Filipino surgeon builds beauty empire

A Filipino cosmetic surgeon has built a new facility that promotes non-invasive aesthetic procedures to enhance physical features, using the patient’s own body fat.

Dr. Alfredo Callanta provides personal and face-to-face consultation with a patient at Empire Centre for Regenerative Medicine.’

Dr. Alfredo Callanta provides personal and face-to-face consultation with a patient
at Empire Centre for Regenerative Medicine.’

Dr. Alfredo Callanta, a world- renowned plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, is an expert in the field of non-surgical fat grafting for facial and bodily rejuvenation.

With Singaporean partners sinking in at least $1 million, Callanta and his partners established Empire Center for Regenerative Medicine, considered as the pioneer in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.

“Empire is committed to providing highly specialized procedures to people in and around the globe who have the preference for non-invasive treatments at relatively no downtime at less than normal fees other medical facilities overseas charge,” says Callanta.

Empire, located in the business district of Quezon City, began operations in 2014 and has since then become a go-to place for cosmetic procedures in the Philippines, helping drive the growth of medical tourism.

The facility’s popularity has encouraged foreign tourists to flock into the country to undergo cosmetic procedures.

The fat grafting procedure is the facility’s most popular cosmetic treatment that allows patients to ‘roll back’ the years lost through a technique using their own fat.

The use of fat is also fast becoming the procedure of choice for women looking to enhance their body such as  the breasts or the butt, says Callanta.

“There is definitely a growing demand for regenerative medicine here in the region and cosmetic surgery continues to be an ever-evolving industry here in the Philippines,” Callanta says.

He cites the results of recent studies showing that fat has the highest potential to stimulate the growth of stem cells.

In one of his seminars abroad, Callanta met fellow plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Amar, who created the so-called fat autograft muscle injection fat graft technique. FAMI fat graft  seeks to restore the lost volume by utilizing fat from the patient’s body.

The technique is touted as a very specialized discipline that only a select group of surgeons across the globe are proficient in it, each handpicked by Amar himself. Callanta is the only one in Asia that is able to administer the FAMI technique.

Callanta holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Sto. Tomas and has done his internship and residency at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City where he became chief resident for general surgery.

Empire Centre for Regenerative Medicine opens its doors to patients from all over the world who seek minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.

Empire Centre for Regenerative Medicine opens its doors to patients from all
over the world who seek minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.

Empire offers select rejuvenation processes to restore the natural tautness of facial, breast and butt muscles that are normally subject to lack of elasticity and firmness as part of the aging process.

The facility offers butt augmentation via fat graft, which is commonly referred to as the ‘Brazilian Butt Lift’ and has been a procedure gaining fast popularity.

This procedure is more tricky as it requires the procedure to be in proportion to other body parts.

Callanta, a pioneer in facial rejuvenation process, also noticed that traditional facelift which usually cuts off excess or sagging skin is not aesthetically pleasing as observed by more discerning clients.

“The method oftentimes results in stiff and somewhat overstretched look of the facial skin. Our facial rejuvenation procedure is very natural with surprisingly less down time,” he says.

He says Empire clients can undergo a procedure on a Friday and come back to work on a Monday, after three to six hours of non-invasive procedure.

Even young people in teens and young adults have come to embrace the technology of cosmetic procedures to enhance their physical appearance, he says.

“What needs to be understood is that our hospitals and medical clinics are already at par with top-notch institutions in Europe and America when it comes to cosmetic procedures. A lot of doctors, if not most, are internationally trained with extensive experience in their respective medical fields,” he says.

“I have been doing cosmetic procedures for more than a decade now and each patient I have is a testament to how effective, safe, and reliable fat grafting is. The Philippines has so much potential in this particular medical field and we at Empire are positive that the local medical tourism will continue to grow in the coming years,” he says.

He says the Philippines has emerged as one of Asia’s most advanced nations in the field of healthcare. With many countries offering advanced healthcare services, the competitive edge of the Philippines is its lower cost, he says.

“We will soon be the hub in aesthetic medical procedures in the region. I’m quite positive that we have the perfect blend of expertise and pricing that will, all the more encourage people to come to the Philippines and have their procedures here,” says Callanta.

source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com / The Standard / Home> Business / by Other V. Campos / July 04th, 2015

UP AND ABOUT – How to satisfy your travel bug and salvage your teeth

Dental tourism is gaining more patrons, especially with hospitals and travel firms throwing in attractive sightseeing packages

DentalCT07jul2015

If you are looking forward to a holiday but have some dental work to be taken care of, there’s no need to panic. Dental tourism, a part of the increasingly popular medical tourism segment, is on the rise.

In some cases, patients coming to India now also have the option of scheduling their treatment as per their itinerary – getting the initial work-up done at one clinic for instance and then travelling to another city for further treatment.

“We are exploring the possibilities. If a patient lets us know well in advance, we can plan their itinerary in such a way that they can do their treatment in two or more cities. We have had a few patients who have done this,” says V.S. Venkatesh, CEO, Apollo White Dental, which has centres in 17 cities across India. This way, patients get to explore parts of the country while getting their dental work done.

Mr. Venkatesh says most patients were from the middle-east where dental care was very expensive, while the rest were from African countries and Europe.

For many patients, coming on a ‘dental vacation or holiday’ to India makes sense – there are immense cost advantages, care by internationally-trained consultants and often, clinics take care of sightseeing as well.

Google ‘dental tourism India’ and a host of companies offering options pop up – both dental care clinics and travel firms that liaise with hospitals.

The website of Dental India Tourism says, “We manage your travel and dental experience, from transport, hotel and sightseeing to the best cosmetic dentists in India.” Travel India Company, based out of Bangalore, claims to “club your dental package with a nice package tour visiting some of the interesting cities of India.”

But, before you opt for the dental tourism option, make sure you take a few precautions: look at the costs, find a reputable dentist and connect your previous dentist with him/her and plan your post-appointment care.

In a more romantic era, men wrote letters with quills dipped in blood to their loved ones. Now, both women and men take to ink and it is equally heartfelt as it is on their body.

Tara Shankar celebrated her 36th birthday last month by getting the name of her husband and daughter tattooed onto her wrist.

“It is an ambigram, reading ‘Shankar’ if you look at it from one direction and ‘Askhika’ from the other. They both mean the world to me, so their names are etched into my body,” she says.

Denver Rodrigues ushered in his parents’ 50th anniversary by getting their names tattooed in an ambigram within a heart on his wrist. “I never even thought of getting tattoos before as they are permanent. But my parents’ love for each other is permanent too,” says the 48-year-old.

Naveen Kumar, owner of Irezumi, a popular tattoo parlour in the city, says the city has not been shy to get inked.

“Ambigrams are very popular. Increasingly, doctors and IT professionals are coming in for tattoos, but we have a steady stream of college students too,” he says.

In an age characterised by the ephemerality of relationships, it is a wonder that people are taking such permanent steps to wear their heart on their sleeve.

(Reporting by Zubeda Hamid and Evelyn Ratnakumar)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Zubeda Hamid / July 06th, 2015

Dubai: Thumbay Group, SNTTA sign MoU to boost medical tourism

Dubai :

“Dubai has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and professional practice and we want to contribute our mite to the vision, mission and goals of the UAE health authorities,” says Akbar Moideen Thumbay, director healthcare and retail, Thumbay group UAE.

ThumbayCT06jul2015

“There are so many issues relating to medical tourism and because the area is developing so quickly it’s becoming essential that hospitals, insurers and policy makers, to name a few work together closely to streamline processes to cater to this market. UAE has tremendous potential to come up as the most important medical-tourism destination for the people of this region,” he added.

Founder president of Thumbay Group UAE, Thumbay Moideen and T L S Iyer, general manager of SNTTA signed a memorandum of understanding to offer advanced services for medical and health tourists. Akbar Moideen Thumbay, director healthcare and retail, Thumbay Group UAE, Dr Benazir Ameer Ali, director Thumbay International Medical and Health Tourism Department, Valsala Kumar, group general manager (finance and administration) and Vishal Sood, general manager SNTTA were present on the occasion.

Thumbay Hospitals and SNTTA have strategically partnered to assist and offer world-class services at affordable prices to international patients and guests and to look after all their needs whilst in the UAE. We understand the changing dynamics medical tourism and we are learning to adapt, says Dr Benazir Ameer Ali, director Thumbay medical and health tourism department.

The partnership will help Thumbay Hospital to extend its reach and market worldwide to prospective patients. This partnership will leave Thumbay Hospital to concentrate on its commitment of providing world class healthcare at affordable prices. SNTTA will look after the travel, accommodation and other logistics for Thumbay Hospital’s international patients and increase their client base which is a win-win situation for both and create an all-inclusive package for international patients including air flights, hotel accommodation, visa and excursion facilities.

SNTTA will be venturing in medical tourism for the first time and will be able to offer healthcare services to its ever growing number of tourists said T L S Iyer, general manager of SNTTA. SNTTA tourists will now have a preferred healthcare provider in Thumbay Hospitals to take care of their tourists 24X7 in the UAE.

“As part of the strategic plans, Thumbay Group is planning to open representative offices in 20 countries to educate people about medical facilities and services at all Thumbay Hospitals in UAE. We expect to have about 1000 patients as medical tourists per day in the next 5 – 6 years. It is ambitious but achievable,” says an optimistic Akbar Moideen Thumbay.

Medical tourism is now perceived as one of the fastest growing segments in healthcare. The recent trend is for patients to travel from developed countries to third world countries for medical treatment because of cost consideration, waiting time, privacy, and confidentiality, though the traditional pattern still continues. Technology will lead the way in future medical tourism. Along with that we can expect extremely personalized services, niche specialist centers, wider network of partnerships, increased number of accreditation, certifications and industry specific associations said Dr Benazir. To offer our personalized services, we are the first medical tourism provider to have opened a counter in Sharjah International Airport and we are planning to open one in Dubai International Airport soon, she added.

“Thumbay Hospitals have been at the forefront of developing the necessary infrastructure to attract medical tourists. We have a department here establishing this,” Akbar Moideen said. The international medical tourism department of Thumbay Hospitals aims to cater to an extensive number of patients and be known as the preferred hospital for medical tourism in UAE. Currently, Thumbay Hospitals receive inquiries from a wide range of clientele including hospitals, medical practitioners, partnered agents, and various inquiry forwarding websites from across the globe.

Thumbay Hospitals is aligning itself with Dubai’s Vision 2020 for medical tourism. Along with Dubai, the other Emirates of UAE are gearing up to attract more medical tourists in the near future. This would mean increasing patient requirements, higher demand for facilities and larger calls for personalization.

Looking at the current and future trends in medical tourism, Thumbay Hospital has developed enhanced facilities, maintaining highest standards of quality and offering packages with a wide range of personalization options. The medical tourism industry is going through an exciting phase where international and intra-regional activities are taking place within this sector of the health market.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld / Home> Gulf / Media Release / Dubai – July 06th, 2015

Health and Wellness, Protagonists of the New Tourism

WellnessCT06jul2015

Visiting the monuments, going to the beach, enjoying the cuisine… and also getting a facelift and a full body treatment. Tourism has evolved in recent years, resulting in a much broader and different concept. The new tourism is health tourism.

From a cardiovascular operation or aesthetic surgery to firming and anti-aging skin treatments, so-called health tourism keeps on gaining followers as the days go by. There are already many destinations recognized for this type of tourism rather than the traditional one.

UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, are among the main destinations receiving tourists interested in the medical-aesthetic treatments. They become patients more than tourists, seeking the best specialists and the best centers. In Dubai, the Armada Towers are one of the best exponents of health tourism.

In the popular area of Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), the Armada BlueBay houses a Wellness and Spa center, the “Armada Women Center and Spa;” a hospital, the “Armada Medical Center” and a hospital for less invasive treatments and minor surgeries, plus the “Armada Day Care Surgical Center,” among other venues such as shopping areas.

Undoubtedly, the Armada BlueBay hotel is a meeting point for all those tourists looking for a medical-aesthetic treatment. Among other techniques, the hospital specializes in rhinoplasty, facial reconstructions, facelifts and liposuction, which require a certified stay in the hospital for less than 24 hours. You could say they are express surgeries.

In addition, the Armada Medical Center has the specialties of a referral hospital in cardiology, vascular surgery, general surgery, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine… Any intervention is possible if you have more than one day for it.

Nevertheless, what you expect from this type of tourism is not all surgery. Relaxation, improved health and well-being are also in demand and available through less invasive treatments. The Armada Women Center and Spa offers rituals to pamper the body with seaweed and hot stone, aromatherapy and even anti-aging treatments based on the use of collagen. Facials stain, anti-redness and sensitive skin treatments with natural products are some of the most demanded by tourists.

source: http://www.travelpulse.com / Travel Pulse / Home> Opinion Home> Blue Bay Hotels & Resorts Adventures / by Teba Siles / July 06th, 2015

HUMAN: Medical Tourism: Your Hospital Away from Home

Operation Getaway

CDC

CDC

Where will you be going for your summer vacation? With schools out and businesses humming along with less than full rosters, most Americans are taking to the beach, visiting theme parks, attending destination weddings or planning trips to see relatives this summer.

But for an estimated 750,000 Americans this year, the next getaway won’t be used to spend time relaxing, but rather to save money on health care, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the latest Milliman Medical Index, which analyzes Americans’ health-care spending, the typical family of four covered by an average employer-sponsored preferred provider organization (PPO) spends $24,671 on health care. The CDC pegs the total cost of health-care spending annually at $2.9 trillion. In order to save money on their health-care costs, Americans are looking abroad for cheaper, but no less effective, treatment options.

Medical tourism certainly comes with potential risks, but many patients would not otherwise be able to afford critical or even elective procedures. Medical tourists are traveling for everything from the most basic outpatient procedures to much more complicated surgeries requiring weeks of recovery.

source: http://www.news.discovery.com / Home> D News> Human / by Talal Al-Khatib / June 30th, 2015