You may have noticed that, in recent years, cosmetic procedures have become more and more accepted and commonplace among Singaporeans. It’s no longer a hush-hush topic that draws judgement from society, but a means of self-care that we see increasingly often on both mainstream and social media.
In the name of body positivity, we can now not only love the skin we’re in but also openly and proudly take active steps to jazz up our appearance if that’s what we desire. Besides having a pep to our step when we’re looking our best, many of these non-surgical aesthetic services also have health and wellness benefits – from improving fitness to alleviating skin conditions.
Before we delve into the available treatments and recommended clinics in Singapore, what exactly are non-surgical aesthetic services? Aesthetic services refer to procedures that serve to enhance the appearance of the face and/or body. Although it deals largely with outward appearance, many of these treatments bring wellness benefits on top of a cosmetic change.
While many people picture plastic surgery when cosmetic procedures are mentioned, these non-surgical treatments are done without putting you under the knife. Instead, injections, lasers, and other high-tech devices like cryo – AKA freezing – vacuums and electromagnetic pads are used to give you the complexion or physique transformation you’re after.
A clear-cut pro of going the non-surgical route is less downtime if any at all. Many of these treatments are dubbed “lunchtime treatments” ‘cause they’re so quick and fuss-free, you could pop by during your lunch hour and be back to work afterwards with no delay or discomfort.
And because these procedures are a lot more simple, you can expect to fork out way less moolah.
Image adapted from: PHI Clinics, Dermstore
What it’s for:
A microneedling facelift promotes the growth of collagen and elastin. This tightens the skin and fills out wrinkles and fine lines, producing a “lifted” effect without surgery. You’ll also notice a reduction in acne scars, and minimised pores.
How it works:
A microneedling device rolls over the areas of concern and punctures your skin with tiny sterile needles. If this makes you wince, don’t worry. The microneedles reach a very shallow level and the device moves along quickly. If needed, your aesthetician can also apply a numbing cream.
This puncturing action stimulates collagen production at a rapid and effective rate because it activates your body’s natural recovery response. The punctured skin will heal and become smoother, tighter, and even thicker and more elastic. Usually, skincare products will also be applied afterwards as the micro openings in the skin allow much better absorption.
Price: From $170/session
Duration: 20-90 minutes, depending on size of area treated.
Popular clinics: Bio Aesthetic Medispa, Wellaholic, Joyre Medical & Aesthetic Clinic
What it’s for:
An Intralift oral facelift tightens sagging skin by stimulating collagen production. What sets it apart from other non-surgical facelifts is that the device also burns fat cells within the cheek, giving rise to a more chiselled visage.
How it works:
If the idea of microneedling scares you even with the option of numbing cream, this is a facelift option that’s pretty much pain-free. An oral applicator transmits radiofrequency energy into the inside of the mouth to burn fat while spurring collagen growth. This method targets cheek muscles more directly, as compared to facelift treatments that are applied outside of the face.
Besides making your face appear smaller and more V-shaped, the stimulation of collagen production also helps to reduce the wrinkles in the surrounding area – mainly around the nose and mouth.
Read our review of the Intralift oral facelift offered at MODE Aesthetics Singapore.
Price: From $90/session
Duration: 60 minutes
Popular clinics: MODE Aesthetics Singapore, ICON Aesthetics
What it’s for:
Fat freezing allows you to lose fat cells through the body’s natural elimination processes. Namely, through sweating and going to the loo. Besides being a practically zero-effort way to shed some inches off your frame, it’s also a solution for folks dealing with stubborn fat that may not budge even through prolonged diet and exercise.
How it works:
Your areas of concern will be “sucked” into the applicators’ vacuum, where temperatures as low as -10°C will be applied. Despite how it sounds, it’s not painful at all but you may get a lil ticklish at most.
This crystallises the fat cells, and they’ll then pass through your body in the weeks and months to come. During this period where your body naturally expels the fat cells, you are encouraged to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle for the best results. Also, drink lots of water to flush those gosh darn fat cells out.
You can target common problem areas like the tummy, thighs, and arms, and even smaller areas like a double chin. According to some local clinics, fat freezing for men is gaining popularity throughout Asia as the treatment helps shed fat cells which may stay dormant on the body even after countless gym sessions.
Read our reviews on fat freezing in Singapore.
Price: From $298/session
Duration: 20-35 minutes
Popular clinics: Perfect Shape, Halley Medical Aesthetics, ICON Aesthetics
What it’s for:
For those who want to not only lose flab but appear more sculpted as well, Emsculpt NEO uses patented technology to burn fat and build muscle at the same time. Added benefits of this sculpting treatment are an improved posture as your core will be strengthened, and a toned and perkier bum.
How it works:
High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology is applied to the treatment area. Sounds very cheem, but it essentially means that radio-frequency heating targets the fat cells and muscles in a synchronised manner.
In a single procedure, fat cells will be burned off, while muscles will be heated to achieve contractions that would not be possible through mere exercise. To give you a sense of how intense the contractions are, it’s said that a 30-minute session treating the abdomen would achieve toning and strengthening equivalent to doing 20,000 crunches.
Although it sounds a little frightening, the sensation is akin to being squeezed rhythmically – very bearable and not painful in any sense.
Read our Mendis Aesthetics body contouring review to find out more about Emsculpt NEO.
Price: From $600/session
Duration: 30 minutes
Popular clinics: Mendis Aesthetics, BTL Aesthetics, Ageless Medical
Image for illustration purposes only.
What it’s for:
LED light phototherapy is a scientific and high-tech but straightforward method of stimulating the skin’s natural healing process. It’s a safe and non-invasive way to manage skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as it aids recovery and continual restoration beyond the treatment session.
Beyond skin conditions, it also promotes cell renewal to decrease wrinkles and improve the radiance of complexions in general.
How it works:
Not just for aesthetics, this form of treatment has proven to be effective for dermatological conditions too. LED light energy is applied to the cells on the face and body, kicking off their natural turnover and regeneration. This means fresher-looking skin that looks less dull, and slowed or reduced formation of new wrinkles.
Persisting skin conditions will also benefit from the healing on a cellular level, as opposed to applying topical medications. This is because phototherapy targets the skin conditions at their root level, while steroidal solutions only serve to quell the symptoms like itching and redness.
Price: From $320/session
Duration: 75 minutes
Popular clinics: Eagle Eye Aesthetics, Freia Aesthetics
Image: Pexels
What it’s for:
While “fillers” as a whole is used as a generic term, it’s most commonly used to refer to hyaluronic acid fillers. These injections tighten the skin to smooth out wrinkles and reduce sagging. Don’t confuse fillers with Botox, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles through paralysing the underlying muscles instead of filling in the skin cells.
Fillers add volume to the face, achieving results like reduced eye bags and plumped-up lips. They can even effect structural changes that would usually require surgery, such as lifting the nose and contouring the cheeks.
How it works:
Skincare junkies are probably well aware, but hyaluronic acid is a safe and controlled substance that’s very beneficial for plump and healthy skin. The chemical is naturally present in the human body, and serves to increase hydration in our skin cells to plump them up.
So, when these fillers are injected, you’ll see a visible difference in skin firmness. They’re commonly used on the lips to make them fuller, with different dosages taking you from a slight bee-stung pucker to a full-on Bratz dolls effect.
Fillers are also a popular option for “non-surgical nose jobs”. Strategic injections around the nose can give it a lift, make it appear thinner, and even reduce nostril flare. As for the cheeks, fillers can give it a contoured look so you can achieve your desired facial structure without whipping out your contouring makeup kit.
Price: From $498/area
Duration: 30-60 minutes, depending on areas treated.
Popular clinics: Illumia Medical, Sozo Aesthetic Clinic, Cove Aesthetic Clinic
Profhilo fillers can also be used to tighten loose skin on the body.
Image adapted from: Dr Wassim Taktouk
What it’s for:
Profhilo fillers are used not only to hydrate skin cells for a plumper appearance as regular hyaluronic acid fillers do, but also to rejuvenate dull and saggy skin. This is done through stimulating collagen production, allowing your body to slow down wrinkle formation from within.
It’s a 2-pronged approach, as these fillers target issues that have already reached the surface of your skin, as well as preventing further exacerbation and formation of new signs of ageing.
How it works:
The Profhilo formulation comprises a hybrid hyaluronic acid complex. Without going into the sciency details, the key takeaway is that this formulation is currently the highest hyaluronic acid concentration on the market. It’s also injected at a different depth than regular fillers, and its skincare effects are said to last up to 30 times longer.
Besides plumping up your skin and giving you a more youthful and radiant look, Profhilo also helps with stubborn acne scars, by promoting healing of the dermis. Other than the face, it can even be injected into the neck, hands, and knees. This helps individuals who have loose skin on their body, which they may wish to hide if they’re concerned about tell-tale signs of ageing.
Price: From $988/area
Duration: 30-60 minutes, depending on areas treated.
Popular clinics: Bio Aesthetic, Dr Vanessa Phua Aesthetic Clinic, CeleVenus Clinic
What it’s for:
Not to be confused with the Tiktok-viral Brazilian Butt Lift, Broadband Light (BBL) therapy is a skincare treatment which perks up dull skin and promotes a glow from within. It also tightens and firms up saggy skin and, as a nifty bonus, also has a hair removal effect.
How it works:
High-intensity light is applied to the skin in short bursts, similar to Intense Pulse Light (IPL) hair removal technology. The difference is that BBL can be adjusted to different wavelengths, targeting different skin tones without being too harsh. An added bonus is that it also removes hair, good for those who want to get rid of their peach fuzz.
The zap of light energy triggers the skin’s natural regeneration process and is virtually painless. You’ll feel a slight warmth and at most, a mild ant bite-like sensation at the more sensitive areas with thinner skin. If you’re squeamish, you can also opt for a layer of numbing gel to be slathered on.
Read our review of the Forever Young BBL offered at SW1 Clinic.
Price: From $450/session
Duration: 30 minutes
Popular clinics: SW1 Clinic, Aesthetic Studio, Healthsprings Laser and Aesthetic Clinic
Image adapted from: Dr Avaliani
What it’s for:
The HALO laser is lauded as a powerful anti-ageing treatment method. It targets tell-tale signs of ageing – particularly discolouration, sun-damaged spots, and deep scarring marks – to bring about a more radiant and youthful complexion. It also minimises fine lines and wrinkles and smooths out pores.
How it works:
Also called a Hybrid Fractional Laser, the laser is applied through a smart device which automatically maps out the skin area and delivers the precise amount of thermal laser energy needed.
This means you’ll get something strong enough to be effective, especially on scars and discoloured spots. Meanwhile, more sensitive areas don’t run the risk of being subjected to laser energy that may be too harsh.
HALO laser treatments are skyrocketing in popularity among the fab and fancy in America. The fairly new technology is currently being offered in Singapore at only 1 clinic so far – Eagle Eye Aesthetics.
Price: From $1,000/session
Duration: 30-60 minutes, depending on areas treated.
Popular clinics: Eagle Eye Aesthetics
What it’s for:
A popular treatment method for those looking to reduce pigmentation and get a clearer complexion, Pico lasers target pigmentation in many forms. This includes acne scarring, freckles, and melasma AKA brown or greyish patches on the skin.
How it works:
This treatment is so named because picosecond laser energy is applied to the skin. FYI, picosecond refers to one trillionth of a second. This ultra-rapid concentrated blast of energy can break down pigmentation particles, and tough pigmentation clusters will be broken down into smaller fragments.
Also, compared to other laser treatments targeting pigmentation, the speed of Pico laser transmissions allows more laser shots to be fired simultaneously. This means even stubborn spots can be cleared faster, and you’d need fewer treatment sessions to do so.
Read our review on a Pico laser treatment in Singapore.
Price: From $80/session
Duration: 15-30 minutes, depending on size of area treated.
Popular clinics: Sozo Aesthetic Clinic, Illumia Medical, ENSOUL Medical Clinic
Through the combination of technological advancements and progress in the open-mindedness of society, aesthetic services have ballooned in popularity. There have never been as many options at our fingertips, from non-surgical to non-invasive altogether.
These treatments also involve a smaller price tag and lesser downtime, so we don’t have to be bogged down by heavy considerations as with going for a big surgery. In this day and age, it’s time to embrace loving yourself and the skin you’re in, and daring to zhng your appearance because you can and you want to.
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