DAFNA GERSHOONY
DC: LOOKING BACK AT THE CREATION OF CONTŌR STUDIO AND YOUR CAREER IN COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, WHAT WAS THE DEFINING VISION OR CORE BELIEF THAT PUSHED YOU TO BUILD YOUR OWN SPACE AND SHAPE THE INDUSTRY ON YOUR OWN TERMS?
DG: My path wasn’t linear, it was really a journey of self-discovery. I started my career as a Physician Assistant in an emergency room, where the work demanded precision, quick thinking, and deep compassion for patients. That experience gave me a strong clinical foundation, but when I transitioned into dermatology everything shifted. With a background in both art and chemistry, aesthetics felt like the perfect intersection of science and creativity, and I was immediately captivated.
The real turning point came when I found myself at a crossroads. I had a good job, stability, and a clear career path, but something inside me knew I wanted to build something of my own. What made that leap possible was my business partner. Having someone I trusted completely, someone who believed in the same vision and was willing to take that risk alongside me, made all the difference.
Around that same time I went through a painful breakup that, unexpectedly, became a catalyst. It forced me to reflect on what truly mattered and redirected my energy toward creating something meaningful. I poured that energy into building CONTŌR.
At the core of CONTŌR was a belief that the aesthetic industry needed to evolve. Too often it focused on chasing trends, dramatic transformations, and quick fixes rather than honoring individuality or supporting long-term skin health. We believed beauty should feel like you, enhanced rather than altered.
Just as important was the idea of self-empowerment. Aesthetic medicine shouldn’t make people feel like they need to become someone else. It should help them feel more confident and more connected to themselves. CONTŌR was built around that philosophy: thoughtful, specialized, preventative treatments delivered over time to create natural, sustainable results that celebrate who you already are.
DC: YOU LEAD WITH A VERY DISTINCT PERSPECTIVE THAT FOCUSES ON ENHANCING INDIVIDUALITY. WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES YOU STAND FOR TODAY, AND HOW DO YOU HOPE TO EMPOWER THE WOMEN WHO WALK THROUGH YOUR DOORS?
DG: At CONTŌR, our core values center around the belief that self-care is an investment in yourself and in your long-term wellbeing. It is also a lifelong practice.
We believe confidence should be cultivated intentionally. Not manufactured or performed but built through understanding your skin and taking care of it with purpose over time. That is why we prioritize long-term results and skin health over short-term, drastic changes. Aesthetic medicine should enhance what already exists, not erase the qualities that make someone uniquely themselves.
Prevention is a major part of our philosophy. Thoughtful treatments done gradually and strategically can support the skin as it evolves, allowing people to age naturally while still feeling confident and vibrant. We want our patients to look refreshed, healthy, and like the best version of themselves.
We also believe beauty is deeply individual. It does not belong to one face, one skin tone, one age, or one gender. Our role is to understand each person’s skin and aesthetic goals and create an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and truly seen.
Ultimately, when someone walks through our doors, we want them to leave feeling more connected to themselves. Our goal is not to change who someone is, but to celebrate it and help them feel confident in the skin they are already in. That philosophy guides everything we do at CONTŌR: look good, feel good, do good.
DC: AS WE COMMEMORATE WOMEN’S MONTH AND HONOR WOMEN WHO LEAD WITH STRENGTH AND CLARITY, WHAT DOES BEING A 'POWERFUL WOMAN' MEAN TO YOU IN THIS CURRENT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE?
DG: To me, being a powerful woman means trusting the voice society has spent years teaching you to silence.
Many of us are raised to be accommodating, to stay within certain boundaries, to not want too much or take up too much space. Over time, it becomes easy to doubt our own instincts and rely more on external expectations than on our own intuition. To me, power is choosing to trust that inner voice again. A powerful woman isn’t someone who has everything perfectly figured out. She’s someone who keeps moving forward with intention, defines success on her own terms, and creates space for other women to rise alongside her.
Building CONTŌR required me listening to my intuition even when it was uncomfortable. Leaving security behind, co-founding something from the ground up, choosing vision over convenience none of that happens without trusting yourself first