Sunday, October 07, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: Beauty Standards in Cosmetic Surgery

The Philippines is land that is well known for its beautiful women. The blending of various races, Asian, Mexican, Spanish, and American makes for a unique combination of beauty which has resulted in a long tradition of winning various international beauty contests. This environment develops the Filipino cosmetic plastic surgeon’s eye for beauty and refines the standards of beauty which he applies in the artistry of cosmetic surgery.


Here's a list of Filipinas who've won international beauty pageants:

Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005
Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979
Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970
Gemma Cruz, Miss International 1964

Maria Margarita Moran, Miss Universe 1973
Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969

and a number of Miss Photogenic Universe Award Winners:
Ana Theresa Licaros, 2007
Lia Andrea Ramos, 2006
Gionna Cabrera, 2005
Abbygale Arenas, 1997
Ailleen Damiles, 1996
Maria Margareta Moran, 1973
Vida Doria, 1971

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Friday, September 14, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: The Hospitality of the Filipinos

Medical tourists, when they visit a particular country, not only meet the doctor and other health care personnel, but they also have to deal with other people : in the airport, hotel, shopping areas, and other sights. For visitors to enjoy their stay, they not only have to be able to communicate well with these people, but they also have to feel welcome.

The Filipinos are well known for their exceptional hospitality and friendliness. With an ever ready smile on their faces, they are always willing to offer help and advice. Visitors are always welcome and held in high esteem. Filipinos love entertaining foreign visitors. It is said that there is no country in Southeast Asia where foreigners are so well accepted as in the Philippines. It is not uncommon for them to rate foreigners over themselves and give them special treatment.



Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Monday, August 27, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: English is Widely Spoken

It is often said that the Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. This greater fluency in English is an important advantage for a service industry such healthcare and it is an essential for cosmetic surgery. Good communication between a plastic surgeon and his patient is very important especially during the consultation period. The surgeon must be able to clearly understand what the patient’s specific preferences are. Patients should be able to ask questions and discuss needs and expectations to make an informed judgement about the procedures they are considering. Furthermore, most Filipinos speak English and can communicate with foreigners, helping to make the recuperation easier and the vacation period more enjoyable.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: The Caring and Compassionate Nature of the Filipinos

Besides competence, Filipino doctors and nurses are also well known for their caring and compassionate nature. Filipinos have a natural and unique nature which makes them excel in service industries such as healthcare. All over the world, this quality of Filipino doctors, nurses and caregivers has been appreciated by patients of various nationalities. The Philippines has been exporting doctors and nurses to the U.S. for 50 years now and many U.S. and European hospitals are staffed by Filipino nurses and doctors.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Friday, August 10, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: World Class Healthcare Facilities

Medical tourists who have never been to the Philippines often wonder about the health facilities available in what seems to be a far off tropical country. There have even been posts in forums dissuading patients from considering the Philippines for their medical needs. They don't know that the Philippines has numerous facilities that offer professional medical expertise and state-of-the-art, world class technology.

For example, the Manila Doctors Hospital, with its new Aesthetic Surgery Center, is the first ISO Certified Hospital in Manila. The St. Luke's
Medical Center has been picked by the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and the medical schools of New York’s two Ivy League colleges, Columbia University and Cornell University to be their International Affiliate, acknowledging the availability of world-class healthcare in the Philippines. And the list goes on. With the commitment to excellent patient care and a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic services available, medical tourists to the Philippines can be assured of world-class healthcare comparable to the best in the world.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: Skilled Doctors

Another advantage that the Philippines offers to medical tourists is that in the Philippines, there are qualified, well-trained and highly skilled plastic surgeons who can do the procedures. Although cost savings are significant when you choose to come to the Philippines for cosmetic surgery, cost shouldn't be the only factor to consider, since it can cost more to remedy poor results done by unqualified cosmetic surgery providers. Lower cost doesn't mean sacrificing quality of care. Whether you are having cosmetic surgery done abroad or in your home country, choosing the right doctor is the single most important decision you will make. Choosing the right surgeon will ensure the quality of care you will receive.

In the Philippines, there are plastic & reconstructive surgeons who have had formal training in plastic and reconstructive surgery and have studied in some of Asia's best medical schools. Philippine medical and nursing curricula are more difficult than many in Southeast Asia. Some Filipino plastic surgeons have acquired their postgraduate or fellowship training from well-known institutions in the U.S. and other developed countries and have been mentored by leading American plastic surgeons. To enhance their expertise, they regularly attend various seminars and conferences worldwide, where new techniques in plastic and cosmetic surgery are introduced. Thus, they can provide equal or greater quality surgical care than U.S. hospitals at a fraction of the price.

However, patients should be aware that the greater acceptance and growth of cosmetic surgery among the general public has encouraged many Filipino doctors to perform cosmetic surgery, but not all of them have trained as plastic surgeons. Once doctors get their medical degrees, they may practice any specialty, even if they have not completed advanced training in the field they have chosen. And so, a doctor who performs cosmetic plastic surgery is not necessarily trained as a plastic surgeon. Thus, it is essential for patients to choose a qualified plastic surgeon with the training and experience that is essential for the success of the surgery. It is recommended that the patient choose a plastic surgeon who is duly certified by the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery, the only board recognized by the Philippine College of Surgeons to certify plastic surgeons in the Philippines.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Thursday, April 12, 2007

The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: Lower Costs

If you've been considering cosmetic surgery but couldn't afford it, you can benefit from the current trend of medical travel. More and more people from all over the world are traveling to other countries to get medical, dental, and surgical services from hospitals and other health destinations. Many patients wanting to get cosmetic plastic surgery prefer going "on vacation", remaining anonymous and returning home looking refreshed and younger without anyone knowing they had surgery. For those with limited vacation time, medical travel provides an ideal opportunity to avail of medical services and have a vacation at the same time.

A significant number of foreigners are choosing to undergo their cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in countries like Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Cuba, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand and the Philippines. Many patients considering going abroad for their medical procedures often wonder which country to choose. What are some of the advantages of choosing the Philippines as a destination for patients planning to have cosmetic surgery?

The primary advantage in medical tourism is cost. You can save a lot of money when you choose to have cosmetic surgery done in the Philippines. Because of the favorable exchange rate (as of March 2007, it is $1= P49), both local and foreign patients who otherwise couldn't afford cosmetic surgery can benefit from the lower overhead costs and professional fees. Surgeon's fees, anesthesiologist's fees, and facility costs are much lower. Thus, procedures can be performed at a fraction of the amount you would spend on the same procedure in the US or Europe. Cost savings are significant for cosmetic surgery procedures. For example, the average cost for liposuction (one area) in the United States is $2500-4500. In the Philippines, the procedure can cost only $800 for the first area and $500 for succeeding areas. For breast augmentation, the average cost in the United States is $6,000-8,000, while in the Philippines, the procedure can cost as little as $2,500 to $4,600. More about costs of cosmetic surgery procedures in the Philippines.

Aside from the favorable exchange rate, cosmetic surgery is also much more affordable in the Philippines than in the United States because overhead costs in the U.S. are very high because of health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and medical malpractice insurance policies that are very expensive. It is not uncommon for U.S. patients to sue their doctors and hospitals. Thus, even if a patient's surgery goes well, with no complications, the patient still have to pay high fees to cover these overhead costs. As a medical tourist in the Philippines, you don't have to pay for malpractice insurance costs, legal fees, and settlements. Your money actually goes to the plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists and other health workers who are treating you.

If you are considering medical travel, you may ask, "What if the surgery doesn't go well?" In reality, things can go wrong in surgical procedures, whether or not your surgeon has medical insurance. Malpractice insurance at the time of your surgery doesn't affect your outcome. In the Philippines, plastic surgeons know that their reputation is at stake. They know that they must give you quality service and results. Otherwise, word will spread and other patients won't come to them. This is the incentive they have to keep offering high standards and quality results.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines


Thursday, March 29, 2007

Manila Doctors Hospital Opens New Aesthetic Surgery Center

Here's an article about our new clinic...

In line with the Philippine Medical Tourism program’s goal to promote the country as the “new hub of wellness and medical care in Asia”, the Manila Doctors Hospital, inaugurated its Aesthetic Surgery Center on March 8, 2007. The new Center aims to provide patients with affordable world-class aesthetic plastic surgery in a quality, ISO certified hospital.

Located in the heart of Manila, the Aesthetic Surgery Center is ideal not only for local patients, but also for medical tourists who favor having procedures done in a hospital setting. Foreign patients will benefit from proximity of the Center to numerous hotels and to many of Manila’s most popular attractions such as the Manila Bay, Luneta Park, Intramuros, Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Museum, and the Manila Cathedral. The Center’s central location will allow medical tourists the option of sightseeing and shopping while on vacation.

More and more patients have been choosing the Philippines as a medical tourism destination not only because of the quality healthcare services and skilled doctors and nurses, but also because Filipino health professionals are known to have a unique brand of hospitality, service, caring and compassion. They also speak English fluently ensuring the good communication that is essential for a comfortable experience.

The Manila Doctors Hospital Aesthetic Surgery Center, complete with its own out-patient operating room, has a team of highly qualified and experienced surgeons who will offer the popular cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhytidectomy (face lift), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and more. The Center will also offer two of the latest technologies in skin care, the LPG Endermologie, and the Aesthera PhotoPneumatic Therapy device.

The LPG Endermologie, one of the newest noninvasive treatments for cellulite, is an FDA approved treatment which originated in Europe. This non surgical, painless process is used to reshape and contour the areas in the body which are resistant to diet and exercise such as the hips, thighs, and buttocks.

The Aesthera PhotoPneumatic Therapy device is a painless, light based therapy for the treatment of sun damaged and aging skin, as well as unwanted hair and unsightly veins. This FDA approved treatment is a safer alternative to other laser and light based treatments, and it is as effective, or even better than traditional therapies.


Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines