MANILA, Philippines - In an ideal world, self-esteem should come from inside, but sadly in reality, self-esteem comes from outside.
Demands for anti-aging procedures and rhinoplasty surgery soared for the past years. Even men are getting in on the trend, too.
Whether we like it or not, aesthetical surgeries tend to increase confidence and self-esteem. Take the case of Ellowe Alviso, a Filipino who underwent a nose surgery in 2012 in hopes to make it big in the local entertainment industry.
In an interview with dzMM on September 2, Alviso said the person who did the surgery was referred by a friend. Identified as Kasheka Magallanes, who claimed he is a nurse, performed nose and cleft chin jobs on Alviso for only P500.
While the results were promising at first, Alviso noticed after a few years that his nose started to swell. After consulting an expert in another hospital, he found out that rather than collagen, a mix of candle wax, petroleum jelly and sealant was injected on his face.
The pursuit of beauty has pushed Alviso to give in to cheap procedures without taking into consideration its risks.
Now, instead of booking a modeling gig, he is left with Halloween jobs, with him playing as a scary mascot.
He filed a case against Kasheka and tried to contact him to seek for help. Instead of helping him, the nurse allegedly threaten to kill Alviso. Now, Alviso is seeking assistance from the Filipino community to help him recover.
Ellowe Alviso underwent a nose surgery in 2012 in hopes to make it big in the local entertainment industry. The photo on the right shows his appearance before the surgery while the left photo shows his appearance five years after the surgery. Facebook/Ellowe Alviso
Asked about the lesson he has learned from experience, Alviso said, "Huwag na huwag po tayong magtitiwala. Ang buong akala po natin kaibigan pero 'yun pala ay ikakasira na ng buhay at pangarap mo."
For those who are aspiring to undergo surgical procedures, there are several ways of spotting out a fake doctor.
1. Credential checking
2. Seek for past patients' testimonials
3. Forced marketing --- a real doctor would not force you to succumb to his/her offers, rather he/she would let you decide on your own pace.
4. If it's too good to be true, it's just not true.