by Julia Sinikova

Phuket’s beauty and wellness industry has flourished in recent years. However, the plethora of options sometimes makes it challenging to choose the right one, as the offerings are just too vast. From home-based beauty studios to the state-of-the-art facilities at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, the island is ready to suit any budget.

Olga Lapshina, a social media influencer and a mother of two, has tried nearly every option before finding her perfect balance of quality, comfort, and pricing at Sole Mio Clinic. Olga kindly agreed to share her experience with RL Magazine, so we sat down with her at the 7th Floor Restaurant, where Sole Mio Clinic clients often drop by after their treatments for a refreshing lemonade or a cup of tea.

Julia Sinikova: Let’s get straight to the point. Why have you chosen Sole Mio Clinic?

Olga Lapshina: First, the location is super convenient for me, as I reside in the Bang Tao area. Second, I was lucky to receive a gift certificate for Sole Mio treatments as a New Year present from my mom. I have no idea how she learned about the clinic, but she gave me the certificate, so I selected the treatments I needed, went for a try, and came back all satisfied.

I moved to Phuket about 18 months ago and have since tried just about everything the island has to offer in terms of beauty and wellness. Some places left me dissatisfied with the level of service, as they could reschedule or cancel an appointment for no reason. Others raised doubts regarding the level of their equipment. I understand the business logic of the management, yet I strongly believe that it is impossible to get proper results using a Chinese copy instead of an original device.

RL: So, you discovered Sole Mio by chance, didn’t you?

I came by chance, but it was the satisfaction that made me stay. The trial visit was good, so I opted for a full RF course and a full Cellusphera course.

As I continue with these treatments, I now plan to add physiotherapy. I’ve been overdoing sports recently, which brings sporadic back pains, so the plan is to mitigate this with physiotherapy and massage.

This is my common approach: a trial first, and a full course after I like it.

So, you used the gift certificate to book some specific treatments you needed… What were your needs?

There were two main issues. First, two pregnancies left me with some abdominal area issues, which I wanted to address. Second, due to Phuket’s hot climate, I started experiencing skin problems and edema. The latter, in particular, turned out to be an obstacle for weight loss.

The process of losing weight stalled about 2 kilos short of my goal, and I finally lost them at the Sole Mio Clinic. The combination of chosen treatments worked perfectly to achieve both goals.

How soon did you notice the changes?

Before coming to Sole Mio Clinic, I had been struggling to reach the weight target for quite a while. Having started the treatments, I began noticing changes from approximately the fifth session. Additionally, the Cellusphera works perfectly to relieve sport-related back and leg pains. I specifically ask the therapist to address these areas at maximum speed – and feel better at once.

I need to highlight that I strictly followed the program composed by the therapist: if it required coming every three days, I was doing exactly that. Let’s be reasonable adults and admit: there are no magic injections or devices that change your appearance in a snap of a finger; health and beauty require your own effort. Bad nutrition, lack of exercise, alcohol… these are things greatly diminishing the outcome of any treatments. It’s the comprehensive approach that gets results.

I am lucky to be free of bad habits and genuinely love sports, so ten treatments gave me a superb result. I’m perfectly in earnest. I literally see the skin becoming tighter, my mini-skirts are back in active wear, and I’m down one size for jeans. Pure joy as it is!

Have you tried skin beautification and cosmetology at Sole Mio Clinic or not yet?

Not yet, only the aforementioned treatments plus laser hair removal. When the day for this procedure came, I chose Sole Mio Clinic.

As I’ve already said, I tried many beauty studios in Phuket and had a few disappointing experiences. Without revealing the name of the salon, let me say that laser hair removal was among my bad experiences, as it was just very painful. After that treatment, I said that I’m not coming back again and chose Sole Mio for the next one. The treatment was absolutely painless, not a bit of discomfort whatsoever.

Plus, I feel much safer at an official medical clinic, as I know how serious Thai health officials are about standards. They really check the equipment and ensure the clinic meets all the requirements. A license is not given for granted.

So, are you a Sole Mio client now?

Why only me? As my mom was the person to introduce me to Sole Mio, I returned the favor by giving her a certificate for her birthday recently. If I’m satisfied with a service, I do recommend it to other people. One of my principles is: I’m not recommending anything if there’s a chance of me getting justified complaints later. But if I like a service – I will always share it.

To learn more about Sole Mio Clinic treatments, please visit solemiophukethotel.com.