"I like women, beautiful women," Dr. Clero shares in his charming French accent. Seated comfortably in his well-appointed clinic at The Clinique Internationale d’Esthetique in Ayala Alabang, he continues, "They are already beautiful and to make them more beautiful – it’s a nice job!"
Dr. Clero has always marveled at the beauty of the female face and the female form, in the same manner that he has always loved the arts. Yes, he admits, the French are appreciative of the arts and aesthetics. He in particular is fascinated by architecture, painting and design – and this fascination extends to helping re-design, so to speak, someone who desires to improve her appearance.
Although he was trained as a neurosurgeon at the University of Paris, Dr. Clero found aesthetic surgery more to his liking. After practising aesthetic surgery with the world-renowned Prof. Ivo Pitanguy in Brazil, Dr. Clero founded the La Clinique d’Esthetique Raymond Poincare in Paris where he gained a reputation as a top aesthetic surgeon. There he specialized in such procedures as tumescent liposuction, body sculpting and contouring, and skin- rejuvenation programs.
The co-developer (with Prof. Pierre Bedard) of the Microfollicular Hair Grafting Technique, Dr. Clero also specializes in hair reconstructive surgery, and shares his knowledge and skills with other physicians.
He begs to disagree with those who insist that undergoing cosmetic surgery is mere vanity. "It’s not a question of being vain," he elaborates. "I had always wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid and I never changed. A doctor’s first goal is to help people who are sick and to help them get well. Cosmetic surgery has exactly the same purpose – it makes people feel well."
Which is not to say that Dr. Clero recommends cosmetic surgery at the drop of a hat. He acknowledges, "Some people have a lot of surgery but they never feel good. (I can tell) when we talk. I tell them they don’t need surgery if they don’t."
If a woman is considering cosmetic surgery, Dr. Clero says, "I won’t really convince her because this is no ordinary surgery – it is something that will change your life. You don’t go through surgery like you go through your hairdresser. It’s a decision. If you want to feel good then yes, I will do it."
In his over a year-and-a-half stay in the Philippines, Dr. Clero is not surprised to see that cosmetic surgery is fast becoming popular among Filipinas.
"Whether French or Filipina," he observes, "the concept of beauty is almost the same. Filipinas are nice to look at – they’re really friendly, always smiling, like all Filipinos. Everything about them is beautiful – beautiful faces, beautiful lips."
As with all surgical procedures, liposuction is not without risks, and all those who are thinking of undergoing the procedure must first consult their doctor and members of their family.
Dr. Clero reveals that the most commonly-requested procedures by women in his clinic are liposuction on their thighs, breast enhancement, and eyelid and eyebag removal. Among men, it’s hair transplantation and liposuction of the abdomen. Dr. Clero also does dermatological procedures "from the head to the toes."
"When people talk about laser," Clero notes, "everybody says, ‘This is magic, it is high-tech.’ For sure we can use laser to remove the first layer of the skin, but for me it is more dangerous and is less effective than a good peeling. So I don’t use laser."
Attesting to Dr. Clero’s skills as an aesthetic surgeon, foreigners have been trooping to his clinic as much as Filipinos have. Koreans, Singaporeans, Malaysians come over, and even patients from as far as Switzerland, Germany and Paris. Patients are assured that Dr. Clero himself performs all the surgical procedures in his clinic, rather than delegating them to assistants. By January or February 2004, he will open his clinic at Makati’s RCBC.
"After surgery they’re very happy," Dr. Clero says with visible satisfaction about his patients. "They’re so happy that they say to me, ‘Why didn’t I do this 10 years ago’?"
The Clinique Internationale d’Esthetique is located at 357 San Juanico St., Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Private consultations with Dr. Clero are strictly by appointment only.