As the gateway city to Mindanao for the Visayas and Luzon, here’s another good reason why Filipinos from up North should soon beat a path to Cagayan de Oro City.
RETERN Hair & Scalp Institute, billed as Singapore’s Best Hair and Scalp treatment center, has now opened at the 4th Floor of SM CDO Downtown starting February 18, 2024.
Even months before they opened, people from as far as Bukidnon, Marawi and Davao have already been consulting with the facility for possible treatment of their hair loss, oily scalp, dandruff and gray hair.
LAM Cares Corp Principals
“Since we were setting up our clinic in December 31, 2023, mall shoppers have already been consulting RETERN for their hair and scalp problems,” said Engr. Ludelle Jave Acacio, CEO of the facility which is the first in the Philippines, as well as the first outside Singapore.
Engr. Acacio is one of the three couples behind LAM Cares Corporation, the Philippine franchisee of RETERN. While searching for a cure for her chronic dandruff, she and her two partners heard about RETERN and personally went to Singapore to try their treatments for themselves.
“After scanning and one treatment, I experienced a significant improvement in my scalp condition,” she disclosed. “One of our partners was also immediately relieved of her migraine after just one treatment of their signature massages.”
The RETERN PH Principals & Staff with Ms. Carriene Hew (photo courtesy of Juandeful Kagayan)
Right then and there, the three partners decided to inquire about setting up a RETERN clinic in the Philippines and received a positive response from Ms. Carienne Hew, the institute’s founder and a certified Trichologist with more than 20 years of experience providing natural, effective and permanent solutions to diverse hair and scalp problems.
Ms. Hew has formulated a comprehensive treatment program for the various hair and scalp problems experienced by individuals since these can vary considerably depending on one’s age, lifestyle, and immunity.
Her holistic approach combines Western and traditional Eastern therapies with organic, nature-based products, to create RETERN’s Signature Bojin Meridian Hair Growth Therapy to promote wellness and heathy scalp and hair care.
“In Chinese medicine, the body’s meridian system is believed to be a network of energy channels through which vital Qi flows, influencing our well-being,” Ms. Hew stressed.
Trying out RETERN’s Bojin Meridian Scalp Therapy under the skillful hands of Founder Ms Carrien Hew
With stringent evaluation and extensive clinical research and development, RETERN’s bespoke Tricho-Blend® hair solution derived from scientifically proven herbology can target and address even the rarest of hair concerns.
“For more than 10 years we have dedicated our research and our competencies towards Hair and Scalp wellness,” Ms. Hew said. “With our dedication, efforts, and our client’s devotion to our recommended personalized regime towards their hair and scalp issues, we have over 2,000 of our clients witnessing improvement after their consistent treatments.”
So far, RETERN has a 95% success rate among its clients in Singapore. However, they caution that success also depends on the patient’s compliance with mandated protocols.
“As the first in the country, we need to orient our fellow Filipinos in the basics of proper hair and scalp care,” Engr. Acacio noted.
For instance, she emphasized that all of their three owner-partners are trained hair and scalp specialists, and so are their consultants and therapists. However, they will soon have a full-time trichologist to personally supervise their operations.
A trichologist is a specialist who focuses on trichology — the study of diseases or problems related to the hair and scalp, as well as their treatments. Though some physicians are trained as trichologists, most are not doctors, but they are trained and certified to advise people who are having hair-related problems, such as hair loss or scalp conditions.
Trichologists examine the hair and scalp to diagnose and recommend treatment for your condition and its severity. However, since they’re not physicians, they cannot prescribe drugs or perform medical or surgical procedures.
Like RETERN Founder Ms. Carienne Hew,trichologists get specialized training to become licensed to treat hair and scalp conditions. The process includes several steps and vary based on the type of certification, but all certifications require academic coursework, hands-on training, exams, and observations and mentorships, which can last from 6 months to over a year or more.
Once certified through a program accredited by a state board, trichologists often join a professional organization related to the field like the International Association of Trichologists or the World Trichology Society.
Thus, besides the usual scalp problems, RETERN also offers treatments for Male Pattern Baldness, Female Pattern Baldness, Patch Baldness, Thinning Hair, Itchy Scalp, and Hair Regrowth for Alopecia/Sensitive Dermatitis.
“For alopecia, even for older persons, as long as hair pores are open, medicine can still come in, but when they are closed, there is little that we can do but will recommend for hair transplant which we don’t do,” Engr. Acacio said.
When you visit a trichologist, you can expect a thorough examination of your hair and scalp.
The trichologist may ask you several questions about your medical history, nutrition, lifestyle, and hair care routine. Your answers can help the trichologist determine how to treat you or whether they should refer you to a different specialist or to a physician.
Trichologists sometimes conduct hair analysis to check for structural damage or the presence of a lice or fungal infection. Occasionally, trichologists will request a blood test from your primary care physician.
Once the trichologist arrives at a diagnosis, they will recommend the next best step. This could include a referral to another professional, specialist, or primary care physician; topical creams or lotions; nutrition advice, and/or a mental healthcare professional if your condition seems stress-related.
“RETERN isn’t just our name. It is our commitment to permanently return your hair and scalp to optimal health. However, not only do we want to treat your hair and scalp problem, but we also want to be able to improve your overall wellness in the process,” Ms. Hew explains.
“We believe that scalp problems are also linked to wellness habits and by adjusting your habits we will be able to create a permanent solution and in return- a healthier you. We use ingredients extracted from Nature itself (e.g. North American Herbal Extracts) in our treatment and our products, because at the end of the day, your health is our primary mission.”
