Dr Simphiwe Mtombeni had every reason to stay on the conventional path. A medical degree from UCT, and years of clinical experience already under her belt. By most measures, she'd already made it. But "made it" started to feel like a summit she'd climbed blindfolded. Nobody was talking prevention. Nobody was asking why. So instead of resting on the laurels she'd already earned, she went back to the drawing board. Training in functional and integrative medicine until whole-person care wasn't just a nice idea, it was hers to practice.
She's weathered loss and divorce, worn the single-mom hat without missing a beat, and still had the fire in her belly to build something of her own. Through Lifeforce Elite, she changed the game entirely. Not treating illness, but engineering health from the inside out. And if there's one thing she'll tell you without blinking, it's that beauty sleep isn't a myth. It's a strategy.
We sat down with her to talk sleep, self-preservation, and why "I'll sleep when I'm dead" might be the worst life advice out there.
You look like you're glowing and so young. What's the secret?
Thank you! Sleep, sleep, sleep, and mindful eating, movement, stress regulation, and a little help from regenerative aesthetics.
You moved from conventional medicine into functional medicine fairly early in your career. Was there a specific moment that made you realise you needed a different approach?
While I was still in medical school, I went through some health challenges of my own- a blessing in disguise. The therapies on offer at the time didn't appeal to me; they demanded lifelong commitment and came with a long list of side effects. So I went looking for something more sustainable, more "healthy," and landed on Functional Medicine. The rest is history.
Building Lifeforce Elite from the ground up while still practicing medicine sounds demanding. What did that season of your life actually look like, and what kept you going?
Two reasons, really. One, I didn't feel called to do anything else. Two, I gave myself no other options. With two young kids and no partner, I could only bet on myself. Fortunately, I believe healing is a calling, so things flowed and progressed naturally once I took that first step. It wasn't an easy journey, but the universe was on my side.
As a doctor who's constantly helping others optimise their health, do you find it harder to prioritise your own rest and recovery? What does your evening wind-down actually look like?
I'm still working on perfecting my night routine with kids, but a perfect night starts with dimming the lights and lighting candles from 19h00, doing my skin routine (including a facial LED mask), tucking in the kids, reading, and lights out by 22h00. The earlier I sleep, the easier my mornings feel. In addition, I block out days on my calendar ahead of time to enjoy my home, go to the spa, and take a mini get-away every quarter. It’s all about firm boundaries and planning ahead and of course building a community (often paid) to share the parenting load.
Almost Monday's The Good Night is all about supporting healing through rest. What's a piece of sleep or rest advice you give your patients often that you think most people would be surprised to hear?
The best longevity protocol starts with sleep. I can prescribe the best therapies out there- sauna, photobiomodulation, premium supplements, IVs, peptides, even exercise. But without sleep, it's all futile. Sleep has been proven to be one of the most potent tools for longevity we have.
Looking back at your journey so far, what was the hardest challenge you had to overcome, and what moment are you proudest of?
2025 was a hard year. While I was settling into my new role as a business owner and navigating a recent divorce, I lost my mother, who tragically passed away just before her 54th birthday. She modelled what it means to be a devoted, determined and successful woman. What I'm proud of is that in 2026, I'm still standing, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It's a choice, but sometimes pain brings out the best in us.
The takeaway?
If a doctor who's weathered loss, divorce and the chaos of building a business from scratch still makes sleep her non-negotiable, that's not a lifestyle tip. That's a mandate. Dr Simphiwe didn't get here by hustling harder. She got here by protecting her rest like it was the last item on the shelf.