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Laser Medical Centre

Got a serious acne problem? Tired of wasting precious cash on antibiotics and other treatments that never seem to cure the spots? Sick of running to the beauty parlour for wax jobs? There's hope for you now, and it comes in the form of a clinic called Laser Medical Centre.

Starting operation on December 16 last year, our Victory Day, this centre promises to help you achieve victory over your skin problems.

Boasting professional care by specialists who have been trained from abroad, the centre, as the name suggests, specializes in laser treatment for a variety of skin problems, such as acne, warts, scar, unwanted body hair, stretch marks and more. Using hi-tech laser equipment (2004-2005 models), the centre offers a wide range of services which include hair removal, acne treatment, non-surgical anti-aging treatments, weight loss and body shaping treatments, and more.

Permanent hair removal costs Tk 2000 per sitting for the chin, the same for the upper lip region, and Tk 6500 for the entire face, and may take around five sittings. Acne treatment costs around Tk 1000 per sitting and takes around eight sittings. Scar removal treatments cost around Tk 5500, while anti-ageing treatments cost around Tk 10,000. Hair re-growth treatments cost Tk 2000 for the laser treatment, or Tk 600 for the phototherapy option. These are just a few of the services offered at the centre.

While these prices may seem, well, a little pricey at first, these treatments are pretty cost-effective in the long run. Besides producing permanent results, benefits include zero side effects, no pain, no stitches or scars, no radiation, no hospital stay, and no major anaesthetics. In fact, this kind of treatment is popularly known abroad as 'lunch-break surgeries', because each session takes an hour or two at the most. What's more, it's safer than other options, without any health risks. Laser Medical Centre also assures its patients of complete confidentiality.

Starting at the end of February, the centre plans to begin plastic surgery facilities. The current team of three, led by Dr. Samnun F Taha, internal specialist, will also be expanding to offer the services of a nutritionist, an endocrinologist, and other specialists. The range of services is also expected to include laser tooth-whitening treatments, laser circumcision, ENT laser surgery, spinal and arthroscopic laser surgery, and more.

So if you want a swift, painless and permanent solution to your skin problems, Laser Medical Centre is definitely worth a visit.

With its airy, well lighted rooms, brand-new equipment, and helpful staff, Laser Medical Centre is located at 71, Suhrawardy Avenue, Baridhara.

By Sabrina F Ahmad

For better portrait

A portrait captures the special moment of life, a moment that you will want to glimpse at over the years with fond memories. In times, it will transform in to a precious possession. In a portrait, making the right impression and brining out the real you is very important. Choosing the right clothing, hairstyle and makeup can make a big difference in your satisfaction with your portrait. Following are some appearance tips and guidelines to look good for your portrait.

Wardrobe should complement the face
Your wardrobe should complement and enhance your portrait not overpower it. Remember the real focal point of any portrait is the face. Our photographer Zadedul I Khan says, "While doing the portrait, clothing with large prints or patterns should be avoided. Such clothing will draw attention away from your face". He recommends one colour outfit.

Also consider clothing that does not clash with the background such as earth tones or jeans. For more formal portraiture, middle toned colours work best. Black is a definite no no, as you will become one large black object. However, Drik Picture Library photographer Aminuzzaman tells us "it is a trend among the male clients to wear black blazers for a portrait".

Avoid wearing short sleeves. The longer sleeve length is always more flattering to the body figure. Our photographer suggests georgette and chiffon sarees, as "it reveals the physical feature elegantly and attractively". Mixing formal and casual clothing styles in the same portrait should not be done. For group photos, dressing one person in all dark or black and another in all white or light coloured clothing styles is a bad idea. Keep your looks consistent.

Feel comfortable in your hairstyle
Don't over do your hair. Wear your hair in a style that you are comfortable with. And guys, do not get a fresh haircut on the day or the day before your portrait.

Less makeup and jewellery
Keep your makeup natural and fresh. Jewellery and accessories should be simple. Avoid large or heavy pieces of jewellery. It will also distract the focus from your face. And ladies if you want do a facial, do it at least a day before. You will not want to see a face all flushed in the picture.

Don't leave the glasses
If you wear glasses every day, you will probably want to wear them in your portrait. Leaving the glasses will make you feel uncomfortable. You might wink more than ever and later find out a sleeping beauty in the pictures. "A person might lose his/her identity without it," relates Aminuzzaman. Talk to your photographer about it so that he takes precaution about lights reflecting in the glasses. Speaking of lights, keep your windows open and let in some natural light, that's how Aminuzzaman likes it. It will make the scene more natural, he says.

Take advise from your photographer
Your portrait is for a lifetime. Photographic corrections are part of this process but do not depend on retouching alone. If you have concerns about your appearance, always speak with your photographer. Creative posing, a nice smile and proper lighting are just the right solution to make it look better, and who could know better than your photographer about these subjects.

To reveal a happy face
Camera lenses have a wonderful power of revealing the mental status. Don't take the picture in a hurry. A very important pointer from Zahed is "Busy working schedule might leave some tensed mark on your face, which might spoil the photo. Always pick a holiday to have the picture taken". Take a rest before you do. The snapshots should follow your mood. Take the picture when you are up for it, when you are happy. Happy faces always make better portraits.

By Shahnaz Parveen

Cookbook clips

BY Sherifa Ahmed

Bhappa Doi
Ingredients
1 tin Condensed Milk
8 Cardamoms (powdered)
20 Almonds (blanched and silvered)
3 cups Yoghurt (sour)
1 small piece of Nutmeg
(powdered)

Method
Put the yoghurt in a muslin cloth and hang it up to remove water content. Leave It for 20 minutes. Add the condensed milk, cardamom and nutmeg to yoghurt. Mix thoroughly and steam covered in a double boiler. Steam the pudding for 15-20 minutes Or until set. Served well chilled then garnished with almond silvers.
Note: Instead of cardamom and nutmeg, lemon rind makes an interesting flavour.

Peanut Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
1 cup grated Carrot
1 cup roasted Peanuts
1 cup finely chopped
Cucumber
Salt to taste
1 cup finely chopped Capsicums
½ cup finely chopped Onions
Lime juice to taste
2 teaspoons Castor Sugar

Method
Mix all the chopped vegetables in a bowl, along with finely chopped Green chillies. Add salt and sugar to lemon juice and pour the mixture over the vegetables. Just before serving the salad, add roasted peanuts.

Sprouted Gram Salad
Ingredients
¼ cup Black Gram whole (urad dal)
½ cup chopped Cucumber
½ cup chopped Tomatoes
1 tsbps grated fresh coconut
1 tsp chi8lli powder
1 tsp Suguar
¼ cup Green Gram whole (moong dal)
½ cup chopped Capsicums
½ cup Peanuts (roasted and coarsely powdered)
2 tbsp Lime Juice
Salt to taste

Method
Soak separately both the grams (dal) overnight. Next day drain out the water And separately tie the gram in a muslin cloth and hang it up for 24 hours for gram to sprout. After sprouts appear, wash and drain gram. It is now ready for use. Mix all the ingredients and sprouts just before serving the salad.

LS alert
First Inter-National Music Festival, Bangladesh

Dhaka dwellers usually have very little options for entertainment. Spare times mostly go wasted. To give you the latest information about what is going on in Dhaka's entertainment scene we are starting this new column named LS Alerts. Every now and then the LS Desk will keep you updated on events taking place, so that the spare moments are well taken care of.

Good news for classical music listeners: the first ever Inter-National Music Festival, Bangladesh is opening on February 1, at the auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum. Organised by the Centre for Education and Performing Arts in association with UNESCO, Dhaka and Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) the festival will end on February 3.

On the first day of the festival, the performers from Japan, Pakistan and Bangladesh will present Instrumentals, Ghazal, and classical music Kheyal, Thumri and Kajori.

Next day there will be Dhrupod, Kheyal, Thumri and Instrumentals presented by the performers of India and Bangladesh.

The singers of Bangladesh will perform Songs of Nazrul and Rabindranath, folk songs and Uchchango shangeet on the last day of the festival.

The musical sessions will start everyday at 6pm in the evening. Age limit for this festival is absolutely adult. So if you are in the mood for a little classical music, the festival is definitely an event you would not want to miss.
-LS Desk

Attention!
Nothing to do, no place to go? Never fear! Beat the boredom blues with LS Alerts, Lifestyle's newest column, which features hot and happening events around the city. What's more, if you are arranging such an event and want to send a shout out to people, let us know, and LS Alerts will spread the word for you. Just drop us a line at lifestyleds@yahoo.com

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Pop ups

Revive houseplants

Houseplants can add life to a much dreary home. To make the houseplants look greener regularly spray water on them. It will give them a fresh, green, dewy look. Houseplants should be watered at least once a week. Don't keep the houseplants under too much sun because houseplants require less sunlight. Keep them indoor where it receives window lights. And here is a little pointer, which might come in handy. To revive wilting flowers, add a tablet of Dispirin to the water on the vase, or a teaspoon of sugar. It will re-energise the flowers and give them a fresh look.