The short answer
An aesthetic physician, also called an aesthetic doctor, works on non-surgical treatment of the face, skin, hair and body. The work includes injectables, lasers, radiofrequency and ultrasound devices, and prescription treatment for skin and hair. It can also include correcting earlier treatment.
Before you agree to a procedure, it is reasonable to find out who the doctor is, how they are registered, and what they will and will not do. You can check much of this yourself in a few minutes, and the rest you can ask at a first visit.
What an aesthetic doctor in Singapore does
An examination works out the cause of a concern before anything is proposed. Suitability is decided by that examination.
Treatment may involve injectables, energy devices or prescription skin and hair care.
This can include assessing earlier filler with ultrasound imaging before any correction.
Skin disease goes to a dermatologist, and surgical needs go to a plastic surgery specialist.
What the title does not mean
Aesthetic medicine is not a recognised specialty in Singapore, so the title carries no specialist accreditation. Only doctors on the Register of Specialists may call themselves specialists. Dermatologists and plastic surgery specialists hold such accreditation. An aesthetic physician does not. The work is governed by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors, along with its Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines. Our page on aesthetic medicine regulation sets out who oversees what. The Ministry of Health classes filler and botulinum toxin as clinical procedures. Only registered practitioners in a licensed healthcare provider may perform them, and salons that offer them can face enforcement.
Aesthetic doctor, dermatologist or surgeon?
| Concern | Who usually sees it |
|---|---|
| A changing mole, severe acne or an unexplained rash | A doctor who can diagnose skin disease, and possibly a dermatologist |
| Volume loss, laxity or texture | An aesthetic physician |
| Marked skin excess, or a surgical need | A plastic surgery specialist |
| Filler or botulinum toxin | A registered doctor in a licensed clinic, never a beauty salon |
How to check SMC registration
Questions for a first consultation
Are you on the SMC register, and what is the full name on that entry? Do you hold any specialist accreditation, and does it apply to this treatment?
Will you personally perform every step? Which procedures are you credentialed for?
Will you examine me before you recommend anything? Will we discuss options that include no treatment?
What can this treatment not do? What are its risks, and what happens if something goes wrong?
What is being treated, with which product, how much of it, and by whom? How is the plan staged, what review is included, and what would correction involve? Fees should be disclosed before treatment.
Our doctor
Dr Sin Yong is an aesthetic physician. He is not a dermatologist or a plastic surgery specialist, and he does not claim to be. His stated training is MBBS from the National University of Singapore, MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, MSc Aesthetic Medicine from Queen Mary University of London, and MSc Practical Dermatology from Cardiff University. The MRCS is a membership awarded by examination, and it is not specialist accreditation in Singapore. Please confirm his registration on the SMC register, as you would for any doctor. More is on his profile page.
How he works, and a disclosure
He performs every consultation and treatment himself. He refers skin disease to dermatologists and surgical concerns to plastic surgery specialists. He can recommend no treatment after assessment. He also holds Key Opinion Leader roles with device makers, and he presents at physician events. Those are commercial relationships, so you are entitled to know about them. See our editorial policy. A device relationship does not mean that a device suits you, and our devices page lists what is used without ranking it.
What an aesthetic doctor cannot do
An aesthetic doctor cannot promise a result, and results vary. Non-surgical treatment cannot remove marked excess skin. Filler cannot always be reversed, because hyaluronidase dissolves hyaluronic acid filler but not Sculptra or Ellansé. An aesthetic doctor is also not the right person to manage skin disease alone. A changing mole, severe acne or an unexplained rash needs diagnosis, and it may need a dermatologist. No device or protocol suits every patient. A title or a qualification also cannot tell you whether a treatment suits you. That is what the examination is for, which is why it comes before any recommendation.
When to see someone else first, and the risks
Please avoid elective treatment, or ask about waiting, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an active infection at the site. Skin disease needs diagnosis first, and that may mean a dermatologist. Every aesthetic treatment carries risk, from bruising and swelling to rare serious events. Your doctor should explain these before you agree. If you have urgent signs after a treatment anywhere, go to our complication care page and act on it. Our consultation guide shows how a first visit runs.