The need to look better and
feel better has been driving Singapore's multi-million dollar
aesthetics industry for many years.
But lately, aesthetic doctors say
their patients are getting younger, from those in their 40s to
those in their 20s.
In fact, doctors say they have
seen more patients despite the unstable economy.
For those who say beauty is only
skin deep, think again.
Aesthetic doctors say more and
more people are turning to minimally-invasive treatments to spruce
up their appearance, even during the downturn.
And looking more attractive isn't
the only aim.
Dr Kevin Teh, who specialises in
breast enhancements and sculpting of body is from the Singapore
Lipo, Body and Face Centre.
"First of all, the procedures are
not terribly expensive. When times are bad, there are some patients
who find that looking better helps them in their job
prospects."
Over the past one year, Dr Teh
has easily seen a two-fold increase in the number of regular
patients.
"Initially you get the
traditional clientele that you expect, the expats, the Tai Tais,
the aunties in their 40s and 50s who want to look better. But
increasingly in the last few months or last half a year, I found
that younger patients are coming to see me. I've had NSFs, that
means NS boys who are still going through army, coming to look for
treatments like these. And I've had a lot of young, fresh (adults)
working in their 20s. So it's very, very prevalent
now."
Echoing similar sentiments is Dr
Yeak Hwee Lee who specialises in botox and skin
treatments.
Dr Yeak, whose from the Singapore
Aesthetic Centre says her youngest patient was an 11 year-old who
went for leg hair removal.
She adds that business is brisk,
particularly during the festive seasons.
Already, Dr Yeak says there's a
waiting list.
"On average, if let's say you're
doing 20 to 30, then when it's peak season it's 20 to 30. But we're
limited by the number of patients we can see because it takes time
to do each case you see."
And time is money, that's why
many patients opt for treatments that can be done in a few
hours.
Dr Teh
elaborates.
"What they specifically
especially want is low-down time procedures because all of them,
most of them are working and when you're working it's not easy to
just take one week off."
The fact that these treatments
are relatively affordable - from 15 dollars for botox to less than
1,400 dollars for fat removal, is perhaps another reason why quick
cosmetic procedures are gaining popularity.
--938Live