(August 16, 2010)

In light of the libel charges filed against him by the Belo Medical Group for false and baseless statements, Atty. Argee Guevarra should be more circumspect in making such defamatory remarks.

For the record, Atty. Guevarra’s accusations against the Belo companies are downright false. The Belo companies, including their doctors, strictly comply with all government-issued rules and regulations. As an example of the falsity of Atty. Guevarra’s claims, it only shows how ignorant he is to call botox a plastic surgery procedure, when it’s just a non-invasive injection.

Dr. Belo is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the International Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgeons and the American Society of Lipoplastic Surgery.

Being a lawyer, Atty. Guevarra should know that if he has legitimate grievances, then he must air them in the appropriate forum rather than in the media. In this regard, we shall be filing the appropriate actions, including civil and criminal charges, against Atty. Guevarra for disseminating these malicious lies against us.

by Denise R. Cabotage

Facial contouring helps improve the features of the face in so many ways. Looking at how society has perceived beauty, most men and women have specific areas of their face that they want to improve or accentuate. Some are very conscious with having large cheeks or round-shaped faces. While some complain having hollowed faces, brought about by aging which caused the skin to lose its elasticity. Others are conscious about not having asymmetrical features and are very discontented with the shape of their noses or chins.

Belo Medical Group offers treatments such as Thermage, Fraxel and Collagen-Induction Treatment which help improve the production of collagen of the skin, resulting into fuller and tighter-looking facial features. For those who want smaller cheeks or lessen the double chin, you can choose to have Face Liposuction or Buccal Fat Removal. If you want to improve the shape of your nose or chin, Belo offers Rhinoplasty or Chin Augmentation. All treatments are done by well-trained doctors who handle state-of-the-art equipment that assures a natural look minus the downtime.

But then again, lucky are those who can spend a considerable amount of their money on cosmetic surgery. For those who are a bit tight on the budget or are still saving up for that beauty makeover, we want to help you out by giving some tips on how to create facial contour with your ever-reliable make-up kit. Read on and ready your makeup arsenal so you can contour your own face in no time!

What you need:

1) Wedge Sponge

2) face base (foundation should match the color of your skin)

3) Concealer

4) Eyeshadow brush

5) Blush brush (kabuki brush works best)

6) Matte Brown eyeshadow/bronzer

7) Highlighter (powder works best to make it more natural)

8 ) Translucent Powder

9) Lip color and lip liner

10) Eyeliner

11) Mascara

Eyebag Removal (Belo Equivalent: Laser Blepharoplasty for the eyebags)

1. Preferably after applying eye primer, simply dab (do not spread) the concealer on your dark eyebags. Concealer should be two times lighter than your complexion and make sure to get the correct base. Yellow-based concealer is best for Asian skin while the green and purple-based are best for Caucasians.

Make sure that you don’t go past the bottom of your eyebags, or it will bulge even more.

2. Brush on some powder highlighter on top which will instantly brighten your eyes giving you a fresher look. The powder will also set the concealer so it won’t budge.

Voila! No more eyebags and dark eyes! People will just be jealous and think you just had the loooongest beauty rest.

Taller or Thinner Nose (Belo Equivalent: Rhinoplasty/Tip-plasty)

Most Filipinos are concerned with having flat nose bridges. Worry no more because just an eyeshadow brush and a brown matte eyeshadow/bronzer will do the work for you. No matter your skin tone, remember to use formulas in colors that are only one to two shades darker than your natural skin color.

1. Examine the feature in question in the mirror. Slim down a bulbous nose by using your eyeshadow brush or wedge sponge with your shadow color. Starting at the top left side of the bulb of your nose, create a faint vertical line going through the roundest part of edge of the bulb. The line should taper off into the crease of your nostril.

2. Now, do the same to the right side of the bulb. The space between the lines should be parallel and the same width as the rest of your nose. Blend the color out and over your nostrils to make the roundest parts of the bulb of your nose disappear. This will give the illusion that your nose is the same width from top to bottom.

3. Dust lightly with translucent powder to set and disguise any faint lines which might appear. Now that’s a nose lift in no time!

Higher and Rounder Cheekbones (Belo Equivalent: Thermage or CIT)

or

Smaller Cheeks (Belo Equivalent: Face Liposuction or Buccal Fat Removal)

1. Pull your hair back into a ponytail or headband so that you have easier access to your entire face and jaw line. Suck in your cheeks and using the bronzer brush, apply a very light dusting of matte bronzer at the hollow part and going towards the top of your left jawbone near your ears.

2. This time, smile in front of the mirror and using an eyeshadow brush, apply highlighter at the fullest part of your cheeks.

3. Check in your large mirror for drastic lines and soften it with translucent powder. The powder will also set the makeup.

4. If you want to put more focus on achieving smaller cheeks, you can apply the matte eyeshadow/bronzer at the sides of your face but make sure to apply lightly.

Double Chin Removal/Smaller Chin (Belo Equivalent: Chin Augmentation)

1. Using a small amount of matte eyeshadow/bronzer, sweep with a bronzer brush just under your natural jawline from ear to ear. Blend well back toward your neck.

2. If you have a strong jawline and aiming for a smaller chin, apply the bronzer light above the jawline but make sure to sweep lightly to make it more natural.

3. Set your contour makeup with a translucent powder. With a fluffy powder brush, sweep a small amount all over neck and throat. This will minimize color rub off and help the makeup last all day.

Keep your makeup matte to create a softer palette and light accents will make your features look less strong.

Fuller Lips (Belo Equivalent: Restylane and Radiesse)

1. Choose a lip color then apply lip liner in a shade that closely matches the lip color you want to use.

2. Draw the lip liner all the way around the outlines of your mouth and apply lipstick to your lips. You can use a makeup brush or apply the color straight from the tube.

3. Now here’s the best highlighter trick, dab with your finger and put a light layer just in the middle of your lower lip.

The sheen in the middle will give an instant Angelina Jolie pucker.

Bigger Eyes (Belo Equivalent: Laser Blepharoplasty)

1. Apply the light brown eyeshadow from lash line to past the crease. Bring more light and balance to the eye area by applying the same eyeshadow along the lower lash lines. Dab the highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes and under your browbones to add more subtle enhancements to your eye makeup. Every time the light shines on your eyelids, the shimmer will draw attention to them even without your evident use of color. For small eyes, less is more.

2. Bring out the shape of your eyes with eyeliner. Use a waterproof formula if you have a monolid so that the eyeliner does not smudge when you blink. You aren’t going to actually line your eyes, as too much eyeliner can make small eyes appear even tinier. Instead, work the color into both top and bottom lash lines to make them appear thicker. This keeps your eye makeup from seeming unstructured and unfinished. Black may be too harsh, so stick with brown or gray instead.

3. Curl your eyelashes. This is crucial when you want to make small eyes appear bigger and more awake. Run a dark brown or soft black mascara through your upper lashes. Avoid overwhelming your eyes by enhancing only the top lashes; if you feel naked without mascara on the lower lashes, use a waterproof formula to prevent unsightly smudging and apply just one coat. Dislodge any clumps on your lashes with the mascara wand. You’ll have pretty peepers in no time!

Now go and print whatever caught your attention, we’re sure you’ll learn to contour with more practice! But remember, if you are decided to go through treatments or surgery to make it more permanent (lessen the hassle of waking up early to do your makeup!), choose only Belo Medical Group for all your dermatology and surgical needs.

We all know that pictures can be taken and uploaded instantly with all the technologies of social networking. Unfortunately, there are those days that you just want to untag yourself on your friends’ Facebook uploads. It could be the wrong posture, wrong lighting, wrong makeup or even wearing the wrong expression. There are a million excuses. Today, we are sharing with you some very helpful tips from an article from www.dailycandy.com,  as well as our own ideas on how to look good in photographs and be camera-ready anytime!

1) Practice, Practice, Practice

There are people who seem to have the ability to take photos of themselves while holding the camera. They have mastered their smile, their expression and their angle. This is not just for vanity’s sake, but it will actually help you to learn how to strike that perfect pose. Learn how to find your angle, achieve the perfect smile and even your expression. Do it while at home or even while in front of the mirror. It will help improve your camera-readiness in a big way.

2) Look for your Light

When getting photographed, always try to look for a source of lighting and try to angle your face so that the light illuminates you well. This way, you’ll avoid getting shadows that show off eyebags and other unsightly marks. You will also look slimmer and fresh.

3) “Smi-eyes”

Coined by Tyra Banks no less, it simply reminds us to always smile with our eyes. When smiling in front of the camera, try to squint your eyes and look straight into the camera. The outcome will be more natural. Don’t forget to think happy thoughts!

4) Wear Clothes In Colors That You Love

You won’t worry about your make-up or your body when you wear clothes in colors that you love. Preferably in light colors that are easy to the eye, it will help you pop out in pictures and people will notice how nice you look just by the color you are wearing. Try to find what’s best for your skin tone and would look great on the camera. Tip: Jewel tones are crowd pleasers.

5) Be Sincere

Unless you’re attending an ex’s wedding, there’s no reason for you not to feel festive about the situation. When with a group of friends or your family, just enjoy the moment. Laugh, jump, shout, hug if you may, your sincerity in being in that occasion will come through and the camera won’t hesitate to capture those moments for you. (it will bring out your smi-eyes!)

Learn to love yourself the way you are, enjoy the moments you live by and keep these 5 tips in mind and you’ll be good to go! The camera will love you!

by Denise R. Cabotage

The long wait is over! Belo Beauty 101 returns for its fourth season packed with more features on new treatments and our favorite celebrity guests. We make it bigger and better for you as we continue to air at The Filipino Channel (TFC).

For this season, Belo Beauty 101 will be pulling out all stops as it highlights unique locations in the Philippines. From the scenic sites of Bohol, to the historical venues in Intramuros and even exploring the exciting and glamorous destinations in New York.

The 30-minute beauty and medical tele-magazine program, hosted by Dr. Vicki Belo,will give viewers a peek into the world of cosmetic surgery, which Dr. Belo has revolutionized for the past 20 years. The show is loaded with more celebrity make-overs as  “Doctor to the Stars”, Dr. Belo, introduces to viewers the Belo clinic’s wide range of latest treatments and procedures.

Watch as week by week we will showcase the favorite Belo treatments of the clinic’s powerhouse stable of celebrity endorsers. Included are the showbiz couple Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, actors Derek Ramsay, Gabby Concepcion and Richard Gomez, plus heartthrobs Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Dingdong Dantes and Matteo Guidicelli. It will definitely be an eyecandy season. What more can you ask for?

Dr. Vicki Belo with showbiz couple Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong

Derek Ramsay does Bio-sculpt to stay in shape

Dr. Vicki Belo with Gabby Concepcion

Expect the season to also be filled with inspiring stories as one episode will feature actress Maritoni Fernandez as she shares her victorious battle with breast cancer. Even celebrity singers such as Rachel Anne Go, Kyla, Jaya, Christian Bautista, Richard Poon and Pinoy Dream Academy scholars Bugoy Drilon, Liezel Garcia and Hansen Nichols will share their stories on how they take care of their looks.

Dr. Vicki Belo with Maritoni Fernandez

In keeping up with the most popular treatments in town, we will  be featuring Anne Curtis as she explains why she swears by the wonders of laser hair removal. While another episode is on TV host and radio DJ Mo Twister and how Belo Diet Injections has helped him look better than ever.

Also featured are the beauty regimen and secrets of mother-and daughter tandems Rosa Rosal and Toni Rose Gayda, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Karylle, Bing Loyzaga with Alyssa and Gabriella Gibbs.

Dr. Vicki Belo with Bing Loyzaga

Dr. Vicki Belo with Zsa Zsa Padilla and Karylle

Lastly, it will be a very special season with an appearance of Dra. Belo’s daughter, Cristalle Belo Henares as she hosts a regular segment for every episode and introduces the products being offered by the Belo clinic.

Sounds like a good watch? We now tell you, it’s the best season ever of Belo Beauty 101!

Tune in starting now and stay glued to your seats and we just might have a contests for our beloved viewers!

Belo Beauty 101 is seen in North America, Canada, the Middle East, Australia and Japan through TFC. The third season of the popular program is presently being seen on local cable via the Lifestyle Network.

Dieting, exercise and surgery are just some of the many ways for people to prevent obesity which has been growing at an alarming rate worldwide. Despite the many options out there, people are hindered either by lack of time, resources, or just simply not wanting to give the extra effort. Experts continue to find ways to search for a fast and easy solution to the epidemic. Our featured blogger Rachelle Holmes of MetropolitanMD talks about a remarkable research on the possibility of shutting down the fat gene or FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated) and what it can do to prevent obesity.

Cosmetic practices performed by top surgeons like Dr. Lack of MetropolitanMD, a specialist, may not be the only answer to our world’s weight problem. With buzz around obesity, it’s difficult to miss information congruent to weight loss, dieting, surgery, and exercise; although, gastric bypass and pills are amongst the least favorable options.

Scientists have actually been looking into developing a molecule that will effectively shut down the fat gene that is creating this monster of a problem. In other words, by providing an active inhibitor to the FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated gene), these experts can work toward a therapy for individuals already 1]”>suffering.

According to the “>World Health Organization;, the commonness of obesity is growing at alarming rates – This is based on data collected for both developed and underdeveloped countries. This includes overweight numbers close to 1.6 for adults over the age of 15, along with obese in the range of somewhere near 400 million. With such large figures, it’s difficult to think that obesity isn’t an epidemic of mass proportion.

Obesity creates many health problems; it increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer. These are among the most severe of cases; obesity also comes with its own short term shortcomings. It’s true that most overweight people have sore bones, muscles, and suffer from shortness of breath, fatigue. It’s also natural that most people who are overweight suffer from depression or depressive symptoms. With this fantastic new developments and studies in China, we can certainly have more hope for this rising problem. Scientists are just beginning to learn how the fat gene actually works, but have tested and seen it’s affects on all different ethnicities.

It’s important that we all work towards avoiding the problem of obesity. The only way to spread this message is through education regarding fitness, exercise, and healthy eating habits. Although with these recent studies, Chinese scientists have made great strides in the search for a solution towards our already unhealthy planet.

Rachelle Holmes is a representative of MetropolitanMD, 680 North Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60611 www.metropolitanmds.com