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Gold and white interiors, lavender florals, and a diamond logo with a gleam of its own. Elyse Aesthetics opened its newest Quezon City branch with all the right signals: polished, feminine, and ready for its next era. But beyond the ribbon-cutting and the fresh new space, the afternoon was really about something richer, and far more relatable: the freedom to stop hiding.
The Real Reveal
That spirit came into focus through #ElyseGivesBack, the clinic’s CSR initiative for rhinoplasty and profile balancing. While five winners were chosen, only three were present that day, as the other two are still healing. The spotlight landed on Alyssa Sunga, Micaela Voluntad, and Aziz Barakat, each with a story that made the room feel less like a launch and more like a turning point.
Alyssa, an aspiring beauty queen, shared, “This is my childhood dream.” She had been bullied growing up, and before the procedure, her nose was such a sore spot that she insisted group photos be taken on her phone first, just so she could edit them. Frankly, who hasn’t met their blur tool a little too often? “There was a time my friend called me out because I looked so different in photos because of my editing,” she said. “Now, I feel more confident as a beauty queen.”
Micaela’s story cuts just as deep. Also bullied in the past, she used to dodge cameras and stay behind the scenes during presentations. Now? “It was like the self I’d been waiting for was finally revealing itself,” she said. The shift followed her into work, too. After once handling domestic flights, she shared that she is now able to take on international ones, proof that confidence can change your profile and your path.
For Aziz Barakat, who already moves in pageant circles, the transformation was internal as much as external. “It made me feel more empowered,” he said. “I started to have a better relationship with myself.”
What Elyse Means
Founders Dr. Marj Salazar and Dr. Anne Caoile welcomed guests with a line that set the tone: “We are truly grateful to share this moment with all of you.” Later, Dr. Anne summed up Elyse’s vision in two words with a lot of weight: “Enhance life.” And that, really, was the mood. Not perfection. Not pressure. Just becoming, with a little more nerve, a little more sparkle, and a lot more self-belief.
Keep up with Elyse Aesthetics’ newest services, stories, and transformations by following them on Instagram.
PHOTOS AND FEATURED IMAGE: Excel Panlaque
