CEBU, Philippines — Her young age coupled with an experience not nearly enough to compete with the veterans in the industry, Shahana Pearl V. Uy bravely ventures into the discriminating business of beauty enhancement and wellness.
At 29 years old, Shahana, an Aesthetic Physician opened her beauty and wellness specialty center she named Pearl Medical Aesthetics and Laser Center.
Despite the intimidating industry landscape, considering that industry giants have already made their presence felt in the Cebu market, Hana never had second thoughts of asking help from her parents to spend multi-million pesos for her to put up her "little kingdom" because she is certain from the very beginning that this is her calling.
Everyone is beautiful
Hana grew up in a family with businesses anchored on construction and tailoring. But, she knew early on that she will pursue her own path, somehow, to create balance to the masculine inclined money-making ventures her family is good at.
Before the beauty enhancement services became a fad, Hana has already been introduced into the importance of skin care — taking care of herself through her mother, who considered going to the derma as part of their regular health regimen.
While other people, especially in the past, only visit derma clinics if there are bizarre or unmanageable skin concerns, Hana was used to taking care of her skin as if it is part of her over-all health check up.
This planted a seed in her heart, as a young teen to dream of having her own clinic, where she can help people feel good about themselves and enhance the already beautiful feature each one has.
She knows and believes that everyone is beautiful, and there is no ugly creation of God. But, making that beauty blossom and radiate is not the Creator's business. Instead, making your beauty blossom and vibrant is already "your business."
Global exposure
A registered nurse, this cat-lover Cebuana proceeded to take up medicine at the Cebu Doctors College, specializing on Aesthetics. Along the way, she saw the growing demand for beauty and wellness business in Cebu, albeit led by the branded names. But, what motivated her to make good in her studies and learn some more, is realizing that Cebu is entered mostly by non-Cebuano names, and there are only a handful Aesthetic physicians here that dared to join the competition head-on.
According to Hana, her persistence and will to see only her goal to make a name in this industry inspired her parents to send her to the best school in United States, to take a five-month intensive training and advancement studies at the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine in Las Vegas.
This boosted Hana's confidence to join the industry that is being dominated by veterans. Not yet satisfied with her American exposure, this young doctor traveled to Bangkok to get herself another dose of expertise in aesthetic medicine, this time learning the Asian way.
Hana spent five months in Thailand absorbing and getting herself familiar with the world-class aesthetic medicine practice, and also taking notes of how this profession can be intertwined into an entrepreneurial venture.
Back in her home country, Hana again spent a couple of months immersing into several crash courses on aesthetic medicine in Manila, as her urge to put her hands on the business increases.
After the global exposures that melted away her fears, Hana established her mini "beauty kingdom" in Cebu June of this year.
Millennial doctor
As a millennial, Hana, operates her clinic differently, breaking through the traditional clinic-type interior aesthetics. Her beauty center located at MSY Building in Cebu Business Park, is a happy haven — a profound vibe one can feel upon entering.
The crisp white painted walls, accentuated with pastel color decorations is already a beauty pill.
She said she never compromised her standards in terms of the center's overall interiors. In fact, she had a hard time looking for the right space for her business, as she honors in creating the more-than clinic ambiance. Space, neatness, visual designs are carefully planned and invested for, just as how she chose her equipment.
Hana surely understands the new market paradigm. She added that feeling good business should not only be felt after the session, but the moment the customer enters her center, the "treatment" starts.
Affordable luxury
All the machines and equipment used in the 205 square-meter beauty center are all US FDA approved. She said the investment for putting up her business is huge, but Hana is quick to say that the luxurious beauty treatment and enhancement services she offered is perfected to fit the affordable level.
Besides, she is still building her name. What she will be banking on now are the testimonies of clients who have been able to pay her clinic a visit or more.
Aside from the cutting-edge equipment, Hana is only using authentic, imported organic products for all her facial treatments.
Everything is put in place according to her taste, as if she is the primary client of her dainty clinic.
If she were to be a client too, she said she would demand only for the best, luxurious — but affordable.
Aside from the usual facial treatment, Hana also performs different procedure for aesthetic medicine, with the help of her six registered nurse staff.
Generous industry
As she was able to defy fears playing with the giants in her field, Hana sees surprising doors along the way, as she has observed that clients of today are wanting more, aside from the basic beauty regimen like facial, IV drip, anti-aging procedures, among others.
The business after all, she discovered is too wide and opportunities are larger than she thought.
Instead of intimidation, Hana honored the entry of the trend setters in the industry like Vicky Belo, as people like her started the awareness of this otherwise vanity essential.
Few months after her beauty haven was opened, Hana cannot wait to offer more services, the likes of OB-Gyne related procedures, and other sophisticated and specialty services.
The industry after all, she found out, is generous for opportunities to people like her, whose intention is not to compete but to complement and expand the offering for world-class Cebu and its tourists and visitors alike. (FREEMAN)