25 years of ‘Belofied’ beauty
MANILA, Philippines — Audacious. That is one adjective to describe the woman that Dr. Vicki Belo is, and has been one attribute that has chiefly contributed to her success.She opened her first clinic in 1990. It was a humble 44-sq.-m. space at the Medical Towers in Makati City. Now Dr. Belo, founder of the Belo Medical Group, celebrates 25 years of beauty expertise with a double shebang — the opening of the Belo clinic at The Block, SM North EDSA and the introduction of the Belo Collagen Drink with celebrity gem, Marian Rivera.
Although Dr. Belo candidly jokes, “Our house is the house that fat built,” her clinic has become a household name that carries the pressure of fulfilling quality service, most especially since the Belo Medical Group received the Reader’s Digest award for being one of the most trusted brands in 2010. While in 2007, Dr. Belo was hailed the No. 1 doctor in the world who has performed the most number of Thermage procedures.
As the first and only Philippine medical-aesthetic clinic with a National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) International accreditation, the Belo brand continues to open its doors to the growing number of clients by opening its 10th branch located at the fifth level of The Block at SM North EDSA. Inspired by the vision of Dr. Vicki Belo to make every Filipino beautiful, one person at a time, her 10th clinic also has a special touch of beauty. The luxe and sophisticated interiors of the clinic was a creative endeavor between Dr. Belo’s daughter, Cristalle Belo Henares and mega fashion designer Patrice Ramos-Diaz.
Offering the latest innovations in dermatological and cosmetic surgery, the clinic provides top-of-the-line treatments like Exilis and Revlite (non-invasive fat melting and skin tightening procedures), Laser Hair Removal, Belo Fat Freeze and many others, which retain one’s beauty in full glory. Currently, there are 10 clinics in Metro Manila, one clinic in Cebu and two in Davao. The second branch at Abreeza Mall, Davao was also launched early this year.
If there’s a price to pay for beauty, Belo has made that price very affordable. With a skincare line available at drugstores and other leading online stores nationwide, Belo brings forth another miracle working product, which Dr. Belo herself has actually been using for years. With the ardent desire to share this with wonder powder with all Filipinos, she has carefully packaged the Belo Nutraceuticals Collagen Powder Drink with hyaluronic acid to suit the daily needs and quick-paced lifestyle of every individual.
Imported from Japan, the marine collagen powder (derived from a fibrous protein extracted from the scales or skin of saltwater fish, including cod and salmon) is packed into 7,000-mg. sachets that can be bought individually or in 14-sachet packs. Brand ambassador Marian Rivera attests to the power of the powder that she takes twice a day — one in the morning usually mixed with coffee, and the other one at night with her dinner soup or juice. Having a sexy body is essential to her, but maintaining fantastic skin is an entirely different story. “Having beautiful skin is very important to me, especially now that I am fond of posting (my pictures) in social media. And of course, I want Dong (Dingdong Dantes) to fall in love with me every day,” Marian tells us.
Dr. Vicki Belo uses analogy to illustrate how collagen functions. “Youthful skin is like a brand new sofa — it’s so firm that when you sit on it, you are pushed back up, unlike with an old sofa, where you simply sink down. The collagen in our skin is like a spring that enhances the structure and firmness of our skin.”
To emphasize the importance of the substance, collagen is the most dominant protein in our bodies. As a matter of fact, 30 percent of the protein found in our body is collagen. And more significantly, 70 percent of our skin is composed of collagen. It provides strength and structure to different parts of the body, holding cells and tissues together in bones, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is naturally produced by our bodies and inhibits formation of wrinkles by keeping the skin elastic and supple. Unfortunately, the rate at which we produce collagen in our body decreases as we age and are exposed to the sun. Free radicals and stress destroy the integrity of the collagen fibers in our skin. As babies, we have 100 percent collagen. At 30, we have 20 percent less collagen. At 40, we have 40 percent less collagen and at 50, we have 50 percent less collagen!
With that said, we need all the help we can get to age gracefully. Belo Nutraceuticals Collagen Powder Drink has remarkable anti-aging benefits in making the skin firmer, the nails stronger and the hair thicker. Furthermore, what makes it different from other collagen drinks is that it contains hyaluronic acid, a moisture magnet that improves skin hydration, absorbing a thousand times its weight in water molecules.
The collagen powder has a vanilla taste. One sachet a day dissolved in your favorite hot or cold beverage, be it coffee or tea, milk or yogurt, is all you need to keep your skin hydrated and firm. As Marian’s new favorite, Dr. Belo is hopeful that her new collagen powder drink will reach more women searching for the final answer to youthful skin. Indeed, Marian is a living proof that looking young is a daily drink away. (Or getting married to an extremely hunky guy may be another factor!)
If you don’t believe all the fancy billboards and celebrity endorsers of Belo, there’s only one way to find out how real and long-lasting beauty is achieved. Drop by a clinic and get Belofied!
(Also offered at its Belo Greenbelt clinic is the world’s first Picosecond Laser that is far more effective on skin pigmentation, melasma, fine lines and skin rejuvenation. For more information, call 819-2356 or e-mail at info@belomed.com. Belo The Block is located at the fifth level of The Block at SM North EDSA.)
(For best results, consult your doctor.)
