Celebrating a Milestone: 1000 Patients Treated at Krch Aesthetic Medicine!

Krch Aesthetic Medicine recently celebrated its 1000th patient. In honor of this achievement, we sat down with our fearless leader, Dr. Ryan Krch, to chat about the road here, his reflections on success so far, and his hopes and aspirations for the next 1000 patients.

We thank our wonderful community who made this possible, as well as the staff who tirelessly pour their all into making Krch Aesthetic Medicine such a special place. We couldn’t have done this without you!

‍Q: Congratulations on reaching 1000 patients, Dr. Krch! That’s an amazing achievement at any time, but especially after the impact the pandemic had on this industry (and so many others). How does it feel to have hit this milestone?

‍Dr. Krch: It feels surreal! There were times when I didn't think we were going to make it. We opened in 2019, and by the time the business was finally starting to get momentum, we were shuttered for COVID. There were tough challenges in my personal life in 2019 and 2020, too. 

So now to be celebrating our thousandth patient, it’s like… wow. To have done that in about three years, with all the setbacks we faced, seems really incredible. I'm very excited by it. 

‍Q: Tell us about the journey that brought you to this moment. When and why did you start Krch Aesthetic Medicine?

‍Dr. Krch: I had been working in concierge medicine on a house-call basis or office-call basis. I was doing Botox and other cosmetic things for some of those patients, as well as their prevention medicine. I enjoy prevention medicine and it’s very necessary, but I found it was difficult to get people to make lifestyle changes. So, I switched over to aesthetics.

I also love doing procedural medicine. I wanted to have a full-time brick-and-mortar practice where I was primarily doing procedures on patients. After almost two and a half years of planning, Krch Aesthetic Medicine had its soft launch in December of 2018. Then in January of 2019, we were fully open in our first office space and pulling it all together.

‍Q: What was your vision for Krch Aesthetic Medicine?

‍Dr. Krch: I wanted to practice heart-centered aesthetic medicine and be a patient-oriented practice. We have really incredible connections with our patients. Many of them have done or overcome incredible things, and their stories are absolutely fascinating. I create a safe space where I can take care of my patients and help them move forward. 

Being a patient-centered practice rather than a physician-centered practice is really important to us. It’s critical for evolving with the times and meeting the challenges of individuals in modern society, where time and so many other things are precious commodities. 

‍Q: What’s one way you’re elevating the patient experience at Krch Aesthetic Medicine?

‍Dr. Krch: One thing that bothers me is any type of extended wait in a waiting room. The longest any of our patients have ever had to wait in the waiting room is maybe 15 minutes. Most people literally walk in the door and go straight back. The chairs in our waiting room are rarely used. 

Also, no one is sitting in the treatment room for 15 minutes before I come in. I start with them right away. That’s also part of our commitment to being a patient-centered practice. We really respect people's time and their resources.

‍Q: How would you describe your approach to treating patients?

‍Dr. Krch: I think the consult should be a dialogue. Over and over in medical spas, I see people just trying to sell procedures. That's a very narrow approach. You're not giving your patient a chance to tell their story and say why this is important to them. We don't always need to know that information, but when people talk about the things that make them feel self-conscious, it often becomes a cathartic experience for them. 

So much of how anything in medicine turns out is how close the connection is with the person who's providing it. Prioritizing relationships and putting the patient at ease creates an environment where you can get far better results than you would for a patient who is tense or was talked into a procedure. We really try to take all unnecessary barriers to a good outcome away.

‍Q: You seem to get really excited about new technologies. You’ve tried a lot of your own treatments, and you even have a gallery of some of your personal results. Why is it important to you to have direct experience with some of the procedures you offer?

‍Dr. Krch: While I was training, one of my mentors there said, "You'll really be comfortable doing this procedure on other people when you understand how it feels." We were strongly encouraged in that program to treat each other, and even to treat ourselves. It does make a difference. 

When I'm talking to a patient about a hair transplant, I can tell them exactly how I felt. That's key. People appreciate that you've gone through what they’re going through — you have more than just a provider experience, you have a patient experience, too. It creates a good level of communication and connection.

‍Q: Speaking of communication, Krch Aesthetic Medicine has a very funny Instagram, and it seems like you don’t take life too seriously. Do you find that humor is a helpful tool for you?

‍Dr. Krch: That’s a big thing in our practice. Sara, Elizabeth, Joe, CJ and myself, as well as our patients, we all delve into humor. There are awkward moments in this medicine, and humor is one of the best anesthesias out there. It’s a great way to break the ice and make people comfortable. 

‍Q: We also noticed that your social media features a lot of cute animals! What pets are part of the Krch Aesthetic Medicine family?

‍Dr. Krch: The first pet that showed up on social media for us was my medical assistant Sara’s blue nose pitbull, Stella. She came in a few times when we were at our old location. Stella has not been to the new office, but she's still the clinic mascot. 

I've brought my dog Lucy, who my brother and his wife rescued, into the office a couple of times. She’s still young and never settles down, so I only do that when there's nobody here. Maybe when she chills out, I'll bring her in for patients who I know like dogs!

I also have two cats I rescued in 2019. I'd always been a dog person, but they were pretty exceptional. They changed my whole view of cats. 

‍Q: You’ve now been practicing in naturopathic, aesthetic, wellness and integrated medicine for almost two decades. What do you find most rewarding about the work you do?

‍Dr. Krch: Oh, that’s simple — it's always when you hand the patient the mirror and they say, “Wow.” 

That's so cool. I love that.

‍Q: Let’s turn our attention to what lies ahead. What are you most excited about for the future of Krch Aesthetic Medicine?

‍Dr. Krch: I look forward to meeting new patients and seeing what new technologies emerge. And continuing to develop myself, too. I'm medical director for a couple of other clinics, and I interact with many people in the industry, and we're constantly exchanging pearls and insights. Expanding my skill and my knowledge base so I can offer more to my patients is always exciting for me.

‍Q: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today! Congratulations again on reaching this milestone. Is there a message you would like to send to the patients who helped get you to this point and those who will take you to the next thousand?

‍Dr. Krch: To all our patients — past, present and future — thank you. You're incredible. You keep us going, and I look forward to working with you in the coming years.

‍Ready to meet Dr. Krch? Contact us today to request your consultation.