The business of looking good has never looked better. However, Dr Harb Al Omari tells us that skin treatment is an art that requires working your imagination.

As the demand for cosmetic treatment soared across the region over the last decade, doctors are increasingly experimenting with the latest technologies and therapies to seek the optimum treatment.

A practising dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon for 30 years, Dr Harb Al Omari has evolved his own therapeutics, which involve the use of cosmetics and cosmeceuticals — cosmetics having medical properties — coupled with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to fight ageing.

“Most cosmetics giants cater to light skinned customers, which make their product unsatisfying for clients with darker skin tones,” Dr Harb observes.

“Given Bahrain’s climate with extremes of heat and humidity as well as the Arab genetics, the region needs its own methods of treatment, which led us to seek an alternative in compounding. We now offer medically modified cosmetics tailored for this region.”

Dr Harb observes that cosmo-therapeutic tourism has caught on in Bahrain and around 25 per cent of his clients are from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. The number rises during the mid-term and summer holidays.

Dr Harb performs a wide spectrum of cosmetic treatments including flaps, punch biopsy for acne scars, derma roller, dermal abrasion and laser treatment. His introduction of a facelift technique involving laser has generated much interest, both in Bahrain as well as in Saudi Arabia, where he also practices.

Performed in three sittings, the process involves mesotherapy to liquidate and control fat distribution under the skin. This is followed by laser treatment to lift a sagging face. “About 50 per cent of skin ageing happens due to sun exposure. Psychological problems, like stress and depression, can also accelerate ageing,” he notes.

Catering to a very demanding clientele, Dr Harb suggests that people read the fine print before deciding on cosmetic treatment as procedures can be very expensive and clients need to repeat the treatment multiple times for longer lasting results.

“Clients should be aware of the limitations of each therapy and have realistic expectations. For instance, in acne scar treatment, we can never have more than a 70 per cent improvement,” he says.

Besides, there’s also a five per cent possibility of side effects with every cosmetic treatment, especially with darker skin, which is prone to pigmentation after treatment.

Antiquated regulation
Operating in an environment where legislation lags behind the rest of the world, Dr Harb is no stranger to the region’s hostility towards dermatologists. He is also disappointed that the regulators here have yet to differentiate between ‘patients’ and ‘clients’.

“People buying cosmetics are purchasing a commodity and hence should be treated as clients. In 2007, America introduced legislation allowing dermatologists to open medi-spas. Across most of US and Europe, dermatologists are allowed to introduce cosmeceuticals and hire beauticians, but this region is yet to catch up,” he observes.