The Indian Dermatology sector has been experiencing massive growth over the years owing to various factors, such as lifestyle and environmental changes. Even people have become more aware of their skin and hair and have been very conscious nowadays with their skincare products and services, helping the sector further. A renowned Dermatologist with more than two decades of extensive professional experience, Dr. Suruchi Garg has contributed immensely to the Indian Dermatology sector through numerous journal articles, books, procedures, and patents. As the Director & Chief Consultant of the Chandigarh-based Aesthetic Dermatology clinic, Aura Skin Institute, she has been consistently providing aesthetic dermatology services through various cuttingedge technologies and aesthetic medicines. In an in-depth interview with Women Entrepreneur, Dr. Suruchi talks about Aura Skin Institute and the different healthcare services it offers to its clients, the key milestones achieved throughout her career, and much more.

Introduce us to Aura Skin Institute. Tell us about the different treatments that the Aura Skin Institute specializes in.

Aura skin institute is a sprawling world of intervention dermatology, regenerative trichology, and aesthetic medicine. Apart from introducing cutting-edge technologies, lasers, and energy-based devices, we at Aura are trying to strike a balance to provide our patients with the best skin and hair care services through a careful blend of disease and desired dermatology. At the same time, we are making our patients aware of healthy diet and lifestyle, respecting the circadian rhythm, and inducing the body’s self-healing mode for more reliable, reproducible, and long-lasting results, thus preventing other diseases in the future with this holistic approach. Aura has introduced many world-class technologies, with some of them being the first time in India, and has continued to be the leader in lasers and aesthetics for a long time. We are also teaching and training the post-dermatology fellows in their endeavor for higher education and attaining more confidence in their practical life as trained professionals.

What are the most critical challenges you encounter as a healthcare professional? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

The journey of a healthcare professional in private practice is not easy. There are endless, exhausting formalities involved when you try to open a clinic or want to dispense your medicines. Even after having the highest level of education, you can’t advertise your name for public awareness. It’s very strange to have professionals with proper training go through such stringent policies. On the other hand, salons and basic parlors have no rules and regulations to follow for laser treatments and procedures involving blood products. I’m appalled at the fact that blood products like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and hair transplant surgeries are rampantly handled by untrained professionals, who do not even have the basic qualification, jeopardizing the safety of innocent patients. This needs to be curbed and our IADVL association is actively taking various stringent actions against such quacks in the larger public interest but we also need active government intervention in such areas.

Similarly, getting a patent on your concept is a very laborious process and involves years and years of hard work and patience. It was also surprising to know that the protein health supplement, I have created based on my research work cannot carry my photograph on the label as it will bias the consumers! On the contrary, the paid actors and models who don’t understand anything about the product can easily endorse the product and influence the masses. I think the Indian policies in these matters should be rewritten and restructured.

"This is a world full Of opportunities, so Follow your passion With all your heart & soul. And instead Of your words, let Your work make the Noise"

Tell us about some of the key milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey.

By the grace of almighty and the blessings of my parents, family, teachers and mentors, my journey as a dermatologist has been very satisfying and rewarding at the same time. Today, I am an editorial board member for many reputed journals. I have recently published a book on Platelet Rich Plasma therapy. I have talked about various innovative surgeries and procedures for difficultto- treat disorders in this book, along with other reputed authors. I also have innovated a plant-based protein (Protience@8am), which is based on the science of proteins and its relationship with circadian rhythm. This protein supplement aims to reverse high-carb, low-protein dietary imbalance in the body & helps in correcting skin, hair & endocrinological disorders. I have innovated and published a new surgical treatment (LAPEEST) for vitiligo. I have also published a new approach to non-surgical facelifts utilizing one’s own droopy fat planes and have filed an artificial intelligence (AI) based patent based on the same concept. It minimizes the use of fillers that prevents unnatural appearance. I believe that this approach is a step towards anti-aging in the real sense.

What strategies do you leverage to align yourself with industry trends?

I stay abreast of the latest industry trends by attending various conferences and CMEs. Once done with delivering my lectures, I listen patiently to the other speakers talking about the new technologies and their personal experiences. I go through the available evidence-based literature and if a technology or trend really fascinates me, I take in-house demos before finally taking a plunge.

Dr. Suruchi Garg, Md Director & Chief Consultant, Aura Skin Institute

Dr. Suruchi Garg is an accomplished Dermatologist with more than two decades of professional experience. She is the Founder Director & Chief Consultant at Aura Skin Institute, Chandigarh, heading a team of experienced doctors and aestheticians. Bestowed with many national & international honors, Dr. Garg is a passionate teacher having trained more than 200 dermatologists from India and abroad. She has an avid interest in research and has published many innovative research papers in international journals of repute. She did her masters in Dermatology from India's premier tertiary care hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh and took advanced certified training from USA and Israel in lasers & hair transplant.

Awards & Recognition:

• Young Dermatologist Forum Award 2008

• Distinguished Scholar Award 2020 by European journal of scientific research

• Czars of North 2015 by Hindustan Times

• Punjab Healthcare Leadership Award 2018 by ABP News

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