By Arleah C. Baingan

As you ply along EDSA, you can’t help but notice those beautiful men and women with beautiful faces and well-maintained bodies. These are results of religiously working out in the gym, eating a healthy diet and leading a clean lifestyle. But then look again cosmetic surgery may have had a significant part on their enviable beauty.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we are all essentially beautiful, more and more people still opt to conform to the universal “idea” of beauty and whenever they get the chance and money, a few visits to the doctor for a nip/tuck wouldn’t hurt. Or so they thought.

Rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, liposuction and even facelift are now common procedures not only here in the Philippines but on a global scale. Despite the fact that more and more people are turning to cosmetic surgery, it is not something that one must be careless about. The reality is, there are many cases of cosmetic surgery gone wrong for the simple reason that these patients didn’t do their homework.

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery now or well into the near future, there are important things that you must consider before you plunge into it.

The Reasons

There are many reasons why one undergoes cosmetic surgery (the right term for it is aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery). Some of which are: to build up on self-esteem, to achieve ageless beauty, it’s their source of living (celebrities, models, actors) and for vanity.

For whatever reason it may be, before going under the knife (or laser), there are some things that you must remember so you can get the desired results and possibly, with the least complications.

Plastic surgeons are what cosmetic surgeons are appropriately called. These are not just GP doctors who have certificates on certain procedures then go on servicing patients with surgical procedures.

Each patient is encouraged to go beyond the price of the procedure. Going for quality is beneficial for you, remember that! So how do you know that the doctor who will perform your surgery is qualified for the job? There is no better way than to ASK, the more, the better.

A qualified cosmetic surgeon has 17 years of training, starting from pre-med to actual surgery. These doctors know the ins and outs of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery and are knowledgeable in every aspect of the procedure more importantly when complications occur.

According to New Life Plastic Surgeons, an association of young and experienced certified plastic surgeons formed by Dr. James Joaquino (formerly of the Plastic Surgery and Associates), they encourage potential patients to ask the right questions for them to understand the procedure more and to know if the doctor is qualified to do the job.

Dr. Peregrino Lorenzo VII (You can read the complete discussion on http://www.philippineplastic.com.), also a member of the group even shares some tips regarding this:

1. Cosmetic Surgery should be done according to certain standards.

2. Know your doctor’s academic profile.

3. A good plastic surgeon should be able to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for the surgery you are considering.

4. Do not bargain for the cheapest doctor.

5. Find a plastic surgeon that you feel comfortable with.

6. Don’t allow yourself to undergo liquid silicon injection.

7. Don’t be attracted to newer procedures, drugs, and prosthetics.

8. Take note if the clinic or cosmetic center is well equipped.

9. Determine if the surgeon has organizational affiliation or privileges.

Responsibility lies in every cosmetic surgeon’s hands so better make sure that you choose well. One obvious advantage of going to a well-trained plastic surgeon is the quality of work that they perform. You are assured that he/she is going to provide you with “safe and guaranteed results.”

Other members of the New Life Plastic Surgeons are Dr. Hector Santos, Dr. Gil Fernandez, Dr. Edwin del Rosario, Dr. Cristina Librojo, Dr. Mark Sison and Dr. Edwin Paul Magallona.

All of them are excited about the flourishing prospects of medical tourism in the country. In fact, they are already expecting patients from the US very soon.

Dr. Joaquino says, “We are not claiming to be the best. We just want to educate the public regarding cosmetic surgery. I would say that Filipino surgeons are internationally competitive when it comes to these procedures.”

The New Life surgeons can perform procedures such as botox, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty (nose lift), alarplasty (nose reshaping), whole body liposuction, breast augmentation, hair transplant, temporal brow lift, face lift, buttocks lift, AP repair, lip reduction, earlobe repair, endermology (cellulite reduction), tummy tuck and fat injection.

You are welcome to inquire by calling (632) 687-0795, (632) 687-4332 or 1-800-2939703 or visit their website http://www.newlifeplastisurgery.com.