MANILA — The ‘Ambassadress of Beauty’ is mildly disappointed when she said, “Individually, we (Filipinos) are very good – but collectively we are not.”Still, noted cosmetic surgeon Dr. Victoria ‘Vicki’ G. Belo, M.D. has not given up on the country. She said she’d like to turn the Philippines into the most beautiful country “one person at a time.” “Every time I go abroad, other countries always get excited about us. But then there are the [terrorist attacks], rallies – it’s like every three months there is some sort of crisis that erupts here,” she lamented.

Belo’s explosively successful cosmetic surgery practice has catapulted her into a leading “doctor to the stars.” Among her celebrity clients are Regine Velasquez, Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Claudine Barretto.The Philippines, Belo confidently put it, can become the cosmetic surgery capital of the world. “Our country is more than just a haven of natural wonders; it is inhabited by people who are good with what they do,” she said, adding that Filipinos are known the world over for their ability to communicate in English, for their hospitality, as well as for being technologically innovative.

These, many industry proponents agree, are the very reasons the Philippines is perfect as a medical tourism destination. Foreigners, FilAms, and visiting overseas Filipinos return to or visit the country to benefit from an inexpensive and exemplary (read: globally-accredited) health care. In addition, one’s recuperation and perhaps retirement in the Philippines can be done while enjoying the country’s radiant and relaxing beauty, and having the extra time – and money – for reunion with friends and relatives.

After all, the Belo Medical Group is among the leading proponents of medical tourism. BMG’s medical operations manager Dr. Maricar Cruz said they offer Beauty Vacation packages that include booking foreign patients in a hotel, setting an appointment with the clinic, and sending the patients to a scenic place in Tagaytay to recuperate from the procedure.

“I want the country to be proud of something… I want people to really know the beauty of the country,” Belo declared. BMG CEO Enrique M. Soriano III pointed out that medical tourism remains a promising “sunrise” industry.  “We are starting to create noise for this particular effort because we have always realized the value of marketing this particular concept. Globally, we want to make sure that we are at par or in step with the Thai and Malaysian market,” he told Philippine News.

Soriano disclosed BMG’s plans to expand to Subic and Cebu for their 10th and 11th branches, respectively. He said Subic is a retirement haven – one that will reel in foreigners, high-profile residents residing in Baguio, as well as balikbayans who want an alternative to Metro Manila.Cruz admitted that while 60 percent of their clientele are from foreign markets, local patients would never be displaced.

“The reason why we (BMG) are here is because of Filipino patients,” she said. “The foreign market coming in can be a big boost to the whole tourism business here.”The Belo Medical Group is also working on to set up shops in other countries.
“It’s been my goal for BMG to go international,” said Belo, who mentioned Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia as prospects. There are talks of tie-ups with Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai, which score high in Filipino demographics.

BMG’s global plans will aggressively pour its efforts toward the North American market. In fact, they are in the process of site selection. Soriano envisions a shop in Los Angeles, one of Belo’s favorite cities. “We are very elated that from a small business 15 to 17 years ago, we’ve had many invitations to set up shop. That makes us proud – of being Filipinos and that they have recognized the capability of Dr Belo,” Soriano said.

He added, “I think that’s something we want to share, because on top of the celebrity thing, we are still a medical clinic and a business institution.”What about the perception that a Belo nip-and-tuck costs an arm and a leg? A myth, came Soriano’s quick reply.“We have in fact overseas Filipino workers or OFWs visiting us, and middle income local residents who are regular patients of ours for the last few years. From the working market to the executives to college students, to the society’s crème de la crème – [our clientele] straddles a wide spectrum,” he said.

Belo boasts state-of-the-art technology in cosmetic procedures. One of which is the non-surgical liposuction method called Smart Lipo, hailed for being “less invasive” and with minimal (almost zero) downtime to remove fat via laser. With fat cell membranes destroyed, it allows the removal of fatty and oily deposits extra-cellularly via suction They also have the ‘Belo Essentials’, a set of “nature-derived” cosmetic products, such as face wash, body bar soap, and a whitening lotion. Soriano calls Dr. Belo a “maverick” and an innovator.

“[BMG] is very unmedical when it comes to innovation. There are times that we get the raw end of the deal [because] they dislike her because she thinks differently… We are non-conformist kasi,” he explained. “I don’t think you can find a clinic in the world where everything is there together. I have never seen one and I have gone everywhere. Yes, you can find whatever we do everywhere but usually – such as in the U.S., if you want to have several things done, you have to go different places,” said Belo.
And Dr. Belo attests to the safety of every offering by undergoing most of them herself. “I can’t believe in a procedure unless I have done it,” she affirmed.  Belo indeed creates beauty inside and out.