Beauty Minus the Pain
by Francine Medina Marquez

THE name of the place speaks for itself. At The Zen Institute Medial Spa, low lighting, minimalist furniture, and a subdued atmosphere greet guests mostly moms in various stages of their lives who are looking forward to spending quiet time while getting skin or body treatments. Celebrities have also been known to frequent the place entering through an enclosed garden path if they wish.

The real star of this spa, however, is its philosophy of offering noninvasive face- and body-contouring treatments and, of course, its founder Dr. Mary Jane T. Valdecañas. A cheerful and petite mother of four, Dr. MJ recently opened a second spa in Quezon City (the first one is at The Fort) and explains that two branches are enough for now.

"The thrust of the institute is to promote the healthy lifestyle; good looks and good shape come with leading a balanced life. We believe in offering safe and noninvasive options to aesthetic treatments."

Dr. MJ had worked in a skin clinic of a fitness center for five years. During that time, she specialized in lipotherapy, or what is popularly known as mesotherapy. She became a member of the International Society of Mesotherapy, headed by Dr. Phillippe Petit; the French Society of Mesotherapy, headed by Dr. Marthan Jules (one of the pioneers of meso lift); and the Italian Society of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, headed by Dr. Sergio Noviello.

It was through the latter organization where she came about a unique method of contouring that made use of radio frequency. "With mesotherapy, I observed that you need to get into a disciplined fitness activity to really see the results, otherwise all that will be lost on the person. In my research, I encountered a new Italian technology that made use of radio frequency. They developed a multispectrum-resonance technology that aimed to find out its effects on the skin, body fat and lymphatic drainage, and how it can help in collagen remodeling."

No-pain weight loss

BASED on the results of that particular study on radio-frequency technology, Dr. MJ thought of using the same technique in facial and body contouring. With the existence of the Resonax machine, Dr. MJ devised the protocol (or technique for medical treatment) for sculpting the body or face through the technology.

For facial contouring, or for removing those wrinkles or sagging skin along the jawline, the treatment is complimented with a collagen facial. For eyebags, it"s a combination of Resonax and injecting a fat burner into the fatty skin. For skin tightening, the Resonax treatment is combined with a facial-cleansing device.

"The protocol and devices that we have will save them from going through surgery at an early age. Going through our protocol for sagging cheeks, for instance, can delay a face-lift operation."

According to its web site, unlike most machines that only heat the tissue, and therefore doesn't really have any real effects on increasing metabolism or weight loss, a Resonax machine promotes cellular stimulation of the tissue through low-intensity radio frequency. The only side effect, explains Dr. MJ, is that if the machine is not properly programmed, the radio transmitter pads that stick to the skin may feel a bit hot. But most often, the burning is very controlled and can only be warmed up to 39'C. It's just like getting the fever.

At most times, the stimulation and the heat can be relaxing, that's why patients tend to fall asleep while going through the treatment.

A regular session lasts from 30 to 45 minutes. A patient going through a combination of other therapies with their Resonax treatment may have it once a week. Those not undergoing lipotherapy may have the Resonax every day. According to Dr. MJ, results (such as having tighter skin or a decrease in centimeters) have been documented to be visible on the third or fourth session.

Holistic approach

FOR women who may have just given birth and have stopped breast-feeding, or working mothers who have been too busy with work to work out, Resonax may be their best option to undergoing a lipo surgery.

In a society that still talks about cosmetic surgery in hushed tones and where a woman who has gone through a procedure is branded as operada in a not-so-good tone, I would definitely push for this kind of treatment.

"I have always believed that it is good to take care of oneself. It's not something to be ashamed of because it is our duty to take care of ourselves. And I suppose my mission is to be here for these women who want to go for that positive change. My goal is to assist them in jump-starting their healthy lifetsyle and to help them sustain it."

In walking her talk, Dr. MJ has also added a body-conditioning component to the body-contouring program. The Zen Institute has tapped the University of the Philippines-College of Kinesthetics for a fitness program that would supplement the Resonax treatments. "Every time a patient comes for her weekly Resonax treatment, she has the option to have the fitness-training session in her home or allow us to coordinate with her gym to have the session held there."

The institute also offers nutrition counseling and has tied up with the Sexy Chef for patients who want to avail themselves of its South Beach Diet food takeouts. The Zen Institute also exclusively distributes a calorie block made from neopuntia, a natural plant fiber made from the cactus plant.

This way, fat reduction is both answered in weight management and body sculpting. As a medical spa, The Zen Institute is more than a place. It's a life-learning and life-changing experience as well. We believe that by making the programs enjoyable to patients, they'll be motivated to adapt the healthy lifestyle we'd like them to have.

Remember that saying that when we have a stomachache, we don't have our stomachs opened up but we look for other remedies first? I think we should always start with the basics. Surgery should really be the last option.

Feel-good factor

A MOTHER of three boys and one girl, Dr. MJ tends to naturally share her personal experience with most of her patients. Unless she has appointments, her mornings are spent like any regular mother's: preparing her children for school and organizing her household's activities.

"I'm a mother of four and have gone through the issues that mothers usually face. Being a mom means gaining another life with your children. Sometimes, you don't feel whole anymore because a part of you has been taken away. A mother naturally nourishes her children and may completely forget herself in the process. That's when she may start to feel low or even get depressed.

"I feel that getting them to where they are right now and help building their self-esteem is my advocacy. In the clinic, I don't mind spending a lot of time doing consultations with my clients if that's what will also make them feel good. I enjoy helping them set their goals. I want them to feel there is always hope and a chance to achieving that goal."

At the clinic, Dr. MJ observes that peak hours are mostly after lunch "when the babies are asleep or the kids are at school. I totally understand these moms and the stages that they are in. That's why we make sure that their programs are adjusted to their lifestyle and schedules, and not the other way around. I believe that there's always an answer to everything and there's always a good side to everything. That's the culture that we really want to have in our space. To make it their second home." That's also why, besides the treatments, regular facial treatments and massage therapies are all part of that Zen Institute philosophy.

"Beauty is what's inside you," shares Dr. MJ. "It's a mixture of happiness, feeling good, looking good, and maintaining a balance. Sometimes you might not feel good when you face the mirror. It's never too late to do something about it. Give yourself importance and the rest will follow."