Lea's major, major change

MANILA, Philippines -  Lea Cabanillas cannot recall how many ugly names she’s been called over the past 27 years because of a facial deformity she sustained as an infant. Her ill-informed mother had placed dry ice on her left cheek, which she thought would provide relief to a mild burn, but which on the contrary caused further tissue injury.

Being the eldest of three girls, Lea, like any other regular girl, had dreams: “Gusto ko pong maging computer programmer. Two years lang po ang natapos ko sa college dahil wala po kaming pera.”

At 18, her father, an employee of the Regional Trial Court in Pampanga promised that he would save up for Lea’s plastic surgery. They had a bamboo coin bank where all their spare coins went. Lea’s father, however, died a few months before her 25th birthday, with no money left for their family after his father’s long bout with emphysema.

Lea has done everything from wishing on stars, praying novenas; breaking wishing bones; visiting quack doctors; tossing coins in a wishing well, and completing dawn masses during Christmas. No hope came.

But life is deceptively clever. In 2006, upon a neighbor’s prodding, she sent a letter to GMA 7’s Wish Ko Lang, which set in motion a journey towards renewed confidence and happiness. Wish Ko Lang had arranged for professional help from Beverly Hills 6750 (Multi-Specialty Aesthetic Institute).

Lea met the top-caliber medical professional team of Beverly Hills 6750, which after a series of consultations and treatment planning among its staff, proposed a series of cosmetic procedures: Two sessions of scar revision, spaced six months apart; an upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty); a noselift (rhinoplasty) and two sessions of autolgous fat transfer to certain areas of the face and beneath the scar. Her teeth were also cosmetically enhanced by cleaning and cosmetic bonding — to address the gaps between her teeth.

Along with her beauty surgery, Lea received training certificates on speech and personal development along with nuggets of health and wellness advice from the doctors of Beverly Hills 6750.

Lea, who now works in a call center, smiles and says, “I am so thankful for these blessings. I’m happy! I could not ask for more.”

Beverly Hills 6750 is set to open a branch in Timog Avenue, Quezon City next month. For details, log on to www.bh6750.com.