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If glowing skin had a secret hotline, Dr. Radmila Lukian would be on speed dial, and her contact list reads like a VIP roster of the world’s most famous faces. With a clientele spanning Lindsay Lohan to Huda Kattan, supermodels to A-list stars, the founder of Dubai’s Lucia Clinic has become the trusted name for those who demand both science and soul in their skincare. A European Board-certified pioneer in regenerative aesthetics, she approaches dermatology as an art – one that harmonises clinical precision, intuitive understanding, and holistic wellness.
As part of GRAZIA’s Career Edit, Dr Radmila shares with us her career journey and aspirations.
My current role is…
Founder and CEO of Lucia Clinic in Dubai, which I opened in 2012 – serving as both medical director and specialist dermatologist.
When I was younger I wanted to be…
Something in biology and science. I’m from Serbia, birthplace of Nikola Tesla, so I always dreamt of being known for finding new innovations that will help the world. From a young age I’ve been very interested in nature and spent my time outdoors in the forest – I love plants and flowers. I used to read about Charles Darwin and evolution, and I was fascinated by how animals adapted for survival.
My favourite subject at school was…
Biology and maths. I was always thinking about how I could turn my talents in biology and maths into something.
My first job was…
At the university hospital in Belgrade after I did my degree. I was honored to be awarded top dermatology student, so I did my specialty and my master degree there. It was amazing to have that opportunity at an early age. I actually wanted to be a molecular biologist – I really liked implementing maths into genetics. When I was younger, I had a vision about how the genetic code could be regulated, and today we have so many possibilities.
My career path so far has been…
I did my master’s degree in nutrition and skin and was always interested in improving the skin’s appearance, especially in a healthy person. I realised I had a talent in aesthetic medicine and I could use my skills to enhance immunity to get the best out of someone’s skin. That’s how it all started. Working as a dermatologist, I went to the best centres all over the world for different training programmes, courses, and conferences, obtaining knowledge and skills from the best doctors around the globe. I saw some amazing results when I started using new techniques, and it was through using new lasers and machines that I found Dubai. I was here presenting at a conference on my revolutionary non-surgical facelift, which I pioneered, and I realised I wanted to be in the place of the future.
The role the UAE has played in my career is…
I decided to stay in Dubai and open my own practice instead of going back to Europe, and I did it alone, as a woman, in 2012. I had no financial resources or investors behind me, and although it was a big challenge, I can proudly say that the UAE helped me. The system encouraged and supported me – the government here is so welcoming to entrepreneurs.
Dubai is so open to new technology. In dermatology there are many old-fashioned ways in which people treat the skin, and my aim was to bring the latest things to my patients. Here you have all types of skin as you have people from all over the world, which is both a privilege and a challenge. As a dermatologist, treating different skins and using my skills to adapt to different ethnicities is a big challenge – and I like challenging myself!
In Dubai, word of mouth is the biggest key of success. When you work with the best skills and you’re honest with your patients, they help you. Word travels fast, so my success is thanks to my patients, my people, and my team.
I was inspired to enter into the aesthetics space because…
I always liked using my knowledge of dermatology to see how I could upgrade the skin of a healthy person and to preserve someone’s beauty, prevent ageing, or boost their confidence. Innovating procedures was my passion, and that passion pushed me into aesthetic medicine. My approach is to treat all layers of the skin, as each layer has different types of cells. It’s about how to use aesthetic technology, from laser to biophysics devices and radio frequency, in order to get the best results. I continue to challenge myself by learning about new technology and skills.
You have to educate, and I love educating younger generations through the power of social media. I treat many celebrities, which allows me to present globally. Our skin is the largest organ and it tells us a lot about who we are. We really have to take care of it in the proper way and to preserve it.
My daily routine consists of…
I come from a country where sport is very important, so I’m very sporty and love being active. In the morning I always start with movement, whether that’s swimming, gym, Pilates, or yoga. I am also very passionate about healthy food, so I never skip my breakfast. I’m not a big lover of supplements – I like to have them on my plate! So, I always have a special green juice with celery, ginger, lemon, cucumber, avocado, spinach… Then I come to the clinic, where every day is different. I see my patients, I manage the staff, and I always call my doctor friends from around the world to chat about the latest trends or conferences taking place.
After work is all about social engagements. I love attending events in Dubai or spending time with friends.
The biggest hurdle I’ve overcome is…
Opening the clinic [laughs]. I didn’t think about the business side, I opened it with my heart, and that’s a challenge because I’m very emotional. I love my patients. It’s also a challenge to present my non-surgical skills in a world where plastic surgery is prominent. Commercial factors heavily influence aesthetic medicine, so using my skills and my platform to push non-surgical treatments can be difficult.
The biggest milestone I have achieved is…
Having a top clinic trusted by global icons and celebrities. Also being invited to present at conferences all over the world. When I was young and working my way up, I couldn’t even dream of attending them – now I’m part of leading this industry globally, not only in the UAE. That’s a big achievement for me.
A quote I live by is…
“Don’t rest on success – challenge yourself daily”. That’s what I do, every day. Leading the clinic in a very busy market, I always feel like I’m playing a tennis game. You have to serve to win! I love solo sport, but now I have the best team working with me, so it’s a different type of sport at work – we’re a team and we play together.
What I hope for the year ahead is…
That I can really spread the message on how to treat the skin and implement healthy thoughts and behaviors for a holistic approach to get the best version of ourselves. Not to just think about surgery and aggressive treatments. I want to bring the best skills and technology to Dubai and the year ahead will be dedicated to more global conferences where I can travel around the world to spread my motto and my approach. That’s my aim and my mission.
