The short answer
In Singapore, doctors, products and clinics are overseen separately. The Singapore Medical Council covers doctors. The Health Sciences Authority covers devices and therapeutic products. The Ministry of Health licenses clinics. Advertising has its own separate rules.
Two registers are open to the public, so you do not need to take anyone's word for it. It is reasonable to check them before any procedure. Knowing the rules will not tell you whether a treatment suits you. Only an assessment can do that, and results vary.
Aesthetic medicine regulation in Singapore: the key bodies
Registers doctors and keeps a publicly searchable register. It also issues the Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors (2016 edition) and the SMC Ethical Code.
Regulates medical devices, including energy-based platforms and fillers. It also covers therapeutic products such as botulinum toxin. Its register is publicly searchable.
Licenses clinics that provide outpatient medical services, under the Healthcare Services Act.
Doctors and the SMC guidelines
To practise in Singapore, a doctor must be on the SMC register. Aesthetic procedures by doctors fall under the 2016 guidelines, which set out approved procedures. For certain procedures, a doctor without the relevant experience may need a Certificate of Competence, gained through an SMC-accredited course. A doctor on conditional registration is not allowed to practise aesthetic medicine. In short, registration is required of every doctor, while extra training may be needed for particular procedures.
Is an aesthetic doctor a specialist?
Singapore does not recognise aesthetic medicine as a specialty. Doctors working in this field follow the SMC aesthetic guidelines. When you read a doctor's profile, keep this in mind, and use the SMC register to confirm the registration itself.
Devices, products and clinics
Fillers, energy-based machines and botulinum toxin all fall under HSA regulation. It is fair to ask which device or product is being used, and whether it is registered where you are being treated. Clinics providing outpatient medical services must hold a licence under the Healthcare Services Act. If you want to know more about any of this, ask the clinic directly. Our contact page has our details. Three plain questions cover most of this. Which device or product will be used? Is it registered where I am being treated? Is the doctor on the SMC register?
What you can check yourself
Advertising rules
The Healthcare Services (Advertisement) Regulations 2021 and the SMC Ethical Code limit what healthcare providers may promote. These limits cover testimonials, comparison photos of patients, inducements, promotions, discounts, packages, and superlatives. That is why you will not see these on this site. These limits explain why pages on this site describe treatments, limits and risks, and do not make promises or offer deals.
Why this site shows no prices
We choose not to publish fees. They are quoted in writing after assessment. Singapore's rules also restrict promotions, discounts and inducements. If you have questions about a quote, ask at your consultation, before anything is agreed.
What regulation cannot do
Registration tells you that a doctor, product or clinic is on the record. It does not tell you that a particular treatment suits you. It cannot remove the risks of a procedure, and it cannot promise an outcome. Results vary. To learn about risks, read the page for the treatment you are considering, such as our guide to filler warning signs, and talk it through with your doctor. You can read about Dr Sin Yong on our site.
Who this page is for
This page is for anyone who wants to check a provider before treatment. It is general information and does not replace medical advice. Rules can change, so go to the SMC, HSA or MOH for the current position. If you are comparing what you have read online with what a provider tells you, the public registers are a sensible place to begin.