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Ministry of Health
Parliamentary QA

COMPLAINTS AND ADVERSE EVENTS INVOLVING DERMAL FILLERS AND REVIEW OF AESTHETIC PRACTICE GUIDELINES

3 November 2026

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1514

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 NOVEMBER 2026

 

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Dr Choo Pei Ling

MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC


Question No. 2274

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) how many complaints and serious adverse events the Ministry has received about dermal fillers annually over the past five years; (b) of these, how many involved alleged excessive dosage, inadequate informed consent, or delayed management or specialist referral; and (c) whether the Ministry will conduct a review of the guidelines for aesthetic practices.


NOTICE PAPER NO. 1517

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 4 NOVEMBER 2026

 

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye

MP for Radin Mas


Question No. 2346

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what safeguards apply when doctors administer dermal fillers beyond manufacturers’ recommended volumes; (b) whether specific written informed consent is required; and (c) how does the Health Sciences Authority assess applications to increase recommended administration volumes.


Answer

            The response will also cover the matters raised in the written question by Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye scheduled for a subsequent sitting.

2            Over the past five years, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) received 12 complaints against registered medical practitioners who performed dermal filler procedures, including those alleging inadequate consent and excessive dosage.

3            Dermal fillers are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) as Class D medical devices — the highest risk class — under the Health Products Act. Filler injections may only be performed under a Healthcare Services Act (HCSA)-licensed provider by qualified specialists or medical practitioners holding a Certificate of Competence in filler injections. Medical practitioners performing aesthetic procedures are also subject to the SMC’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) and its Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors 2016.

4            Before performing any aesthetic procedures, including dermal filler injections, medical practitioners must obtain valid and adequately documented consent, and take special care to inform patients of a wider range of possible side effects than would ordinarily be required for medically necessary treatment. They are also expected to adhere to manufacturers’ recommended dosage and administration volumes for the filler injections. Doctors who fall short of these standards may be subject to disciplinary action by the SMC.

5            Where a manufacturer seeks to update the approved labelling to increase the recommended maximum dose, an application will need to be made to HAS to assess the clinical and/or toxicological data that could support the proposed change.

6            MOH and SMC will continue to monitor developments in aesthetic practices and review our regulatory framework and guidelines to ensure they adequately protect patient safety.