As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Puroshini Pather.
Dr Puroshini Pather is a Hair Transplant Surgeon at Treatment Rooms London, making waves as one of the youngest female surgeons in a male-dominated industry. She achieved her Bachelor of Science from the University of St Andrews, completing her clinical years at the University of Manchester. From her background in General Medicine and Surgery, Puroshini moved over to the field of hair transplants, and she’s now an Affiliate Medical Member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery. She uses her position in the clinic to advocate for mental wellbeing, emphasising holistic, patient-centred care.
In this interview, she offers a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship, sharing both the challenges and the victories that defined her path.
What inspired you to join your business, and what problem were you passionate about solving?
I come from a long line of both female and male pattern hair loss, and it has been a constant source of family conversation throughout my lifetime as I progressively watched my father and uncles lose their hair entirely by their 40s, as well as watched how my mother, aunts and grandmothers battled to keep their hair.
Hair can be such a defining feature for humanity and society, and throughout my medical training I found my interest in the aesthetic side growing. This led me down the path of hair restoration surgery and into the welcoming arms of The Treatment Rooms London.
How has your business evolved since its launch, and what key decisions have helped drive that growth? How has the business grown in the time you’ve been there?
During my time here, I have been surrounded by continued quality improvement and at the centre of this growth, with a focus on pre and post-operative care, streamlining communication, staff training and raising our standards above and beyond what is required. We have focused recently on areas of patient education and providing up to date knowledge for those looking at treatment options, to make the hair restoration world more easily understood, accessible and thought-provoking for our patients.
In your view, what truly sets your brand apart in today’s competitive market?
What continues to inspire me during my time at The Treatment Rooms London is the drive for excellence. We polish our standards of care until they gleam, and every team member works seamlessly together like a well-oiled machine. This perfected routine is only possible through dedicated hard work and a warm, empathetic, communicative mindset that is shared amongst all of us at the clinic. Our collective desire to provide patients with an unbeatably high-quality experience continues to drive us, and myself, to new heights.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to date, and why do you think it worked so well?
Providing patients thoroughly with the information they need to make well-informed decisions about their hair journeys is at the forefront of The Treatment Rooms London. Hair restoration can be a big undertaking, and we wholly recognise what an impact this journey can have on one’s quality of life. Our marketing strategy focuses on continuously strengthening the link between surgeon and patient, so that patients truly feel looked after by qualified, registered medical professionals with a passion for hair restoration.
How do you stay connected to your ideal audience and understand their needs or behaviors?
We create many opportunities for patients to stay connected with us, both digitally and in-person. Social media can indeed help drive awareness, but we pride ourselves on making prime connections by inviting patients to the clinic, exploring their concerns face to face and examining their hair loss with our own hands-on expertise. You can only experience so much behind a screen, and in today’s digital landscape, seeing and meeting patients in person is more important than ever before.
What does success look like for you, not just in numbers, but in purpose or impact?
Success is measured in good quality outcomes and patient satisfaction. There is no such thing as perfection, but rather understanding balance, progress and boosting quality of life is the key to achieving that satisfaction. Success can also be measured in how well we, as hair restoration surgeons, are able to reduce the stigma around the procedure. With time, dedication and education, we will continue to move forward into an era where men and women suffer less from the psychological impact of hair loss and can feel confident in themselves as they navigate the world around them.
What daily habits or rituals keep you focused, creative, and grounded as a leader?
Life is about enjoying a variety of labour’s fruits, to avoid becoming sick of just one. When not improving my medical and surgical practice, I work as a commissioned neoclassical composer for a variety of media to keep my mind free-flowing, colourful and creative. Regular exercise keeps my blood flowing and clears my mind so that I can make clear, communicative decisions and guide my team effectively throughout the workday. Surgery can be strenuous, so keeping limber both in body, mind and spirit is a must when operating for one of the UK’s leading hair restoration clinics.
How do you approach innovation and risk in your business strategy?
The hair restoration world continues to rapidly progress, so keeping a finger on the pulse of innovation is vital to this industry. A combination of conferences, newsletters, research papers, memberships and personal searches is what keeps our clinic at the forefront. Due to a variety of medical and environmental factors, weighing risks versus benefits is the bread and butter of a doctor’s job. Our skillset allows us to condense information and weigh these decisions on a scale with the ultimate goal of ‘Do No Harm’ for our patients. Technological strides in the hair restoration field continue to be exciting, and we are always happy to learn more about what can be offered to provide an even higher quality of care.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business in today’s fast-changing digital world?
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to triumph over it. Entering the cosmetic industry can be daunting at first, due to its high-paced nature and high patient standards. However, meeting those quality standards and generating patient satisfaction is also the beauty of a career in cosmetics. Surgery is slowly but surely becoming more female-dominated as more women take assured steps into less explored and male-orientated fields. I would encourage all forward-thinking women to be bold, and grasp something worthwhile with both hands. Whatever you wish to pursue, be hungry for it, and it may reward your career in ways you never thought possible.
Where can our audience connect with you and learn more about your work or offerings?
The Treatment Rooms London is available and open to any individual looking to explore their hair restoration options, or those who are unsure where to start on their journey towards better hair. To learn more about our work and the work of our surgeons, we can be found on our website, social media tags and offer consultations to all seeking expert, medical advice on hair loss.
