Born just a minute apart in Johannesburg, Dr Khanyisile and Dr Ziyanda Ndebele have been inseparable since their first day on earth. Now these twin doctors are on an amazing journey to shake up the world of medicine and aesthetics.
Growing up in a God-loving and strict home with a multi-cultural family consisting of Tsonga, Xhosa, and Zulu ethnic groups, they had a great balance of education, social life, sports, and academic activities.
Their grandfather played a pivotal role in cultivating their dream of becoming healers at the age of five. They say they initially desired to specialise in different medical fields, but during their internship, they realised their passion lay in general holistic medicine.
Love taking care of people
“We knew at the age of five years that we were going to be ‘healers’ of some sort. We loved taking care of people and things and nursing them back to health.
“From then on, everything we did in primary and high school was very goal-directed, including the subjects we chose, how we moved, and the university we chose. No matter what was happening, we knew we were going to become doctors at the University of Witwatersrand; it didn’t matter how long it would take.
“We initially desired to specialise in different medical fields. Khanyi loved cardiology and Ziyanda loved neurology; however, soon during our internship, it was clear that our passion lay in more than just a system; we wanted to know and treat the whole body. That’s when our love for general holistic medicine started to take root.”
Now having their own medical and aesthetics practice, Health Life Aesthetics, based in Ferndale Randburg, they manage both medical and aesthetic patients. They treat all types of general medical conditions and provide a wide variety of medical aesthetic treatments for the skin, hair, face, and body.
The twins also consult with patients together to provide the best possible plan for the patient, sharing expertise and looking at things from different angles.
“We are general practitioners with a special interest in aesthetics and integrative medicine. What this entails is a holistic and individualised approach to every patient. Aesthetics is a broad industry, and we provide treatments ranging from minimally invasive treatments like anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers to advanced procedures such as biostimulation,” they explain.
In addition to their work, the twins also support charity and doctor services. “Our foundation will be launched later this year to serve women and children.”
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Teamwork makes dream work
When asked how working together as twins is, they mention that working with someone will always have challenges, but a second opinion is always better than one.
“Working with someone will always have its challenges, but we are blessed that we have a 30+ year history with each other, so we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we balance each other out extremely well.
“We hold each other accountable, and we push each other to the limit because we know we can handle it. We can rely on each other and trust one another’s work ethic and the quality of services provided.
“We train together, learn together, study together, consult with each other, and know exactly what each of our roles are. Teamwork is ingrained in us, and we achieve more together.”
“Our patients are initially shocked when they find out they’re seeing twin doctors, but they love it. We connect well with our patients, and some even request to be seen by both of us.
“Our personalities together tend to establish rapport very quickly with our patients, and it creates an open communication environment with a lot of laughs and all our patients leaving lighter than how they came in,” the doctors explain.
After their full-time private aesthetics practice was established in February 2023, they share that the company has faced numerous challenges, including self-funding and multiple roles, but the support from family and loved ones has been humbling. Through that, the twin doctors have learned perseverance, resilience, and the power of determination.
“We have faced the typical challenges any start-up entrepreneur encounters, such as staff, finances, gaining momentum, and still trying to stay true to ourselves. People also immediately find us intimidating purely because there are two of us, which then results in a perceived negative first impression.”
The world of aesthetic medicine
“Aesthetics medicine is also still new in the African population, so you can say we are playing catch up. Thus, we take every opportunity with all of our patients, whether medical or aesthetic, to educate them on skin health, overall wellness, and ways to prevent premature ageing. We are currently in our final year of the advanced diploma in aesthetic medicine.”
According to the twins, aesthetic medicine is not just about looking good; it can change lives and restore confidence; therefore, education remains their primary objective.
“We see Health Life Aesthetics catering to communities, not only through wellness but also through the development of skills, such as a mentorship programme for new and upcoming aesthetic doctors. The expansion of our services and branching out into Africa are also on our vision board.”
“Every milestone has been a proud moment for us,” they add. “But if we did have to choose our proudest moment, it would be achieving our lifelong goal of graduating as doctors from the University of the Witwatersrand and starting our practice. And, of course, winning our first award as a dynamic duo.
“We launched our eBook, The ABCs of Starting a Medical Practice in SA, on January 22, 2024. This eBook was inspired by our research and lessons learned, with our colleagues in mind.”
For aspiring medical doctors who are considering starting their private practices, the twins advise that they should not be afraid to work hard, but working smart is always better.
“The first step is deciding to do it and not looking back. You’ll need to brace yourself for a slow start, very little money coming in versus large amounts going out, quiet days, and character strengthening. You will also really love seeing the fruits of your labour and the growth of your practice. The most important step is a business plan. Be realistic, but don’t limit yourself. Get all your licenses and registrations in order and find the right location. Last but not least, hire slow and fire fast!”
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