It Changed My Life: From a small town boy in Kedah to Singapore's grandfather of aesthetic medicine

Aesthetics pioneer S.K. Tan talks about building a lifestyle empire and philanthropy

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Dr SK Tan, dubbed the grandfather of aesthetics in Singapore, set up The DRx clinic in 1998. It became a successful business which he sold for an eight-figure sum in 2010. He went on to start the JYSK group, which now has eight lifestyle companies.
Dr Tan Siak Khim, who is known as Singapore's grandfather of aesthetics, counts his two years as a flying doctor in the remote jungles of Sarawak after he completed his housemanship as among the best years of his life. He later went on to specialise
Dr Tan Siak Khim, who is known as Singapore's grandfather of aesthetics, counts his two years as a flying doctor in the remote jungles of Sarawak after he completed his housemanship as among the best years of his life. ST PHOTO: ZHANG XUAN
Dr Tan Siak Khim, who is known as Singapore's grandfather of aesthetics, counts his two years as a flying doctor in the remote jungles of Sarawak after he completed his housemanship as among the best years of his life. He later went on to specialise
Dr Tan and his wife, Janifer, have funded initiatives to "feed, house and educate" underprivileged children in the Philippines, Indonesia and Mozambique. They are seen here with Filipino beneficiaries in 2012. PHOTO: COURTESY OF S.K. TAN
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A sly smile hovers over Dr Tan Siak Khim's lips when asked how old he is. He tries to prevaricate before volunteering sheepishly: "I just turned 72."

Septuagenarians would be proud to have him as their poster boy. Well-groomed and spiffily turned out in a fitted shirt and tailored pants, he looks at least a decade younger.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 23, 2019, with the headline It Changed My Life: From a small town boy in Kedah to Singapore's grandfather of aesthetic medicine. Subscribe