Maritess De Ocampo

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Clinique de Paris

Clinique de Paris is making a case for the Philippines as a destination for travel and world-class medical care. On April 15, 2026, <a href="https://cliniquedeparis.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clinique de Paris</a> (CDP) marked more than a decade of bringing together French technology, Australian clinical protocols, and Filipino medical expertise with an exclusive gathering titled &quot;Art of Restoration&quot; at its flagship clinic in the penthouse of the Alveo Financial Tower in Makati.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17800335151071-CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>The event brought together media, lifestyle personalities, and industry guests to celebrate a milestone that places the Philippines on the global hair restoration map. Among 75 DHI-certified clinics worldwide, Clinique de Paris is currently ranked third globally and remains the only DHI-certified hair restoration center in the country.<div>A French-Filipino vision built in Manila</div>Opening the afternoon was founder and managing director Ludovic Branellec, who reflected on the vision that inspired the clinic’s creation.“Clinique de Paris was born from a very personal French-Filipino story,” he said. “When my partner Dr. Rafael Fortus and I founded CDP, we had a clear vision: to create a clinic that didn’t ask Filipinos to look abroad for world-class care—but instead brought those international standards here, and made the Philippines itself a destination.”For Branellec, the opportunity emerged from a gap he observed years ago.“When we started, the gap was obvious,” he explained. “Filipinos were flying to Bangkok or Seoul for procedures they should have been able to access at home, at the same standard. The missing piece wasn’t talent; the Philippines has always punched above its weight medically. It was infrastructure, protocols, and the willingness to invest in both.”He also noted that many of the techniques available locally at the time had become outdated, despite the country’s strong medical talent pool.“We genuinely believe the Filipino people deserve access to the same standard of care as anywhere else in the world,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17800335611872-CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>The early challenge, according to Branellec, was convincing people that a clinic built to international standards could thrive in the Philippines.“The resistance we faced was mostly skepticism,” he recalled. “People weren’t sure a clinic built to international standards could exist here and be sustainable. Fourteen years in, I think we’ve made a credible case.”Today, that vision has evolved into a form of medical tourism. Patients now travel to Manila from Singapore, Australia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world—not because of marketing, Branellec emphasized, but because of the outcomes being achieved.He described the clinic’s model as a deliberate combination of French precision, Australian evidence-based protocols, and Filipino warmth.“The French approach is about precision and rigour. The Australian framework adds a strong emphasis on evidence-based protocols and patient safety culture,” he said. “Filipino medical professionals bring something harder to quantify: genuine warmth and an instinctive attentiveness to the patient as a person, not just a case—the malasakit instinct of the Filipino people.”“What we’ve been deliberate about is bringing our teams along, training them, exposing them to what we know as standard from our international experience,” he said. “The calibration is ongoing: making sure the clinical rigour doesn’t feel cold, and the warmth doesn’t dilute the standards.”<div>Beyond vanity</div>The event was hosted by lifestyle writer and PR strategist Tedrick Yau, who offered not only professional insight but personal experience. A two-time DHI transplant patient at Clinique de Paris, Yau shared how the procedure helped restore his confidence alongside his hairline.His story underscored one of the recurring themes of the afternoon: that hair restoration is often about far more than appearance.Branellec acknowledged that in today’s social media landscape, procedures are frequently marketed as aesthetic upgrades rather than medical interventions.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17800335909493-CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>“The tension is real,” he said. “Social media has democratised awareness, which I welcome. Hair loss carries real stigma, and visibility helps normalise seeking treatment.”At the same time, he expressed concern over the volume of misinformation circulating online.“Miracle products, unproven treatments, procedures marketed as solutions that simply aren’t backed by evidence—that’s a real problem,” he said.The clinic’s response, he explained, is education.“We try to give patients an honest, evidence-based picture of what works, what doesn’t, and why. The conversation inside the clinic is always about their specific situation and realistic outcomes.”<div>Art and science come together</div>Medical Director Dr. Rafael Fortus delivered the keynote presentation, beginning with a reflection on the cultural and historical significance of hair across civilizations.Hair, he explained, has long served as a symbol of identity, status, health, style, and self-expression.“Hair is more than just a physical attribute,” Fortus said. “It can signal a person’s status and can even be a window to a person’s general health. Hair also indicates a person’s gender identity, mood, and style.”He noted that approximately 50 percent of men and 40 percent of women will experience some form of hair loss, whether caused by stress, autoimmune conditions, genetics, or hormonal changes.For many patients, restoring hair becomes part of a larger personal transformation.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780033629230Ludo Branellec and Rafael Fortus - CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Clinique de Paris&#x27; Ludo Branellec and Dr. Rafael Fortus </div>“Growing hair back can be the start of a new chapter, identity, style, or status,” he said.Fortus described hair restoration as both a science and an art.The process begins with evidence-based treatments designed to restore hair safely and effectively. It then moves into designing a bespoke hairline based on facial proportions, symmetry, age, and ethnicity before culminating in what he described as a personal metamorphosis.“Witnessing the hair grow, and the personal metamorphosis of inner change and growth,” he said, “is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.”He added that aesthetics medicine is fundamentally built on care, curiosity, and human connection.“There’s something about hair treatments that compels people to open up,” Fortus said. “We create a special bond with all our clients, which makes the job much more rewarding.”<div>The science behind a global ranking</div>Fortus also presented the clinical performance data that has contributed to Clinique de Paris’ standing among the world’s leading hair restoration centers.Of the 75 DHI-certified clinics operating worldwide, CDP ranks third globally.One of the clinic’s most notable distinctions is procedural volume. While a standard DHI surgeon typically extracts and implants between 3,000 and 4,000 hairs in a session, CDP doctors can perform procedures involving up to 10,000 hairs without compromising graft survival.“Yes, the large-scale hair transplants are reserved only for suitable candidates,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17800337088887-CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Patients with advanced alopecia may benefit from larger sessions, while others may require only minor refinements.“We see this in female cases, to implant across the part, or a minor adjustment to the hairline,” he explained. “All transplants are a negotiation between the doctor and patient goals to ensure a safe, effective, and natural-looking result.”The emphasis, he stressed, remains precision and individualization regardless of scale.“Our mission isn’t just to transplant; it’s to preserve,” he said. “We catch hair loss early, treat it scientifically, and restore it artistically.”<div>A standard of care, versus a standard of beauty</div>Fortus also addressed how perceptions around appearance have evolved in an era shaped by Zoom meetings, social media, and constant visibility.While online culture can influence how people view themselves, he said the clinic deliberately avoids promoting a singular ideal of beauty.“Instead of a standard of beauty, at Clinique de Paris we promote a standard of care,” he said.Patients arrive for many different reasons—prevention, career milestones, life transitions, personal celebrations, or simply a desire to invest in themselves after years spent caring for others.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17800337487108-CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>The clinic’s role, he said, is to help patients make informed decisions based on research-backed treatments and realistic expectations.“We guide patients through their options and likely outcomes, navigate any questions along the way, and provide the signature hospitality the Filipinos are renowned for,” he said.Fortus also noted that conditions such as body dysmorphia require a different approach and may be better addressed through alternatives to aesthetic procedures.<div>Inside the flagship</div>The event concluded with a guided tour of the Alveo Financial Tower penthouse, only the second time the facility has been fully opened to media and invited guests.Among the areas highlighted were the private consultation suites, where facial symmetry analysis and medical mapping are used to design individualized hairlines; the precision treatment rooms engineered for high-volume procedures; and the equipment showcase featuring patented DHI micro-implanters that enable the clinic’s no-scalpel, no-stitch, and no-scarring approach.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780033801229CDP.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>For Clinique de Paris, the goal extends beyond performing hair restoration procedures. It is about demonstrating that a clinic based in Manila can compete with, and be recognized among, the best in the world.“The aesthetics and hair restoration spotlight is now shifting to Asia, and the Philippines,” Fortus said. “Now, ‘made in the Philippines’ is a mark of luxury, quality, and beauty.”

At its Art of Restoration event in Makati, Clinique de Paris highlighted how French technology, Australian protocols, and Filipino expertise have shaped its approach to hair restoration for more than a decade.

At its Art of Restoration event in Makati, Clinique de Paris highlighted how French technology, Australian protocols, and Filipino expertise have shaped its approach to hair restoration for more than a decade.

How Manila's Clinique de Paris became one of the top three hair restoration centers in the world

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How Manila's Clinique de Paris became one of the top three hair restoration centers in the world

Mawi Fojas De Ocampo

Published May 29, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

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Hair Restoration Center Philippines

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Ludo Branellec

Dr. Rafael Fortus

Clinique de Paris Manila

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