Transforming India’s Aesthetic Landscape, One Step at a Time
Dr Rahul Sawakhande
CEO & Director
Transforming India’s Aesthetic Landscape, One Step at a Time
Dr Rahul Sawakhande
CEO & Director
Aakaar Medical Technologies
His leadership is born of two worlds: the analytical discipline of a medical doctor and the strategic muscle of a pharmaceutical leader. Dr Rahul Sawakhande’s dual lens makes him uniquely equipped to lead Aakaar Medical Technologies Ltd. into the future. With 19+ years of experience across clinical practice, operations, and commercial strategy, he stands at the intersection of medicine and market transformation. His leadership philosophy was shaped by pivotal roles at Piramal, Pfizer, and Galderma. At Piramal, he built a strong foundation across marketing, sales, regulatory, and supply chain—mentored by veterans like Neeraj Garg, Rajendra Dhandukia, Dr Balagopal Nair, Burzin Shahana, and Pushkaraj Shenai. At Pfizer, under Ashish Srivastava and Diwakar Mittal, he sharpened his global perspective and launched key verticals with precision. Galderma marked his transition into full business leadership, scaling the aesthetics division while blending scientific depth with commercial acumen under Hariram and Sathyanarayan. Since 2015, he’s been driving Aakaar’s transformation under the trust of Founder & MD Dilip Meswani—leading its shift from a licensingled model to a brand-driven, 170+ members strong organisation, now gearing up for an SME Listing As CEO & Director, he champions innovation, scientific integrity, and access, scaling aesthetic care with clinical credibility. In this conversation with TradeFlock, Dr Rahul Sawakhande opens up about his journey, vision, and the future of aesthetic healthcare in India.
How do you balance science, business, and beauty as a doctor-CEO?
My medical training ensures every decision prioritises science and patient safety. Business drives strategic growth and sustainability, helping us scale responsibly. Aesthetics add the crucial consumer perspective—how the product looks, feels, and connects emotionally. Balancing these three pillars is key to Aakaar’s success, making us a trusted, innovative leader that combines clinical credibility with a strong, consumerfocused brand in the aesthetic healthcare space.
What’s the toughest, rarely discussed reality of leading in India’s medical device space?
The toughest truth about medical device leadership in India? You’re not just building a business—you’re building the entire ecosystem from scratch. Medical aesthetics here is still nascent, with patchy clinical training, unclear regulations, and almost no roadmap for evidence-based adoption. Leaders have to pour time and resources into education, regulatory advocacy, and trust-building long before the market is ready to catch up. At Aakaar, we’ve taken the lead —running clinical workshops, driving regulatory conversations, and collaborating with dermatologists to set uncompromising standards for safety, efficacy, and ethics. It’s a tough, slow grind, but without this groundwork, there’s no real, sustainable growth. True leadership means shaping not just your company but the future of the entire industry.
How are India’s aesthetic healthcare needs evolving, and how is Aakaar preparing for the future?
India’s aesthetic healthcare landscape is on the brink of a major evolution. With rising aspirations, a growing middle class, and increasing wellness awareness, there’s a clear shift toward non-invasive, safe, and sciencebacked treatments. Social media and global beauty standards have only accelerated this demand. Valued at over `40,000 crore in 2024, the industry is projected to grow at nearly 9% CAGR through 2030, fuelled further by India’s expanding footprint in medical tourism. At Aakaar, we’re not just participating in this growth—we’re helping define it. Our upcoming NSE SME listing positions us among the pioneers in Indian medical aesthetics to go public. It signals our commitment to transparency, long-term value, and bold ambition. Aligned with the ‘Make in India’ movement, we’re ramping up domestic manufacturing to enable faster innovation and deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions tailored to Indian needs. At the same time, we’re forging global in-licensing partnerships to bring cutting-edge regenerative and aesthetic technologies to India. This twin engine of local capability and global collaboration gives Aakaar the edge to stay agile and clinically credible. We’re not just future-proofing—we’re building the future of Indian aesthetic healthcare.
What global aesthetics trend are you most keen to localise for the Indian market next?
The next big thing is all about mixing regenerative aesthetics, personalised care, and smart tech delivery. Around the world, treatments like exosomes, peptides, and advanced PDRN are moving past just surface-level fixes—they actually help skin heal and renew itself. My focus is bringing this breakthrough science to India the right way—through solid education, ethical practices, and making it easy for doctors and patients to access. At Aakaar, we’re creating the whole ecosystem to make these world-class treatments something everyone can aspire to and actually get their hands on.
How do you maintain scientific credibility in an industry driven by marketing hype?
For me, scientific credibility is non-negotiable—it’s the backbone of everything we do. As a doctor, I understand the immense responsibility when introducing technologies that affect skin, health, and confidence. In an industry where marketing often races ahead of science, it’s tempting to chase trends. But real, lasting brand value comes only from validated science and clinical integrity. At Aakaar, we collaborate closely with top dermatologists, invest in real-world evidence, and back peer-reviewed research before launching any product. We don’t rush to market for hype; we build trust through education, rigorous trials, and honest communication. It takes time to build credibility, but once you earn medical community trust, it becomes your strongest competitive advantage.
Featured Magazine -
