When Transforma Cosmetic Clinic started operating 10 years ago, it was the first clinic to offer dermo-cosmetic treatment, a concept of treatment, which was still very unknown in Malta.

Today, as it commemorates its 10th anniversary, it also celebrates 10 years since the successful launch of Botox®treatments. DORIANNE RICHARD, manager at Transforma, speaks about the

evolvement of her experience dealing with an increasingly discerning client base.

How has the clinic evolved throughout the years?

Our drive to be continuously at the forefront of the cosmetic and beauty industry has led us to become Malta’s most comprehensive and innovative cosmetic and beauty clinic with the introduction of several cosmetic services that were a first for the island. Constantly upgrading our services with the introduction of new equipment and updating our staff’s skills and knowledge to keep pace with the introduction of new technology in the cosmetic and beauty sector ensures that we always provide an excellent service to our customers at all times.

Has the number of customers grown throughout?

Thankfully our customer growth has been constant throughout. I would safely say that this is due to our excellent marketing strategy and also thanks to our customers who are satisfied by our loyalty and consistency in delivering our promises when it comes to our products and/or services. Our customers have always given us positive feedback and are very happy to advertise our services to others by word of mouth.

Have you seen this beauty treatment sector change over the years with regards to services and products evolving?

The beauty industry is constantly growing and evolving with the changes in fashion trends and the development of new products, techniques and technology being introduced into the market place. Originally the beauty industry had always focused its services on females, but as the industry evolved a number of services and products are now also catering for men. We invest annually in training our doctors and therapists on new products and machines and this only after a careful study and search for the genuine product/machine that we at Transforma believe can deliver the best results.

How different are clients seeking your services today, than those who used to use your services in the earlier years?

The awareness is greater – way back a client would rely totally on the information and advice given by the doctor or therapist. Today, our clients come prepared. They know what they want and what the treatment entails after having browsed for the necessary information over the internet. Clients are more adventurous and open to new beauty and cosmetic trends. It’s not only middle-aged women who are taking advantage of new techniques in plastic surgery. Men and younger people are also taking advantage of cosmetic surgery nowadays. One can say that aesthetic treatments have become a major part of everyday life.

Do you think that Maltese clients tend to be more ‘secretive’ of the treatments they apply upon themselves? Why?

Yes, the majority of our Maltese clients do tend to be more secretive, although I must say that the mentality is changing. Probably not to give away their beauty secrets on how they manage to look so good to their friends. Beauty and cosmetic treatments are becoming more in vogue and I believe the main reason behind this is the influence the media has on everyone. In my opinion cosmetic procedures are no longer something to be secretive about. Nowadays, people are proud of the fact that they are doing something positive to their appearance and are often recommending those procedures to friends and family members who might also benefit.

Can you describe the clients that seek your services? What are the services that they seek most?

Our clients vary from teens suffering from acne and unwanted hair to mature adults that want to look good and remove the tell-tell signs of ageing. Our most popular treatment overall is Botox both for men and women and also Botox parties are becoming more popular. Unfortunately, we have a high rate of obesity for such a small country so we also receive a lot of questions about weight loss treatments. The most popular treatments requested by men are hair transplants, removal of tattoos and rhinoplasty; while I would say that the most wanted treatments by women are breast and lip augmentations, semi permanent make-up and last but not least treatment for every woman’s nightmare, cellulite, especially when summer is approaching.

Besides repeat clients who visit regularly, you must also deal with newcomers who perhaps do not know what to expect. How do you approach these first-timers?

We always start with an initial consultation with the specialist/surgeon before every single treatment. We explain all the pros and cons in detail and make sure that the clients have understood, are aware and fully consent to have such treatment carried out on them especially during surgeries.

What in your opinion differentiates your service than that of competing clinics?

We remain efficient in offering a high quality service to our clients at all times. We create customised treatments and choose the beauty products that are exactly right for each of our esteemed customers at affordable prices. We strive to provide 100% client satisfaction and truly take pride in our work. We devote ourselves to broadening the range of our products and treatments and keep focusing on technology innovation.