A winning formula – podiatry complemented by beauty and wellness treatments

For many years, Rebekka Lazarevic has been working successfully as a podiatrist, DDG-certified wound care assistant along with being a specialist alternative practitioner in the field of podiatry. In 2019, the mother of two had a modern, new practice in Remchingen near Pforzheim furnished in collaboration with RUCK.
Across a total of 160 square metres, patients can expect a modern treatment environment where a team of podiatrists professionally addresses every foot problem. With you, in one of the six treatment rooms, there is no Podiatry Chair, but rather the SONORA beauty and wellness chair/couch. Here, following their podiatry treatment, everyone can relax with a massage, enjoy a beauty treatment or have a wax. In an interview, the practice owner told us why she believes this creates such a perfect complement to traditional podiatry:

Ms Lazarevic, you run a successful practice with five treatment rooms. What has your career path been like? How did you get into podiatry?

My mother has been a podiatrist right from the start, ever since podiatry came into existence. She worked for a long time in a foot clinic in Karlsruhe and is also a diabetes consultant. I always saw what my mother was doing. And at some point, I decided to give up my job and follow the same path. I used to work in the banking sector. A background in business is highly helpful if you are setting up your own practice, and I must say that it made many things much easier for me.

In 2012, I successfully completed my training as a podiatrist in Neuenbürg and immediately afterwards launched my first practice, with one treatment room and two patients. Everything developed highly well and, after just a short time, I could add another treatment room. My two daughters were born in 2015 and 2018, but I continued to work throughout.
Finally, two years ago, we proceeded with planning for a significantly larger practice. I specifically looked for new premises in the immediate vicinity – and was very happy to find these beautiful, bright practice rooms. The fact that the practice is located right where I live has many benefits: above all, the short distances, which are very important as a mother of two. But the fact that I was born and raised here has also proved to be highly positive.

The municipality of Remchingen has around 12,000 inhabitants. Is that adequate for a solid client base? What is your assessment?

I find that a smaller town provides many opportunities. Of course, some things are easier in a big city. As there are far more people living there, the potential client base for a podiatry practice is many times larger and can be built up more quickly. However, parking is always a problem. In a big city, you have to pay for parking and you have to find a parking space in the first place. This has become a significant factor in recent years, as customers factor the €5 parking fee into the cost of treatment. A practice that is easily accessible and where you can park directly and free of charge is worth a great deal these days. All of this is available in a small town; there are generally no parking fees.

As I was born and raised in Remchingen, some of the residents have known me since I was a child. This creates a particularly close bond with clients and a more personal relationship than in a big city.

You furnished your practice rooms about two years ago in collaboration with RUCK. What was especially practical?

The bond with the client is the be-all and end-all – and at RUCK, everything just falls into place. That includes taking the time to listen and, on occasion, meeting the client halfway – regardless of who is at fault. I experience this time and again in my own practice: you have to stay human. At RUCK, it is highly ideal and the quality is naturally spot on too; there’s absolutely nothing to fault.
I completed my training as a podiatrist at the school in Neuenbürg, then I had a bond with RUCK. One of the main factors for me from the very start was also the well-established rapport I had with Hellmut Ruck. We’re both people of faith, which connects us even more. No matter what the issue was, if I rang Mr Ruck, everything always worked out.

How did the consultation – from planning to implementation – go? What would you highlight as especially positive?

When we opened the new practice, it was a seamless transition; the old practice wasn’t closed. So we had exactly two days to set everything up and connect it all. A real precision landing – everything had to fit together perfectly. RUCK supported us highly with the consultation.

I was also very satisfied with the consultation in the run-up to the project. Our account manager visited us here in Remchingen whilst the practice was still a shell, and I shared my ideas with him. He was a great help, particularly with the room layout. How should the reception desk be positioned? Where would the sales shelf be better placed? I received highly competent advice on all these questions.

Besides four chiropody treatment rooms, there is also an area for beauty and wellness treatments. There are critical voices in the industry who consider podiatry and beauty treatments to be incompatible opposites. How would you respond to this view?

In my first, smaller practice, I couldn’t have incorporated this, as the regulations for a podiatry practice approved by the National Health Service have to be adhered to. But even in that small practice, I kept getting asked: ‘Why don’t you provide beauty treatments? It would be much easier for me then; I’d only have one place to go.’ In the new practice, I finally took the plunge and hired a beautician. At first, she was only there on an hourly basis to see with what speed it went. The service was highly well received and has stayed that way to this day.

I myself only practise podiatry and find that to be the right approach. Everyone should focus on their own area of expertise. I provide cosmetic and wellness treatments in my practice, but they should be carried out by someone who is a specialist in that field. It has become clear that clients are also happier if they are treated by a specialist. That has been my experience over the last few years. Waxing is also a great additional service; it’s going highly well for us!

All of this can be combined highly well. First come the feet, then the waxing, and finally the beauty treatments.

What are the key features of a treatment chair in the beauty and wellness sector that you simply cannot do without in your daily work?

Personally, I find traditional beauty treatment chairs highly uncomfortable. I’ve noticed this every time I’ve been to the beautician. After all, one to two hours is a long time, and I want to be lying comfortably. I’ve always wondered: why are these beds so uncomfortable?

With the SONORA treatment chair/couch, I’ve found exactly what I was looking for. For a start, you don’t have any gaps like you get with a standard podiatry or beauty treatment chair. The lying surface is all in one piece. Then there’s the thick padding – you lie there feeling absolutely comfortable and relaxed. I was impressed as soon as I tried it out. The design is lovely, it’s lit and heated – it can actually do everything a beauty treatment chair can do, and it’s super comfortable too. It was also important to me that the lying surface is adequate in terms of length and width and can be raised easily, so you don’t run into any problems during waxing. The SONORA can do all this, so it’s a great choice from an ergonomic point of view too.

What would you like to see for the profession of podiatrist? What needs to change so that the profession is well-positioned for the future and attractive to the next generation?

I’ve been passionate about this profession for over 10 years, then I wouldn’t even ask that question. It provides an incredible range of opportunities and, above all, versatility. It’s not a typical nine-to-five job. As a mother of two, I can successfully have my own practice and organise everything exactly as I need it – with the practice in the same town and a brilliant team by my side!

Whether as a salaried podiatrist or self-employed with your own practice – I find that today this fantastic service profession provides plenty of well-paying opportunities!

Of course, it’s clear that an adequate number of treatments must be carried out so that a podiatry practice can be profitable. The administrative burden for health insurance companies is enormous and keeps growing. That’s why I have an assistant who supports me and handles the preparation and follow-up work for treatments. My reception staff take care of everything to do with prescribing treatments. Then I can move from area to area in peace and concentrate on my treatments. It would be different these days if it were possible to do things differently.

Finally, do you have any tips for newcomers to the podiatry profession?

As with any profession, the most important thing is that you genuinely enjoy your work. Friends have often said to me: “How can you possibly work on people’s feet?” But I can’t imagine doing anything different now. It’s also important to be well-versed in dealing with people.

Patients often contact us in great pain – thanks to an ingrown toenail or a corn – full of hope that we can help them. If the patient can then go home pain-free and satisfied after the treatment, that is the greatest reward for us. You also receive highly positive feedback and gratitude from patients time and again.

Thank you very much, Ms Lazarevic, for your experience and for the interview!

Are you interested in practice equipment from RUCK and would like to add wellness and beauty treatments to your portfolio?

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RUCK Customer Service on:
tel +49 (0)7082.944 22 33
Email kundenberatung@hellmut-ruck.de