A long time ago in 2004 when I was working as Chief Sub at that time in the Deccan Herald, I would pass a new beauty salon and a gym which had opened on Castle Street, where we lived, going and coming from work. I was curious about who was the owner and so one day stepped in to check it out.

A young smiling woman came up to me to introduce herself and immediately a solid friendship and bond of mutual respect -- was born. Dr. Janet Castelino was the young woman’s name and it was lovely writing about her enterprise for the Metro section of the Deccan Herald which was hired to write for.

Janet blossomed and grew from one salon named Cleo’s to EIGHT salons across the city. I was dazzled by her enterprise and amazed by her energy. All the salons did well and Janet felt she had reached her peak and yet -- she felt incomplete as a doctor.

That was when she went off to do a three year MD and qualified herself as a professional dermatologist. After that solid educational backing she decided to open only derma clinics to give professional treatment to women for their hair and skin issues.

“Why don’t you come and see my clinic Marianne?” she would repeatedly ask me and I had stopped driving and there was no way I was going to visit half way across Bangalore to HSR Layout.

Then yesterday in the middle of Bangalore’s third COVID virus lock down, I got a call from Janet out of the blue. “Come and see my clinic Marie -in ( that's how she says my name) “


“ I have stopped driving so I can't come to HSR layout ,” I reply.

“ I will send my driver, don't worry, just come!” she says.

Snap decision, I dress and go. And I am so glad I decided to do that. My mouth was on the floor from the time I entered her clinic which is three floors, till I left. The whole place was typical Janet -- impeccable, five star and what an amazing experience.

As I enter I am greeted by two smiling -in- welcome girls at the reception, who are masked and capped and even their shoes are covered. I look around and in true Janet fashion, the place has been done up in pastel shades of brown and cream -- absolute understated elegance. I love it and settle down into an elegant waiting chair when in minutes a man in a jacket arrives asking if I would like coffee or tea.

No thanks I say as I had just had lunch and so did not want a coffee. “ You don't remember me Madam?” the man says, but he is behind a huge mask so I say “ No!”

“I am Manunath and have been with Doctor Madam from Castle Street. You used to come to our gym with your second son who was studying in St. John’s to the gym.”

I did not remember, but I feigned that I did and brought so much joy to his face. Later when I asked Janet she said thats Manjunath who used to sweep and swab our gym and now I have elevated him to this position. I can see where his loyalty stems from and Janet’s kind and giving heart.

Janet performed a whole lot of various procedures for me from Glycolic Acid Peel which according to Andreas superb coffee table book --Glycolic acid from sugar cane and fruit extracts, is known as the supreme exfoliator and is considered to be the king of exfoliation. The secret to younger and glowing skin I lay back to enjoy her ministrations.

You could even go in for a Chemical Peel which is again extracts from cane sugar, fruit and milk penetrates to deeper levels of the skin and enables excellent exfoliation of dead cells.

The book told me about Laser Hair reduction that they perform, to handling Hyperpigmentation with the Q switched: Nd: YAG Laser System where a beam of light penetrates the skin and scatters and absorbs the dark pigments.

They also handle the bane of most youth -- Acne Scar Reduction. Here again a Fractional CO2 Laser penetrates deep into the layers of scarred skin stimulating skin cells below the surface to resurface as perfect skin.

“ Each laser machine cost me around 40 lakhs,” says Doctor Janet and we want to be able to give our clients only the best and value for money.

I was taken for a walk about of the whole massive clinic and was introduced to all the nurses and doctors who have been there since its inception.

“ We have our registers full of satisfied patients who return time and time again, happy with the results of our treatments. Infact I have both men and women coming from NYC who say my treatment cannot be had anywhere else in the world,” says Doctor Janet, rightfully proud of her work.

So many women who have skin problems need to have sustained treatment to have clean and glowing skin and Doctor Janet, her daughter young Doctor Andrea and their team ensure your money is put to good use and not wasted.

For details contact: DermaZeal Clinic, # 422, 1st Floor, 27th Main Road,Next to ICICI Bank,HSR Layout,Sector-1, Bangalore - 560102 Ph: 9008624202 Timings: 9am to 8pm.




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