“Do you think you look older than you feel? If you improve on your appearance, you’ll feel better, too”, says Chief (Mrs) Jennifer Engels, CEO of Paradise Salon and Medspa, which is located at No. 19 Chief Albert Iyorah, Lekki Phase 1. The Med Spa is owned by an American babe, Jennifer Engels, who was recently honoured with a chieftaincy title of Kpakpando 1, which means Star. Jennifer, an American by birth, came to Nigeria with her husband, who relocated to Nigeria after spending more than 30 years in the United States of America. (USA).
Now almost on a daily basis, Paradise Salon and Medspa is a beehive of activity as young and old, daintily or casually dressed men and women drive into the premises in different brands of cars to top up or refresh their looks either for an exquisite weekend engagement or to prepare for the coming week’s work
Even a working day is not a holiday at the beauty clinic and medical center as those who can afford the time, especially the self-employed still throng the place to take advantage of its numerous services.
In an exclusive interview with City People’s TESSY MOORE, this beautiful skin expert, Jennifer Engels, who is populary known as Jenny, revealed all it takes to look younger than your age.
Excerpts.
What is Paradise MedSpa all about?
Paradise Med Spa is a corrective skincare clinic and Day Spa at Lekki, Lagos that uses FDA and exclusively American brand products, approved state-of-the-art equipment to bring advanced treatment carried out by experts mostly Italian and American trained doctors/aestheticians.
Paradise Med Spa employs the use of non-surgical solutions to common skin, hair and body complaints. They specialize in Skincare and rejuvenation, microdermabrasion and facial cleansing, peels, wrinkle reducing injections, fillers acne treatment and scar removal, Botox and Dermal fillers, Laser teeth whitening machines, laser hair removal machines, opulent massage and spa treatment center, medically assisted weight loss management, advanced anti aging techniques and medication, exclusive women’s nail and hair studio, executive men’s grooming centre, skin care using exclusively American brand products and much more.
Medspa is a Spa that is predominantly used for cosmetic procedure to effect improvement on skin.
What services do you offer?
Yes, we offer many services, everything from injectibles such as Botox, hip widening, we offer liposuction laser hair removal.
Hyperpigmantation and sunburn treatment. Stretch mark removal. Acne and age spot removal. Medical weight loss treatment. Freckles and melasma treatment, laser hair removal, Laser teeth whitening, Laser vein therapy, Laser tattoo removal, skin toning and brightening treatments, body washing and glowing facials. Massage and relaxation treatment Microdermabrasion treatments, Steamed treatment of Dark knuckles. Elbows and toes treatment, Many (osmelic products including Zein Obagi (ZO) line. Smart and liposuction for fat removal
Liposuction is when you use laser to extract fats from unwanted places.
Our services include hair treatment, facial messages, skin body polish, teeth whitening, skin resurfacing fat reduction, laser hair removal, stretch mark and cellulite treatment, lymphatic drainage, derona pen scar treatment, botox, mesotherapy, vascular lesions, cryotheraphy, derma fillers, vitamin drips, waxing.
Who are your patrons?
On the class of people who patronise Paradise Salon, Med Spa and Medical Center, all class of people, the rich, the poor, the young and old all patronise our clinic because our services are affordable, while the consultancy fees are also pocket friendly.
My charges are moderate; it is neither too cheap nor expensive. It is such that an average Nigerian can afford. Everybody wants to look good and beautiful. Beauty, she says, is like food and therefore, Paradise Med Spa and Medical Centre is here to make people look good and younger than their age because we use things that remove sagging and loss of volume. If you’re in your late thirties, closing to forties then you’re dealing with drooping skin around your eyes and jawline and a lack of volume and luster in the skin. Your eyes appear hollow and almost sink into their sockets, while folds of skin threaten to droop it out. Your jawline isn’t as well-defined and sharp as it used to be, giving you the facial expression of an permanent frown. As for your skin, well let’s just say that elasticity is no longer a word in your dictionary.
So, what do you do?
I am the owner of Paradise Salon and Medspa.
Are you a medical Doctor?
I am not a medical Doctor, but my husband is.
What’s your husband’s field of Specialization?
He specializes in treating Liposuction. He handles it. We also have a Dermatologist.
What inspired you to do what you are doing?
Well, I have been in the beauty industry for more than 20 years. Beauty has been my passion, I knew when I was a teenager what I wanted to do with my life, went to beauty school and then become a stylist. I went to Europe to train and I have been interested in helping people look better, feel better, you know, achieve a good image .
Whose idea is this, yours or your husbands?
Actually, it’s both of us, because downstairs, we have full beauty services, upstairs is the medical center. So,
I collaborate on what we do.
So how long have you been in this business?
I have been in the beauty industry for more than twenty years, but med spa, it is just three years .
Who are your patrons? who do you expect to be your patrons?
I hope anybody here in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. We were very excited to come to Nigeria, my husband and I are both Americans, but my husband is a Nigerian, so we had a vision to come here and offer American standards in what we do.
How long has your husband been a medical doctor?
My husband has been a medical doctor for more than 25 years.
What has been the challenge so far in the business?
No really, no challenge to be honest. We think we both are very good at what we do and we have an expert team, our staffers are capable to take up challenges that could get business up.
and running. People have really been welcoming our services, there have been much curiosity about what we do, so , I really haven’t really had any challenge.
Can you tell us more about your products?
We have an exclusive style, American Medical Centre, we have an exclusive women’s nail and hair shicko, exclusive men grooming centre. We also offer laser teeth whitening, laser hair removal, massage, body harp, body scab, we also offer an exclusive Cellulite treatment, we offer advanced antigen technique, facials Injectable, botoc, germal fillers. We also offer sagging removal plan, we also offer Italian burns treatment.
The fact is there is no stopping the hands of time. This is aging and this is exactly what it does to your body. For some, it shows in their hands, others have it on the legs or hair, but for just about every individual in the world, aging attacks the face first and often it will leave you looking much older than you really are. So, with our products, you will retain your youthful look.
How expensive are your service?
We have services targeted at a certain level.
Do you employ more medical doctors?
Not in any way.
So, someone can just walk in and you’ll recommend for her/him?
We do a complete consultation, I’m not just interested in the appearance of a patron, I also like to know their lifestyle it’s important to have that relationship, so what that means in that I am not going to sell to you something that you can’t afford. You’re coming to me ‘cos you need help and I want to help you achieve that goal. So, when we have our discussions, we can talk about our plans.
Could a person say that your beauty is a reflection of what you do?
My beauty (laughs) Yes, Yes I guess it is. I’ve paid great price for my physical appearance.
So, what do you do to maintain your beauty?
I like to take care of myself, eat well, I drink juice every morning, using fruit and vegetable combination, I go to the gym; then I feel like I have a good fashion sense and, so my knowledge in the industry for many years I use that; use my make up well, style and also medication. I feel beauty is not just one part, there are many different components.
Aside this, what else do you do?
I have a distributorship I’m working on partnership.
Tell us about your background?
I’m from America; I’m the oldest of six children; 4 girls and 2 boys. I had a very strong Italian Mother as my role model and I had an American Father. I was raised half in Miami and later in the North of Ohio and then from there I moved back to Florida. I’m a Catholic, a strong Italian Catholic.
Educational Background?
Finished secondary school, I did beauty school and I also went on to University in Florida.
Are you Married?
Yes, I’m married to an amazing man, Dr. John Emenike. We’ve been married for one year , it’s definitely love at first sight and we’ve pretty much inseparable.
So, where did you meet?
We met in Atlanta Georgia.
Where?
At a party, through a mutual friend.
Was it love at first sight for you or him?
I know it was definitely for him.
How long was your Courtship?
3 months.
Are you legally married?
Yes, in a Catholic Church in America.
Being in Nigeria, so far how do you feel?
My husband definitely is good to me, I love him. He is very confident and he is very good at what he does. He is so good with people, what I love most about my husband is not just that he’s intelligent, but he can relate well with people
Any regret so far?
No
So, you’re here in Nigeria to stay?
Yes. I ‘am very excited about it
What’s your favorite food?
Edikanko and Jollof rice
Do you cook African food?
Not yet, I’m learning
How would you describe your husband?
Dark and handsome{laughs}very smart, I look up to him,he’s my strength, he’s my rock,we’re soul mates.
Why the name Paradise?
It projects Paradise, wellness, beauty, you know health, we want you to come here and feel like you’re somewhere else. Not just with the environment, but with the standard of service you’re getting
Tell us about your title!
I am the Kpakpando 1, while my husband, Dr. Emenike, is the- Dibia Oha 1 of Nguru nwe Nkwo of Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State. They were bestowed on us by our Eze, the HRH Eze Daian Njoku, Ekweme 11.
