Dr. Monica Michel is the founder and director of Soma MD, an advanced medical aesthetics spa in South Surrey. She’s dedicated to helping her patients feel like the best version of themselves, achieving safe and natural outcomes with treatments backed by extensive medical expertise, all with a holistic approach to care that’s rooted in both mental and physical wellness.
Monica’s family is of Egyptian heritage, and she was born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where her father had an ophthalmology practice. In 1995, when she was nine, she immigrated from Abu Dhabi to Edmonton with her parents and older sister.
After her undergraduate studies at the University of Alberta, she pursued her medical education at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in the Cayman Islands, did two years of a general surgery residency in Cleveland, Ohio and completed a family medicine residency in Akron, Ohio. In her final year of her residency in 2013, she gave birth to her first child, Hannah.
After graduating in 2014, she returned home to Canada to begin her career in family medicine and aesthetic medicine.
“Due to the harsh winters in Edmonton, as well as wonderful career opportunities presented to me in B.C., I was able to find a home in beautiful South Surrey, where I laid down my roots.”
In 2019, she founded Soma MD, inspired to counter the commoditization and stigma of the medical aesthetics field by bringing the focus back to the “medical” side, and paying attention to emotional health and wellness as well as physical appearance.
As a practicing family physician, she noted how powerful an impact her patients’ mental and emotional health had on their physical health. And often, when people came in for aesthetic procedures, she says, “There were things going on in the background where they needed to dig a little deeper, and I felt like that wasn’t exactly happening in the field of medical aesthetics.
“We do these things to make ourselves feel better. But at some point, we need to look at the underlying cause. How do we put our best foot forward if we’re not feeling good in both mind and body?”
Accordingly, Monica places a great value on building authentic relationships with her patients, and getting to know what’s going on in their lives that brought them to Soma.
“I love the connections that I get to make with people – having conversations, making those relationships, looking into their lives and seeing what brought them here.”
“We do these things to make ourselves feel better. But at some point, we need to look at the underlying cause. How do we put our best foot forward if we’re not feeling good in both mind and body?”
At Soma, Monica specializes in non-surgical facelifts and anti-aging procedures using dermal fillers and neurotoxins to safely rejuvenate and restore patients’ natural appearance.
“We counter the signs of aging, keeping in mind that as we get older, we lose volume, gravity works against us and our features start to head downwards. So, what we do is try to lift people back up, to bring back their own version of what they were born with, really.”
Other medical services Monica and her team provide at Soma range from hair rejuvenation therapies to treating dermatological conditions like acne, eczema and rosacea. Monica acknowledges that the field of medical aesthetics can have a superficial reputation, due to the commoditization of the industry, and the concern that practitioners exploit people’s insecurities for profit.
“I think, on the outside, medical aesthetics seems like a money thing. But really, the risk you take, if you’re not doing it because it deepens your meaning in life or helps people out generally, I honestly don’t think it’s worth it (to get into this field for the money).”
Instead, Monica measures her success by the quality of the relationships she builds.
“The number of people who say ‘Monica’s a good person’ or ‘I felt good when I went to Soma,’ that’s how I measure my success,” she says. “I could make zero money, but if I have a good conversation, at the end of the day, I’ll feel like that was a great day.”
And one of the most powerful practices for anti-aging? There’s that saying that we’re only as old – or as young – as we feel, and in her daily life, Monica certainly embodies this. She reflects that she didn’t have much time for fun in her 20s because of the commitment of years of med school and residencies – so now, in her 30s, she is enjoying life to the fullest and infusing her days with fun, letting her inner child out to play whenever she can.
“Oh my gosh, I’m like a kid outside of work,” she laughs. “I love shopping, spending time at the beach and the ocean, seeing live music, making jokes and pranking people. April Fool’s is my favourite day of the year! I just want to laugh and find joy and not take life too seriously.”
The 7 Sins
Envy: Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
Definitely Cleopatra! As an Egyptian woman, walking in Cleopatra’s shoes would be motivating and empowering. She was highly educated, known for her diplomatic skills and navigated a male-dominated world with skill and strategy. Her historical and cultural legacy is inspiring.
Gluttony: What is the food you could eat over and over again?
Mexican food – recently a good guacamole makes me very happy. Indian food – tandoori chicken and palak paneer. And molokhia – my favourite Egyptian dish ever since I was able to eat solids! If you haven’t tried it, make sure you do. It may not look appetizing due to its green colour and slimy consistency, but it’s delicious!
Greed: You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?
My first priority would be to pay off my debts. Financial freedom would allow me to pursue passions and experiences that enrich my life, like travelling to new places and learning new skills. I would be setting the stage for a future filled with adventure, growth and lasting happiness.
Wrath: Pet peeves?
People who lack authenticity! Also, stereotypes – for instance, about what physicians should look like, how we should dress, etc. They’re outdated and focus on the surface rather than the core of a person. Just because I love fashion, beauty, tattoos and other forms of self-care, it doesn’t make me any less of a physician.
Sloth: Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?
Sailing in the wide ocean, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, listening to music.
Pride: What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?
It’s no secret – motherhood is my greatest pride. It’s like being given a magical cape that grants me the power to shape a little person’s world, filling it with love, wonder and endless possibilities. It’s a journey that brings me unparalleled joy and fulfillment. So, yes, I wear my motherhood badge with pride, joy and a sprinkle of playful delight!
Lust: What makes your heart beat faster?
The feeling of being loved truly and authentically. Each sincere word and genuine gesture fills me with warmth. It’s the kind of love that strips away all pretenses, allowing me to be my true self, embraced and cherished for exactly who I am.
This feature appeared in the summer 2024 edition of Boulevard Vancouver.