There’s another notable reason why going to the Philippines provides you a well-deserved refreshed look. Aside from the picturesque locations and exciting adventures, the Philippines is fast becoming one of Asia’s prime destination for medical cosmetic tourism.
So what happened to the then conservative Pinoys who used to tiptoe their way into a surgeon’s office to get something done? After aspirational ads and celebrity endorsements peppered all over the metro cities that date back to more than 10 years ago, recent developments have taken the once taboo subject to something discussed over dinner with family and at parties with friends due to the growing influence of social media.
I interviewed the Medical Director of SKIN 101, one of the Philippines’ top medical cosmetic clinics, Jennie Francisco-Diaz, MD to get new insights on the matter. According to Doc Jennie, “Thanks to social media and the advent of selfies, people nowadays want to always present the best version of themselves to the world. Though its true that #loveyourself is widely advocated in social media with size acceptance, body positivity, and fat activism now part of our vocabulary, the number of people getting cosmetic procedures has risen steadily over the past few years and its acceptance and popularity seems to be soaring.”
Now ranked 24 out of the 46 global destinations ranked by the Medical Tourism Index for its medical tourism industry, quality of facilities & services, and destination environment, the Philippines now services 80,000 to 250,000 medical tourists annually.
According to Doc Jennie, “The Philippines is the perfect place to get cosmetic procedures because of its skillful and highly trained medical practitioners and state-of-the-art medical infrastructure.” This provides one of the Philippines’ competitive edge in the field of medical cosmetic surgery. Aside from their local training, Filipino cosmetic surgeons continue to sharpen their mettle by becoming international fellows to the leading practitioners in the US and other countries bringing to the Philippines an updated knowledge on fine-tuned procedures that does not only focus on the aesthetics but more importantly on the safety of their patients.
“There is a wide range of advanced aesthetic treatments available now in the Philippines,” Doc Jennie continues. “These are from the invasive surgeries like liposuction, nose reshaping, and breast augmentation using state-of-the art equipment at par with world-class facilities worldwide allowing surgeons to do laser -based surgical and non-surgical procedures with minimal to no down-time and non-invasive procedures like Ulthera, Thermage, Botox and Hyaluronic Acid fillers,” she adds.
Another important element that makes the Philippines one of the best locations for cosmetic surgery around the world is cost. The amount of a regular treatment in the U.S., Europe or even Australia, can already get you a hotel with a scenic view to spend your downtime and possibly a few more days to meet family and friends with your new refreshed look – and still be way under budget. “SKIN 101 prides itself in offering state-of-the-art treatment using only the latest US FDA approved lasers and treatments at rates within reach to majority of Filipinos. We believe beauty does not need to be expensive,” Doc Jenny enthuses.
Beyond the remarkable world-class training of the Filipino cosmetic surgeons and their state-of-the-art facilities, the Filipinos’ warm brand of hospitality along with the best places to recuperate from your procedures make it a top contender for being Asia’s number 1 destination for cosmetic procedures.
So, if you’re planning to visit the Philippines, this may be a good time to update or refresh your look. Plan it. Book it. Before you line-up to get an appointment which could be sooner than you think.
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Jennie Francisco-Diaz, MD
Medical Director, SKIN 101 Clinic
https://www.skin101.ph/
https://www.facebook.com/skin101clinic/
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Dermatology International Fellow
Philippine Dermatological Society Fellow
Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Surgery Foundation Inc Fellow
International Society of Dermatology Fellow
International Society of Dermatologic Surgery Fellow
Philippine Medical Association member
Pasig City Medical Society member
Korean College of Cosmetic Surgery International Member
Key Opinion Leader Restylane
Key Opinion Leader Merz (Ulthera, Xeomin, Belotero)
Key Opinion Leader Allergan (Botox,Juvederm)
Key Opinion Leader Cynosure (Picosure Laser)
Lecturer Neostrata
Lecturer Endocare
Lecturer Revlite Laser
Lecturer Alma Lasers
SKIN 101 can be found in the Philippines
in the following locations – White Plains, Quezon City
Forbes Park, Makati City
Market Market, Taguig City