When Dr. Sankeerth Reddy co-founded Zest Clinic, his vision extended far beyond aesthetic medicine. Drawing on his experience in internal medicine, sports medicine and geriatrics, he set out to create a clinic that helps people not only look younger but also feel healthier, stronger and more energised from within.
Dr. Reddy shares why longevity is about far more than treating wrinkles or extending lifespan. He explains how addressing the root causes of ageing, optimising overall health and embracing preventive care can help people enjoy a better quality of life for years to come.
What inspired you to co-found Zest Clinic, and what kind of healthcare experience were you hoping to create?
We founded Zest Clinic with the vision of creating a holistic longevity clinic that goes beyond the cosmetic aspects of ageing to address the functional aspects of health. This includes hormonal health, gut health, pain management, weight management and overall optimisation of human function at a cellular level.
Our goal is not simply to treat illness but to take a proactive and preventive approach to healthcare. We want people to age with optimal physical function, while also feeling confident about how they look and how they feel.
This philosophy is shaped by my own medical background. During my training, I worked in internal medicine, sports medicine and geriatrics, each of which provided a different perspective on maintaining health throughout life. We combined those experiences to build Zest Clinic into something that differs from a traditional aesthetic clinic. While we certainly offer aesthetic treatments, our primary focus is delivering holistic care that provides greater long-term value for our patients.
You often speak about addressing the root causes of ageing rather than simply treating symptoms. Why is that so important to you?
The inspiration came from my own experience. Early in my career, I struggled with poor sleep and low energy, which led me to explore functional health and lifestyle medicine.
As I learnt more about sleep, nutrition, exercise and preventive health, I realised many people faced similar challenges, while healthcare often focused on treating illness rather than preventing it.
This philosophy shaped my previous clinic, which I exited in 2020. Today, with advances such as GLP-1 medications and a greater focus on metabolic health, we continue providing personalised, preventive healthcare to help people achieve better long-term health.
Many people want to live longer but not necessarily healthier lives. How do you define successful ageing?
Successful ageing means different things to different people. For some, it is having the energy to perform at their best, while for others, it is staying active, maintaining confidence or preserving their quality of life.
To me, successful ageing is about living with vitality while reducing the risk of chronic diseases through good nutrition, exercise, metabolic health and preventive care.
At Zest Clinic, we take a holistic approach by addressing the root causes rather than treating individual symptoms. Our goal is to help patients not only look younger but also feel healthier, more energetic and perform at their full potential.
Aesthetic medicine is often misunderstood as being purely about appearance. How do you view its role in overall well-being?
Traditionally, aesthetic medicine has focused on outward appearance rather than the internal factors that influence ageing. While cosmetic procedures may temporarily improve concerns such as poor skin quality, weight gain or reduced skin elasticity, they often do not address the underlying causes.
Our philosophy is different. By optimising cellular function, metabolic health and overall physiology, we help the body age more gracefully. Cosmetic treatments then become enhancements rather than quick fixes, delivering improvements both inside and out.
We see aesthetics as part of longevity medicine. If people live longer, we want those extra years to be enjoyed with healthy skin, preserved function and good metabolic health. That is what sets our approach apart from a conventional aesthetic clinic.
You also have a strong focus on men’s health. What are some health issues affecting men today that society doesn’t talk about enough?
One trend we have observed is that cardiovascular health issues are affecting people at younger ages. Conditions such as erectile dysfunction, once more common in men in their forties and fifties, are now increasingly seen in men in their thirties.
Lifestyle factors such as chronic stress, poor nutrition, sedentary habits, inadequate sleep and poor gut health all contribute to this trend. Unfortunately, many of these warning signs are normalised, and standard health screenings often fail to detect them early.
That is why I strongly believe in a proactive, preventive approach. By identifying risks early and making lifestyle changes before disease develops, we can reduce long-term health problems and help people maintain optimal health and vitality throughout their lives.
What does success mean to you today?
Success means different things at different stages of life.
For me, success begins with asking a simple question each day: Have I helped someone? Seeing my patients improve and move closer to their health goals gives me the greatest sense of fulfilment.
As an entrepreneur, success also means maintaining the focus and energy to grow Zest Clinic, support my team and family, and create lasting value through our work.
Ultimately, success is not defined by a single achievement. Whether it is helping a patient, leading the business or supporting those around me, every step contributes to the journey.
What is your vision for Singapore over the next five years?
Singapore is ageing rapidly, and we have seen this shift firsthand. Compared to a decade ago, we are treating more patients with erectile dysfunction, chronic stress, burnout and mental health challenges. While awareness of healthy ageing has improved, mental health—particularly among men—still deserves far greater attention.
Many people accept poor sleep, constant fatigue and declining productivity as a normal part of ageing when they should not. We help patients recognise that these are treatable issues that can significantly affect their long-term health and quality of life.
Looking ahead, I believe more Singaporeans will embrace longevity by focusing not only on treating illness but also on optimising their health, preserving mental clarity, staying physically active and enjoying a better quality of life.
If you could have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why?
If I could have one superpower, it would be the ability to positively influence people’s choices, particularly when it comes to nutrition.
If we could educate people on making healthier food choices and improve access to proper nutrition on a large scale, not just for individuals, but across entire countries or even continents, we could transform global health.
In my opinion, improving nutrition has the potential to save millions of lives. The impact would extend far beyond healthcare, improving quality of life, reducing chronic disease and helping people age more healthily.
Connect with Dr. Reddy: ZestClinic and LinkedIn.
