7 “Hidden” Costs To Consider When Doing Aesthetic Clinic Treatments So You Can Budget More Accurately

By Rachel Yohannan on 20 Feb 2022

Senior Digital Editor

Crazy cat lady who loves afternoon tea, kawaii Japanese fashion, and all things Sanrio.

It’s no secret that aesthetic treatments such as laser, fillers, and plastic surgery cost a hefty sum - that’s why the rich and famous often look as miraculously young as they did a whole decade ago, or perhaps even better. After saving up for years, I finally took the plunge to visit an aesthetic clinic to sort out my pitted acne scars and unbearably oily skin. What I wasn’t exactly prepared for, however, was a set of “hidden” costs that had me spending more than I’d expected.

I’m not talking about sneaky hard-selling scam tactics one might encounter at a regular facial salon, but rather, additional necessary things you might end up forking out on to make sure your treatment goes as successfully as possible. Here are 7 hidden costs to take note of when visiting an aesthetic clinic in Singapore so that you can be mentally prepared and budget more wisely.

Disclaimer: This article is written from my personal point of view after going through nearly a year of various invasive aesthetic treatments that do not include plastic surgery. These treatments were paid for by myself and were not sponsored.

#1: Consultation fees

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Some aesthetic clinics offer complimentary consultations, whether as part of a promotion or just because. However, many others also require you to pay consultation fees, which can range from the high tens range to a 3-digit sum. This is fair, considering the fact that you’re seeing an actual doctor. Just like visiting the GP for a common cold, you’re essentially paying for the doctor’s time and expertise so that he can prescribe the best treatment for your needs.

The clinic that I go to, Veritas Medical Aesthetics, charges $120 before GST for a first consultation - this is clearly displayed on their frontdesk so everything is transparent for potential customers. This amount is then refunded upon purchase of any treatment package.

#2: A new set of skincare products

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Certain treatments will render you unable to use your regular skincare products, as there are ingredients you might have to avoid during the recovery process. For example, if you’re doing a laser, you’ll have to stay away from acids such as AHA and BHA as they’ll cause peeling and affect results.

As such, you may have to switch out some of your existing products for new ones. At times, your doctor may strongly recommend his own clinic’s products for your usage. These are usually significantly pricier than beauty products at drugstores like Watsons, but they may work better in tandem with your treatment, and thus improve the results.

I personally chose not to go with my doctor’s own brand of products, however I do have a separate set of skincare that I use during my treatment’s downtime.

#3: Healing treatment for recovery

Photo from PressLogic

For many invasive aesthetic treatments, results are long-term or even permanent, but require lots of patience regarding downtime and proper aftercare. For example, going for laser or subcision might have you looking all bloody and scarred afterwards, with the marks lasting from 5 days to a week or more depending on your skin type and chosen treatment.

If you’re someone who takes longer to recover from scars, your doctor might request for you to go for machine-powered healing treatments after an aggressive laser. There was also a particular sebaceous gland removal treatment known as AGNES which I underwent, which required me to return 2-3 days later for extraction - this was to help clear my skin of all the excess oil that it was purging out post-treatment.

All of these additional procedures cost me a fair bit of money, but being fully committed to the process, I knew that these were for my own good. Hence, I decided to bite the bullet as I wanted my results to be as good as possible. It is also worth noting that the clinic did not attempt to hardsell me when I said I didn’t need the healing treatment for a lighter laser that had a shorter downtime.

Ultimately, no one can force you to spend on something you don’t wish to, however it would be in your best interests to go with what your doctor recommends so as to achieve best results - especially if your chosen treatment is a more invasive one.

#4: Supplements such as edible sunscreen

Photo from Heliocare

Some aesthetic treatments come with non-threatening side effects, and a common one for laser is vulnerability to UV damage, which can result in not just poor healing but also hyperpigmentation. Sunblock should thus become your best friend after laser treatment, even when you’re indoors, as those pesky UV rays will still reach your skin.

For extra precaution, you can consider consuming sunscreen tablets. Do note that these won’t make you invincible against the sun, but they’ll work together with topical sunblock to offer the highest level of UV protection you can get.

Edible sunscreen is not cheap, but I manage my expenses by only consuming it when I’m heading out of the house while the sky’s still light. On hermit days, I rely solely on topical sunscreen. Check out our previous article on 6 edible sunscreen brands in Singapore, as well as our round-up of 8 best sunblocks tried and tested by our team, including those suitable for oily skin.

#5: Topical or oral medication

Photo from PressLogic

Your aesthetic doctor may prescribe certain topical or oral medication to aid in your post-treatment recovery. I was asked to purchase antibiotic cream for subcision marks, recovery cream to apply on my healing laser scars, and was also also made to consume anti-pigmentation pills, as the aggressive laser I did makes one especially susceptible to sun damage.

These are usually non-negotiable; If the doctor asks you to take medication, you have to take medication. You wouldn’t tell a GP that you don’t want his flu tablets after visiting him for flu symptoms, so the same concept applies with an aesthetic doctor. A good and honest doctor would never prescribe something you don’t need.

#6: GST on multiple 4-digit bills

Photo from PressLogic

This seems like a no-brainer, but trust us, the pinch is real. Goods & Services Tax (GST) on a $20 restaurant meal is a comparatively negligible amount as compared to GST on a $3000 aesthetic package that you may decide to re-purchase after your initial credits have been used up.

Remember to factor this into your budget so that you don’t get a nasty shock once you receive your bill at the end of the day. Especially with GST being raised from 7% to a rumoured 9% soon.

#7: Increased frequency of cabbing around

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Going anywhere requires transport fees, no? So what’s the big deal?

Well, yes, but if you’re undergoing invasive treatments with heavy downtime, you might just find yourself taking cabs more often for various reasons such as: 1) Not wanting strangers to stare at all the raw skin and terrifying post-treatment marks on your face, 2) Wanting to avoid skin pollutants by minimising time out in the open, and 3) Wanting to stay out of the sun as much as possible, which again I have to stress is is something you must do at all costs after laser and subcision.

Editor’s final note:

Aesthetic treatments are definitely a luxury, and an ongoing process. Meaning, you can't just go for one laser session and expect to get baby smooth skin overnight. A lot of funds and time must be invested, so it’s a big decision even if you have a stable income.

That said, if you think going for such treatments will help improve your self confidence, save up and make sure you aren't living paycheck to paycheck before starting. Taking long breaks in between your treatment will also make it less effective, so be prepared for continuous spending if you choose to commit.