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NON-SURGICAL COSMETIC PROCEDURES ARE LURING THE POPULATION WITH THE PROMISE OF YOUTHFUL ENHANCED LOOKS THAT ONE CAN POSSESS SANS THE PAIN AND THE BLOODSHED. HOWEVER, ONE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS, WRITES ANUPAMA ARUNKUMAR
A LITTLE nip there and a tuck here and you are as good as new. Going under the knife was the only option available for many in their early 30s and 40s to enhance their looks until a few years ago.
Today with the advanced technology available at your finger tips, cosmetic procedures are getting a facelift. With a wide range of laser and botox treatments accessible in Muscat, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are luring the population with the promise of youthful enhanced looks that one can possess sans the pain and the bloodshed.
While a number of young adults ponder over the whats, ifs and buts of aesthetic procedures, Mirror takes you through the nitty-gritties of the various non-surgical treatments available in Muscat.
Alia (name changed on request), a 28-year-old Omani, didn’t have to think twice before getting her first botox done. She had to take care of her slightly visible 11 and thinking lines on her forehead before her big day. A few days of research on the Internet and a free consultation later, she got the 220 rials worth procedure and voila… she got five years younger in 15 minutes. “It’s necessary to feel good on your wedding day. I studied abroad and worked hard all my life and I thought I deserved to look good and I wanted to pamper myself. Botox was a gift to myself for my wedding and I don’t regret to this point. To maintain my looks I do get a shot twice every year. I feel it’s an investment worth making. After all it’s about how you feel at the end of the day.”
While many in their early 30s and 40s and even late 20s like Alia take the help of botox and laser surgeries to enhance their looks confidently, experts and technologists disclose the increasing number of enquiries and unsure patients they handle on a day-to-day-basis.
“A lot of people come up with doubts regarding skin tightening procedures and also laser treatments. For acne problems they come at an earlier stage while for other laser and botox treatments, the age ranges from late 20s to older people,” said Anindya Choudhury, chief medical officer and dermatologist at Hatat Polyclinic. “While laser can treat anything from moles, warts, scars and acne, it can also come in handy for permanent hair removal and wrinkle reducing procedures,” added Choudhury. While hair removal treatments are gaining immense popularity in Muscat, experts throw light on the pros and cons of the ‘laser effect’.
“Lasers are as safe as any other procedure done in the field of dermatology. The very fact that they are available for specific uses -- be it hair reduction, scar correction -- signifies that their safety and efficacy have been tested in numerous patients for specific conditions and then they are introduced for public use,” commented Amrita Pal Kaur Ahluwalia, dermatologist at Al Raffah Hospital.
It is a technology that uses pulsating beams of light that penetrates the dark pigmented hair follicles, works on hair reduction by destroying the hair root without damaging the surrounding skin.
While consulting Fatma Ali, dermatologist at Emirates Medical Centre (EMC), one of the leading skin clinics in Muscat, she said, “The effect of the laser procedure depends on many factors including your skin and hair types, ethnic background, hormonal balance and skin sensitivity.
Laser only destroys hair when they are in the growth phase. At any one moment, 20 per cent of hair are resting or dormant. Repeated sessions will treat these hairs when they re-enter the growth phase. It is not possible to categorically state how many treatments an individual will need.”
Claiming to treat 4,000 patients on average a month at EMC, Fatma believes the wide range of laser technology is the reason for the booming industry. On being asked about the effectiveness of the treatment Fatma said, “Laser hair removal can result in permanent removal of unwanted hair. Statistics show that 60 to 95 per cent of targeted hair is permanently gone after the recommended course of treatments.”
It is not that uncommon to come across side effects after such treatments, experts revealed.
Sangeetha’s (name changed on request) was one such rare incident. For her, the dark facial hair was something that she wanted to do away with after years of embarrassing glances from the public. Blaming it on her Indian genes, she decided to settle for a little expensive but rather worth laser hair removal procedure. It was only a little later did she realise the cost she had to pay for her decision. “We did test the skin before attempting the procedure. But after the first sitting, the whole area started to throb and I was really freaking out. In no time the face started to turn from bright red to dark and the whole area was burnt. It was a nightmare and I didn’t know what to do. The doctor said this rarely occurs and washed hands out of the situation. They did compensate me with free sittings, but that was no compensation for the mental agony I went through during the incident,” reminisced Sangeetha.
“It is important to specify that for some people, this treatment may have some minor side effects in the form of redness, itching, etc. depending upon the type of the laser used. That’s when the selection of laser and the place you do it become important. It is important that you do it with an expert,” said Amrita.
With different laser technologies available in the market, Muscat residents sometime end up at the losing end in the beauty bargain. The recent mushrooming of various beauty salons using peeling and other laser treatments promising glowing skin and permanent hair removal has been causing more disappointments than satisfactory results to many customers. “Many beauty salons in Muscat use cheap laser technology that does not do much for the hair removal and people are cheated off their money. Most of the people feel either lack of improvement in the situation or unprofessional approach when claiming help from such places,” said a laser technician and consultant from a leading laser clinic in Muscat.
Raisa Bilal found her visit at one of the leading beauty salons in Muscat a rather unpleasant one. “I basically went for waxing. I felt a little pushed by the beauticians there to try their laser hair removal procedure to minimise hair growth. They wanted me to decide if I wanted to do it there and they were pushing the treatment by highlighting the reduced price. I have never felt the need for doing any such procedure and even if I do want it at some point of time, I would rather get it done by a doctor than a beautician,” said Raisa.
Experts highly recommend laser procedures to be taken at a proper clinic that has certified doctors and technicians administering the procedure.
While botox procedure restricted to clinics probes the curiosity of Muscat dwellers, a few feel botox and other anti-ageing procedures are unnecessary distractions and options from normal health living. “I don’t know the scientific effects of botox, but I just feel a little uncomfortable when normal and healthy looking people opt for such procedures based on their fancy. Ageing, I feel, happens at your heart. Feeling young is what projects you as a young person,” said 50-year-old Asma Jabeer, a house wife.
While the endless debate on the necessity of cosmetic procedures continues, one can only come down to the cautionary lines of know well what you do!!
anupamaak4@gmail.com
Oman Mirror
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