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Ultrasound in Plastic Surgery - How I Use It in My Practice
Ultrasound is not new to medicine. What is less common is its use as a routine point-of-care tool in plastic surgery, not just to confirm a diagnosis, but to guide clinical decisions in real time and spare patients unnecessary risks. The cases below illustrate how. Case 1 - Ultrasound-Guided Filler Injection A patient underwent hyaluronic acid filler injection to the chin for augmentation, specifically targeting the labiomental crease, the fold between the lower lip and the c

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
4 days ago6 min read


Breast Implant Exchange After Mastectomy Reconstruction - A Case Study
This case is different from the overseas surgery posts on this blog. Poor documentation, inadequate surgical planning, and suboptimal practice can occur anywhere, regardless of geography. The lesson is the same for patients - really ask questions of your surgeon, and know what documentation you are entitled to. Background A patient with bilateral breast cancer had undergone mastectomy and direct implant reconstruction on both sides - one over ten years ago, the other approxim

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
May 215 min read


Asian vs Western Rhinoplasty - It's Not About Where You're From
When patients ask me about the difference between Asian and Western rhinoplasty, they are usually expecting a simple answer - that Asian noses need building up, Western noses need slimming down. That is broadly true, but it misses the more important point. The surgery follows the anatomy. Not the passport. I have seen Asians with noses that require a predominantly reductive approach. I have seen Caucasians with thick, sebaceous skin and weak cartilage that demands the same au

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
May 76 min read


Earlobe Repair - Restoring the Original Piercing in One Stage
For many patients, earlobe repair is not just about restoring appearance. It is about getting back to something they love - in this case, wearing earrings. A patient came to me with a near-complete earlobe cleft. Over many years of wearing earrings, the piercing had gradually stretched until it could no longer hold the earring in place and she reported bouts of inflammation previously. She was not bothered by the appearance of the earlobe so much as the loss of function. She

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Apr 222 min read


How I Plan a Rhinoplasty - Why Anatomy Comes First
Rhinoplasty is not about choosing the biggest operation. This post explains how anatomy, skin envelope and tissue behaviour determine the right surgical approach.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Feb 194 min read


Why I Often Combine Botulinum Toxin and HA Fillers in the Same Session (and Why Less Is Usually More)
Why fillers alone are often overused In recent years, injectable treatments have become increasingly volume-driven. Patients are frequently told they “need more filler” - more syringes, more sessions, more top-ups. What is often overlooked is this: many facial aesthetic concerns are not primarily problems of volume loss, but of muscle activity and imbalance. As a plastic surgeon, I think first in terms of anatomy and mechanics, not product. The face is not static The face is

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Jan 223 min read


Facelift Recovery After Surgery Abroad - What I See in Real Life
Facelift surgery is often judged by its final appearance, but much of the patient experience unfolds during recovery. Patients who have had surgery overseas may return home with questions, not because something is necessarily wrong, but because recovery can be difficult to interpret without context. Rather than relying on arbitrary timelines, it is often more helpful to look at real cases and how healing actually presents. Case 1 - Scalp Incisions and a Sense of Tightness A p

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Jan 95 min read


Rhinoplasty Done Abroad - When the Healing Doesn’t Add Up
Rhinoplasty is one of the most technically demanding procedures in plastic surgery. The outcome depends not only on what is done in the operating theatre, but also on how the nose is supported, documented, and followed up during recovery. In the first few months of establishing my practice back home in Singapore, I’ve already seen several patients returning from overseas rhinoplasty with concerns that seemed unrelated at first, but shared common patterns. Case 1 - Persistent

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Jan 55 min read


Eyelid Problems After Surgery Abroad - What I See in Practice
The eyelids are small in size but incredibly complex. They rely on the balance between the eyelid crease, levator function, brow support, canthal tendons, and midface tension. When any of these are altered, especially without proper preoperative diagnosis or postoperative follow-up, the entire periorbital region can be affected. Here are several real cases that highlight how varied eyelid problems can be, and why accurate assessment matters. Case 1: Three Procedures Done at O

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Dec 18, 20256 min read


Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty - Why Technique Matters More Than Product
Non-surgical rhinoplasty isn’t a simple 3-point injection. In this post, I share the structural, bottom-up technique I presented at SEASON 2025, and why precision, anatomy, and product choice matter so much for Asian noses.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Dec 2, 20253 min read


CO₂ Laser While on Accutane - Why Timing Still Matters
In aesthetic medicine, some of the hardest decisions aren’t about what can be done - but what should be done. Recently, I saw a 19-year-old male with fair (Fitzpatrick I) skin who had been under a private Dermatologist for acne. His condition was well-controlled on isotretinoin (Accutane), with no active breakouts - only a few mild rolling scars across the cheeks. Traditionally, the teaching has been to avoid ablative (even fractional) lasers for at least 6–12 months after st

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Nov 20, 20252 min read


Mole Removal - Can I Just Laser It Off?
Why diagnosis, skin type, and technique choice matter more than convenience when deciding between laser and surgical mole removal.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Nov 13, 20253 min read


Lacerations and Scars - Why the First Repair Matters Most
From fresh cuts to old scars, here are some real cases showing why timing, technique, and the right pair of hands shape every wound's final outcome.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Nov 6, 20255 min read


Liposuction Abroad - What Can Go Wrong
Liposuction is a very common procedure but it is not without its risks. From difficulty breathing, to poor scarring, misdiagnosis, misrepresentation and wrong procedures, here are some cases I have seen.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Oct 30, 20256 min read


Swelling and Scars After Breast Implants Abroad - What It Usually Means
After breast augmentation abroad, some have returned with unexpected swelling and no access to their records while others have potentially misplaced scars and conflicting post-operative advice.

Dr Ng Zhi Yang
Oct 25, 20255 min read
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