Judging in the country’s top pageants has made it easy for people like me to spot which contestants have actually undergone enhancements and those who are in the competition in their unaltered versions. Unlike in previous decades, when anything unnatural was a huge issue and even frowned upon in pageantry, today’s searches, be it for males or females, are among mostly manufactured beauties.

This is confirmed by a leading and respected medical doctor who has long been in the practice of aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. “Out of, say, ten candidates, I’d say halos lahat sila may mga enhancements na,” says Dr. Maria Ellery Mendez of Novouessance Aesthetic Center.”

Practicing her expertise for more than three decades now, Dr. Mendez knows exactly what she’s talking about. Hers are, actually, the hands that elevated the good looks of some of our pageant kings and queens, some of whom have even made it big in the international scene, thanks to her medical magic.

“So far yung mga nahawakan ko, may mga nanalo na at kilala na,” she reveals although she would rather not divulge the identities of her patients.

She shares: “Kapag ina-assess ko sila, sinasabi ko sa kanila ito ang bagay sa iyo. Pag ok sya dun at nag-conform sya sa suggestion ko, gagawin ko. Pero sometimes meron sa kanila na magsasabing doc, ito siguro ang maganda. Eto ang gusto ko. Pag tingin ko, hindi babagay, hindi nya ako mapipilit.”

The doctor says those who are into pageantry would come to her clinic mostly for nose jobs, something that will cost them somewhere between P40-50,000.

“Kasi kung minsan malamya yung mata, kaya yung ilong ang dapat ayusin. Why the nose? Kasi kunyari ang mata ay mukhang malungkot, pagka-itinaas mo yung nose nila, ang nangyayari, nagiging deep set yung eyes. Ang laki ng binabago talaga. Mas nagiging expressive yung eyes. Pati yung shape ng mukha affected. Kung ang mukha ay bilugan medyo nagkakaroon ng shape,” she elaborates. The package is completed in three sessions. The first one for the initial procedure; the second, for some minor adjustments; and the third, to finally fix the look.

Almost a 1-2 punch for facial beauty, aside from a nose enhancement is chin augmentation. That’ll cost a candidate about P30,000.

“Ke lalake o babae, malaki nababago sa appearance sa chin. Kunyari medyo chubby chubby ang mukha, tapos maikli yung baba lalong lalapad. Pag naglagay ka ng chin, mas nahahatak, kaya nagkakaroon ng shape ngayon. Most especially those who will join pageants, pag nilagyan ng chin ang ganda tingnan,” the doctor says.

Facial shaping or contouring comes next, along with skin care and in some instances, even body shaping.

The doctor’s advice to those who would like to take a plunge into pageants: “All in, dapat mag-set aside sila ng mga P500,000, hanggang sa competition na nila. Andun na lahat-lahat.”

For men who wish to make a big impression for the swim wear round, Dr. Mendez reveals there are those who come prepared with an extra P40,000 budget.

“I guess it’s also for their own personal satisfaction. Pag penile enlargement, di naman talaga mae-enlarge yun eh. Hindi longer. Volume lang, tumataba ang mga gilid,” she explains while admitting that she has handled at least two pageant kings for the said procedure.

Dr. Maria Ellery Mendez is an aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine expert who finished her courses from the Far Eastern University, the Dermalogica Institute in El Segundo, California, and the American Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine. She shuttles back and forth between the country and the Asian powerhouses in aesthetic medicine, Korea and Thailand, where she undergoes continuous training. She is also among the founding members and top executive officers of the Philippine Academy of Aesthetic and Age Management Medicine Incorporated.