What aesthetic treatment questions should I ask at a first visit?+
Ask what is causing the concern, what each option cannot do, the risks, who performs it, and what happens if you choose no treatment.
How do I check a doctor's qualifications in Singapore?+
Search the Singapore Medical Council register through the Ministry of Health's Healthcare Professionals Search. Accredited specialists also appear on the Register of Specialists.
Do I see a dermatologist or an aesthetic doctor?+
Skin disease, such as a changing mole or unexplained rash, needs diagnosis. Volume loss, laxity or texture are usually an aesthetic physician's work.
Can a beauty salon give filler or botulinum toxin?+
No. These are clinical procedures for registered practitioners working in a licensed healthcare provider.
Can filler be dissolved?+
Hyaluronic acid filler can, with hyaluronidase. Calcium hydroxylapatite, polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactic acid cannot be dissolved this way, and they resorb over time.
What is vascular occlusion?+
It is filler entering or pressing on an artery and blocking blood flow. Signs include blanched or dusky skin and severe pain. It is an emergency.
Should all my filler be dissolved at once?+
Usually not. Filler that has built up may be supporting the face, so correction is staged by region and reassessed.
How long does botulinum toxin last?+
It varies with product, dose and metabolism. Repeat timing is planned at review, not on a fixed schedule.
Does masseter botulinum toxin help teeth grinding?+
It reduces the force of the muscle. It does not address the cause or replace a night guard, so dental review is part of the plan.
Is botulinum toxin prescription-only?+
Yes. A registered medical practitioner must inject it after a documented consultation. Units are specific to each product.
What is the difference between HIFU and radiofrequency?+
Focused ultrasound makes discrete heated points at fixed depths. Monopolar radiofrequency heats the dermis more broadly. Both stimulate collagen, in different layers.
Can a thread lift replace a facelift?+
No. A thread repositions tissue it can grip but cannot remove skin. Heavy skin excess needs a surgical discussion.
Can HIFU make the face look hollow?+
It can. HIFU is not a fat-reduction treatment, but heat over thin areas of a lean face can leave it looking drawn.
Why did laser worsen my melasma?+
Melasma is sensitive to heat, and Fitzpatrick III to V skin readily rebounds. The next step is reassessment, not more energy.
Why is my skin darker after laser?+
This is usually post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If the condition was melasma, heat may also have driven it.
Is pico laser the same as Q-switched laser?+
No. The difference is pulse length. Picosecond pulses are shorter, so the effect is more mechanical and less thermal.
Why must acne be controlled before scar treatment?+
Inflammation from active acne creates scars. Treating scars while the disease continues means working on a surface that keeps being damaged.
Are these marks scars or pigment?+
Run a fingertip across them. Flat marks are usually pigment and fade over months. True scars have a pit or raised area.
What is subcision?+
A needle or cannula passes under a depressed scar to divide the band anchoring it, leaving the surface intact.
Can lost hair grow back?+
A miniaturised follicle is alive and can respond. A follicle that has stopped producing cannot be reopened, so follicle status is assessed first.
What causes sudden hair shedding?+
Most often telogen effluvium, triggered by illness, fever, surgery, childbirth, stress, crash dieting or deficiency. It usually settles once the trigger is corrected.
Is body contouring a weight-loss treatment?+
No. It targets localised fat, not overall weight, and suits people near a stable weight.
Can stretch marks be removed completely?+
No. They are established scarring, so treatment improves how they look. Early red marks generally respond more readily than mature white ones.
Is a skin booster the same as filler?+
No. A filler occupies a location to restore volume. A booster spreads through tissue and acts on skin quality.
Is Profhilo a filler?+
No. It is uncross-linked hybrid hyaluronic acid that spreads through tissue, and it is grouped with skin boosters.
Can I have filler while pregnant or breastfeeding?+
Treatment is deferred, because fillers have not been studied in these groups. It is also deferred with an infection at the site.
What are the warning signs after filler?+
White, dusky or mottled skin, or severe or worsening pain, needs same-day assessment. Any vision change means going to A&E at once.
Do I need sunscreen every day in Singapore?+
Yes. UV varies little here and is often very high. Cloud does not stop it, and UVA passes through glass.
How should I care for scabs after laser?+
Keep the area clean and moisturised, use any prescribed ointment, protect it from the sun, and let scabs fall off on their own.
Is pico laser done during pregnancy?+
Elective laser is generally deferred. Please tell the doctor about pregnancy, plans to conceive or breastfeeding.
