LIVING SCULPTURE
An Interview With Dr. Simon Ourian
In the field of cosmetic dermatology, few doctors are as revered as Dr. Simon Ourian. Since founding his clinic Epione in Beverly Hills over 20 years ago, he has gained an unprecedented degree of client following, including many of the world’s most famous people, from celebrities to royalty. With a patron list including Sophia Vergara, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and the Kardashian-Jenner family, to name a few, the doctor to the stars has become a star himself—with over three and a half million Instagram followers, it goes without saying that there are few places in Hollywood where he isn’t recognized.
What makes Dr. Ourian’s detail-oriented work so sought-after is also what makes him stand apart in the industry—a combined use of non-invasive tools, such as dermal fillers and lasers, coupled with a passion for both science and art. This allows the doctor to craft incredible, natural-looking results without going under the knife. Truly an artist at heart, he sculpts the body with a masterful understanding of the most effective manner in which to use injectables—these non-surgical treatments become even more appealing when compared to cosmetic surgery. “Most procedures take minutes; little to no downtime; no general anesthesia in sight; and more predictable and long-lasting results without the fear of permanent, irreversible incisions,” explains Dr. Ourian, whose aim is to simply enhance his clients’ natural features so as to make them feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin.
At the Epione cosmetic treatment center, Dr. Ourian and his staff are dedicated to offering excellence in clinical and technological advances, as well as the highest level of care and diligent personal attention for skin, hair, and body contouring. To further the results obtained at Epione, Dr. Ourian developed the MDO skincare line. The products offered here help its users feel confident in their skin and love it, which is a critical element of self-love. Results and client satisfaction lie at the core of Dr. Ourian’s philosophy, as evidenced in every component of his work. Getting to know Dr. Simon Ourian will leave you in awe of the man and eager to schedule a consultation at www.epionebh.com.
ER How did you come to pursue the field of cosmetic dermatology?
SO Arriving in America at the age of 16 as an Iranian immigrant, I felt a familial obligation to pursue a practical career in medicine, which I thought meant having to choose my passion for the sciences over the arts. However, I realized cosmetic dermatology would allow me to synergize my talents in both fields, where I would be able to realize my hands-on aesthetic vision through mathematical precision and my patented cutting-edge technology.
I knew I didn’t need a scalpel or anesthetics to achieve surgical-level, natural-looking results—just my handy protractor and non-invasive tools, such as lasers and injectables. As a cosmetic dermatologist, I am able to bring the science of beauty to life by measuring every angle, curve, and contour to create symmetrical and proportional perfection in every one of my patients to enhance what they already have. I want women to not only look good but feel good in their own skin, and Epione, now the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art laser and aesthetic surgery center in the world, is dedicated to those ideals.
ER How has cosmetic dermatology changed since you first began practicing?
SO When I started out in this field, it seemed quite old school and unsexy. As an entrepreneur and inventor at heart, I was determined to revolutionize the industry by tirelessly researching and perfecting new non-invasive techniques and technologies that would prove that plastic surgery was not a prerequisite to achieve the most optimal outcomes. I’d like to think that one of the reasons why I’m the world’s most-followed medical practitioner (with more than 3.6 million fans, many of whom are plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists) is because I was a pioneer in providing the public with a front-row seat to the once hushed, behind-closed-doors “work” the glitterati were getting done. By posting A-lister iPhone videos of me performing their bespoke procedures alongside before-and-after pics of regular patients, I have been able to demystify and democratize the formerly secretive med-spa inner sanctum. I wanted to show that whether or not you are among my established Hollywood siren celebrity clientele, you too have the opportunity to receive my undivided attention, hands-on expertise, and signature, reality-defying results. Every woman deserves to be the best version of her beautiful self.
ER Tell us about your most requested procedures in cosmetic dermatology.
SO I am grateful to and humbled by the Kardashian-Jenner family’s public praise for the work I do. When Kylie Jenner revealed to The New York Times the transformative effect of my dermal lip filler treatment, Epione’s double doors became an endless turnstile of cosmetological converts lining up for a Kylie carbon-copy pout. I feel incredibly blessed to have the most naturally stunning and magnetic women in the world give me credit for helping elevate their already flawless features. And that’s the point. All of my treatments are non-invasive, because my job is to enhance, not erase, the beauty a woman was born with.
Another social-media crowd-pleaser is my non-surgical jawline and chin contouring treatment. As a loyal devotee of Leonardo da Vinci’s “golden ratio,” I believe there is an intricately complex mathematics of beauty imbued within the human frame. With just my protractor and a syringe, I’m able to calculate the angles and relational distance required to recreate with filler a symmetrical and proportional Mona Lisa-level visage. The gradations of physical attraction are sometimes less than a few centimeters apart. It’s all down to precise measurements and my decades-honed aesthetic eye and artistic expression.
I have spent decades tirelessly inventing, perfecting, and patenting laser technologies that, I’m proud to say, are so innovative and effective that they are being used by the most prestigious medical facilities around the world. Many patients regularly request my patented Coolaser treatment, as it can be used on all skin types and tones to eliminate discoloration such as dark circles and acne along with improving skin texture. Coolaser can also be used for a non-surgical facelift or ultra neck lift, as it kickstarts the production of new collagen, which not only helps prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place, but also visibly tightens, lifts, and smooths the skin. My trademark CoolBeam laser is also a client favorite, as it works wonders on skin’s inevitable imperfection: stretch marks.
ER What makes your approach different from the norm?
SO I don’t follow beauty trends—I make them. I have never forgotten the humble beginnings from where I came and that insatiable hunger to make something of myself. That instinctual hustle has never faded, and I find myself constantly wanting to personally and professionally evolve and explore new opportunities and ideas. From my patented lasers and fillers to my signature pain-relief devices and at-home skin-care line, I’d like to think I’ve contributed to the advancement and expansion of aesthetic medicine, and will continue to do so as long as I keep experimenting with and improving on non-surgical technologies to meet the needs of my very sophisticated and med-savvy clientele. They deserve the very best, and I’m not one for sitting on my laurels waiting for a new medical breakthrough—I’ll be blazing a trail to discover it myself!
ER How have you evolved with your career?
SO Epione is built on the enhancement of natural beauty, one contour and angle at a time. The organic evolution of my company’s success parallels being true to my authentic self by sticking to my principles, working hard, staying humble, and never being afraid of change. The business’s natural expansion has continued with the pandemic-inspired roll-out of an at-home skin-care line called MDO, which is comprised of my personally-crafted cleansers, serums, and moisturizers that pack a potent anti-aging punch. The latest additions to this lineup are my powerful EGF Ampoules to tighten and lift the skin, and my Intense Hydrating Moisturizer to quench a parched appearance. Aesthetic medicine was also in desperate need of a more effective form of filler-induced pain management. I created a device called Vibrata that is now used by doctors across the globe to reduce the uncomfortable effects of injections. Speaking of fillers, I decided to develop and trademark another proprietary product called Neustem, a dermal filler mostly made up of hyaluronic acid, which is naturally produced by the body. I use it alone or in conjunction with one of my other non-invasive patented laser technologies to execute envy-inducing surgical-level results.
Ultimately, each step I’ve taken with Epione aligns perfectly with the culture I’ve always espoused. I’ve never strayed from my original focus of applying ground-breaking and jaw-dropping cosmetological advances to achieve feel-good physical perfection for each one of my beloved clients.
Follow Dr. Simon Ourian @simonourianmd1
Features Editor Elisabeth Ross
Photographer Jim Jordan
