ONE DAY I HOPE TO BE THE HEALTH MINISTER

At a tender age, Dr. Vivian Oputa was taught by her mother to take very good care of her body because proper grooming and appearance were important. She took those teachings seriously and today, she is a medical practitioner and a seasoned dermatologist, who is also aesthetically- inclined.

Oputa loves decor, landscaping and beauty. Her fashion rule is keeping it simple and classy. With 19 years of research and practice in aesthetics, she continues to interest and command the respect of many with her consisitent attitude regarding her job. Her charming personality immediately endears you to her, as she is eloquent, fashionable, courteous and lively. You will not be mistaken if you call her a combination of beauty and brains.

As a specialist in aesthetic medicine, surgery and dermatology, she has practised between Beverly Hills, United States and Lagos, Nigeria. She spoke to SPECTRUM recently at her Ikoyi office, stating the challenges of managing stress and why she focuses on proactive health with her much anticipated company, Dermacare Medicals, among other issues. Excerpts:

Stress management
My company’s stress management expertise has been extended to the workforce including executives and Lagos police officers. I am committed to reforming the lives of these men and women who have no time to care for their health properly.They needed my help and I am making conscious efforts to assist them in my own capacity. Some of them are hypertensive and donít take any medication. So, I am always eager to lecture them, and they in turn imbibe the attitude of children who are ready to learn.

Stress management in Nigeria is challenging because it takes a lot getting people to appreciate its importance and effects of stress on individuals mentally and physically. A lot of executives do not see the need for managing stress because they feel it is harmless. From experience, stress takes a toll on every individual, and until it is properly managed, it could lead to medical crisis.

Any optimism?
Nigerians are responding positively to stress management because for those who have been tutored, they see such information as a wake up call to pay more attention to their health. In addition, Nigerians now realize how much they have taken for granted regarding their health. Even police officers and their wives now see the need to pay proper attention to their health because a healthy body makes an active mind at work. I urge women to pay particular attention to their health because they stand a greater risk in our environment due to the high infant mortality rate.

Flair for Aesthetic medicine
As medical advisor and member of Board of Trustees, the Albino Foundation, my flair for aesthetic medicine did not start today. When I was young, I have always been aesthetically- inclined with great love for decor, landscaping and beauty. I owe this to my mother who taught me the importance of taking good care of my skin and body at a tender age. Proper grooming and appearance was also the subject of that mother to daughter teachings. I was groomed on how to carry myself with grace and poise.

Specialisation in aesthetics
After graduating from University of Ibadan medical School, I went into general practice in Nigeria for a few years, but decided to specialize in a field that focused on the aesthetics of the skin, body and appearance. This aspect of medicine encourages well-being, looking your best with the aid of medical advice and medical procedures. I wanted to do a bit of fashion, landscaping, horticulture, and focus my energies in that direction.

Clientele
In Nigeria, my clients include those with skin conditions that require correction such as burns, scars, acne and irregular pigmentation. Many women come to me with bleached skin conditions and I counsel them the best way I could. I also explain to them that these skin conditions take time to clear. Many of them have damaged their skins with harsh products and they donÌt use sun block before they go out, creating a double assault especially around the eyes. Sometimes, the pigmentation is so bad that it is almost impossible to clear.

I also provide medical assistance to patients who have aged prematurely and older patients who want to look younger. After detailed consultations, a treatment protocol is outlined based on individual basis. Adhering to the protocol is key for the best results, and I always advises my patients that patience is key to effective results for any skin disorder, since there are no overnight treatments.

Any memorable case?
Stress in the workplace is very common and may have detrimental effects on oneís health if not properly tackled. I recall screening a healthy looking young executive and discovered he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. This knowledge probably saved him from a potentially catastrophic health crisis as he was treated accordingly. That a person is looking healthy doesnít mean that all is well with the individual health wise. This is a time bomb waiting to explode because adequate attention is not paid to the level of stress one encounters from day to day.

Challenges
The greatest challenge I encounter in stress management is getting people to take their health concerns seriously. According to statistics, the life expectancy for the Nigerian male is 45 years and 46 years for women. Repetitive advice and screening help to get this message across. In addition, patience is one virtue some of my patients do not possess because they want automatic results for their skin disorders without paying attention to the level of damage on their skin and the amount of time it would take to correct them.

Tell us more about Dermacare medicals
The company is into corrective skincare and proactive health. Since good health is the basis for good looks, educating my clients on healthier lifestyle choices is the cornerstone of our services. Dermacare provides services for the treatment of burns, scars, uneven skin tone and several other skin conditions. The company also specializes in stress management, health education, and health screening. Being self-employed and divorced, I am able to structure my schedule around my life at home and around my daughter. I have a little girl, Oshamisu, who needs my love and attention. She means the whole world to me and I devote much of my time to her when I am not so busy at work.

Any past time?
I also write for newspapers and magazines. My hobbies include decorating and interior design as well as travelling. I listen to music, read and get spa treats, these are what I relax with. I am also a fashionable woman who is conscious of what I wear. I love simple clothes, as I am not a flamboyant dresser. My obsession with handbags are very evident, I canít do without my denim as I have uncountable pairs of jeans and in all, I like good quality clothing.

What is your future ambition?
My future plan is big. I tell myself that one day, I will become Minister of Health. My plan for the future also includes making significant impact in the health care industry by redirecting the focus to proactive health rather than reactive health. This is because proactive health focuses on prevention and good health promotion while reactive health waits for illness before action is taken. Oftentimes, the reactive approach is too late. It also costs less to prevent illness than to treat it.