Ask the Doctor

There is no set age. Botulinum toxin, a prescription medicine, is considered when lines are visible at rest or when strong muscle movement is starting to etch them. Many people in their twenties do not need it. Good sun protection and skincare matter more early on, and treatment is decided after examination.

Fillers add volume or structure in a specific place, such as the chin or cheeks. Skin boosters are spread thinly in the skin to improve hydration, texture and fine lines, without changing shape. They answer different problems, so the choice depends on whether the concern is volume or skin quality.

Hyaluronic acid filler can usually be dissolved with hyaluronidase, a prescription medicine. Calcium hydroxylapatite, polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactic acid cannot be dissolved this way. Knowing which product is present, sometimes with ultrasound, comes before any decision. Dissolving is usually done in small, staged amounts so that the face keeps the support it still needs.

It can if settings are too aggressive or sun protection is poor, because melasma reacts to heat and inflammation. Gentle, well-spaced sessions combined with daily sunscreen and sometimes oral or topical treatment are more appropriate. Melasma is managed rather than cured, and a doctor should confirm the diagnosis first.

Neither is better in general. HIFU delivers focused ultrasound to deeper layers, while monopolar radiofrequency heats the skin more broadly. The choice depends on where the laxity is, skin thickness and how much fat is present. Some plans combine methods; others need neither.

Usually around three to four months, varying with the area, dose, muscle strength and metabolism. Effects start over several days and fade gradually. Repeat treatment is planned when movement returns, not on a fixed calendar. How often to repeat it is discussed at each review.

Often, yes, with the right laser and settings. Darker skin carries a higher risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation, so wavelength, energy and spacing are chosen carefully, and careful sun protection around each session is essential. A test area is sometimes used. Gentler, more frequent sessions are often safer than fewer, stronger ones.

It depends on the scar types present. Rolling, boxcar and ice-pick scars respond to different methods, such as subcision, CO2 resurfacing and RF microneedling, and most people need a course over several months. Improvement is gradual, and the plan is reviewed after each stage.

Yes. Bruising is common after injections, particularly around the eyes and lips, and usually fades within one to two weeks. Avoiding blood-thinning supplements beforehand, where it is safe to stop them, can reduce it. Sudden pain or a pale or dusky patch is different and needs urgent review.

Often, for a few days before more intensive laser or peels, because retinoids thin the outer skin layer and increase irritation. For gentle treatments it may not be necessary. Prescription retinoids taken by mouth need a longer discussion; tell the doctor about any you have used in the past year.

Most injectables and many energy-based treatments are postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety data are lacking. Gentle facials and some skincare adjustments may be possible. Tell the doctor at booking so that a safe plan can be discussed. Treatment can then be resumed once you have finished breastfeeding.

Possible reasons include filler placed too superficially, which can give a bluish tint, swelling that holds fluid, or a dark circle that was caused by pigment or thin skin rather than hollowness. An examination, sometimes with ultrasound, is needed to tell these apart before correcting anything.

Usually, yes. Cherry angiomas, small red blood-vessel spots, respond to vascular laser or electrocautery. Syringomas, firm bumps around the eyes, are treated with CO2 laser and often need more than one session, and some can recur. The diagnosis is confirmed first.

Early. Hair treatments work better at preserving and strengthening existing follicles than at reviving ones that have stopped. Thinning should first be assessed for causes such as iron deficiency, thyroid problems or hormonal patterns, then a plan made, which may include lasers, scalp treatments or medicines.

They cannot be dissolved like hyaluronic acid filler. Depending on the situation, options may include waiting, treating the area around them, or energy-based treatments such as Time Freeze Laser LCLR® or VF Lift – Vertical Facelift, which are built to target these products and take away the excess. Not every laser can do this, so assessment comes first.

Licensed clinics in Singapore are regulated by the Ministry of Health, and every doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, whose online register can be searched by name. Ask who will perform your treatment and check that person’s registration before booking.

Gradually. Collagen remodelling after radiofrequency, ultrasound or laser treatments develops over weeks to months, so early swelling is not the result. Reviews are usually planned at intervals of several weeks, and how much change occurs varies from person to person.

Sometimes. Some combinations work well together, while others are better spaced to reduce swelling or irritation or to see each effect clearly. The order matters too; for example, energy treatments are often planned around injectable sessions rather than straight after them.

Usually not. Most skin boosters are given as an initial series a few weeks apart, then maintained at longer intervals. The exact schedule depends on the product, your skin and your goals, and it should be reviewed rather than repeated by default.

It depends on the treatment, the area, the product or device used, the number of sessions and what is found on examination. That is why the clinic gives fees in writing after a consultation rather than quoting in advance, so that you can compare options and decide in your own time.