A Nepali consumer’s beauty experience is slowly evolving. Even though a little more than five years ago, those seeking to improve the health of their skin used to mostly rely on regular facials or supplement capsules, today we can see that the skin care treatments around town have gone through a major upgrade.

Here, representatives from Let Me in, a Korean aesthetic clinic in New Baneshwor, and Swasti Laser & Skin Care Cinic in Naxal, give us an insight into these recent developments in the available treatments. 

When spa meets science

These days many skin care clinics are going the extra mile to make you feel like visiting a dermatologist is nothing like going to the doctors. Let Me in and Swasti Laser & Skin Care Clinic both set the tone from their doors itself. You can see it in the lay out of their space and the way their staffs operate. Let Me in specifically seems to have managed to set the bar high for the emerging trend of aesthetic clinics in Kathmandu.

So when we talked to managing director Ma Dong-Soo and their chief beautician at Let Me in, they shared the various kinds of experiences they had while visiting dermatologists as well as spas in our capital. A lot of those visits served as research and they both conclude that it is incredibly different than the way skin care treatments are carried out back in their country. 

One of those differentiating factor was certainly the feel of the space. However, along with that, there is also the question of available expertise in skin care.

“Treatment for acne cases, for example, largely focuses on and also usually ends with prescribed medicines,” says Ma Dong-Soo, expressing his surprise. Again, he informs us that it’s not how it is done in his country. In this day and age, where skin care is concerned, it doesn’t make sense not to explore different techniques and incorporate technology.

Stepping it up

In the last couple of months that they have been open, clients are already favoring their thorough acne and melasma (problem that causes patches on your skin) treatments. We say ‘thorough’ because they have several packages involving different techniques for different type of cases. So, the treatment you go through will vary depending on your specific skin condition and problem. Further, a general acne treatment alone can involve seven steps and, at least, four different kinds of machines.

For example, if we were to discuss a full seven-step acne treatment, it begins with cleansing, then moves on to what they call the aqua peel where they use a specific equipment to open up the pores, remove white and black heads and provide nutrition to the skin. Step three involves popping the pimples and removing the pus. Then, they bring in the ACACIA machine. This therapy is believed to laminate the skin layer and prevent acne occurrence. After this, the clients sit through photodynamic therapy for which they have another machine. This is recommended because it reduces inflammation and induces wound healing.

Further, to regenerate skin, improve collagen production and also address the acne, they also sit through LED therapy. All this leads to the final stage that is the charcoal pack. This is applied to the face because it helps remove unnecessary oil and fight acne, thus bringing the treatment to its completion.

The treatment is carried out in a spa-like environment. You can expect to sleep in beds with warm towels by your side while trained nurses and beauticians run through the prescribed program set by the doctors at Let Me in. The individual procedures in the step are also recommended separately depending on the needs of each case. If they want, clients can also alter the steps of the treatment after discussing it with the doctors.

The new norm

Dr Sanju Babu Shrestha, consultant dermatologist and laser surgeon at Swasti Laser and Skin Care Clinic shares that treatments like hair removal and tattoo removal are common procedures. He guarantees that Nepalis don’t have to go abroad for these treatments. Clinics like his can provide you with the best possible care and good results. 

What’s more, the Nepali beauty consumer has started to expect more so. The interest in cosmetic rejuvenation is gaining more popularity with each passing year. At Swasti Laser and Skin Care Clinic, they use CO2 laser for skin resurfacing and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) for skin rejuvenation. The former laser is a good solution for rejuvenating and resurfacing the skin effectively removing moles, warts, skin tags, scars, freckles and so on. 

The latter that is the IPL one, on the other hand, gently removes imperfections from your skin, be it sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. It is fit for use in sensitive areas as well as effective for the whole body.

According to Dr Shrestha, more and more Nepali patients are seeking these treatments. “You could very well call it the new norm,” he says.

His clinic has even started carrying out what they call the “Vampire Facial.” It’s proper name is Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, a skin rejuvenating treatment that uses the patient’s own blood. Apparently, this has become quiet the hit of late.

Let Me in clinic too has seen the necessity of including innovative facilities. As anti-aging treatments they have listed hydro shining injection, hydrofiller, LED therapy, and Botulinum toxin injection. 

Apparently, skin whitening is equally popular among the clients at both the clinics. So while Swasti Laser and Skin Care Clinic has been carrying out chemical peels procedures as well as using fractional lasers and IPL, Let Me in has introduced Korean treatments like the aqua peel, high frequency therapy, ultra sound and skin scrubs to their clientele. Dr Shrestha expects these demands for better quality skin to only increase among our masses.

Treading with caution

When people are trying to choose clinics for their desired treatments, Dr Shrestha advises them to, first, always seek feedbacks from previous clients. As he put it, “word of mouth is very important in our business. If somebody is doing a good job, you will hear about it from others.”

At the same time, he also addresses the importance of being updated and acquainted with the developing technology. “The results may vary according to the machine that your doctor is using,” he says. So you might want to discuss that factor with your doctor as well. 

Further, it helps to be more wary about the before and after pictures. He points out clinics tend to pull out pictures from the internet for their brochures and advertisements so you might not want to take it at face value. If possible, it is better to ask for before and after pictures of their own clients when you are visiting a doctor at a skin clinic. While some patients don’t give permissions to take such photos, there are always some who do and these real photos should help you evaluate your doctor’s capabilities. 

Then there are the basic steps like asking about the side effects, chances of possible complications, the number of follow ups and such. You can’t be careless where these important information are concerned. And if you are unclear about any of them, you must speak up. The only way to good skin is through informed decisions. 

 
• skin care
 
• spa