July
03, 2006 Grapevine
Young University of Texas Entrepreneur takes the reins of
the Grapevine Sona MedSpa
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Imran Karim, President Sona MedSpa of Grapevine
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Ok, you
just finished college and picked up your degree in Finance
from the University of Texas in December 2005, what's your
next move? Should you take some time off this summer
or start thinking about getting your resume together and
begin the dreaded job hunting effort?
Well in the case of Imran Karim of Plano, he was traveling
around the United States checking out multiple medical
spa operations in consideration of going into
the business. Imran settled on the Sona MedSpa group
and even negotiated a deal to buy the corporate owned
facility in Grapevine.
He also worked a deal with the Frisco location so both
could have an official grand opening simultaneously to
maximize on the promotional efforts. Imran
attended training and orientation at the Sona home office
in Nashville. When he purchased the Grapevine
location there were three employees working at the
facility and he has already doubled the
staff. There are now 6 working at the facility, not
including the effervescent Imran. |
Imran
said what attracted him to Sona was their technical
skills, as one of the first in the industry. There
is also a commitment to personal attention,
resulting in understanding the needs of clients. Procedures are done by Registered Nurses
that, in addition to their medical training and
experience, are further trained on the techniques and
state-of-the-art Sona equipment.
Imran said that one of the most popular treatments is the
laser hair removal. The FDA process normally takes 5
treatments to be 90% to 95% effective thereafter. He
said that the Sona sales consultant carefully goes over
the treatment process because the client has to make a
commitment for success as well. "The 5
treatments typically will take from 1 to 2 years to
complete based on the results on each individual.
While it is not time consuming, many come in on their
lunch breaks for treatment, it takes at least the 2nd or
3rd treatment to realize as much as a 50%
reduction." He said that the sensation during
the treatment is similar to the snapping of a rubber band
against your leg. The treatments are effective for
all parts of the body, with the legs taking the longest
time on each procedure, usually a little over one hour. |
Sona features
FDA approved treatments from RNs using state-of-the-art
equipment. The treatment may initially cause a
little redness that disappears in a couple of hours. |
While 80% of the
clients are women, Imran says the treatment is becoming more
popular with men. He saId many men now have their
backs done. He said male weight lifters have taken the
full treatment. Concerning cost, Imran said that an underarm
5 treatment program would cost around $500.
Some products
can only be obtained from licensed medical
facilities. |
Another
growing area for Sona is the skin rejuvenation program
that can include laser anti-aging processes, as well as
natural healing encouragement that increases the elasticity
in the skin and can help remove unsightly scars and brown
spots.
Imran said the skin treatment is customized for and
by the customer. There is always a careful
evaluation and ongoing consultation with clients.
"A client may decide to have only one treatment and
be perfectly happy with the results." Many of
the products that are available at Sona are only available
from licensed medical facilities like a physician or Sona
MedSpa. "Our consultant works hand in hand with
each client to understand and recommend the most effective
method to get the desired results," Imran stressed. |
When
entering the Sona facility one is immediately impressed by
the high quality of the surroundings and the comfortable
atmosphere. Coupled with the facility is the wide
variety of treatment options available. Sona offers
chemical peels done in day spas that may accompany a skin rejuvenation
program.
Also available is treatment using Botox that normally has
a lifespan of 3 to 5 months in effectiveness.
Restylane is a dermal filler that can virtually fill in
creases and erase the appearance for up to 6 months or
more, depending on the individual. Both treatments
are injectable.
Treatments available at Sona MedSpa were available only
from Plastic Surgeons as recent as 5 to 10 years
ago. Today many surgeons are utilizing similar
equipment in their own offices to Sona. One would guess at
a much higher cost! |
The Sona
facility in Grapevine is located at 1235 S. Main St.,
Suite 150. They can be reached at 817.481.5111 |
The
website for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
offers the following illustration of the dramatic effect
of fillers. After treatment, the skin around the eye area appears smoother and more taut.
Years of squinting and other facial muscle movements can take their toll on the eye area, leaving crow's feet and other noticeable lines
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Injectable collagen or fat can help improve the skin's texture by filling in the laugh lines and facial creases that often occur with aging. |
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Imran
said advancements in the medical spa arena over the past
few years have made procedures available to a much wider
array of people. He said advancements in the future
are likely to bring a total new dimension to the role of
plastic surgeons and companies like Sona. Great
leaps are expected in radio frequency techniques aimed at
reducing fatty deposits that could make liposuction seem
barbaric in the near future, according to Imran.
"One great advantage of Sona is that our medical team
IS always ahead of the game by continuing knowledge of
techniques being developed by others. At our
corporate office, the medical staff is actively involved
with equipment manufacturers and many times have a great
deal of experience in testing the equipment for efficacy
before the new equipment is even released on the
market."
Our local
staff is also always responsive when clients ask about
procedures they have heard about. "If we don't
already have knowledge about the subject, then we will do
the research and get back with the client with
details," explained Imran. |
| Imran
said he is totally confident in the advantages offered by
Sona Med Spa. "My job is to make our facility a
household name in this market. We are concentrating on the
immediate area including Colleyville, Grapevine and
Southlake. I recognize that we have many other
facilities that may be considered competitors.
However, this is a business you really get what you pay
for. You must be sure the facility you are
considering treatment has the necessary medical staff on
call, has qualified Registered Nurses doing the treatment,
has a staff that is trained and knowledgeable to be able
to provide guidance and consultation. We will meet
each client one on one, regardless of their interest or
need. We will provide customer service to each
client. We will track each client's progress to make
sure that we are meeting their expectations," Imran
summarized. |
Imran seen in
the beautiful and spacious Sona lobby. |
Imran said he
selected the medical spa business because the cost and procedures
are making their services available to all walks of life.
"Incredible strides have already been made in the last 10
years, we know what works and we are able to speak with clients
and help them have realistic expectations. We will not rush
treatments, every individual responds a little differently.
The client knows when they come to Sona that we are not going to
attempt to rush through their treatment; it is a waste of the
client's money and it doesn't produce the results. A great
deal of our business is referral from satisfied clients, that is
how we intend to keep it," explained the young entrepreneur.
Imran admitted his most challenging hurdle was getting comfortable
with managing others, especially employees that are older than
himself. Imran has made the business a family affair and his
parents are silent partners in the business.
The excitement of having his own business is underlined by the
commitment and maturity of this young local business owner.
He is committed to staying abreast of all new advancements in his
industry and understands a business grows from satisfied
clients. The facility conducts frequent socials of its
clients so they can share their successes.
Should you be
considering checking into any of the advantages offered by the
medical spa industry, it is suggested that you consider checking
out Sona MedSpa in Grapevine. There you will find a
refreshing enthusiastic staff led by a no nonsense young man
driven to provide every person that walks through his doors with
the best service possible.
Sona MedSpa is located at 1235 S. Main Street, Suite 150 in
Grapevine and can be reached at 817.481.1511.
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