At 15 years old, she visited the Philippines with her mom for a vacation and felt a strong sense of belonging and connection to the country. The half-Filipino, half-Persian teenager was then always overshadowed by the reputation of her parents who were both medical doctors.
It was at that very moment when she had a vision: her own business in the Philippines where she could discover more about herself, make a difference in others’ lives, and proudly say, “I created this.”
She never let go of that vision. At 21, the young Dr.Shideh Nikbin earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Centro Escolar University and then her second Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Shahid Beheshti University, Iran. She practiced at her family-owned DRS Nikbin Hospital, and continued her three-year residency in orthodontics at the University of the Philippines where she gained extensive clinical experience as an orthodontic specialist for children and adults. Dr. Shideh also earned her diploma of Aesthetic Medicine from Malaysia.
Starting out was incredibly challenging for the new doctor in a foreign land. She found herself in a new place without much familiarity with the system, away from her parents, and with people not taking her seriously because she was then in her early twenties. However, she persevered and came up with the idea of a dental clinic specializing in Orthodontics, Surgery, and Cosmetics. To add to that, she introduced a unique concept to the Philippines – an amalgamation of a Persian Spa and an Aesthetic Center. This combination generated quite a buzz, as it was the first time people witnessed the integration of a specialized Dental Clinic and a Middle Eastern Spa.
Dr. Shideh is now the Chief Marketing officer (CMO) and founder of Fashion Smile Dental Health Spa, Aramesh Wellness, and Aramesh Aesthetic – each with its own excellent services, but come together for a holistic experience. Fashion Smile’s dental services are provided by specialized dentists who focus on specific procedures. This ensures that each treatment is performed by a dentist with expertise in that area, resulting in the best possible outcomes and satisfied patients. Dr. Shideh and her partner Dr. Far Nikbin, strongly believe that oral health is closely linked to overall well-being. So to enhance the experience, Aramesh Wellness offers unique spa services infused with ancient Middle Eastern techniques known for their relaxing and health benefits. These services include various types of full-body massages and facials designed for both men and women. Furthermore, they understand that a beautiful smile is influenced by facial structure. Therefore, Aramesh Aesthetic services complement Fashion Smile’s dental care, offering treatments such as fillers, lasers, threading, and Botox to enhance overall beauty.
During the pandemic, particularly after opening the second branch, the businesses faced their biggest challenge. When the national lockdown was imposed, the businesses encountered financial difficulties, and the staff’s health and mental well-being suffered. The highly creative Dr. Shideh took proactive measures to safeguard her staff and clients by equipping the dental clinic and spa with virus protection facilities and implementing a streamlined system that enabled her patients to access their services, particularly during emergencies.
Dr. Shideh is the visionary behind the businesses, so she works closely with the creative and marketing team. Additionally, as she specializes in orthodontics, she provides care for patients who need correction for their jaw and teeth misalignment.
Her vision is to expand her businesses’ presence across multiple cities, ensuring easy accessibility for her patients and clients. She wants to continue growing by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and leveraging the latest technology so they can offer exceptional, top-of-the-line services to patients.
“Our ultimate goal is to become the leading provider of exceptional dental services. Additionally, we aspire to create more opportunities for dental graduates and individuals to pursue their passion and work in their chosen field,” says Dr. Shideh.
As an entrepreneur, she possesses a strong determination and resilience to accomplish tasks and reach goals. She is also open-minded and adaptable, always willing to learn new ideas that can benefit her businesses and enable them to serve and assist more people.
Dr. Shideh says that all these are a result of her strengths: unwavering faith and immense creativity, which enables her to learn from failures, find reasons behind them, and redirect herself towards achieving better outcomes. She is highly persistent and consistent, and her strong creativity allows her to envision the future of her businesses even a decade from now.
“Our business is not merely a job to me, but rather a canvas on which I can paint my creations. It is a place where I find excitement in helping others, generating new ideas, and contributing to the business’ marketing efforts,” shares Dr. Shideh.
Indeed, Dr. Shideh Nikbin’s faith and creativity have taken her to places and heights she never thought was possible when she first came here. She knows the journey is still long, but she faces it with positivity and enthusiasm that will surely help her remain successful.
