Scientific approach to skincare

A team of specialised doctors provide professional treatment at new Dubai clinic


The spacious, open look, the carefully chosen paintings on the cream coloured walls and the tasteful art deco furniture all combine to give the place a warm and welcoming ambience. The soothing music and pleasant aroma wafting through the interior are designed to put visitors instantly at ease. It is a clinic that appears neither clinical nor intimidating. Aesthetica, which opens at the Oasis Centre tomorrow, combines skin care treatment by qualified doctors with the pampering that one would expect in an exclusive beauty salon.

"My vision was to provide a healing space where we could offer state-of-the-art skincare products along with personalised care. Our services range from manicures and pedicures to non-surgical treatments for advanced skin refining, rejuvenation and lifting, various body treatments as well as specialised energy techniques for reducing pre and post operative stress," says Dr Maria Khattar, managing partner of Aesthetica.

Dr Maria has a doctorate in pharmacology and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK. After two decades in the pharmaceutical business, she felt that there was a need in the market for professional skin care with a scientific approach.

"Classical skin treatments offered superficial and transient results. But skin refining and rejuvenation are no longer a myth. Many products backed by scientific research are now available to women who agonise over scarred, spotted or sagging skin and the inevitable wrinkles and age lines. But these products must be administered by qualified personnel who understand the science behind them. This is the dilemma for most women. They hesitate to go to a medical clinic but are equally wary of the claims of miracle treatments offered by beauty salons," says Dr Maria, explaining the rationale behind Aesthetica.

The panel of doctors assisting Dr Maria includes Dr Rania Ali Rashid, a general practitioner, Dr Elina Filatova, a dermatologist and general practitioner, Kim Whitfield, a beauty therapist and cosmetologist and Madonna Alzaki, who is also a cosmetologist. "Between us we can assure patients of the highest levels of competence and care," says Dr Maria.

She has chosen the products and treatments offered at the clinic with great care. "I personally researched the chemical, safety and performance data on every product and chose Green Peel and Daniello and Nimue brand products after I was myself convinced about their effectiveness. My aestheticians have undergone intensive specialised training in the use of equipment and application of these products. I have ensured that we have hospital grade hygiene even for manicure and pedicure equipment," emphasises Dr Maria, whose clear, radiant complexion seems to validate her claims.

The most exclusive treatment offered by Aesthetica is the 'Green Peel'. This herbal deep peeling treatment uses a compound of natural plant extracts to induce regeneration of the skin. It has no chemical additives or side-effects and has shown dramatic results on acne, wrinkled, sun damaged, sagging or scarred skin. "Madonna, who looks after this treatment has been trained in the original method of Dr Schrammek-Drusio who developed this product," notes Dr Maria.

Other treatments available include non-surgical face lifts where tightening of skin and underlying facial muscles is achieved by electro stimulation with the Ultratone Super Pro 20. Dr Maria chose this advanced equipment because it has been designed by the scientist who developed the process of electrical myostimulation.

The clinic also offers 'microdermabrasion' for skin refining and 'filling' with restylane and perlane, where natural hyaluronic acid is injected into the fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the mouth and eyes to fill them out. "Unlike other filling products such as silicone, the product we use is 100 per cent biodegradable and has no side-effects," highlights Dr Maria.
The clinic is open from 10.00am to 7.00pm every day of the week.