EARLY ONE AFTERNOON in August, at his office on the ninth floor of the Camden Medical Arts building in Beverly Hills, Dr Kevin Sands slipped on a black surgical mask and latex gloves before peering into the mouth of a sleeping princess. Instead of standard medical scrubs, he wore black Amiri slacks, a matching James Perse T-shirt and Nike sneakers designed by Travis Scott. On his left wrist was a Patek Philippe Aquanaut with a khaki green dial and matching strap. The watch cost just over $50 000 (about R870 000), which is about a third of what her royal highness was paying to have 28 perfectlooking cosmetically enhanced teeth restored with a new set of handmade porcelain crowns and veneers.
“I’ve been seeing the royal families, the Al-Thani family and the Al-Saud family, for 20 years,” Dr Sands said of the ruling households of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “Once I started seeing one member of the family, word got out and then I was tied in to all the embassies, so when anyone comes into town the embassy sends them here.”
What keeps them coming to Dr Sands, rather than top-notch dentists elsewhere, is a reputation built around his elite clientele, whose faces stare back from the framed magazine covers adorning the office walls: Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Ye, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Sheen. For years, Dr Sands told me, Hollywood stars didn’t want to be associated with cosmetic dentistry any more than they wanted people knowing about their facelifts and breast implants. The extent to which this has changed became obvious as I perused photos of the dentist posing with A-list patients on his Instagram — Tyga, Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus — while he picked out two photos of himself with Matthew McConaughey for a new post. (Dr Sands emphasised that not all of his patients have veneers, and he asked that some not be named in this article.)
This story is from the November 2024 edition of GQ South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2024 edition of GQ South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND THE CAMERA
A creative director, a filmmaker and a video director - three Ghanaian visionaries share their unique approach to fashion and visual storytelling
Body Odours You Shouldn't Ignore
A little whiff of sweat or muskiness may not be cause for concern, but some smells can signal a health concern that are worth taking a bit more seriously
THE MOST CONSISTENT IN THE GAME
K.O's greatest strength is his adaptability in the evolving music industry while staying true to his roots. From his days as a member of Teargas to solo hits like \"Caracara\" and \"Sete,\" he proves that he is always one step ahead
POWER & PASSION
Off the field and comfortable with SA rugby's MVPs, Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe
GUNNING FOR GLORY!
BURNING UP THE GLOBAL STAGE, BLXCKIE HAS A THING OR TWO TO SHOW US ABOUT SUCCESS
Final Edition
From 2025, Jaguar will go fully electric. To say farewell to their internal combustion felines, our motoring editor Dieter Losskarn joined the megabrand in taking their latest F-Type sportscar on one last lap
WRITING THEIR NEXT CHAPTERS OF SUCCESS TOGETHER
The collaboration between Bisquit and Dubouché and Kwesta is kicking into gear with an initiative to drive a new wave of pioneering spirits
Exceeding all the Hype
Group managing director at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa, Michael Kewley injected charm and artistry into the space, elevating its status of luxury
Grand Cruiser
Our motoring editor Dieter Losskarn was pleasantly surprised by how much he liked the new Prado. In fact, it is one of the best SUV/4x4 vehicles he's driven in a long time. Here's why...
Why Does Everyone Have Big, Fake White Teeth Now?
Veneers were once a dirty secret. Now, they're a luxury status symbol and the famous and wealthy are flocking to Hollywood's favorite dentist in search of even more perfect smiles