After running their practice in Bukit Merah for over a decade, Drs Kevin and Iroshini Chua are ready for a new and exciting challenge. They recently moved their clinic into a swanky new 1,450sqft space, right in the heart of Orchard Road. Featuring soft pastel hues with modern gold accents, the Dr Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics Clinic at International Building is chic and contemporary, with a cosy warmth that immediately puts visitors at ease.
“We’ve been offering aesthetics services for 12 years now, and have always wanted a calming space that complements our business and offers our patients privacy,” explains Kevin. Finding the right location took a few years but the couple, as well as their clients, are happy with their decision. “We are making ourselves more accessible and also establishing a certain level of prestige that comes with being located on Orchard Road,” he adds. “We’ve really upped our game.”
The clinic offers a range of treatments and services like Ultherapy, which is a non-invasive skin tightening treatment, as well as the PicoWay laser treatment, which works to improve scars and wrinkles, tighten pores, as well as remove pigmentation and tattoos. One of the newer offerings is Rejuran, a skin rejuvenating treatment that harnesses the powerful anti- ageing benefits of wild salmon DNA fragments, which Kevin explains are structurally close to human DNA. “It’s great in terms of giving patients a nice glow, closing up pores and providing an overall rejuvenation.”
Many patients also see the doctors for Cool Sculpting, a fat-freezing treatment for problem areas, as well as the HydraFacial treatment, which cleanses, extracts impurities, and hydrates the skin for clear and radiant skin. The comprehensive list of treatments is complemented by highly efficacious skincare products, such as the Calecim Multi-Action Cream boasting anti-ageing benefits, as well as the Dr Kevin Chua skincare line, which has found a loyal following among the clinic’s clients.
Now that they have acquired their dream space, the couple have been channelling all their time and energy into the new clinic. “I feel the same way as we did starting out 12 years ago, because you really need to invest the time and be present,” says Iroshini.
Dynamic duo
Thankfully, years of being partners at work have meant that they are incredibly in sync. The key to their efficient partnership is no secret. “From the beginning, we’ve been a tag team,” adds Iroshini. Before they were a couple, they were great friends in medical school who often helped each other out. When one was on call in the hospital overnight, the other would also go in to assist in clerking patients, despite not being on duty.
“It’s a simple thing – if we help each other to clear the work, then there’s time to sleep. Otherwise, both of us suffer,” she explains. “We realised very early on that teamwork is the best thing because we both get some sleep as opposed to no sleep. So now in our practice, as well as in our daily lives, we really work as a team.”
At the clinic, they each hold different roles. Kevin does most of the treatments and procedures, while Iroshini manages the staff and day-to- day operations. “Both of us bring our own A game to the practice,” says Kevin. “I’m the hands-on guy with the steady hands who’s good with the machines, while Iro is really good at planning and scrutinising, along with all the soft skills that are needed for people management.”
“I love the reaction that people have when they look better and feel they have improved themselves. That happiness to me is priceless, because it shows in the self-confidence that comes with taking care of yourself and investing in yourself. When patients are happy, it makes me happy.”
To that, Iroshini chimes in, “That’s the thing about a partnership because we really feed on each other’s strengths. He is all about the precision and accuracy, and I’m about the attention to detail.” It also helps that they both love what they do, albeit in different ways. Specialising in aesthetics treatments allows Kevin, a self-proclaimed gadget junkie, to tinker with machines every day. “I’m always trying to squeeze as much as I can out of the machines I use as possible,” he says.
“Recently there was a change in protocol for our Ultherapy machine, and it got me excited because I understood the reason for it and I agreed with it. I got excited about changing protocols!” he says with a laugh.
For Iroshini, beauty has always been her interest and her sense of fulfilment comes from helping people achieve their best selves. “I love the reaction that people have when they look better and feel they have improved themselves. That happiness to me is priceless, because it shows in the self-confidence that comes with taking care of and investing in yourself. When patients are happy, it makes me happy.”
Better together
This ethos of making others feel good about themselves even extends into their personal lives – as excellent dinner party hosts. “The hospitality we provide in our clinic is an extension of how we like to spoil and treat our family and friends at home. With love, care and keeping their well-being at heart,” explains Iroshini.
“We understand our guests’ personalities well, and we curate the menu and dinner experience according to their preferences. Beyond enjoying the food, wine or any other pleasantries, our parties give us the chance to deepen our friendships – that’s the most important thing to us.”
In their other shared hobbies, the couple’s complementary skill sets also come into play. As avid travel photographers who often contribute travel stories to Prestige, the couple say that their best photos are often a combined effort of Iroshini’s artistic eye and Kevin’s technical execution.
Similarly when it comes to parenting, the parents of two take turns playing good cop and bad cop. “But we are consistent,” says Iroshini. “We have different personalities but we are on the same page when it comes to many aspects in our life, from our priorities to how we raise our kids and how we run our practice. We are pretty congruent in all of that. And if there is any disagreement, we would fall back on our faith, I think,” she says, before turning to her husband for confirmation.
“Well, if there’s any disagreement, I always defer to Iro,” says Kevin, to which the couple erupt in laughter. “I realised very early on that Iro can see much further than most people. After 17 years of marriage and 25 years of being together, there have been plenty of instances where I could have avoided a lot of headache if I had just listened to her at the very beginning. She sees everything; she’s almost like an oracle.”
Iroshini is quick to express a mutual admiration for her husband. “Kevin inspires me to work hard because he works hard. He inspires me to give the best of myself to my patients, to my friends. He inspires me to seek God first.”
Dress, by Bottega Veneta. On Kevin: Suit and turtleneck top, both by Bottega Veneta. (Photo: Cher Him)
Having run the practice together for so many years, it is difficult for the couple to separate work from their personal lives. But at the same time, working as a tag team has allowed them the flexibility to spend adequate time with their children, who are now aged 16 and 13. It was important to the Chuas, especially when the children were younger, for at least one parent to have a constant presence at home.
In fact, Kevin credits their children’s well-adjusted personalities to the way Iroshini has nurtured them during those crucial adolescent years. “I appreciate how she has brought up our kids and her efforts in guiding them. Given the hours that I work, it’s not always possible for me to do it.”
“After 17 years of marriage and 25 years of being together, there have been plenty of instances where I could have avoided a lot of headache if I had just listened to her at the very beginning. She sees everything; she’s almost like an oracle.”
The doctors have always had an arrangement where Iroshini works the first half of the day, after which she goes home to spend time with the kids when they get back from school. “Kevin would cover me, so to speak, which allows me that time spent with the kids. And that is really the most precious time we have to make an impact in their lives,” says Iroshini. “It wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t work with Kev.”
In addition to their complementary skill sets, shared values and similar priorities, the couple say the final crucial factor to a smooth and successful working and personal relationship is good communication. “Understanding each other’s love language is important for communication,” says Kevin. “Iro’s is quality time.”
“And Kevin’s is words of encouragement,” chimes in Iroshini. “Whatever your partner’s love language is, it is good to communicate in that so he or she feels like they are being cared for. We don’t isolate each other, we talk about anything we have on our minds and we just face everything together.”
Fashion direction: Johnny Khoo
Art direction: Audrey Chan
Photography: Cher Him
Fashion styling: Jacquie Ang
Hair: Sean Ang using IGK
Makeup: Keith Bryant Lee using Dior
Photography assistance: Yang Shi Hui
Fashion assistance: Shannahlette Jenn Lim
