Aesthetic Doctors vs Dermatologists: Which to Choose in SG?
They say that maintaining healthy-looking skin is one of the best investments you can make with your appearance—and it’s true. Make-up can only go so far, and taking care of your skin is still one of the best ways to look younger as you age.
You’ll most likely need a bit of help from a skin specialist to make it easier for you to reach your goals. But with different specialists available in Singapore, it can be tricky to pinpoint which one to go to.
But in this guide, we’ll help you with exactly that, starting with a comparison of the most common skin specialists in Singapore—aesthetic doctors and dermatologists.
What’s an aesthetic doctor?
Simply put, an aesthetic doctor is a medically-trained specialist who specialises in cosmetic medical treatments.
In other words, the goal of an aesthetic doctor is to improve their patient’s physical appearance. They basically come up with a specific treatment plan or therapy based on their assessment of their patients.
These treatments may include major procedures like plastic surgery or breast reduction/augmentation surgeries and minor procedures like botox, liposuction, and double chin removal.
In Singapore, doctors offering aesthetic treatments are either dermatologists or plastic surgeons. Some aesthetic doctors can also do minor surgeries like hair transplants and facelifts.
You may find these doctors in aesthetic clinics, which are mostly based in malls or medical centres in Singapore. Generally, you don’t need a referral to see an aesthetic doctor as well.
Keep in mind that an aesthetic doctor shouldn’t be confused with an aesthetician. You can easily tell the difference between an aesthetic doctor and an aesthetician just by the services they provide.
Note that aestheticians aren’t medical doctors, but they’re trained to provide a variety of non-invasive skincare treatments. This includes waxing, laser removal, eyebrow embroidery, and facial treatments, just to name a few.
While patients can also get these treatments at medical aesthetic clinics, they can still be administered by aestheticians only. In some cases, aesthetic doctors may also perform these minor procedures.
What’s a dermatologist?
Meanwhile, a dermatologist is a medical doctor who specialises in treating a wide range of skin problems. This includes acne, eczema, rosacea, hives, and even more serious skin conditions such as skin cancer.
Apart from giving out prescriptions to patients, they can also recommend some skin products like facial cleansers, moisturisers, and sunscreen based on your skin type.
If a patient has been diagnosed with melanoma, a dermatologist can do mole removals immediately to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
If you’re a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you can actually get subsidised care at the National Skin Centre for your treatment. To do this, you’ll need a referral letter from a polyclinic.
Otherwise, you can also seek dermatological care from private clinics located all over the island, from hospitals to medical centres.
If you took out a private health insurance policy, you may also check out your insurance provider’s list of preferred panel doctors. In fact, we have some of our personal recommendations here under specific insurance providers:
- AXA Panel Dermatologist
- Prudential Panel Dermatologist
- AIA Panel Dermatologist
- Great Eastern Panel Dermatologist
- Aviva Panel Dermatologist