Dr Benjamin Yim

Hi, acne scars are difficult problems to solve to start with. Expectations are important to manage. Most will require multiple treatments with the laser. Assessment of the scar to see if it is stretchable or fixed in depth is important in deciding the type of treatment to use. Most treatments can achieve a 30-50% long-term improvement. I always advise patients to use the non-ablative lasers first and to control active outbreaks.

Hi, it can be difficult to differentiate between contact dermatitis and endogenous eczema (body rashes) without a proper clinical history. It is best to consult your doctor and take a history of the contact exposure of the skin at home, work and hobbies. Common contact dermatitis include nickle, rubber and dyes. The important point is the the history of exposure.

Hi, about two months after the thread insertion. This is to allow any swelling or complications from the procedure to subside before another skin treatment.

Hi, the symptoms and signs of a skin infection that may arise from the process of tattooing are redness, swelling and pain with discharge. These signs happen several days after the procedure. Another type of infection is related to the transmission through the use of contaminated needles that cut / penetrate the skin ie. tattoo needles. HIV and hepatitis B and C are some examples of such transmissible infections. These, however, can take several weeks before the symptoms become apparent. Hope this helps.

Hi, any bruise takes about two weeks to disappear. Sometimes the pigment from the broken red blood cells (hemosiderin), can take longer for the immune system to clear it away.

Hi, you have moderate to severe inflammatory acne with old scarring. You will probably need oral medication for 6months. It will be best for you to arrange for a consultation to decide on the course of treatment for your acne.

Hi, an appropriate procedure would be lip reduction carried out by a plastic surgeon. You could also check the upper dentition with your dentist to ensure proper alignment of the dentition.

G6PD is a genetically inherited condition, where the body lacks an enzyme and, as a result, SPECIFIC foods and medication can cause the breakdown of the red blood cells in the body if consumed. I do not think that topical application of a dye on the skin will cause the same reaction as taking the specific foods and medication. Please check with your family doctor about the types of food and oral medication that your child needs to avoid. If you were to apply henna, do not use needles and start only with small area. See a doctor if your child experiences any adverse reaction to the henna dye.

Hi, if that is the case you should consider stopping the above treatment if the outcome is unsuccessful. You will need to consult someone experienced about alternative treatments for your dilated pores. Off the top of my head, I can think of energy devices for treatment which might be suitable.

Hi, any pigmented skin lesion that looks suspicious should be consulted with your doctor. Signs favouring malignancy are: changing in size or shape with time ulcerating uneven color of the lesion bizarre appearance.

Hi, Botox applications of the masseters are to treat square jaws resulting from clenching and grinding of the muscle. Buccal fat removal on the other hand is to reduce the fatty bulge in the lower front of the cheeks. This bulge deepens the smiling fold and typically adds to the jowly appearance of the cheeks, hence some patients seek this treatment. So, depending of the problem, one would need to have the appropriate method/s to achieve a slimmer face and jawline and requires a consultation with your doctor.

Hi thank you for your question, Over at IDS clinic where I practice, we do not do surgical facelifts. To my knowledge, a lower face surgical facelift in Singapore would cost roughly 20K Singapore dollars and upwards. The downtime patients can expect would be roughly 2 weeks for the swelling, bruising and pain to subside. Lower facelifts using non surgical methods however, include procedures such as thread lifts, fillers and ultherapy. The cost of a combination of the above treatments can cost between 3K-5K Singapore dollars depending on the results you are looking at.

Hi there, In my practice I would normally do the HIFU (High-intensity focused ultrasound) before the Profhilo injection. However in cases where this is done in the reverse order, I would do the energy treatment (HIFU) about 1 month after Profhilo. Thank you.

Hi, thank you for your question. The factors that affect the aesthetic appearance of one's eye are: 1. Drooping of the outer brow - botox and fillers to improve it. 2. Wrinkles on the sides of The eye - botox and Profile (hyaluronic acid) to improve it. 3. Eyebags below The Eye - Fillers/Profhilo or eyebag surgery to improve it. 4. Hooding of the skin of the upper eyelid - Thermage eyelid or eyelid surgery to improve it. Having said this, please consult your aesthetic doctor so that he/she can best advice you on the suitable treatments!