Beauty has no age limit

It was of no surprise to me when news broke out that 18-year-old talented Filipina singer and MTV favorite Charice Pempengco went for Botox and Thermage treatments to prepare for her cameo role on Glee.

Gone are days when age was a supreme consideration for cosmetic procedures. The new cutting-edge cosmetic technologies have surpassed all age barriers.  Young and old are now seen in beauty clinics. During my last visit to Beverly Hills 6750, a 13-year-old girl was in consultation for rhinoplasty or nose lift. She claimed her wide nose was giving her an inferiority complex.  While confidentiality is part and parcel of this one-stop clinic, her supportive mother happens to be my friend and discussed the matter with me when she saw me in the waiting lounge.

As I was waiting for my turn to consult with my dermatologist, a charming 89-year-old lady struck up a conversation with me.  She is turning 90 in a few months and wants a complete overhaul — lose some inches on her waist, fillers for her wrinkles, a non-invasive procedure to tighten her face, (like Thermage or Refirm), Botox on her forehead — all the works. She said she is a ballroom dancer and plans to have a big bash with her dance mates on her birthday.  She has been a ballroom dancer for 30 years now.  I was totally dumbfounded but amused at her vanity.  Right there and then, she got my vote as the epitome of an empowered woman of the 21st century.  When she stood up, I noticed that she was sprite, walked without a limp like most elderly people are wont to do, and had no yaya assisting her.  I was so curious to know how her consultation went, but I knew pretty much she would get what she wanted.  I vowed to be like her when I reached 89.

I was there to consult about the light melasma I have on my right cheek, which sprouted after my last trip to Boracay.  Dr. Abe Marinduque suggested that I try their newly acquired machine from France, a machine that does the most extraordinary facial.  The French doctors believe that skin problems are indeed multiple in origins and so they created a machine that can remedy a range of specific problems. Called the Advance Derma Method (ADM), the machine integrates the most high-performance techniques such as soft peeling (good for my melasma) ultrasound (to tighten the skin), Luminology (high luminescent diodes which have different stages of protocols associated to a specific color. This protocol, when diffused to the skin, amplifies the result targeted), and vacuum drainage massage.  The procedure is totally non-invasive and is done in an hour or a little longer if there are other concerns like skin whitening and treatment of acne scars.

My treatment started with a soft peel. My aesthetician covered my face with a cleansing peeling lotion, exclusive to the ADM technology.  She ran a vibrating spatula on my face for the purpose of deep cleansing. This process eliminates dead cells and impurities from my skin. Step 2: The ultrasound waves through a special small tube-like instrument was ran through my entire face and neck to smooth the lines and wrinkles.  The metabolic stimulation caused by this action brings strength and firmness to the skin. I felt a tightening effect right after. Step 3: They gave me a vacuum massage to flush toxins out of my body through tissular drainage.  It felt really good and Dr. Marinduque explained that the anti-fibrous action of the vacuum machine can also treat wrinkles and body fat.  It was passed all over my face and neck to drain whatever impurities I have in the cutaneous tissues. Step 4: I underwent a Luminologie treatment.  My problem being melasma, they treated the spot with a protocol of specific color that diffused luminous energy on the targeted spot. My treatment stretched to another 30 minutes because I also wanted a whitening effect so a “white care mask” was applied to my face. This mask is supposed to treat uneven discoloration, age spots, and whitens dark spots. It is derived from plant extracts selected to whiten skin.  The shea butter on the mask smoothes and hydrates the skin and since it is enriched with vitamin E, it protects skin from free radicals. This facial is called Duo Lift Expert in France because one can choose two effects in one facial: I chose firming and whitening. One can opt for a combination of firming and treatment of acne scars, or  choose only one treatment like firming or whitening. The good news is, the price is just right. For such an effective facial, Beverly Hills 6750 charges P2,500.  This facial applies to both men and women.  The ADM machine can also be done on the body for whatever concerns a client has.