Balikbayans have different beauty goals when they’re in the Philippines: some want to look their best when reuniting with friends, some want to have a few procedures done because they’re more affordable in PH, and some just want to feel relaxed and get pampered. To help make it easier for you to plan your beauty sessions, KUBO curated a list of the best treatments you can try within a two-week stay in the motherland.
Click on the links to their website to book in advance and secure an appointment (most clinics also have Viber). This way, you can ensure that you have enough time to try the treatments you’ve been eyeing and feel confident that you’ll be looking your best during your visit.
Skin Reboot
Where to get it: Belo Medical Group (with branches all over Metro Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Davao)
What it does: After over 30 years in the business, Belo Medical Group has established itself as one of the most trusted aesthetic clinics in the country, known for surgical procedures. But if you’re not ready to go under the knife yet and just want something that’ll make you look really good during your trip or before a big event, try their Skin Reboot treatment. It’s a celebrity favorite (fans include Kim Chiu, Gabbi Garcia, and Janine Gutierrez) because it gives them a slimmer face, tighter skin, and it makes you look super good in photos—no filter required.
Why you’ll like it: This non-invasive procedure is great if you want the coveted V-shaped face, slimmer cheeks, and a more defined jawline. It combines radiofrequency and microcurrents to tighten, tone, and refresh the skin. The emulsions infused also give the skin a youthful radiance while helping enhance collagen production and skin regeneration. “The skin on my face felt firmer and looked slimmer,” shares actress Janine Gutierrez via belomed.com. “It felt smoother and looked glowing after the treatment. It’s my favorite!” Expect a little redness and swelling after your session, but your skin will immediately tighten the next day and you can expect these results to last for up to one month.
The Essential Facial (PHP1,800)
Where to get it: Simply Skin
What it does: This hydradermabrasion facial exfoliates, cleanses, and soothes your skin with masks and serums that are customized to meet your skin’s needs. It’s suitable for all skin types, and since this clinic has a no-pricking policy, you can go straight to lunch with your friends without looking red or puffy.
View this post on Instagram
Why you’ll like it: This hour-long treatment will give you glowing, brighter, and radiant skin in just one session. After a brief consultation with the clinic’s skin experts, the treatment will commence, using a deep vacuum to extract blackheads and whiteheads without pain. We also like how they finish off each facial with a microcurrent lifting treatment to help stimulate collagen production.
Lymphatic Drainage
Where to get it: Face Sculpt (Home services available in Metro Manila and Cebu, with a flagship location soon to open in Shangri-La The Fort in BGC)
What it does: Feeling extra puffy and heavy after your flight? Help get rid of the water retention and sluggish feeling by trying their three-step Body Sculpt Treatment (PHP3,000 for a 90-minute session), which can be done from the comforts of your own home. According to their website, their expert physiotherapists use time-honored techniques and artisan tools to deliver transformative results that are more than skin-deep. They begin by dry brushing your body (you get a complimentary one during your first session), followed by some body contouring and scraping, and finish with a full lymphatic drainage massage to help eliminate toxins from your body.
View this post on Instagram
Why you’ll like it: Face Sculpt is the first to offer this type of service in the country, specializing in non-invasive face and body sculpting and lymphatic drainage. You’ll immediately see the slimming effects after the massage, but don’t just take our word for it. Check out their Instagram to see the before & after transformations yourself, including the one of actress Heaven Peralejo in the image above.
Ultherapy
Where to get it: The Aivee Clinic (Ed’s note: Most of the clinics mentioned in this story offer Ultherapy, but if you want to go where Heart Evangelista gets hers, this would be it.)
What it does: Ultherapy gives your skin a tightened and lifted effect—as if you got a non-surgical face lift. There’s hardly any downtime (just some swelling and redness) and the results keep getting better with time, so you’ll continue to see results even when you’re back home (peak results hit around the three-month mark). It’s also the only US FDA-cleared skin tightening procedure using micro-focused ultrasound with real-time visualization. This allows aesthetic physicians to deliver the energy to the right layer and exact points needed to achieve natural-looking results that are customized to your needs. The downside? This treatment can be pricey, but it’s a good investment since it can last for up to a year.
View this post on Instagram
Why you’ll like it: Ultherapy doesn’t change your appearance drastically, so you’ll still look like yourself post-procedure—just more refreshed and youthful. Actress and fashionista Heart Evangelista was recently named Ultherapy’s brand ambassador because it’s one of her favorite treatments to maintain her ageless skin. In an interview with Manila Bulletin, she revealed that it’s one of the first anti-aging machines that she’s tried and she regularly does this treatment to maintain a more “snatched” appearance—focusing more on her jowls, neck, eye, and brow area.
Newthera
Where To Get It: Aesthetic Science Clinic
What it does: “Newthera, or Focused Ultrasound, is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that uses focused ultrasound energy to target tissue beneath the skin’s surface,” explains Dr. Vasquez. “This process stimulates the production of collagen, a protein that gives our skin structure and elasticity. As the skin heals, it becomes firmer, tighter, and more youthful-looking.” It’s similar to Ultherapy, except Newthera uses a machine from Korea and is a more affordable alternative, allowing you some savings for similar results.
The treatment itself can take 1-2 hours and it’s advisable to stay at least 2-3 days in case you need follow-ups. “This duration will also allow for some recovery time and the opportunity to address any immediate concerns post-treatment,” adds Dr. Vasquez. Redness and swelling typically subside after a few hours, but some patients may feel tenderness and tingling sensations a few weeks after. “It can [also] take 1-2 months to see the full effects of the treatment, as the collagen production ramps up, with some patients reporting improvements for up to 6-8 months,” says Dr. Vasquez.
Why you’ll like it: Like Ultherapy, you can expect to see lifting in the cheeks, eyebrows, and eyelids area; a reduction in the appearance of jowls and wrinkles; and an improvement in jawline definition. You only need one session too, so this is perfect for those who don’t want to (or can’t) do several sessions. Want to help prolong the effects of the treatment? Dr. Vasquez suggests that you try to maintain a balanced diet and lifestyle, and to ask your doctor to prescribe a medical-based skincare regimen.
Botox
Where to get it: Aesthetic Science Clinic (with branches in Makati and Alabang)
What it does: “This popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment involves the use of botulinum toxin to temporarily relax facial muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines,” shares Dr. Yanee Vasquez, founder and Medical Director of Aesthetic Science. Though primarily used for cosmetic purposes, it can also be used to treat migraines, lift brows, treat muscle stiffness in the jaw and shoulders, and help manage sweating. To get the results you want, it’s always important to “choose a qualified professional to ensure that your treatment is performed by a licensed and experienced healthcare professional,” advises Dr. Vasquez.
Why you’ll like it: Botox lasts 3-6 months and helps prevent future wrinkles from forming and deepening. The procedure itself is quick (about 10-20 minutes) with minimal downtime (possible bruising and headaches), which means you can actually have this done even if you’re not staying in PH long. “However, if you’re traveling specifically for Botox, staying a week or more can provide ample time for any follow-up consultation if needed, to address any concerns or complications that might arise post-treatment,” explains Dr. Vasquez.
Profhilo Injections
Where to get it: Ysera Aesthetics Center
What it does: When injected into skin, this ultra-pure hyaluronic acid stimulates the skin cell receptors to counteract loose skin and restore firmness. Unlike regular dermal filler treatments or injections, Profhilo stimulates collagen and elastin, attracting water in the deeper layers of the skin. Patients may experience some mild swelling and bruising, but this usually goes away after a few days.
View this post on Instagram
Why you’ll like it: Adding volume to your face, lips, or neck can help balance your features and restore plumpness to the skin. You will see immediate results, but it will get even better as the skin produces more collagen throughout the next couple of weeks. Just like Botox, this procedure can be done in a day. However, it’s best if you’re staying longer, in order for your doctor to see how it settles and if you’ll need to touch up certain areas in a month or two.
Revlite Laser Treatment
Where to get it: Skin101
What it does: If you have hyperpigmentation, uneven or dull skin, this non-invasive laser treatment with zero downtime is for you. It uses short pulses of light to stimulate collagen and target dark spots, so you can have a more even skin tone and improve your skin’s texture. If you’re worried about feeling any pain, don’t be. You’ll only feel a warm, tingling feeling and you may experience some redness post-treatment, but once you see your youthful, radiant complexion, you’ll realize it was worth it.
Why you’ll like it: “The Revlite Laser Treatment can help lighten dark spots, so you get an instant glow,” says dermatologist Dr. Audrey Dy-Chua. But even if you will see improvements immediately after one session, dermas recommend booking multiple sessions and getting the treatment regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to sustain the effects and get the best results.
Fotona Wart Removal
Where to get it: Kamiseta Skin Clinic (with branches in BGC, Pasig, and Quezon City)
What it does: Flat warts are viral infections that usually grow on the face, thighs, and arms. If left untreated, they can grow bigger and leave the skin looking bumpy and rough. With Fotona, this laser treatment has the ability to incapacitate the wart at the root by penetrating deep into the skin to kill the calloused tissues, eventually leading to the death of the wart from the inside to the surface of the skin.
Why you’ll like it: The laser is precise and able to remove the whole wart without causing substantial injury to your skin, so your risk for scarring will be very minimal. At Kamiseta, they also apply topical anesthesia to the entire face to make sure that you won’t feel any pain. While the treatment can be done in a day, it will leave tiny scab marks on your face for 1-2 weeks (this will depend on how fast you heal). During this time, it’s advised that you don’t swim, stay under the sun, or get excessively sweaty to avoid any infections or irritations.
