Our Services

Laser & Cosmetic Dermatology

Aesthetic treatment carried out within a medical dermatology practice. The emphasis is on assessment first, conservative technique, and approaches appropriate for skin that pigments readily.

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At a glance

What it covers: Laser treatment, injectable treatments, chemical peels, facials, scar treatment and skin care advice.
Approach: Assessment before treatment. Device, setting and intensity chosen for your skin type and the specific condition.
Why that matters: Skin that pigments readily can respond to overly aggressive treatment by darkening. Conservative technique is frequently the more effective route.
Realistic expectations: Most treatments require a course, and results vary between individuals. What is achievable is discussed before anything is booked.
Languages: Consultations available in English and Mandarin.

Our approach

Aesthetic treatment in a dermatology setting

Cosmetic dermatology sits alongside medical dermatology rather than apart from it. The same understanding of how skin behaves — how it inflames, how it pigments, how it heals — informs both.

That matters particularly in Singapore. Skin types common here have melanocytes that are readily provoked into producing pigment by ultraviolet light, heat and inflammation. A treatment that produces a good result in fair skin may, at the same settings, leave lasting darkening in skin that pigments easily.

The practical consequence is a preference for appropriate rather than maximal intensity, and for establishing what is actually present before treating it. Uneven pigment may be melasma, post-inflammatory pigmentation, sun-related lentigines or deeper dermal pigment such as Hori's nevus — and these do not all respond to the same approach.

A word on expectationsNo treatment produces the same outcome in everyone, and no honest practitioner can guarantee a result. What can be offered is an assessment of what is realistically achievable for your skin, how many sessions are likely to be required, what the downtime involves, and what the risks are — before you decide.

Treatments

What we offer

Treatments are selected according to the concern, the skin type and what is realistically achievable.

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Laser treatment

Device and settings matched to the concern and skin type.

Laser mole removal
Laser for pigmentation
Skin rejuvenation and skin tightening
Laser for acne scars and enlarged pores
Laser hair removal

💉

Injectable treatments

Administered by a doctor following assessment.

Botulinum toxin (Botox)
Rejuran
Profhilio
Dermal fillers
Effects are temporary and require maintenance

🌿

Peels and facials

Adjuncts to medical treatment and skin maintenance.

Chemical peels
Classical facial
Hydrafacial
Depth and agent chosen with skin type in mind

🩹

Scar treatment

Assessment first, because scars differ.

Acne scarring — depressed and raised types
Surgical and traumatic scars
Treatment matched to the specific scar type
Often combined approaches over a period

🌞

Pigmentation

Frequently the reason patients attend.

Melasma and hyperpigmentation
Sun-related lentigines and freckles
Post-inflammatory pigmentation
Topical treatment and sun protection alongside any procedure

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Skin care advice

Often the least glamorous and most useful part.

Guidance on cleansers, moisturisers and actives
Sun protection appropriate for Singapore's climate
Simplifying overloaded routines
Advice on what is worth using and what is not

Before you book

Questions worth asking about any aesthetic treatment

Aesthetic treatment is widely marketed, and it can be difficult to judge what is appropriate. Whichever clinic you attend, these questions are reasonable to ask:

What exactly is being treated? A diagnosis should precede a procedure — particularly with pigmentation, where different conditions look alike but behave differently.
Is this appropriate for my skin type? Devices and settings that suit fair skin are not automatically suitable for skin that pigments readily.
What is realistically achievable? Improvement, not perfection, is the honest currency of aesthetic medicine.
How many sessions, and over what period?
What is the downtime, and what are the risks? Including the risk of pigment change.
Who performs the treatment?
What happens if it does not go as planned?

Sun protection is part of the treatmentFor almost every laser or peel treatment, and every pigmentation treatment, consistent broad-spectrum sun protection before and afterwards materially affects the outcome. It is not an afterthought — it is what protects the result you have paid for.

Getting the best from treatment

Before and after your procedure

General guidance. Specific instructions for your treatment will be given at consultation.

Helpful

Tell us about all medications, supplements and recent treatments
Avoid sun exposure and tanning in the weeks before treatment
Settle any active acne or eczema first
Follow aftercare instructions precisely
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen daily afterwards
Allow the full interval between sessions

Unhelpful

Booking a procedure without an assessment
Treatment over sunburnt or recently tanned skin
Combining aggressive products or treatments in quick succession
Picking at crusts or peeling skin afterwards
Skipping sunscreen after a pigmentation treatment
Expecting a single session to resolve long-standing pigmentation

Dr Chen Qiping

Consultant Dermatologist · MBBS, MRCP (UK), M.Sc, FAMS (Dermatology)

Dr Chen practises laser and cosmetic dermatology alongside general, paediatric and surgical dermatology, with subspecialty interests in pigmentary disorders and skin cancer. Consultations are available in English and Mandarin.

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Common questions

Laser & cosmetic dermatology — frequently asked questions

Are lasers safe for Asian skin?

Laser treatment can be performed safely in richly pigmented skin, but it requires care in selection and settings. Skin that pigments readily is more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and some devices and intensities suited to fair skin carry a higher risk of pigment change here. Certain conditions — melasma in particular — can be aggravated by inappropriate laser treatment. This is why assessment before treatment matters, and why a conservative approach is often the more effective one.

Is laser treatment painful?

Most patients describe a sensation similar to a rubber band flicking against the skin, or brief heat. Tolerance varies with the device used, the setting and the area treated. Topical anaesthetic cream may be applied beforehand for more sensitive areas or more intensive treatments. Discomfort is generally short-lived.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends entirely on the condition being treated, its depth and extent, and the device used. Some treatments produce a visible change after a single session; most pigmentary and resurfacing treatments require a course spaced weeks apart. A realistic estimate is given at consultation once your skin has been assessed — anyone promising a fixed result in a fixed number of sessions without examining you first should be treated with caution.

What is the downtime after laser treatment?

It varies widely. Gentler treatments may produce only mild redness settling within hours. More intensive resurfacing can involve several days of redness, swelling, crusting or peeling. Downtime is discussed and planned in advance so you can schedule treatment around work and commitments.

Do results from injectable treatments last?

No injectable treatment is permanent. Effects wear off over a period that varies by product and by individual, and maintenance is required if the effect is to be sustained. Expected duration for the specific treatment being considered will be discussed at consultation.

Can I have laser treatment if I have active acne or eczema?

Active inflammatory skin conditions are usually settled first. Treating over inflamed skin risks aggravating it, and in pigment-prone skin risks creating exactly the marks you are trying to avoid. Getting the underlying condition under control is generally the first step, with procedures considered afterwards.

Will sun exposure affect my treatment?

Yes, significantly. Recent sun exposure or a tan increases the risk of pigment complications, and ultraviolet exposure afterwards can undermine results and provoke pigmentation. Diligent sun protection before and after treatment is not optional — it is part of the treatment.

References

DermNet. Laser treatment and Chemical peels. dermnetnz.org
Thawabteh AM, Jibreen A, Karaman D, et al. Skin Pigmentation Types, Causes and Treatment — A Review. Molecules. 2023;28(12):4839. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Kaufman BP, Alexis AF. Considerations in the treatment of skin of colour. Am J Clin Dermatol.

Page last reviewed: 28 July 2026.

Important — This page is general information about a skin condition and is not medical advice. It cannot take the place of an individual consultation, examination and diagnosis. Treatment options, their suitability and their possible side effects should be discussed with a qualified doctor who has assessed your skin. Individual results vary. If you have concerns about your skin, please arrange a consultation.

Considering a laser or aesthetic treatment?

Arrange a consultation with Dr Chen Qiping at our Collyer Quay clinic — two minutes' walk from Raffles Place MRT. Assessment before treatment, always.

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