From time to time, I visit beauty clinics for facial treatments.
I’ve been to Belo, Aivee, and even Calayan.
I also used to frequent Luz Facial Care because I noticed two actresses with beautiful skin going there. But I was puzzled when I saw them endorsing other clinics. Por qué?
That was the first time I realized how tricky advertising could be.
The price difference between Luz and the high-end clinics was malayo.
Luz’s most expensive facial was almost 10 times cheaper than the basic facial of high-end clinics.
But, of course, the service difference was milya-milya.
Before a Belo facial, a dermatologist would talk to me and make recommendations.
After the session, my skin would feel so soft and supple.
On the other hand, regular clinics had sometimes left my skin stinging.
BEAUTY CLINIC'S SLIMMING PROMOS
Years later, after the pandemic, I decided to try slimming treatments.
I came across a promo from a clinic on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.
It offered a 20-20-20 deal: 60 slimming treatments for PHP20,000.
It seemed too good to be true, but I gave it a shot.
The catch? I was asked to pay an additional PHP40,000 to make the treatments less painful.
Weird, right? Mas mahal pa yung extra pay! Hahaha.
I left and tried a similar procedure at another clinic. Surprisingly, it was uncomfortable but it wasn’t that super painful.
But after three sessions, I didn’t see or feel any remarkable change.
The treatment was Cryolipolysis, designed to target fats using cold temperature.
Next, I tried a slimming package at another clinic along Quezon Avenue.
I was most interested in RF slimming treatments, which use radio frequency to reduce fats and tighten skin, and lipocavitation, which uses ultrasound waves to break down fat cells and reduce cellulite.
After two months of weekly sessions, nothing happened.
A friend told me the sessions were too short to be effective.
Worse, the clinic failed to explain many things before I paid for the promo, such as:
- The short duration of each session
- The limit on the number of treatments per visit
- The do’s and don’ts before and after treatments
At this same clinic, I overheard an aesthetician saying their boss wanted them to ration vials for drips.
The aesthetician she was talking to complained, “Teka, andaming nag-avail ng free gluta drips.”
The response? “Basta in a month, pagkasyahin lang daw natin.”
I never returned.
The aesthetician who complained eventually resigned and referred me to another clinic at Eton Centris on EDSA.
This new clinic’s promo was three times more expensive but still cheaper than the offerings at high-end clinics.
This was where I learned how treatments should be done properly.
I also realized that I had been doing a lot of bawal, which explained why the RF and lipocavitation didn’t work for me. Of course, wala rin akong due diligence kaya ang shonga-shonga, hahaha. Puwede naman akong mag-Google, di ba.
But puwede namang mag-explain din si beauty clinic.
The dermatologist suggested combining RF with mesolipo injections. She also explained the process, the effects, the possible results.
I agreed, and within two weeks, I lost a inch from my waist!
Unfortunately, the aesthetician who handled my mesolipo injections eventually left to work abroad.
After finishing my package, I didn’t continue since I had already achieved my desired weight.
A week ago, I wanted meso injections again, so I checked promos online.
I found several on Facebook offering incredibly cheap deals. But when I asked how many ml (milliliter) per session, one clinic said 3 ml, and another answerd 1 ml. I was shocked!
My previous clinic used 10 ml per session. I decided to go to a high-end clinic.
The difference was grabe—from the ambiance to the service.
The doctor even sent reminders about my diet, and I am looking forward to my next session.
So, what’s the purpose of this long story?
It’s different strokes for different folks, but before availing of promos, research thoroughly.
Compare costs and services across clinics, and check reviews.
Be matanong and makulit—after all, you’re investing in yourself.
And if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.