Our second clinic we would like to introduce is the Institute “Virtus” in Odessa, Ukraine and Ms. Anna Tsepkolenko who is on of the doctors there.

Ms. Tsepkolenko where are you from and what is your profession?
I am from Odessa, Ukraine and I am a medical doctor since 2002.

Please tell us a bit about your clinic:
The Clinic is located in Bunin Street 10 in Odessa, Ukraine and was founded in 1991.

What lasers do you have? 
We have 5 lasers by Asclepion, a MeDioStar XT and HC, a QuadroStar+, a MCL 30 and a RubyStar. We mostly do MCL treatments, Teleangiectaisa, tattoo and pigment removal, neavus and warts.

What kind of Marketing did you start to make patients aware of your service?
We trained and also treated the staff and also give commission to our staff for bigger treatments. We did ads in local magazines and on radio and the have a “Free Consulation day” on every Saturday. In Ukraine we also have a TV show where women move into a house together and have surgical treatments and operations – our clinic did all the treatments and operations and we are also allowed to use the pictures. Furthermore we treat VIPs for free, make pictures and hang them up in our waiting room. We also hang up laser course certificates in the waiting room. Our door sign informs about the laser treatment and we have an info stand at the entrance with information what treatments we offer. Further we use flyers informing about the laser treatment, we have a clinic newspaper and medical literature to inform themselves. We also have a business card to give to people who are interested. We also use gift certificates and we give 50% discount on the first treatment. We also have an own homepage and did a search engine optimisation for that. Further, what is not really Marketing but also brings in patients is, that we introduce students at the university to lasers.
 
How many patients have you treated with the laser and how many do you treat per day?
In 2006 we did about 400 patients with small treatments and about 100 with skin resurfacing.

How much do you charge for the treatment?
For depilation of upper lip about 25 US $, for one area skin resurfacing 350$ and for full face 900$. For tattoo removal we charge 20$ for 1 qcm, for larger tattoos sure not.

What do you think the trends in laser treatment will be?
I think skin rejuvenation will be coming up.

Would you buy a new laser to keep up with the trend?
Which?
Yes we would buy a new laser, but we already have the MeDioStar for rejuvenation. But we are also thinking about buying a MultiPulse.

Thank you for the interview and all the best to you!