Manila: The admission of internationally renowned Philippine singer Charice Pempengco, 18, that she had botox injections and minor facial surgery in preparation for her part in Glee, a US TV show, will embolden more teenagers to undergo life-changing facial procedures, a doctor said.
Even before Pempangco's admission on TV that she had a facial procedure, "a lot of teenagers have been wanting to change their face. They have been undergoing the knife for facial operations," Dr Roberto Vasquez said on GMA 7.
"That kind of procedure is socially accepted now. It is no longer hidden and it is flaunted by teenagers who have had radical facial treatment. Marketing has influenced people's attitude on this," said Vasquez, adding, "For myself, I do not accept patients who are below 18 years old."
Pressurised
At the same time, he hinted that Pempengco underwent a more radical facial enhancement, adding, "Normally, botox injections are not used to lessen the size of a big jaw [Pempengco's alleged problem]."
Pempengco went under the knife to re-shape her rounded face in preparation for her shooting for Glee, a source said, alleging the singer had an eye operation to change her Chinese-looking eyes.
Earlier, critics and fans criticised popular celebrity doctor Dr Vicki Belo for her decision to undertake facial surgery on the singer.
Meanwhile, psychiatrist Estrella Magno hinted that Pempengco who will be working with Caucasians in the production of the TV series Glee, was pressurised to change her face.
"She's going to be competing with the Glee Club. That's not a joke. They [Caucasians] are very tall, very fair, and they all look beautiful," Magno said on TV.
"Charice has to be reminded, ‘When you sing, we stop and listen. You don't have to do anything to your face because when you sing, you look so beautiful. You don't have to change your face,'" said Magno.
"We have to support our children so that they don't feel rejected and thus resort to changing their face," said Magno who turned to parents and advised them teenagers must be loved and cared for so that they will not feel rejected and resort to facial enhancement procedures.
