Dr. Mariano R. Agcaoili Jr. and Dr. Corazon Collantes-Jose

A good doctor prioritizes safety as being paramount for the patient. The patient’s discernment in assessing the doctor is important, they must be aware that their safety is not breached nor routinely approached.

“There are doctors who do not have the complete and proper training to practice cosmetic surgery.  Worst, there are those who have no medical background or nurses with their prolong assistance to the cosmetic surgeon, do surgery themselves. The patients pay the high price of being a victim of these scrupulous people, resulting to lost of life or physical deformities,” says Dr. Corazon Collantes-Jose. 

Dr. Collantes-Jose, chairman and co-founder of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery (PSCS) is also one of the “Top 100 Best Cosmetic Surgeons of the World” awardee.  And being among the few pioneers and mentor of most and upcoming cosmetic surgeons, she was acclaimed in the industry as the “Mother of Cosmetic Surgery.” 

Along with Dr. Mariano Agcaoili Jr., PSCS president, Dr. Jose heightens concerns on safe, less or minimally invasive and acceptable surgical results on patients.

Cosmetic surgery is surgery, and it should not be equated to a beauty parlor visit because according to Drs. Jose and Agcaoili Jr., any operations have some degree of inherent risks and life-threatening complications. Only board certified, competent and well-trained surgeons by a recognized cosmetic surgeon with proven track record of successful operations should perform the procedures in the proper location and environment.

“There are also those who advertise about painless, non-invasive cosmetic repair using paraffin, collagen and silicon injection, all of which are dangerous and damaging toxins.  The silicon grade they use is undetermined and toxic (imagine the silicon use in cars are injected to the body!), paraffin results to facial palsy, disfigurement, and rare, but life-threatening problems such as severe allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock. While too much of collagen taken from bovine can cause collagen disease,” adds Dr. Mariano Agcaoili Jr. 

To protect the interest  of the patients and the profession, Dr. Burgos Sayoc, an EENT specialist founded the PSCS in 1972 as  exponent of safe surgical or minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. The organization, now recognized internationally,   continuous  to  innovate technologies through providing a venue for intensive training on local and foreign doctors towards safe, less, minimally or non-invasive and maximized cosmetic results on patients. It is regarded as an authority and the most credible and respectable organization in the country as the center for cosmetic enhancement training.

The two doctors stressed the importance of aesthetic sense and judgment in assessing patients to maximize acceptable cosmetic results fitted for their personality and needs. In doing the refinements of patient the artistic talent of the doctor is very important to prevent the artificial look after a procedure. For example, there are respective surgeons who are expert in nose and facial contouring such as Dr. Agcaoili Jr. He is credited by Dr. Jose as a distinct doctor with a “virtuoso touch” in cosmetic enhancements because of the unnoticeable, natural looking results of his works — each one a masterpiece.

A plastic surgeon cannot be mistaken as a cosmetic surgeon. These are two different disciplines and specialization. While some plastic surgeons are also into cosmetic surgery, they are for a more in-depth reconstruction of abnormal disfigurement such as congenital defects, injuries or lost of limbs from accidents and similar situations. 

 “Cosmetic surgery is a specialty by itself and its main purpose is rejuvenation and enhancement of what is already normal for a pleasing personality and improved relationships with their partners,” says Dr. Jose. 

(Visit the PSCS office at Rm. 505 Citiland Tower III, Rufino St., Legaspi Village, Makati or call Dr. Jose at 819-2966, Dr. Agcaoili Jr., at 724-3675.)