Being good, feeling good, and looking good
MANILA, Philippines - One of the most unusual reasons I’ve heard for subjecting one’s self to aesthetic surgery comes from a senior citizen above 95 years old. Cognizant of her advanced years and the frailty of her aging system, she wanted to be prepared when she “goes.” She believes that a facelift will make her look good “for viewing.” For me, this brings home the point that aesthetic procedures have become mainstream and widely accepted in current society. And really, it is not surprising since everyone aspires for beauty even if the standards vary widely.
It isn’t just about vanity either. “Being good, feeling good and looking good” is the new definition of wellness. More than the absence of disease, we now recognize that wellness is a state of well-being, balance, and harmony of body, mind, and spirit. As one method to enhance one’s image and achieve self-confidence, aesthetic medicine can be considered a means to promote wellness.
“Wellness is a decision on the part of the patient,” says Dr. Rolando Balburias, consultant and director of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics of The Medical City. He explains that health packages for better patient maintenance and wellness promotion are available at the facility. “We provide personalized, patient-centered, and world-class aesthetic services, and only methodologies guided or backed up by evidence-based medicine are utilized, so that there are no ‘quick fixes.’ More than just aesthetics, we are committed to helping you look and feel great — from inside out.”
By providing information, services, and opportunities that facilitate and promote growth in the multiple dimensions of health, the center is dedicated to the encouragement and empowerment of the healthcare consumer. It is clearly a strategy that encourages pro-active involvement to promote patient cooperation.
The principle that “wellness is the new beauty” is constantly highlighted at The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics where facilities and professional medical care are available for all age groups. Recognizing that different individuals have specific needs, the services are customized, personalized, and optimized. And thus, core packages are designed to address the concerns of different age groups: An Adult Wellness section is for men and women aged 20-59 years old, with healthcare services tailored to address changing health needs. A Healthy Aging division with highly qualified geriatric specialists offers comprehensive health assessments for seniors aged 60 and above; and an Adolescent Wellness component is meant for 10- to 19-year-olds and it is where concerns from sports training to makeovers are addressed.
Meanwhile, fitness and nutrition specialists help adjust diet and fitness regimens, board-certified dermatologists offer a comprehensive range of treatments using state-of-the-art equipment, and an aesthetic dentistry section will improve your smile and help boost self-image. In addition, corporate clients will be glad to know that the Wellness Center offers a team executive checkup that could serve as a team-building initiative. A spa rounds up the holistic wellness experience
However, aesthetic surgery procedures continue to generate great interest. If you are like the average consumer, you may have considered any of the widely advertised aesthetic treatments. The prospect of instant wrinkle-free skin, sculpted stomach, weight loss or firming in a matter of hours, and a myriad of other quick- fix cures that entail no downtime and no scarring is vastly tempting. However, if the terrifying reports of botched procedures hold you back from trying any of the treatments, the excellent and ethical quality of care at The Medical City should give any patient enough confidence to take the plunge and go for the surgery.
“Our standard of practice is at par with international standards,” says Dr. Conrado de Gracia, chief of the Section of Plastic Surgery and Burns who notes that The Medical City is one of only two facilities in the Philippines accredited by the Joint Commission on International Accreditation, the world’s most prestigious accrediting body for international health care organizations. “A hospital-based center is safer and in the long run, cheaper than a center outside the hospital.” Only board-certified plastic surgeons perform the procedures using innovative and evidence-based modalities. “The role of the division is to make you feel really good, but still in touch with reality,” continues Dr. De Gracia. “We do not implement temporary measures. This center is not run as a business. It is a professional medical facility.”
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The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics is located on the 6th floor of the Podium Building of The Medical City, Ortigas Avenue , Pasig City. For more information, call 635-6789 local 6386 or 6492. Or visit www.themedicalcity.com.
