Dr. Des Story

Dr. Des Fernandes studied medicine and graduated MB.B.Ch at Witwaatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa and obtained his surgical education and training (specializing in cardiology), F.R.C.S.(Edin), from the Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1973. After training in various hospitals in the UK, he returned to his homeland of Cape Town, South Africa to work as a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon and join Professor Christiaan Barnard in the world famous heart transplant unit of Groote Schuur Hospital where he became part of the world's first heart plant team, and was also responsible for the illustrations, of the Piggy-Back" or "Double" heart transplant. In 1975 he returned to his passion, Plastic Surgery, and eventually became the consultant in charge of Cleft Lip and Palate Division at the Red Cross Children's Hospital for 21 years. As a result of his expertise, he was made a fellow of the Plastic Surgery Unit at Showa University, Tokyo. In 1979 he commenced a private practice in the field of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, the specialty in which he continues to practice and in which he is internationally renown. Dr. Fernandes has written numerous papers and chapters for medical publications on various Plastic Surgery procedures, and in more recent years he has studied, written and lectured around the world on skin health and rejuvenation with the use of vitamin skin preparations and technology. He is the pioneer in skin needling or collagen induction therapy. He has lectured at many Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Congresses and Dermatology Meetings throughout the world.

The Environ Skin Care range of products was first formulated as a result of Dr.Fernandes' misfortune when he attempted to treat the melanoma of two young patients, who both died before they were twenty-three years old. This unfortunate experience left an indelible scar on him and for this reason, he started to study the mechanism of skin cancer and the effects of topical application of vitamins, especially vitamin A, on the skin. Thus, Environ was born!

Initially in 1988, he created just 2 cosmetic creams, based on vitamin A, antioxidants C,E, beta-carotene, and alpha hydroxy acids, to treat only his patients. Seeing the results, many other people wanted to purchase his products, and so Environ, the company, was formed. The products are now distributed in 70 countries worldwide. Environ Skin Care(Pty) Ltd., the cosmetic manufacturing company, founded by Dr. Des in 1990, continues, as a family business, to experience extraordinary international growth. Dr. Fernandes, the Chief Formulator and Medical Director, leads the development of products that are at least a generation ahead of and set the gold standard for all other skin care companies in the world. The company proudly opened it's new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical grade manufacturing facility, staffed by approximately 200 employees, in 2013. It remains one of the few companies in the world with its own factory.