S

ingapore’s deserved reputation for retail therapy, great food, cultural and entertainment offerings precedes it.

And the city-state is also renowned for its international-standard medical facilities, including clinical aesthetic treatments and cosmetic surgery conducted as part of medical tourism.

Several factors have helped shape its rapid development in recent years.

Prominent Singapore aesthetics physician Georgia Lee cites the high standard of regulations set by the government, and attendant confidence of prospective patients, for fueling the boom.

There is also the industry’s professionalism, gained from many years of experience in the field, in taking care of patients from overseas, starting with arrangement of appointments, consultation, safe cosmetic procedures, and follow-up.

Technological advancements — wielding a significant role in any of today’s cosmetic procedures — are also a boon for foreign clients in being able to save time on their journey. Dr. Lee explained it is possible to visit Singapore for a single-session treatment with minimal down time and longer-lasting results that need fewer follow-ups.

“Singapore is also convenient for medical tourists as it is basically a city where everything we need is within reach,” said Dr. Lee, who is a sought-after speaker on aesthetic treatments in Singapore.

Indonesians are among the thousands of international patients who trust Singapore for upscale clinical aesthetic treatments.

“About 20 percent of my clients are Indonesians,” acknowledged Dr. Lee, founder of the DrGL® skincare line and TLC Medical Center, Singapore, which provides a variety of aesthetics procedures, including laser treatments for scars and acne management.

The most popular treatments for her international clientele are non-invasive procedures such as Botox® and filler injections for treating wrinkles and correct volume-deficient areas; non-invasive lifting treatments using Thermage® and Ulthera®; as well as cosmetic surgeries with longer recovery time, such as facelifts.

Another non-invasive treatment in the city-state is the increasingly popular Endovenous Laser technology (EVLT), which removes varicose veins without surgery or anesthesia, or post-procedure scars.

Youthful glow

Aesthetic treatments and cosmetic surgery are usually considered for adults in need of rejuvenation for age-related wrinkles and sagging skin. However, Dr. Lee said Singapore allowed for such surgery on people under 18 if a valid need was found and with parental consent.

“For example, acne scar treatments can be started from teenage years if there is parental consent and the acne has been controlled,” said Dr. Lee. “However, for injectable procedures, it is mostly preferred for older age groups.”

For Indonesians and other foreigners seeking treatment in Singapore for the first time, Dr. Lee has a couple of important tips. First, do thorough research on the treatments you are interested in, both by asking friends and searching online.

“If there is downtime involved, allocate sufficient time for the recovery. Nowadays, some practices allow online consultation for overseas clienteles to have better planning. However, plans may change after in-person consultation.”

Afterwards, carefully select an aesthetic or cosmetic surgery clinic, in which you can still rely on word of mouth recommendations. Screen the appointed doctor or practitioner by assessing his or her skills thoroughly in the desired treatments.

“There is no doctor who is good in everything. Thus, ask the doctor to name his or her best treatment. I always find it more believable if he or she can identify a few treatments rather than claim excellence in all.”

Dr. Lee insisted that a good doctor or practitioner must also be able to listen to the patient’s needs and
address them in the most economical way in terms of time and financial commitments.

For example, they must be willing to conduct the three to four most effective treatments rather than advising doing 10 different treatments that ultimately may not offer much improvement.

In her personal opinion, most cosmetic surgeons possess surgical skills that do not differ vastly. But the aesthetic eye has an equally important role in the results and this talent cannot be imparted totally from training.

If a recovery period is needed, make sure to book a room in a nearby hotel or serviced apartments. If there is a hospitalization procedure involved, it is better to overestimate the entire budget to meet the financial commitments for the hospital stay.

There is another factor to take into account in ensuring for the best results, especially if the recovery period is used for sight-seeing.

“Singapore is very sunny all year round, thus take protective care after undergoing treatments that may make you sun sensitive,” said Dr. Lee of wearing sunscreen if possible and covering up skin.