MANILA, Philippines - Her letters to Santa Claus when she was a little girl would always ask for toy stethoscopes, syringes and doctor play sets. She loved playing doctor, with her brother and sister as willing patients. In her young heart and mind, she knew early on, someday, she would become a doctor.

Her aunt, a lady doctor, inspired her toward this dream. But, she also saw her doctor-aunt would always be very busy, spending most of her time in the hospital, staying out very late and sometimes, not being able to come home because of emergencies. That part of being a doctor, she abhorred.

So,  she went in the direction of dermatology where there are no emergencies and with enough time for her to spend time with her family.

She almost gave up pursuing her dream when she gave birth to their eldest daughter while she was still studying. With the support of parents and friends, along with immense prayers, she was urged to continue her studies. Dr. Manny Calayan, her loving husband,  was behind her all the way.

Known as the beautiful beauty doctor the stars and co-founder of the renowned Calayan Surgicenter,  she is Dr. Pie Calayan.

 “Beauty has been interesting to me for as long as I can remember. Personally, I always strive to maintain a proper lifestyle and be as beautiful as possible,” Dr. Pie says.

Unknown to many, when Dr. Pie was a medical student and when she was just starting her practice, she worked as a TV commercial and print ad model. That was when she got a chance to work with actress, TV host and Pilates expert Plinky Recto in a TVC. Plinky spread the word around that a kind-hearted young doctor can help anyone become beautiful.

Today, the chief dermatologist of the Calayan Surgicenter is the administrator of the Calayan Medical Aesthetics in Beverly Hills, with clients who are mostly Filipinos, Fil-Ams and Caucasians who trust the Calayan brand of professional care. Filipinos even travel from other states to avail of the Calayan treatments because they are known to be the best when it comes to Asian skin.

Dr. Pie considers satisfied patients and getting referrals as the highest compliments she can get. The most fulfilling part for her is being able to attend conventions and seminars regarding the latest and most innovative ways to treat and prevent the most common skin conditions. She welcomes new knowledge and shares it with her patients while applying it to herself as well. Always on the lookout for excellence and perfection, Dr. Pie wants to continue what she does to the best of her ability and in her usual honest  ways. Someday, she hopes to find a treatment for stretch marks that will really make them invisible; a permanent treatment for vitiligo, a disorder that causes depigmentation of patches of skin; white scars which result from injury, surgery, stretch marks, acne or anything that causes the skin to break; eczema, a chronic skin disorder that involves scaly and itchy rashes and blistering or peeling of the skin; and psoriasis, a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation.

Dr. Pie is married to a cosmetic surgeon himself, Dr. Manny Calayan, the pioneer of Smartlipo and Vaserlipo in the Philippines, two revolutionary fat removal procedures that are safe alternatives to traditional liposuction. For this, Dr. Pie feels privileged.

 “Privileged because when the time comes that I need a lift in my face or body, there is nobody better to trust than my better half,” she admits.

Behind the spotlight, Dr. Pie is a simple and  down-to-earth woman.

Her three girls, now in their teenage years, call her “Super Mom” because she does everything in a flash. Having no house help in the US is actually more advantageous to Dr. Pie who admits she is obsessive-compulsive when it comes to cleanliness and getting things done.

“I do everything with efficiency and precision, no guesstimates,” Dr. Pie says. True enough, she applies this in her practice. Even the alternate career she considered, being an FBI agent, requires precision and efficiency.

“I wanted to be an FBI agent because I am fond of crime scene investigations and watching crime shows. The action and being able to go to different places to solve crimes ignited my interest. Too bad I’m already too old to become one,” says Dr. Pie. But, the beauty doctor is never too old to take care of her clients here and abroad. And because of her, the world becomes a more beautiful place to live in.