THE GLOW GETTER

Before the pandemic, long lines would form outside The Demis clinic in Bangkok with throngs of devoted fans awaiting their turn for skin rejuvenation by DR DISSAPONG PANITHAPORN. Prestige Singapore sits down with the celebrated dermatologist - in town to train doctors here to find out about his journey to aesthetic success.

Few of us sailed through our teenage years unscathed. Even the effortlessly glamorous among us today would likely confess to moments of gangly awkwardness and other growing pains during our most hormonal developmental stage.

Yet, looking at Dr Dissapong "Joe" Panithaporn, 43, with his wrinkle-free face, perfectly manicured eyebrows and teeth as straight as a picket fence, it is almost unbelievable (and admittedly a bit reassuring) to discover that he had "terrible acne sprawling across the face and neck" during high school.

Dr Joe, as he is known to his fans, is one of Thailand's most sought-after dermatologists thanks to his patience and a principled approach to his craft, as well as empathy for the struggles many of us face.

The now radiant co-founder of The Demis Clinic is sitting in an al fresco cafe at Marina Bay Sands, leaning in with palpable enthusiasm as he recounts the Ulthera workshop he held for 20 local dermatologists in December.

Ulthera, or Ultherapy, is an FDA-cleared non-invasive procedure that tightens the face and neck using ultrasound to stimulate the production of new collagen fibres.

Due to his extensive knowledge and experience as an early adopter of the technology, regional Ulthera equipment distributor Merz Aesthetics Thailand invited him to set up an Ulthera training centre in Singapore in response to increased demand for aesthetic treatments here. According to Ministry of Health data, there has been a consistent annual increase in the number of licensed clinics that have started to provide aesthetic services over the past three years.

The industry is also booming globally, with reports predicting the medical aesthetics market to grow from US$20.54 billion ($27 billion) in 2022 to US$45.91 billion by 2029. There are currently 93 clinics in Singapore that offer Ulthera.