Dr. Vicki Belo: TRAIN law will kill medical tourism
Anne Curtis (left) and Dr. Vicki Belo-Kho. The STAR/File
MANILA, Philippines — The first package of the government’s tax reform program, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, is now in effect, and among those affected is the cosmetics and aesthetics industry, where cosmetic-surgeon-to-the-stars Dr. Victoria “Vicki” Belo belongs.
In a recent interview with Philstar.com for Gabbi Garcia’s music video launch, Dr. Belo explained the consequences of the new tax imposed on the aesthetics industry.
Under the law, a five percent tax is imposed on cosmetic procedures and other body enhancements for aesthetic reasons. Reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, disease or those meant to correct dysfunctional body areas will remain tax exempt.
From the original 20 percent, the proposed tax was reduced to 10, before it arrived to the final five percent. According to a Philstar.com report, TRAIN is expected to generate $1.8 billion in revenues in its first year.
But for Dr. Belo, the tax on cosmetic procedures is still unnecessary. She said that contrary to the TRAIN’s aim to impose more taxes on the rich and less on the working class, the tax on cosmetic procedures will actually affect more young professionals than rich people because in Belo’s case, majority of her customers now are millennials and young professionals.
The doctor shared that while her clinics serve clients from five generations, the millennials are the ones trooping her clinics and she does not even have to tap them.
“Millennials now are more open about nose jobs because of Instagram and social media,” Belo claimed.
She believes rhinoplasty or a nose job is now a necessity due to the Digital Age. Among many Filipinos’ problems when taking selfies or photos, she said, are their flat noses with no bridge, resulting in white spots that appear on their cheeks whenever they take selfies. Many of her millennial clients also ask to surgically remove their “un-Instagrammable” double chin.
“Millennials saved up for a long time. They also deserve to be beautiful,” Belo enthused.
“I’m really fascinated by this generation because it’s really different from the ones I’ve known before. They’re so talented, they’re very artistic, they’re not about money. They’re more about self-expression. I want to wrap my mind around them. I hate it when I don’t understand something, but I know that this generation is very talented and world-class.”
Belo believes that “beauty is not only for the rich but also for everyone,” so for her, to be taxed on anything, from food to makeup and aesthetic services, is “unfair” and “will kill medical tourism” because the jacked up prices might discourage locals and visitors to try the Philippines’ aesthetic services.
