skills and abilities; after all, your face becomes his canvass and he will do his best to put right what makes you feel insecure. Dr. Mia has a wonderful approach to the medical methods he uses. He never does the unnecessary, and is always there for his patients. You walk out feeling confident in the knowledge that you are in the right hands.Dr Reza has created a new invention incubator called Dr Reza Innovations in two countries.
His contributions to the fields of medicine, business, aviation and philanthropy are vast, and it is only apt that Dr Mia’s incredible journey has led him to become the go-to guy in these fields. We look forward to being pleasantly surprised with Dr Mia’s next innovation. Dr Reza is embarking on his private pilots license journey this year.
Dr Tracey Garner
Dr Tracey Garner is a General Practitioner with 16 years of experience in family practice and 20 years as an Aesthetic GP. She holds diplomas in Family Medicine and Anaesthetics and has attended extensive training in facial aesthetics both locally and internationally. She has been a faculty member for the Allergan Medical Institute since 2013 and regularly trains and mentors doctors in the art of aesthetic facial injections. She is a regular speaker at local and international meetings and congresses and has a passion for teaching, coaching, and inspiring colleagues to practice aesthetic medicine in a safer, more fulfilling way. She has special interests in ultrasound, anatomy and the conceptualization of innovative medical models to support learning.
Being a part of the Dr. Nerina Wilkinson + Associates team creates the environment in which Tracey can collaborate with other specialists in the industry to deliver innovative, holistic, and ethical medical aesthetic treatments that lead to great patient results.
Tracey believes in a holistic, restorative approach to aging and enjoys the journey of finding a unique solution for each patient. She specialises in Botulinum Toxin and Filler treatments with a full facial approach that addresses the individual’s needs and desires without losing focus of the overall picture. She has a special interest in ultrasound-assisted assessment and injections: a revolutionary approach to safer and more accurate treatments. She also offers medical toxin injections, mesotherapy, PRP/PRF and medical skin care.
Tracey Garner: I am honoured to be nominated to serve on the AAMSSA executive committee. I aim to uphold the beautiful field of aesthetics as a professional ethical medical career pathway that is science-based, driven by innovation and excellent patient care and that provides wholesome unbiased support for all members.
Dr Edward Ngwenya
Dr Edward Ngwenya is Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Senior Lecturer (University of Pretoria) as well as a Non-Executive Board Director (South African Medical Association).
Dr Edward Ngwenya is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, distinguished speaker, academic, and serves as Non-Executive Director in recognized Medical and Corporate Boards. He runs his own private practice from Kempton Park (ARWYP Medical Centre) and Fourways (Life Fourways Hospital).
Dr Ngwenya obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating with a Certificate of First Class for Human Anatomy. This passion for the human body carried him into further endeavouring and completing a medical degree in the same university. During his academic tenure at Wits Medical School, he proved his leadership potential by, inter alia, being elected as the first black President of the then 86 years old Medical Students Council (MSC), serving as Chairperson of the Wits University All Faculty Students Council, and Board Member of the Adler Museum of Medicine. This all contributed to him being awarded an International Scholarship for a World Leadership Course in the United States of America.
He continued being actively involved in the professional and political aspect of medicine, holding the position of Secretary General of the Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (JUDASA), and further serving in many other roles in the South African Medical Association (SAMA), where he served as the National Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. Internationally, he has both chaired and served in a number of workgroups in the World Medical Association (WMA).
It was his passion for human anatomy that drove him to specialize in General Surgery at the University of Pretoria, where he completed his studies in record time earning him a Fellowship, and a Master of Medicine in Surgery, of which he received the Golden Key award, an award bestowed to candidates who graduate in the top 15% of the country. He further endeavoured into a second specialty in the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where he graduated again in record time, making him the first black Plastic Surgeon to qualify from the University of Pretoria.
Dr Ngwenya is amongst an elite global handful who possess a double surgical specialty, making him knowledgeable and skilled in diverse surgical conditions and procedures. His areas of interest include, but not limited to, Breast Surgery, Body contouring, Onco-plastics, and Aesthetic procedures. His particular interest and expertise in Breast Surgery has led to his appointment into the Executive Committee of the Breast Interest Group of Southern Africa (BIGOSA). He is also recognized as a speaker and trainer in the field of Aesthetic Medicine, where he facilitates regular hands-on aesthetic workshops and cadaver dissection courses. He has also served on the AAMSSA Exco for the past 3 years.
His business experience, acumen, and constant eagerness to both learn and expand, has led him to serve as a non-executive director in some corporate boards, one of which includes the largest Professional mutual Insurance Company in South Africa. Dr Ngwenya embodies all that defines passion, dedication, excellence, and an astounding finesse in one’s vocation. He is a natural and valuable fit to the AAMSSA executive committee.