BTX Singapore · BTX Treatment · Jaw Slimming · Masseter BTX · Dr Sin Yong

Botulinum Toxin Singapore — Anti-Wrinkle Injections Explained

Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · Doctor-performed, never delegated · Jump to questions

Dr Sin Yong · MBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edin) · MSc Aesthetic Medicine with Distinction (Queen Mary, London) · MSc Practical Dermatology (Cardiff) · Global Key Opinion Leader

BTX for dynamic wrinkle prevention and body contouring — frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet, DAO and platysmal bands, jaw slimming, trapezius slimming, and calf shaping. Softening that preserves facial expression.

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Global Key Opinion Leader for 14+ device brandsShared his clinical expertise with 500+ doctors across AsiaMBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edinburgh) · MSc with Distinction (Queen Mary, London) · MSc (Cardiff)Every treatment personally performed — never delegated
About This Treatment

BTX (botulinum toxin) in Singapore is used in two categories. The first is relaxing the muscles behind dynamic wrinkles such as frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet; the second is reducing muscle volume for contouring, such as the jaw. It acts on movement, so lines already visible at rest may need skin remodelling or filler instead, decided at assessment.

Also called: botulinum toxin injections, anti-wrinkle injections, 肉毒素, ボトックス

Key takeaways
  • Botulinum toxin (BTX) relaxes targeted muscles, used for dynamic lines such as frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet, and for contouring.
  • It acts on movement; lines already visible at rest may need skin remodelling or filler instead.
  • Suitability depends on muscle strength, brow position, expression pattern, medicines and goals.
  • Units are specific to each formulation and cannot be converted between brands.
  • Dr Sin Yong, an aesthetic physician, assesses and injects each treatment personally.
On this page
  1. Areas treated, what moves and what should not
  2. Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on
  3. What happens, step by step
  4. How Dr Sin Yong maps botulinum toxin doses
  5. Risks, side effects and when to call
  6. Aftercare
  7. Before you book
  8. What determines the fee
  9. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Botulinum Toxin Consultation — Dr Sin Yong

Botulinum toxin Singapore: areas treated, what moves and what should not

Botulinum toxin in Singapore is a prescription injection that reduces the nerve signal to a chosen muscle, so the line that muscle makes is softened while the rest of the face keeps moving. The same medicine is also used to reduce the bulk of a working muscle, as in jaw slimming, and to quieten the nerve signal to sweat glands under the arm. Every area has a muscle that should be softened and a neighbouring structure that should be left alone, and the table sets the two side by side. The first column names the area as patients ask for it; the page column leads to the full guide for that area.

Injections for shoulder slimming, calf slimming, the downward pull at the mouth corners and upper lip lines are covered on their own pages.

The dose comes from watching the muscle move, not from a chart.— Dr Sin Yong
woman in her mid-forties in three-quarter view, gently lifted jawline and cheek, cream linen top
Illustrative image — not a patient.
Botulinum toxin by area: what is treated, what should still move and what should not happen
AreaWhat the injection acts onWhat should still moveWhat should not happenPage
Forehead linesThe frontalis, the only muscle that lifts the browsEnough brow lift to keep the eyes open and expressiveA heavy or dropped brow from relaxing the frontalis more than the lids can affordForehead lines
Frown lines (the 11s)The corrugator and procerus complex between the browsThe brows and the forehead above themA drooping eyelid if the medicine reaches the muscle that lifts the lidForehead and frown lines
Crow's feetThe outer part of the orbicularis oculi at the eye cornerA natural squint and a smile that reaches the eyesA changed smile or a lower lid that sits away from the eye from placement too lowCrow's feet
Bunny linesThe nasalis on each side of the upper noseThe lip elevators below, so the smile is unchangedA dropped upper lip from medicine spreading to the lip elevatorsBunny lines
Masseter (jaw slimming)The bulk of the masseter at the angle of the jawChewing, with less force rather than noneA bulge at the jaw angle on clenching when one layer of the muscle is missed; a change in the smileJaw slimming injections
Neck bandsThe platysma cords that stand out on strainingSwallowing and neck movementWeakness in the neck or difficulty swallowing from a dose placed too deep or too highNeck lines and laxity
Underarm sweatingThe nerve signal to the sweat glands in the skin, not a muscleEverything; the arm and shoulder are unaffectedTreatment of sweating that is generalised or new in adulthood before its cause has been investigatedExcessive sweating

Reading the table

Three patterns run through it. Where the target is a muscle that holds something up, such as the frontalis, the dose is conservative and brow position is read first. Where the target sits next to a muscle that shapes the smile, such as the nasalis or the outer orbicularis, placement matters more than dose. Where the target is not a muscle at all, as with sweating, the medicine is placed in the skin and the question is diagnosis rather than placement. A line that is already etched at rest is not in the table, because reducing movement will not remove it. Those lines are directed to a skin treatment or, in a volume-loss pattern, to dermal fillers. The toxin versus filler comparison sets the two apart.

Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on

Tends to suit

  • Dynamic lines from frowning, raising the brows or squinting
  • Downward pull at the corners of the mouth, or neck bands, where muscle is the cause
  • Lower-face width or shoulder bulk from muscle where contouring is the aim
  • A wish to keep natural expression while softening muscle activity

Better to wait

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Active infection or inflammation at the injection sites
  • A goal BTX cannot meet, such as erasing static lines or adding volume

Referred on

  • Static lines at rest, or volume loss → assessed for skin remodelling or filler
  • Droopy upper lids from the muscle or heavy skin → oculoplastic or plastic surgery specialist assessment
Who should not have this treatment
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • A neuromuscular disorder such as myasthenia gravis
  • Known allergy to a botulinum toxin product or its components
  • Active infection at the injection sites
  • Medicines that affect neuromuscular transmission, to be reviewed first
  • Bleeding disorder, or blood-thinning medicine that has not been reviewed

People hoping BTX will erase lines already etched at rest, add volume or tighten loose skin tend to respond poorly, because it acts on muscle movement alone.

What happens, step by step

  1. Consultation and examination of muscle activity, brow position and expression
  2. Written plan and quote, including the formulation and the option of no treatment
  3. Treatment day: the zones are marked and small injections are placed into the chosen muscles
  4. Review and adjustment, with any repeat treatment timed at review

How Dr Sin Yong maps botulinum toxin doses

The dose is not read from a chart. It is set at consultation from the muscle in front of him, after watching it work. The steps below are the same for every area, and the review at the end is part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.

The muscle is examined in movement

The upper face is examined at rest, on a full brow raise, in a frown and with the eyes closed and then reopened. Photographs taken at rest show almost nothing in these areas, so the examination is live. Which muscles are recruited, how strongly and how high up the forehead they are active decide where small doses are placed and how much each point receives. The jaw is examined on clenching, and neck bands on straining, for the same reason.

Brow position and lid reserve are read first

Before the forehead is relaxed, the brow is checked against the bony rim of the eye socket. The upper lids are checked for skin that would land on the lashes once the frontalis stops helping. A forehead that is holding heavy lids open is dosed conservatively or the plan is redirected to the lid. The glabella is usually treated at the same visit as the forehead so that the brows are not pulled down once the frontalis is quieter. Bunny lines are considered with the frown so that the upper face is balanced as a set. The forehead lines page explains why this order matters.

Asymmetry is mapped, not averaged

One brow habitually higher, lines deeper on one side, or a jaw that is bulkier on the chewing side are common findings. Dosing is adjusted side by side rather than placed as identical doses on both sides. The formulation is chosen for the zone. Because units are specific to each product and cannot be converted between brands, the record of any product used elsewhere is asked for before a dose is set. Bringing photographs of your expressions from earlier years helps with this.

The review window

Dosing starts conservatively, so the response is checked at a follow-up timed individually once the medicine has taken effect. That visit is when early asymmetry is corrected with a small balancing dose, and when a bulge at the jaw angle from an untreated layer of the masseter is addressed. The timing of any repeat is decided then too. No duration is promised, because the effect fades at a pace that differs between people and with the dose. The botulinum toxin questions page answers the common follow-up questions, and aftercare for anti-wrinkle injections covers the first days.

Risks, side effects and when to call

Small bruises, tenderness and a mild headache are the commonest effects after BTX and usually settle. Less commonly there can be asymmetry, a heavy brow or eyelid if the toxin affects a neighbouring muscle, a change in smile, or tiredness when chewing after jaw treatment. These effects are temporary, but they last as long as the toxin does and cannot be reversed on demand. Rarely, a widespread weakness or difficulty swallowing or breathing can occur and needs urgent care. Careful assessment, a suitable formulation, conservative doses and accurate placement reduce risk, but never remove it.

Contact the clinic the same day if
  • Drooping of the eyelid or brow that is bothersome
  • Double vision, or difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing (seek urgent care)
  • A rash, swelling of the face or breathing difficulty after injection
  • Increasing pain, redness or signs of infection at an injection site
  • Marked asymmetry of the smile or expression

See what to do if something feels wrong after a treatment.

Aftercare

First 24 hours

  • Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas
  • Stay upright and avoid lying flat for a few hours if advised
  • Avoid strenuous exercise, heat and alcohol on the day

First week

  • Expect small bumps or bruises to settle on their own
  • Avoid facial treatments, massage and pressure over the area unless the doctor agrees
  • Gently use the muscles as normal, unless told otherwise

Sun

  • Avoid strong sun and heat such as saunas on the day
  • Use sun protection on the face

Skincare

  • Use gentle products over the injection sites
  • Restart active ingredients when the skin is comfortable

When to call

  • Drooping eyelid or brow, double vision, or difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing: seek urgent care

Before you book

  • Declare any neuromuscular condition, and medicines such as some antibiotics or muscle relaxants
  • Tell the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
  • Declare blood-thinning medicines and supplements such as fish oil
  • Avoid sun exposure and tanning, and keep make-up minimal on the day
  • Bring photos of your expressions from earlier years and a record of any previous BTX product used

What determines the fee

The fee depends on the areas treated, such as the frown, forehead, crow's feet, jaw, neck bands or shoulders, and on the dose each muscle needs, which differs with muscle mass and expression pattern. It also depends on the formulation chosen for each zone, since units are specific to each product, and on whether BTX is combined with another treatment. A written quote is given at consultation, after Dr Sin Yong has assessed you. The consultation also decides whether treatment is advised at all.

How quotes work at this practice: how we quote.

Related on this site

Frequently Asked Questions

Anti-wrinkle injections are small doses of botulinum toxin, a prescription medicine, placed into the muscles that make expression lines, such as frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Botulinum toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine at the nerve ending, so the muscle contracts less and the line it creates softens. A 2015 meta-analysis of seven placebo-controlled trials with 1,474 people found frown lines improved more often than with placebo.
Botulinum toxin treatment is usually felt as a series of brief pinpricks with mild stinging, because a very fine needle places small amounts into each muscle. How much it is felt varies with the area and the person, and comfort is discussed beforehand. Small bumps, tenderness and the occasional bruise at injection points usually settle; increasing pain, redness or swelling should be reported to the clinic.
It is used to soften lines made by muscle movement, such as frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet and bunny lines, to relax neck bands, to reduce the bulk of the masseter for jaw slimming, and to quieten the nerve signal to underarm sweat glands. It does not add volume or treat lines already fixed at rest, which are directed to a skin treatment or filler after assessment.
Duration varies with the product, dose and individual metabolism. The timing of any repeat treatment is planned at review rather than to a fixed schedule.
Different BTX formulations vary in diffusion profile, onset time and dosing. Dr Sin Yong selects the formulation most appropriate for each zone and patient.
When dynamic lines are first visible at rest — typically mid-to-late 20s for expressive faces. Whether to start, and when, is decided at an assessment of how the lines behave at rest.
Only with excessive doses. Dr Sin Yong calibrates BTX to relax the target muscle while preserving natural expression — a 'frozen' look usually reflects the dose and placement chosen, so both are planned for each face.
Masseter BTX reduces jaw muscle bulk progressively over several weeks — which may soften lower face width. Duration varies, and any maintenance is discussed at review.
Yes. BTX treatments in Singapore for body contouring include masseter jaw slimming (a smaller lower face), trapezius slimming for a more feminine shoulder line, and calf slimming for leg contouring. All work by causing progressive muscle volume reduction over several weeks at the injection site. Duration varies with the muscle treated and the individual. Shoulder and calf slimming each have their own page.
The effect wears off gradually as the nerve signal to the muscle recovers, and the lines or the muscle bulk return towards where they were. Stopping does not make wrinkles worse than they would otherwise have been, and there is no rebound. Lines that were softened while the muscle rested may look a little less etched than if they had never been treated, but that is reviewed rather than promised.
Yes, where both are needed. Botulinum toxin softens lines made by movement, while Time Freeze Laser LCLR® and the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift work on the skin and on laxity, which the toxin does not change. Dr Sin Yong plans the order and spacing at assessment so that each treatment can be judged on its own, and the combined plan, including the option of one treatment only, is set out in writing.
Botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine with a long record in facial treatment, and its effect wears off, so long-term questions are mainly about side effects and dosing. A 2025 meta-analysis of 20 placebo-controlled trials found side effects were uncommon, though somewhat more frequent than with placebo injections. Assessment, conservative doses and accurate placement reduce risk but do not remove it.

Question not answered here? Ask on WhatsApp, use the enquiry form, or browse 100 questions patients ask.

SY
Dr Sin Yong
MBBS (NUS, Singapore) · MRCS (Edinburgh)
MSc Practical Dermatology (University of Cardiff, UK) · MSc Aesthetic Medicine with Distinction (Queen Mary University of London)
Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine (Nanyang Technological University)
Global Key Opinion Leader — CLASSYS | DEKA | HIRONIC | FOTONA | ALMA | LUTRONIC | ILOODA

“If the line is there at rest, reducing muscle movement will not remove it.”

Dr Sin YongOn dynamic versus static lines
References

Peer-reviewed pharmacology literature on formulation-specific dosing units. Toxins, 2024. source

Consensus recommendations on the use of botulinum toxin type A in facial aesthetics (Carruthers J, Fagien S, Matarasso SL). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2004. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prescribing information for onabotulinumtoxinA for injection (cosmetic), including the glabellar lines indication. US Food and Drug Administration, 2018. www.accessdata.fda.gov

Infosearch: public registers of therapeutic products and medical devices in Singapore. Health Sciences Authority, 2026. www.hsa.gov.sg

Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Glabellar Lines: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trials. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meta-Analysis of Adverse Reactions of Botulinum Toxin A in Facial Rejuvenation Treatment. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong, MBBS (NUS), MRCS (Edinburgh) · Last updated 8 November 2026 · Editorial policy

Where Dr Sin Yong consults: Orchard Road, Singapore (unit on booking) · Orchard MRT · Mon–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat 11am–3pm · WhatsApp +65 8023 7170 · Getting here · How fees are quoted

Botulinum Toxin Consultation — Dr Sin Yong

Softening that preserves movement. All BTX treatments personally by Dr Sin Yong.

  1. 1WhatsApp a short note on your concern
  2. 2Consultation and assessment with Dr Sin Yong
  3. 3Options explained, including no treatment

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References

  1. Consensus Recommendations for Combined Aesthetic Interventions Using Botulinum Toxin, Fillers, and Energy-Based Devices — PubMed / Dermatologic Surgery.
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