The fountain of youth
HydraFacial, which uses an unconventional approach to cleansing, is the newest treatment in town.
LAHORE:
To date, Lahore’s seen a variety of facials, from pure organic goodness whipped up with yummy food-like chocolate and bananas; to the popular Dermalogica and Guinot facials opted heavily by mature women; to the run-of-the-mill mass market ones performed using locally manufactured creams. These options may seem very diverse, yet the one thing that binds them is the fact that all these facials are penetrative in their approach.
The skin is cleansed first and then different products massaged into it. What the Halcyon MediCare has introduced with their HydraFacial, however, is a process that uses the completely opposite approach: it sucks impurities out.
Under the command of the cosmetic surgeon, Dr Osman Bashir Tahir, the Halcyon MediCare takes out the conventional approach to facials in order to give it a more ‘medical’ and ‘scientific’ feel. However, for some, it’s too medical an approach to something most women see as a form of leisure and relaxation.
“The HydraFacial is one of its kind as it hydrates the skin while also sucking out every kind of impurity to leave the face cleansed and moisturised. Additionally, it also ensures that the pores are tightened,” says Tahir. “There’s none of that opening pores with steam and then massaging oils and heavy creams to clog it which is counterproductive.”
This treatment, the newest advance in non-laser skin resurfacing, is the only hydradermabrasion procedure that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, which is said to result in clearer and better skin with no discomfort. The HydraFacial seeks to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested and enlarged pores, oily or acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation and brown spots, reports hydrafacial.com.
Unlike most salons, the staff members at the Halcyon MediCare are trained medical experts. First, they vacuum your skin very gently to suck out dirt, grime and oil. Next, the same instrument injects a sebum to moisturise the skin, followed by a tingling Vitamin C infused mask that activates the pores. The facial even sucks out stubborn whiteheads and blackheads. There is also exposure to red or blue LED (Light Emitting Diode) depending on whether or not the skin texture is even or contains acne, seeks to even the pigmentation and tone of the skin. However, side effects of the process include a little bit of flaking for a day, redness and tightness, which generally disappears shortly after the treatment period, reports cosmeticsurgerytoday.com.
If anyone has any doubt about how filth-ridden their skin is, the staff will reveal the bottle with the incriminating evidence that their machine has exorcised from your skin. Also, unlike the conventional facials, one can feel each pore being cleansed of the dirt and oils and with the Vitamin C mask one can sense how each cell is getting activated — the result is an instant glow. Of course, this glow doesn’t come cheap as the hydra facial starts from Rs6,000. Yet, given that most salons price their most special facial concoctions around the Rs5,000 range, the HydraFacial seems like a greater value for money, given its instant results.
However, Tahir is cautious not to set false expectations as he prudently points out, “We have to take things one step at a time. Yes, the HydraFacial is collagen-inducing and will make you look younger and more youthful, but as with all things, it needs time and multiple sessions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2012.
To date, Lahore’s seen a variety of facials, from pure organic goodness whipped up with yummy food-like chocolate and bananas; to the popular Dermalogica and Guinot facials opted heavily by mature women; to the run-of-the-mill mass market ones performed using locally manufactured creams. These options may seem very diverse, yet the one thing that binds them is the fact that all these facials are penetrative in their approach.
The skin is cleansed first and then different products massaged into it. What the Halcyon MediCare has introduced with their HydraFacial, however, is a process that uses the completely opposite approach: it sucks impurities out.
Under the command of the cosmetic surgeon, Dr Osman Bashir Tahir, the Halcyon MediCare takes out the conventional approach to facials in order to give it a more ‘medical’ and ‘scientific’ feel. However, for some, it’s too medical an approach to something most women see as a form of leisure and relaxation.
“The HydraFacial is one of its kind as it hydrates the skin while also sucking out every kind of impurity to leave the face cleansed and moisturised. Additionally, it also ensures that the pores are tightened,” says Tahir. “There’s none of that opening pores with steam and then massaging oils and heavy creams to clog it which is counterproductive.”
This treatment, the newest advance in non-laser skin resurfacing, is the only hydradermabrasion procedure that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, which is said to result in clearer and better skin with no discomfort. The HydraFacial seeks to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested and enlarged pores, oily or acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation and brown spots, reports hydrafacial.com.
Unlike most salons, the staff members at the Halcyon MediCare are trained medical experts. First, they vacuum your skin very gently to suck out dirt, grime and oil. Next, the same instrument injects a sebum to moisturise the skin, followed by a tingling Vitamin C infused mask that activates the pores. The facial even sucks out stubborn whiteheads and blackheads. There is also exposure to red or blue LED (Light Emitting Diode) depending on whether or not the skin texture is even or contains acne, seeks to even the pigmentation and tone of the skin. However, side effects of the process include a little bit of flaking for a day, redness and tightness, which generally disappears shortly after the treatment period, reports cosmeticsurgerytoday.com.
If anyone has any doubt about how filth-ridden their skin is, the staff will reveal the bottle with the incriminating evidence that their machine has exorcised from your skin. Also, unlike the conventional facials, one can feel each pore being cleansed of the dirt and oils and with the Vitamin C mask one can sense how each cell is getting activated — the result is an instant glow. Of course, this glow doesn’t come cheap as the hydra facial starts from Rs6,000. Yet, given that most salons price their most special facial concoctions around the Rs5,000 range, the HydraFacial seems like a greater value for money, given its instant results.
However, Tahir is cautious not to set false expectations as he prudently points out, “We have to take things one step at a time. Yes, the HydraFacial is collagen-inducing and will make you look younger and more youthful, but as with all things, it needs time and multiple sessions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2012.