Celebrating Beauty through the years

Drs. Manny and Pie Calayan are essentially re-defining beauty

​Expect 2016 to be a year of changes and big things for doctors Manny and Pie Calayan.
 
First is the return to Manila of Dra. Pie, who has been based in the US for the last five years and where her daughters are studying. With her return to Manila, she brings news of grand plans for the Calayan Surgicenter, now marking its 21st year in the beauty business.
 
One of the biggest changes will be to their clinics. They currently have two branches: One along Timog Ave. in Quezon City, and the other in Makati, and they plan to open another one in Alabang before the year ends. There are also plans to expand to locations outside Metro Manila, specifically to Baguio and to Japan.

In terms of look, they want to make the clinics more relaxing so clients don’t feel they’re in a medical or surgical facility. Browns, blacks and dark colors will give way to cooler and more comforting pastel shades. Instead of solid walls, they plan to install more glass to allow the passage of air and light. They are also putting in new facial beds, and adding newer and more modern treatment machines. “Papalitan lahat. Our goal is to have a major makeover of the clinics and give them a new image and a fresh, modern look. So the client will feel very at home pa rin at di nila maramdaman na nasa clinic sila,” says Dra. Pie.
 
The planned changes will also include a logo re-design and re-branding from Calayan Surgicenter to Drs. Manny and Pie, who are also called “PieMann” for better recall.
Along with upgrading the clinics and machines, they are also working on their online presence. Their website, http://www.mannyandpiecalayan.com has all the information one would need about their services and clients, who include celebrities like radio-TV host Sam YG. In his testimonial, Sam said: “Nakakalbo ka na ba sa traffic, stress at love life mo? Buti nalang meron ng #HairMax solution si Papi Doc @mannyandpiecalayan #relax#okidoks — @_samyg. The Hair Max solution is just one of many services the Calayans offer. An improved YouTube channel is also in the offing where Dra. Pie answers all questions on skin and beauty, among others.
 
But the most important change happening is that the couple plans to make their approach even more personalized.
“We are focusing more now on personalized consultation and treatment. Hands-on,” explains Dra. Pie, who is eager and excited over all the big things happening in their group. “Sa ibang clinics kasi, when you go there for a consultation, maraming doctors, may nagko-konsulta sa iyo, tapos may gagawang iba. But with us it’s really personalized. Kami pa rin ni Doc. And we really try to have a personalized relationship with our clients, that if they have questions, madali kaming ma-contact para sumagot. Si Doc ‘yung nag-o-opera, and I do the procedures, especially if the patient wants it that way. But usually, ‘yun nga, lahat ng surgery kay Doc, lahat ng derma sa akin. So that means lahat ng skin-related issues like pigmentation, fine lines, whitening, I take care of those.”
 
They really want to take a more personalized approach this year. Dra. Pie is even incorporating her own vegan lifestyle into the advice she dispenses to patients. The Calayans — and Dra. Pie in particular — are avid practitioners of what she calls “alternative dermatology” in which drugs or medicine are not always the first option in treatment.
 
Health and wellness are now prime concerns. It’s not just about looking good on the outside — the cosmetic aspect of it — but also feeling good on the inside.
She explains: “I try to avoid if possible giving drugs to my patients. The products I have are plant-based, like my lifestyle, because I’m vegan. Nakita ko ang benefit sa akin. Pati patients ni Doc, ako na rin nag-co-consult sa kanila on how to maintain their post-lipo figure. I give them what they can do, what food they can eat, kasi ang plants naman are naturally low in calories.”
 
A holistic approach to beauty, that’s what it’s about. It’s like going back to the basics, but in a more modern setting. “I treat the patient as a whole, and not just the symptoms,” says Dra. Pie. “Like with acne for instance, there are a lot of factors why people get acne, so we consider all the factors. We unravel everything that could cause acne, para maiwasan. Gusto ng patients ‘yon, especially teenagers. I don’t introduce chemical or drugs into their bodies.”
With this kind of approach, the Calayans are essentially re-defining beauty. But these innovations do not come with an outrageous price tag. As much as possible, says Dra. Pie, they are keeping the prices to a reasonable level.
 
They even introduced promos on special days and holidays, like Valentine’s Day.
They believe beauty is — or should be — for everyone. “We want to cater to people from all walks of life.”
I have a long-standing friendship with Drs. Manny and Pie and I am endorsing the Calayan brand. It is always good to see and be associated with people you have put your trust on.
 
What a beautiful world it is, indeed!