More Singaporeans in their 20s and 30s going for Botox and collagen shots

Too much Botox at a young age may lead to loss of muscle, doctor cautions

- Kolette Lim

Slightly over a year ago, Ms Caitlin Lim noticed the circles around her eyes were getting darker. She visited an aesthetic clinic in the hope of a solution and took up the doctor's suggestion to use fillers. "I had never considered injectables because I'm scared of needles, but I thought that I'd just try it," said the marketing executive, now 28. "The lack of fat around my cheeks created shadows under my eyes, and the fillers really made a difference."

A small volume of gel-like substance, injected just above her cheekbones, settled her concerns and made her face look fresh and plump, she said.

Like Ms Lim, a growing number of people in Singapore in their 20s and 30s are getting injectables to improve their facial appearances. Some of these cosmetic enhancements have long carried the stigma of creating an unnatural appearance, partly because of the use of Botox by Hollywood celebrities who experienced less-than-desired results due to a range of factors.

These may include incorrect techniques or over-treatment, dermatologists told The Straits Times. A loss of muscle and decrease in their strength, reduced effectiveness over time, and even addiction or over-reliance on injectables are some other concerns that have been raised over such treatments.

Yet dermatologists and aestheticians told ST that they have observed an increase of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent in Singapore among those in their 20s and 30s using injectables for cosmetic reasons since 2020.

This mirrors a global trend: A report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons showed that from 2022 to 2023, there was a 9 per cent increase in the number of people aged 20 to 29 who received botulinum toxin – commonly known as Botox – or similar treatments, and an 8 per cent increase in those who received hyaluronic acid fillers.

These treatments include the use of fillers and collagen boosters, which replenish skin moisture and firmness.