Here's where beauty lies

MANILA, Philippines - Makeup expert Fanny Serrano has come a long way. From his humble beginnings as a salon assistant and a market vendor (among others), Fanny has become a widely recognized and respected name in the beauty industry. There is no going around the business without mentioning his expertise, honed from years of understanding the needs of his clients.

Others may think that Fanny only works with celebrities, but that is farther from the truth. Fact is, he has built a steady and loyal following from clients of different persuasions. That alone speaks volumes about the quality of service that he gives them.

“Reaching this point in my career was a long hard climb. I used to sweep the floor of the parlor I used to work in. I cleaned hairpins there, too. I ironed clothes for our neighbors and sold stuff in the market,” says Fanny, who is also an actor on the side. “That is why when I tasted success, I knew I should always give my best.”

True enough, that dedication has translated into a massive success. His very own Fanny Serrano Classic Touch studio in Quezon City offers a comprehensive array of in-salon services, such as hair and makeup, hot oil treatments, and waxing. The salon also does out-service packages for weddings, debuts, engagements, and other special occasions.

Now his Classic Touch studio also houses the pioneering medical spa in the country, the Zen Institute. Yes, indeed, he is certainly moving on up.

“How did it happen? I take good care of my face and, apparently, my customers could not help but notice. I told them I go to the Zen Institute, but it’s in the Fort,” Fanny shares. He informed Zen Institute founder Dr. Mary Jane “MJ” Torres-Valdecañas about it and the latter immediately looked for a place in Quezon City. It was sheer coincidence that Fanny’s Classic Touch studio had a space, and so the medical spa’s Quezon City branch was born.

An original creation of Valdecañas, the Zen Institute promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience. Valdecañas says, “The medical spa concept combines European and Asian influences. It is medical because it is non-surgical. It is a spa because it promotes a lifestyle. What sets us apart is that we are not a regular clinic.”

With a tagline that declares, “Experience beauty painlessly,” the Zen Institute commits itself to non-surgical techniques on lipotherapy, facial contouring, hair revitalization, lifts, and body sculpting. She tells us that the sessions are so relaxing that clients end up falling asleep in the process.

She says, “I guess that is the spa component of this medical spa. While they relax, something good is happening to them.”

Credit that relaxation to Valdecañas’ discovery, the Resonax. “It is our signature treatment,” she says. “Its basic technology is radio frequency, so it is more of resonance technology. It relaxes and rejuvenates you from the inside while doing something on the outside. I found this technique in Italy.”

The Zen Institute’s non-invasive technique has proven to be a hit among her clients. This, she says, is where her concept of medical spa, particularly in the field of tourism, enjoys an edge: “We are working hand in hand with the Department of Tourism in this area. You see, people come to our country for the beaches, and you do not want to go under the knife when you go to the beach. The Zen Institute can be a stopover before or after you go to a beach. You can go visit the country because you are not confined in a hospital. With our treatments, you can continue doing your normal stuff.”

“What sets us apart is, our treatments here are protocol-based. We evaluate every patient and based on the individual assessment, we would make the proper recommendation,” she says.

The Zen Institute also has branches at the Fort and the Podium in Ortigas. With the latter, they have clients who stay in nearby hotels. Valdecañas says, “We have made tie-ups with these hotels should clients decide to have treatments with us.”

Meanwhile, over at Scout Rallos, a complete beauty complex is busily making people feel good about themselves inside and out. Fanny must be very proud.

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Fanny Serrano’s Classic Touch and the Zen Institute are located at 69 Scout Rallos St., Tomas Morato, Quezon City. For more information, call Classic Touch at 925-5253 or the Zen Institute at 441-0692. Visit their websites at www.fannyserranostudio.com and www.thezeninstitute.com.