Laser, peel or ozone?

Image-conscious Bangaloreans are opting for high-tech beauty treatments. Bangalore Times rounds up the most popular Six Top Treatments Microdermabrasion Chemical peels Eye rejuvenation Laser hair reduction High frequency radio waves High frequency ozoneIt's the turn of the techies to get a face-lift. Even in the midst of a tight schedule they can find time for an eye rejuvenation procedure which takes all of 30 minutes. They zip across to skin clinics during lunch break to revive their eyes, usually tired and puffy from gazing at a computer screen for unreasonably long hours. Booze-binges, too much sun, pollution and late nights in smoke-filled nightclubs can tire the eyes and create unwelcome dark circles. Says Chetansi Markandey, business development manager of a skin care centre,"More men than women are going in for these eye treatments. Once a month suffices for most people. If they've been drinking, then two sessions a month may be required. A lot of middle-level management workers also go in for this treatment." Software engineer Piyush P enjoys getting pampered at lunch time on a busy, working day. "I even get to snooze and feel refreshed after the half-hour session," he says. The most popular treatment among working women and corporate wives is laser hair reduction. "A busy, career woman does not want to rush to the beauty salon every week to get her upper lip hair removed. But it is a vital grooming requirement, hence the laser treatment," says Chetansi. Microdermabrasion in which the superficial layer of skin is removed is much in demand by those who ride two-wheelers, have oily skin or travel frequently and are exposed to the harsh elements. Surface pigmentation can also be removed by this 75-minute long treatment which is followed with a rehydrating face mask. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are done alternately to get rid of acne marks and scars. Asians are genetically predisposed to skin tags and age spots. Many people with warts and moles are now opting to have these removed through high frequency radio waves. Two of the most rampant hair problems, dandruff and hair fall leading to baldness, are seeing more and more people opting for clinical treatments using high frequency ozone which kills infection if any and stimulates circulation. "I've noticed sales and marketing executives, architects, doctors and others who need to project their image in their line of work, going in for these treatments," says skin expert Dr Susheel Gupta. "People certainly have become image-conscious and don't grudge spending big bucks to improve their hair and skin tone." (##include msid=43376741,type=11 ##)