ACSICON 2010 - Aurangabad

Dr. Jamuna Pai as a guest lecturer at ACSICON 2010

Dr. Jamuna Pai was invited to speak at this year's ACSICON 2010 - A conference for the Association of Cutaneous Surgeons of India. Dr. Pai spoke about the steps required in setting up a cosmetic clinic and gave the audience a peek into the world of Aesthetic Cosmetology with the latest in facial augmentation, lasers in aesthetic practice and other anti-aging technologies.

The conference was attended by Dermatologists, Cutaneous Surgeons and other cosmetic physicians from all over India.

Expert Trainer - Dr. Jamuna Pai

Dr. Jamuna Pai at Allergan's Workshop in Goa

Dr. Jamuna Pai traveled to Goa on the behest of Allergan, the makers of Botox, the miracle drug and Juvederm dermal filler to train and impart her wealth of experience to noted and established dermatologists, cosmetic physicians and maxillofacial surgeons.

There has been an increase in the number of cosmetic procedures being conducted in India due to the increased awareness amongst the masses. "Although the need and demand for such procedures is increasing each day, there is a dearth of trained and skilled professionals to conduct them", expresses Dr. Pai who, through her very own training institute plans to address this rising shortfall. The institute named Dr. Jamuna Pai's Institue for Aesthetic and Medical Cosmetology or DJPIMAC will open shortly and offer medical professionals with tools to further their practice.

Dr. Pai at the Inauguration of CosmoMed Fujairah

Dr. Jamuna Pai at the inauguration of CosmoMed Centre in Fujairah standing alongside HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Saleh Al Sharqi and other members of Emirates Medical Services

Reinstating her international standing as a beauty and anti-ageing expert, Dr. Pai was recently invited to the UAE to grace the opening of a cosmetology clinic . A part of the renowned Emirates Medical Services group, , the clinic is a state of the art facility located in Fujairah, approximately 2 hours away from Dubai.

The EMS group invited Dr. Pai there with the intent of having her extend her expertise in the field to their team of doctors and aestheticians. Dr. Pai. along with HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Saleh Al Sharqi together inaugurated the clinic on 10.10.10. Apart from this, Dr. Pai was also invited to the Higher College of Technology for Women in Fujairah to give a talk on the latest in cosmetology and wellness. With over a 100 students in attendance, Dr. Pai informed them of the latest in skincare, anti-ageing and non-surgical procedures to enhance and correct facial features.

Notes to the Bride

Planning a wedding is no easy feat and it won’t be long before the stress starts to show up on your skin. At Blush, we understand this all too well. Though it maybe a challenge to find time to pamper yourself amidst all the chaos, it is very important that you do so.

Modern medicine has surpassed itself in the last few years and you can now go from being a caterpillar to a butterfly in a matter of a few days. At Blush, our basic aim is to make sure that you incite a large amount of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ on your big day.

Speaking in terms of how early you need to start your regime, I always advice brides that the first thing on their lists should be laser hair removal since the treatment requires multiple sittings spread out over a few months. If incase time is running out then the remainder of the sittings can always be completed post the wedding. Be sure that the laser is used by a qualified technician and that proper protocol is followed.

Over the years, the most common skin affliction that I get consulted for by young brides is acne and acne scars. The stress that goes along with planning the wedding can even make a girl with otherwise healthy skin to break out. Fortunately acne can be treated and a 100 per cent result can be achieved. The Fraxel skin resurfacing laser treatment is the perfect way to rid the skin of pits and blotchiness once the acne has been taken care off. The laser is the absolute gold standard in skin resurfacing lasers and the treatment involves hardly any downtime and amounts to unscarred and beautiful skin. The treatment requires several sittings and can be repeated every four to five weeks. Another quick fix for acne pits that I recommend is the use of dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid that is found naturally in the skin as well. Fillers have been around for years with an outstanding safety record. When injected, the filler lifts each pit to the surface level giving instantaneous results. But the effects are temporary and need to be repeated every few months. So the treatment should be done just a few days before the wedding festivities begin.

Another skin anguish that brides face is pigmentation and unwanted scars on the face and the body. Peels are the best option for the same. Soft gel peels are gentle enough to be used on any skin type and are perfect for indications such as dark circles, acne scars, stretch marks and hyper pigmentation. Another fantastic skin lightening treatment is the derma melan peel done exclusively at Blush. It inhibits the melanin cycle by means of safe agents that in turn cause the skin to lighten to a great extent. After the treatment, the skin will peel for a few days and optimal results can be seen approximately three weeks after the treatment. Almost all young brides today work out and eat right to tone and sculpt their bodies. But there are two areas that may still need cosmetic attention. At times the results do not show on the face. But it’s now possible to contour the jaw and sculpt the shape of the face to make it look slim and delicate.

Botox is a safe and effective way of attaining the desired results, as long as it’s done by a trained doctor. With a few painless jabs, your jaw can be made to appear slim and sharp. Once all the excess weight had been shed, the loose skin on the body may still remain. Thermage is the only non-invasive procedure that helps tighten and contour the skin in a single treatment with no surgery, no injections, and little to no downtime. The effects of the treatment are visible almost instantly and can last for years. At Blush, almost any facial feature can be enhanced and corrected with the help of Botox and dermal fillers. The lips can be made fuller and more sensual by injecting a small quantity of a filler material, without making it look like a trout pout. Under eye tiredness can also be corrected by filling out the area, which makes the face appear fresh.

Another embarrassing problem that brides maybe faced with is sweaty palms and underarms. Hyperhidrosis which basically means excessive sweating can also be taken care of with the help of Botox. It works by blocking the signals that stimulate the eccrine glands to produce sweat. The effects of Botox and dermal fillers last for six months at least so plan accordingly. According to me, with the right combination of chemical peels for skin lightening, Fraxel and peels for resurfacing of pits and tightening of the face, Thermage for sculpting the body as well as Botox and fillers to correct facial asymmetries can make a huge and positive change to your appearances. This along with a proper exercise plan, enough sleep and a healthy diet complemented with the right nutraceuticals and dietary supplements will make looking your best on the biggest day of your life as easy as apple pie.

For more information, call 022-6704 2426 or log onto www.blushworld.com.

Featured in - L'Officiel India Magazine

Issue - October 2010

Beauty Beyond 50

It is said that ‘age’ is all in the mind. But what about the stark reality that stares you in the face from your mirror where you see a receding hairline, a much bigger waistline than you would have wished, deep wrinkles and a jowl that you would rather not have! Yes, as you get more and more successful professionally and start reaching the upper echelons of your career, the body works in the reverse. The BMR (basal metabolic rate) or the ability of the body to burn calories slows down, the hormones in women play havoc, with the result that they are landed with very dry and patchy skin, stubborn pigmentation, unwanted coarse hair on their face, deep wrinkles, weight gain.

Add to this the other adjustments in life they have to undergo with their ‘dear daughters’ parting from them after marriage and the daughters-in-law coming in and changing the dynamics of the family. These changes make the body and mind very vulnerable and if one does not anticipate these or are not forewarned, one tends to find the 50’s very trying.

I believe that ‘every phase of our life is the best phase to be in’ and therefore I take joy in every ‘milestone’ year of my life. I am shortly about to become a grandmother but that does not stop me from trying to retain my figure, wearing jeans, highlighting my hair besides working long hours, balancing home life and relationships. After all I firmly believe that life is all about relationships. But I cannot imagine looking in the mirror and seeing a fat me without a waistline, a patchy pigmented skin on the face, grey hair and a slump in my gait. I would rather not be alive. But without getting to extremes I would say that it is very important to look good, to feel good.

Lifestyle changes become the singlemost important change that one has to bring about.

This includes the right kind of diet, regular exercise, nutritional supplements, mental relaxation through yoga & meditation, being involved in hobbies or social activities and following a simple anti ageing skin care regime. The diet would entail frequent meals at regular intervals low in oil and refined sugar. It should contain whole grain, pulses, fish, eggs, milk and milk products, lean meat, unsalted nuts, fruits especially the citric ones and those of a rich, deep colour as they are rich in antioxidants ( they flush the free radicals and toxins out of the body) and alcohol intake is best limited to red wine.

Regular exercise or at least a walk 4-5 times a week will go a long way in maintaining a sense of well being in you. Always consult your physician before you undertake any physical activity. Exercise always rushes more fresh blood containing nutrients and oxygen and flushes away the toxins from the whole body. The exercise you choose depends on your age, your health, your time available. This in combination with a little mental relaxation (yoga or meditation) can form an ideal workout pattern that promises to keep you healthy and happy.

Nutritional supplements are essential after the age of 40 as the body uses up all the natural reserves by then and to compensate for all the systemic changes that occur with age. A good combination of B complex, antioxidants, calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, iron or folic acid supplements should suffice in normal individuals.

Coming back to “ looking good after 50”, is a state of mind, I believe if the lifestyle is good and the thought process is right, one can be sure that one feels good. Add to it a little skin care regime which will include ‘an always application’ of a sunscreen 2-3 times a day, cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliation of the skin, and a night care regime which would consist of proper cleansing and the use of active anti ageing and anti pigmentation ingredients in the night cream or serum. Keeping the basal metabolic rate up and the weight down is important to remain trim. A good hair cut from a professional can make a huge difference to your morale.

An issue of mind over matter, there are lots of little measures one can take that can infuse the much needed feel good factor back into your life without having to resort to drastic measures.

Dr. Jamuna Pai

Tips for the Bride and Groom to be

As the bridal season draws closer, every bride and bridegroom to be want to ensure that they are at their personal bests for the biggest event of their lives. The most elaborate wedding lehengas and the most extravagant jewellery pale if the wearer appears unkempt or sloppy.

To avoid any wedding day disasters it is essential that you make yourself a lifestyle, fitness and beauty routine a few months in advance and stick to it. To make sure that you are only indulging in treatments, therapies and fitness routines that are in no way harmful to your body, it is best to consult with an expert. The amount of skincare products out there can be daunting and confusion about what’s good for you and what isn’t is rampant. It’s important to properly understand your skin and what it needs before embarking on any kind of cosmetology adventure. So do ensure that you put your skin in the hands of an experienced and qualified doctor.

Some of the most common problems plaguing brides and bridesgroom include pigmentation, acne and acne scarring. But going beyond the obvious there are a variety of concerns that can be addressed such as sweaty underarms that leave unsightly stains on clothes, thin or crinkled lips, a square jaw line, uneven nasal flares etc.. Fortunately for us, there is now a simple solution for all these problems that doesn’t involve having to go under the knife or any painful procedures. Most of the treatments have negligible down time and routine activities can be continued all throughout the duration of the treatment.

PIGMENTATION

There are various AHA peels which help in lightening the skin and acne scars, but at Blush there is an exclusive super skin lightening peel which is perfect if any old accident scars, acne scars or pigmentation problems need to be taken care of.

The results are almost immediate but best results are seen after 3 weeks with 1 week of mild peeling. The treatment consists of two phases; the first– that must be carried out at a Blush clinic under the watchful eye of our qualified doctors–involves the application of a ‘professional’ cream which is much like a facial mask that is left on the face for a short period (6-8 hours). Following this, is the use of a post-treatment home care maintenance cream that preserves the luminosity and glow of the skin coupled with the use of a good sun block during the day. Besides skin lightening by 2-3 shades or more, this treatment also improves texture and makes the skin glow. Stubborn pigmentation is lightened by more than 60 % with the 1^st sitting and may be a little more after the 2^nd sitting. The best part about this peel is that there is no restriction at all to sunlight even whilst the skin is peeling and the treatment or the post- care is free of any steroids or hydroquinone..

The skin lightening peel is free of any side effects and guarantees fantastic results.

ACNE SCARS

Acne scars do need proper treatment to bring about the skin repair. Microdermabrasion does help, but very marginally. For deeper scare one of the following treatments will prove most effective.

1) Subcision: This works best for scars with a broad base. After numbing the area, a needle is pushed and turned around under the ‘pit’ where the scar tissue is maximum. This will cause a pool of blood under the scar and frees it from the old scar tissue. With time, the new collagen formation will push up the base of this scar. After total healing, another session can be carried out.

2) Fraxel: This is the new generation fractional laser that resurfaces the underlying scar tissue without breaking open the overlying skin. 4-6 sittings are required at an interval of 3-5 weeks.

3) Dermal fillers: to even out deep pits or as a last resort to other treatments as a final step, dermal fillers do the trick. Highly sophisticated hyaluronic acid ( the ground substance of your own skin) is used as the filler material and with the help of a very fine needle each ‘ pit’ is lifted up by the material injected to the surface level. The result is instantaneous with no downtime.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING OR HYPERHIDROSIS

Excessive perspiration can definitely be a cause of embarrassment. You need to bathE at least twice daily. Dust an antifungal powder, not just in your underarms after bath, but in all body folds too. You can also use antiperspirant deodorants containing aluminium chloride, but it is not advisable to use them for too long, as it can be an irritant to the skin. Another good option is to undergo a Botox treatment for excessive perspiration in the underarm. With a few tiny pricks, botox will be injected at certain points in the axilla of maximum sweat gland concentration and you will be relieved of this problem for as long as 6-8 months, after which you can go for another session. An anaesthetic numbing gel is used so there is minimal pain and absolutely no downtime.

Featured in : India Se Magazine, Singapore

Dr. Jamuna Pai on 'What it takes to be a Beauty Queen'

I have been a part of many expert panels for beauty pageants over the years and though each year the set of girls I train and talk to are very different from each other my advice to them always remains the same. However, compared to even 10 years ago, beauty pageants are a lot tougher and more competitive today. So to win the crown you will definitely need that extra know-how and poise.

Discipline is the first and most important part of any winner’s routine. You must get your lifestyle into a good routine with a healthy diet and exercise plan, adequate sleep and appropriate beauty regime. Complement your diet with nutraceuticals such as evening primrose, anti oxidants, calcium and iron to make sure you look and feel your best. Every pageant normally has its own team of experts who guide and coach the girls. So do make the most of your sessions with the diet and fitness trainers who will put you on a correct and healthy path. Remember that starving is not an option. You must eat right and work out right if you want to truly shine.

Next come the skin and hair. Once again, your sleep, diet and exercise patterns play a very large hand in how your skin and hair will look. But a consultation with an expert will you give that extra edge. Rectify and correct any skin or facial problems or asymmetries. It’s very surprising and heartening to see what medical sciences are capable of doing without much pain, no downtime and reasonable costs.

Make sure that your wardrobe is well looked after too. Dress in styles and colours that flatter you and do not have the opposite effect. It isn’t essential for you to dress in the most recent trends if they do not suit you. It is far better to create your own individual style based on what complements your skin, figure and personality.

Apart from all this, it is essential that your personality match the way you look. Your physical appearances alone will fall flat and are not enough to take you through the pageant and win you the crown. You must be of a sunny disposition, with a kind word and a ready smile at all times. Be gracious to your opponents and always remember that confidence is the key word.