Whoever coined the phrase ‘your hair is your crowning glory’ wasn’t kidding, especially for people who used to have thick and lush locks. It’s likely one of the reasons why there has been an increase in clinics and centers offering hair transplants for a fraction of their actual cost.
It’s also why Dr. Julieta Peralta Arambulo is determined to educate those looking to undergo treatment. As the country’s first diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, and a fellow and member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, she continues to keep herself updated on hair transplant developments at annual conventions.
‘As part of their own research, patients should find out and verify a doctor’s educational background and number of years of experience,’ Arambulo said.
She pointed out that many hair clinics now offer surgeries using terms like ‘non-invasive,’ ‘scarless’ and ‘pain-free.’ Sorry to say, but there will be pain.
In the hands of an experienced doctor, however, there are fewer chances of receiving a botched surgery.
‘We get a lot of those – patients with unnatural hairlines or oddly placed hair grafts, and they want us to remedy them.’ Arambulo, who established the Asian Hair Restoration Center 15 years ago, is the recognized authority in physician-led hair transplantation, delivering natural-looking results. She prides herself on building a reputation for internationally recognized surgical expertise, comprehensive diagnostics, and personalized patient care.
The doctor now works alongside her daughter Mariel Arambulo Cordero, herself a board-certified dermatologist and hair fellow of the Donovan Hair Academy. Arambulo is proud of her daughter who she said works faster than her and is very efficient. Together, they integrate expertise in hair restoration surgery, dermatology, trichology, regenerative medicine, and functional medicine to develop personalized treatment plans for every patient.
‘What some people don’t realize is that we depend on a team of nurses who have been trained to anticipate our needs when we’re performing hair transplants. This is, depending on the technique used, the operation can cost from P300,000 to P400,000.’
Their clinic located at 5th level of Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong is equipped with the machines needed to perform the surgeries. For many people experiencing permanent hair loss, hair transplantation remains the most effective and lasting solution.
‘Majority of our patients are still male, around 90%,’ Arambulo said. ‘All of them first undergo trichoscopy scalp analysis that serves as the baseline before proceeding any further.’
The service, which costs P6,500, consists of having one’s head and scalp photographed from different angles using a specialized camera that can take extreme closeups of the scalp. The images are then analyzed by either Arambulo or Cordero before they discuss with the patient what route of treatment or surgery to undertake.
‘Hair transplantation is the gold standard for restoring permanently lost hair – but only when performed on the right patient, at the right time, and for the right indications,’ Arambulo said in a statement. ‘Our responsibility is to ensure every patient receives the most appropriate treatment, not simply surgery.’