Hair Restoration in Philippines

Hair restoration treatment is a solution for those who are battling hair loss or balding due to aging or diseases. The main goal is to give patients a full head of hair, as well as to improve their appearance and confidence. Hair restoration can be performed by dermatologists or plastic surgeons. There are numerous different types of hair restoration, ranging from non-surgical to surgical treatments. Some of the most common are:

• Prescription medicine – your doctor can prescribe medicine, such as minoxidil and finasteride, to help stop hair loss and regrow hair. These medicines are usually prescribed for those with pattern (hereditary) baldness, but may not restore as much hair as other types of hair restoration.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – this is a therapy procedure that involves drawing injections of a concentration of your own platelets to your scalp. It is commonly used for androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.
• Microneedling – during microneedling, a skin roller with small needles are used to cause minor skin injury to regenerate the health of the hair follicles, resulting in new hair growth. This procedure is recommended for alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, and male pattern baldness.
• Scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) – this is a type of hair tattooing to give an illusion of having a fuller head of hair. It can be done on any form of hair loss, including those with thinning hair, severe baldness, alopecia, as well as cancer patients and people who want to conceal scars from a hair transplant.
• Hairline lowering surgery – this procedure is best for those who have receding hairlines. It involves “moving” your hairline to its old position or a little closer to your brows. 
• Hair transplant – this is the most popular and effective hair restoration procedure. It works by moving hair follicles from one part of your body or scalp with healthy hair follicles to a balding or thinning part of your scalp. It can also be done to restore hair on other parts of the body, such as your brows.

How Long Should I Stay in Philippines?

The length of stay in Philippines can be different for every person, depending on the type of hair restoration procedure you underwent. In general, you may need to stay in Philippines for 2 to 7 days until you are allowed to travel home. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Different hair restoration procedures have different recovery times. With medications, microneedling, and PRP, no recovery time is usually needed. However, you may be advised to take it easy and avoid strenuous activities for 24 to 48 hours. With scalp micro-pigmentation, hairline lowering surgery, and hair transplant, you may need to take around 5 to 10 days off work. During this period, you should also avoid any strenuous activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

A detailed aftercare instruction will be given by your doctor. It is vital that you follow all of these instructions to get the best results and avoid complications. You may be asked to avoid hair accessories and styling your hair until your scalp has fully healed. 

What's the Success Rate?

With continuous research, improvement in treatment techniques, and advancement in technology, hair restoration procedures are now more successful and safer than ever before. For example, the success rate of hair transplant now ranges from 95% to 98%, and modern hair transplant gives more natural results.

Are there Alternatives?

If you do not want to undergo any medical procedures or take any medications, you can try other hairstyles or use a wig as the non-surgical alternatives. It is best, however, that you consult your doctor regarding the best alternatives for your specific case. 

Hair Restoration in and around Philippines

About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation in the heart of Southeast Asia. It extends from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. It is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’, the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It comprises three main island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital city, lies in the southwestern part of Luzon. Quezon City is the largest and most populous city in the country.

It is a prominent English-speaking country and was once a colony of Spain and the United States. It’s the most Westernised country in Asia. However, its culture is a mix of indigenous Malay culture and Spanish and American heritage.

Besides being one of the top tourist destinations, the Philippines is also an emerging medical tourism destination. It ranks in 8th position among popular medical tourism countries and more than 10,000 medical tourists visit the Philippines every year for various treatments. The following factors all contribute to the progress of medical tourism within the Philippines.

• Expert and board-certified medical professionals with international qualifications and training.
• Internationally-accredited hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment and modern facilities.
• Affordable costs compared to advanced nations
• Inexpensive accommodation
• The English language is widely-spoken making communication with the Medical team and patients easy.
• Tropical climate helps in the recovery and recuperation

The most common and popular procedures and treatments in the Philippines are cosmetic surgery, weight-loss surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. As of late, people come here even for liver and kidney transplant surgeries, and cardiac surgeries due to the cost advantage it provides.

For example, a Breast Augmentation surgery that costs between $7,500-$8,500 in the US costs only between $3,000-$3,500 in the Philippines which would be a saving of about 58% to 60%. Also, a coronary artery bypass surgery costing $70,000-$133,000 in the US, will only cost between $11,500-$17,500 and would result in a saving of almost 83% to 86%. Even after adding travel and living expenses, it still makes it a, very good value for the patient to get medical care in the Philippines and several of the more popular Hospital and Clinics are located in Manila, and are St. Luke's Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center

Popular Parts of the Philippines

The Philippines has a total land area of 116,000 square miles, with a large population of 107,791,044 million people. It has many pristine beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands, heritage towns, and monuments, With hotels, food, and transportation very affordable, it’s also a good budget tourism destination.

The following are some of the most beautiful places to visit in the Philippines:

• El Nido –is known for its white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs and is the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago which is a group of islands. The laid-back town of El Nido is a base for island-hopping tours, and kayaking trips to mountainous Cadlao Island, El Nido is situated on the northern edge of mainland Palawan.
• Coron – Is also situated in Palawan and is known for its warm waters, ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and deep diving. The breathtaking Kayangan Lake, surrounded by karst walls is a visual treat. It is the cleanest lake in the Philippines.
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park –is also part of Palawan and is situated to the southeast, in the Sulu Sea. It’s home to countless coral reefs, and expansive breeds of fish, dolphins, sharks, and whales and It is a great water destination for divers.
• Banaue Rice Terraces – They lie within the mountainous region of the Cordilleras. The rice terraces are about 2,000 years old, a result of the labor of the predecessors of the region and They provide efficient space for people to farm on.
• Intramuros – The walled historical area of Manila contains the remains of a bygone era with its cobblestone streets and preserved remnants. Walking tours and carromata rides (two-wheeled box-like vehicles drawn by a single native pony) are popular here.
• Mount Mayon –is a 2,500-meter-tall active volcano. It’s famed for its perfect symmetry and accurate conical shape. You can enjoy the view from some distance or experience it at close quarters, by hiking for a couple of days.
• Hinatuan Enchanted River – Locals believe the river has mystical qualities. They feel fairies and Engkanto (other nature spirits) guard the enchanting blue-green river. The unknown source of clear saltwater is another mystery surrounding the river.

Boracay and Siargao are other popular tourist spots with their powdery white sand and water activities.

Weather and Climate in the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate. The general weather is hot and very humid. It experiences only three seasons:

1. Summer Season – A very hot and dry summer season is between March and May.
2. Wet Season – Rainy Season is between June and November when the southwest monsoon is most active. In this period, typhoons are common, especially during September and October.
3. Dry Season – There is a cool and dry season between December and February, due to the cold winds brought in by the northeastern monsoon.

The average temperature of the Philippines ranges between 25°C and 32°C (78-90°F) with humidity of about 77%. High-altitude areas are much cooler, with night temperatures dropping to 20°C (68°F). The average annual temperature is around 26.6°C (79.9°F)

Getting Around in the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation, most international travelers reach the country by air. The country has many international airports in various cities including Cebu, Davao, Manila, Kalibo, and Angeles.

Many airlines operate flights in and out of Manila to several destinations. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia are the national carriers of the Philippines. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and many Middle Eastern airlines operate direct flights to Manila. The Southeast Asian cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City have wide connectivity to Manila and Cebu. You can reach Manila directly from London by flying Philippine Airlines. US travelers can fly via Japan to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Philippines, and PAL Express are some low-cost carriers that service domestic destinations in the country.

For transport within the Philippines, you have Jeepneys which are WWII- army jeeps converted into transport jeeps. They are cheap, open, and usually fully loaded with passengers which are normally cramped with 14 to 20 people sitting shoulder to shoulder depending on the length of the vehicle They operate as collective taxis, picking up and dropping passengers within cities.

Tourist Visas in the Philippines

Travelers from more than 150 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines can enter the country without a tourist visa. EU, Australia, Japan, and the US are a few visa-exempt countries. In general, you can stay for up to 30 days, provided your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival. Showing proof of onward and return journeys is compulsory.

Citizens of India, China, and Egypt are some of the countries that will need to get a visa in advance to enter the Philippines.

Additional Information

• Philippine Peso or Piso (PHP) is the official currency of the Philippines. Its subdivision is 100 centavos or centimos for a Peso. The current exchange rate for one US dollar is 51.99 PHP. You will be able to use US Dollars in Metro Manila and possibly in Cebu City. In other areas, it’s better to have pesos for exchange.
• You will find all major banks and plenty of ATMs everywhere. Master and Visa cards are accepted in most businesses.
• Tagalog or Filipino language is the main spoken language. English is also spoken and understood in the Philippines, due to the US influence during its colonization.
• Roman Catholicism is the major religion of the Philippines. 91% of the population are Christians and about 5.5% comprises of Islam religion.
• New Year’s Day, Araw ng Kagitingan, Independence Day, National Hero’s Day, Bonifacio Day, and Christmas are some of the important holidays in the Philippines.