Dr. Tarek’s Story
Dr Tarek was born and raised in Nottingham, UK, but his desire for education and excellence in non-surgical cosmetics has taken him all around the world. After completing his secondary education at Nottingham High School, he was accepted to study Medicine at the University of Nottingham and began his medical journey. Dr Tarek graduated in 2012 with dual degrees: a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours – BMedSci) and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS). Dr Tarek wasn’t about to stop here though, he’d found his purpose.
Over the next four years, Dr Tarek worked as a doctor across four hospitals within the Nottingham Trent Deanery, gaining extensive experience in surgical fields, including spinal, trauma and orthopaedic surgery. During this time, he accumulated a surgical logbook of 279 procedures, serving as the lead operator for 129 of these. In addition to his clinical work, Dr Tarek conducted significant research and audit projects, resulting in 45 publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations, including the British Journal of Surgery and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. His contributions were recognised with four major national and international awards:
- Poster of Distinction awarded by the Society of Academic and Research Surgery (SARS)
- European Top 10 Poster Presentation from the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
- 3rd Place Poster Presentation from the Centre of Global Surgery, University of Utah, USA
- President’s Prize awarded by Derby Medical Society for Best Oral Presentation
In 2016, Dr Tarek faced a pivotal decision in his career. He had been invited to work at the prestigious Gold Coast University Hospital Emergency Department but was also well-positioned to continue his trauma and surgical training in the UK. With a desire to broaden his horizons and gain international experience, Dr Tarek chose to move to Australia. For the next two years, he worked as an Emergency Medicine Registrar, including leading the department during night shifts. He was able to broaden his medical experience and developed his skills in Emergency medicine and managing high intensity environments. In 2019, Dr Tarek began his training in General Practice which culminated in him being awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2021. Concurrently he also trained in the diagnosis and management of skin cancer where he completed a certificate of Practical Dermoscopy awarded by the Australian College of Dermatologists. Since then, he has completed over 1,000 skin cancer excisions over his career. It was during his time in General Practice that Dr Tarek developed a keen interest in cosmetic medicine, sparked by his experience in performing facial skin cancer excisions.
Qualifications
Medical Degrees
BMedSci – Bachelor of Medical Science (University of Nottingham (UK) – 2009)
BMBS – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (University of Nottingham (UK) – 2012)
Royal College Fellowship
FRACGP – Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Cosmetic Certifications
Derma Medical Foundation
Derma Medical Advanced
Derma Medical Lip Masterclass
Derma Medical Facial Contouring Masterclass
Derma Medical Artistic Facial Transformation Masterclass
Skin Cancer Certifications
Certificate of Practical Dermoscopy – Australasian College of Dermatologists
Cosmetic Teaching Certifications
Derma Medical – Train the Trainer
Teoxane – Train the Trainer
AHPRA registration
AHPRA registration number: MED0002045300
Dr Tarek Shalabi holds the following registration types:
- General
- Specialist – General Practice
Recognising a need for a patient-centred approach in the cosmetic industry, Dr Tarek began his training in non-surgical cosmetics with Derma Medical, the world’s largest cosmetic training organisation. His goal was to become a first class cosmetic doctor and to be able to give back to the industry by being affiliated with respected centres of education. Over the next two years, alongside his General Practice training, he completed comprehensive non-surgical cosmetic training, ranging from foundational courses to advanced masterclasses. His excellence during his education journey led to an invitation to become a trainer with Derma Medical, where he has since taught over 500 doctors and nurses. His teaching methods were highly regarded, resulting in his appointment as the Clinical Lead for Derma Medical Australia. In this role, Dr Tarek mentors and supports other trainers across Australia to optimise the quality and safety of cosmetic training. He also leads bi-monthly webinars for doctors and nurses embarking on a career in cosmetics, covering a wide array of subjects such as getting started in aesthetics and novel techniques.
Throughout his career to date, Dr Tarek has taken an interest in learning novel and advanced techniques prioritising safety and accuracy. To achieve this, he has taken on further training sessions with industry leaders such as Dr Amrit Thiara (UK) and Dr Scott Hosrburgh (Aus). These sessions included advanced management of the nose, mid face, under eye, temple and facial skin. Furthermore, Dr Tarek has completed masterclass training in full facial thread lifts and also undertaken sessions with Dr Gideon Kwok (USA), a global leader in thread lifts and a pioneer in the ‘perfect lift’ technique. Dr Tarek has gone on to build on the ‘perfect lift’ technique, by now producing bespoke thread lift designs for his patients.
As Dr Tarek’s reputation for natural look results grew he fulfilled one of his career goals when he was invited to join the prestigious Teoxane Academy as a faculty member. He frequently presents to doctors and nurses at conferences and workshops using Teoxane’s novel ATP (Anatomy, Technique, Product) approach to teaching. Dr Tarek has presented many of his clinical cases and approaches during these sessions. As part of the academy, he is at the forefront of the latest techniques, products and innovations.
Having worked in multiple countries within both hospital and community settings, Dr Tarek aspired to open a clinic where patients could experience world-class care in a comfortable, safe, and attentive environment. In 2022, Cosmetic Doctor Brisbane was founded by Dr Tarek and his wife, Beth. Initially serving the local area from their Waterford West location south of Brisbane, increasing demand led to the opening of their second clinic in East Brisbane in early 2024. The clinic has since evolved, offering new techniques, products, and services. As the patient base grew, so did the team, with the addition of Emily as Clinic Coordinator in 2024, enabling the clinic to provide an even higher level of care and accommodate more patients.
Dr Tarek strives to maintain the highest level of knowledge and skills with the ever advancing field of cosmetic medicine by attending and speaking at cosmetic conferences, anatomy workshops and further education with international key opinion leaders. His clinic is committed to advocating for his patients with a focus on a holistic, natural look with individualised treatment plans. With a meticulous eye for detail, inspired by leading surgeons, Michelin star chefs, and master craftsmen, Dr Tarek’s key objective is to further optimise the holistic care offered at Cosmetic Doctor Brisbane to be able to deliver gold standard, natural look, non-surgical cosmetics for each of his patients.
Current Appointments and Roles
Clinical
- Cosmetic Doctor at Cosmetic Doctor Brisbane – East Brisbane and Waterford West locations
- General Practitioner at Myhealth Marketplace – Waterford West
Leadership
National Clinical Lead for Derma Medical Australia
Dr Tarek is honoured to hold the role of being the national Clinical Lead for Derma Medical Australia. His role involves upskilling and mentoring other cosmetic trainers (doctors and nurses) within the Derma Medical team, to facilitate high quality cosmetic training at sites across Australia. He is responsible for updating and developing course content and is involved in compliance with national clinical guidelines and frameworks.
Teaching
Masterclass Trainer for Derma Medical Australia
Dr Tarek has taught over 500 doctors, nurses and dentists through DermaMedical, the world’s largest cosmetic training organisation. Through his work as a senior trainer, Dr Tarek is able to keep up to date with the latest techniques and approaches. He delivers teaching to all skill sets, from novice injectors to experienced injectors. He also delivers online training and career mentorship for doctors and nurses training in cosmetics nationwide.
Teoxane Academy Faculty Trainer
Teoxane, originating in Switzerland, is one of the world leading innovators in cosmetics. Following his advancement within the field of cosmetics, Dr Tarek was invited to join the prestigious Teoxane Academy as a Faculty Trainer. He is responsible for running advanced sessions for doctors and nurses at clinics across Australia using Teoxane’s ATP (Anatomy, Technique, Product) teaching method. He has also presented on stage at multiple cosmetic conferences, most recently at the Fresh Life conference in Byron Bay. Working directly with Teoxane not only allows Dr Tarek to further develop and innovate new techniques but also to have a very deep understanding of the science, technology and properties of the products he uses with his patients.
Philosophy and Approach
Natural Look
Whilst the definition of cosmetic ‘results’ is often subjective, Dr Tarek firmly believes that each patient has their own identity and that the physical features of their face symbolises and personifies their unique attributes and individuality. With this in mind, Dr Tarek’s cosmetic aim with any treatment is to produce results which look natural and keep a facial profile in harmony. Dr Tarek does not aim to produce results which look ‘done’ or ‘over-filled’. Instead, he looks at the face holistically and ensures that each individual treatment plan takes into account the patient’s whole face rather than a single treatment area.
Personalised Approach
No two people are the same. For this reason, Dr Tarek sets aside one hour for each individual cosmetic appointment. He believes that the consultation is the most important part of the patient’s journey and that time must be taken to understand a patient’s goals, expectations and concerns. He prides himself on having excellent communication skills and frequently teaches communication methods as a clinical trainer. Dr Tarek designs individual treatment plans which take into account specific features, lifestyle, and goals.
Safety & Realistic Expectations
Dr Tarek does not trivialise or glamorise medical procedures. He believes in prioritising patient safety and appropriate expectations. In many of his consultations Dr Tarek will often propose less than what a patient may expect to be recommended. Dr Tarek will not only discuss the benefits of a treatment, but also walk a patient through the potential risks and complications in detail, to ensure informed decision making.
Consultations with Dr Tarek
The initial consultation is the most important part of a patient’s cosmetic journey. With this in mind, Dr Tarek ensures that one hour is allocated for every cosmetic consultation. In clinic, Dr Tarek conducts a facial assessment to design a personalised treatment plan for each patient’s individual needs, which consists of five stages:
