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Dr. Marek Kacki employs IPL –– among other aesthetic technologies –– at his new Bellevue practice, Visage MedArt.

After graduating from medical school in his native Poland, Dr. Marek Kacki came to the United States to complete an internship and residency in internal medicine followed by a two-year fellowship in nephrology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

If you told him then that he would one day open an aesthetic dermatology practice in Bellevue, chances are he would have thought you had lost your mind. And yet, Visage MedArt opened its doors last month on Old Harding Pike in the Harpeth Valley area.

Kacki moved to Nashville in January 1994 and joined Nephrology Associates. While still a member of the practice, he had already cut back to hospital rounds a couple of weekends a month.

“I’ve had lots of different passions outside of medicine — mostly art,” explained the physician, who has had exhibitions both in the United States and Europe.

“In 2001, we moved part time to France,” he continued, adding that the family still divides its time between the two homes. “This whole area of aesthetics has been practiced in Europe a little bit more than here … different products, different philosophy, different segment of the population using those services.”

The aesthetic movement was intriguing to him both as a physician and artist.

“It’s a different way of looking at an art form. It’s a different way of looking at proportion and symmetry or lack of symmetry, actually,” he explained.

Kacki said deciding to open an aesthetic medical practice was a very long process and one that he didn’t really think about seriously until last fall, when he had the chance to meet with several people deeply involved in the field and explore the advances in technology.

“The leaders in technology really focus on therapies that will allow you to have minimal downtime but still have excellent results,” he said. “We decided to, number one, provide only those techniques that allow visible and long-term results. Number two … we are absolutely committed to not changing nature. You cannot make beauty … beauty is there … there is no question about it. We’re trying just to enhance beauty … to blur the effect of time on skin.”

He is also interested in providing services to those who have traumatic tissue deficits, such as those with burns or lipoatrophy. Kacki is working with several suppliers and hopes they will partner with him to provide services to those in need at little or no cost.

“I’m very interested in that. I think it’s something we can give back to the community,” he said.

Setting up any new practice is a costly endeavor. With the expense of lasers and other technology, the field of cosmetic dermatology comes with a high price tag. Additionally, the physical surroundings must also meet the aesthetic expectations of clients.

To mitigate costs and provide the flexibility to upgrade technology, Visage MedArt is leasing three lasers (including Active FX) and also offers intense pulsed light therapy plus a variety of other medical options including several prescription-strength skincare lines. Two experienced aestheticians are on staff, as well.

While outside his initial field of medical study, Kacki feels very comfortable with the training he has received. He added that although cosmetic medicine is “not brain surgery,” it does require skill, aesthetic taste and absolute attention.

He agrees that for any center offering aggressive treatment such as deeper chemical peels, injections and lasers, “definitely you should have a physician … and not only to be associated with the center, but I personally feel they should be present.”

Ultimately, he hopes his center, which is equal part art gallery and physician’s practice, will become more of a wellness center including good advice on behavior modifications such as avoidance of sun, use of sunscreen and even healthy diet to help clients truly take care of themselves.

Although launching a new business is always risky, Kacki’s philosophy is simple. “I think if you have a great passion and great people, then you’re going to be successful.”



March 2008

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