AGNES Acne Treatment in Singapore, the Permanent Cure for Recurring Acne
Written and medically reviewed by the doctors of The Clifford Clinic. Last medically reviewed 10 November 2026.
AGNES is the permanent cure for acne that keeps coming back in the same pores. The doctor finds each pore under magnification and destroys the oil gland beneath it with a pulse of radiofrequency through a fine insulated needle. A treated gland does not grow back, so that pore stops breaking out. For the full answer to whether acne can be cured permanently, read our permanent cure for acne guide.
$800–$1,500 per session · 2–3 sessions · 1–2 days of spot swelling · Offered since 2013, more than 3,000 treatments
What AGNES RF acne treatment does to the oil gland
Most acne treatments work on the whole face — creams thin the oil, antibiotics reduce bacteria, isotretinoin shrinks every gland. AGNES works on one gland at a time.
- Mapping. The doctor examines the face under a magnifier and marks the pores that are blocked, scarred or repeatedly inflamed. On a typical recurring-acne face these are a few hundred pores out of many thousands, and they produce most of the breakouts.
- Anaesthetic. The treatment area is numbed with anaesthetic cream. A local anaesthetic injection or nerve block is available on request at no extra charge.
- Treatment. A fine needle insulated along its shaft — so only the tip delivers energy — is placed into each marked pore. A radiofrequency pulse of a fraction of a second destroys the sebaceous gland at the base of the pore without burning the skin surface.
- Day-2 follow-up. The treated pores are cleared of dead cells by our therapist the next day. This is not painful.
A full-face session takes 30–60 minutes depending on the number of pores treated. The treated spots are red and slightly swollen for one to two days. Make-up can be worn from day two.
Why acne comes back after creams and pills
Drying creams and tablets calm the whole face while you take them. They do not change the few hundred damaged pores that cause most breakouts, so when the creams or tablets stop, those same pores block again and the pimples return in the same spots. Researchers who mapped acne on the face found that these pores break out again and again, while normal pores cope with the day-to-day changes in oil from hormones, diet and stress. AGNES treats those pores directly, which is why it is used for acne that keeps coming back after creams, antibiotics or isotretinoin.
Who AGNES suits — acne that returns in the same spots
AGNES is the treatment we recommend when —
- pimples keep appearing in the same zones of the face — the chin, the jawline, the sides of the nose — while the rest of the skin is relatively clear
- certain pimples recur on the exact same spot every few weeks
- acne clears on creams, antibiotics or isotretinoin and returns after stopping
- you have cystic acne — deep, painful lesions that scar — in a limited number of pores
- you want to reduce your dependence on long-term creams and pills
- rosacea or other skin conditions make the usual acne medications unsuitable.
AGNES is less suitable when acne is diffuse across the whole face with hundreds of active lesions — AviClear or oral treatment covers the whole face more efficiently — or when the main problem is blackheads and congestion rather than inflamed pimples, where Gold PTT or a medical facial is the better first step. AGNES is not our first choice in pregnancy. See pregnancy acne treatment. The doctor will tell you at the consultation if AGNES is not the right treatment for you.
Not sure? Read is AGNES acne treatment the right treatment for you?
AGNES acne treatment price in Singapore
| Item | Price (before GST) |
|---|---|
| Doctor consultation | $100 |
| AGNES acne treatment — per session | $800–$1,500 |
| Day-2 follow-up clearing | Included |
| Review appointment | Included |
| Local anaesthetic injection or nerve block (optional) | No additional charge |
The price per session depends on the number of pores treated — a localised area (chin, jawline) sits at the lower end. A full face with many active pores at the upper end. The doctor gives you the figure for your face at the consultation, before any treatment. Most patients complete two to three sessions four to eight weeks apart. How AGNES compares with the clinic’s other acne treatments is on the acne treatment price list.
AGNES results, how long the cure lasts and how many sessions
In our experience at The Clifford Clinic, patients typically see a 50–70% reduction in breakouts in the treated pores after the first session, with most reaching around 90% clearance of the treated pores after the third. Results vary from patient to patient. Because each treated gland is shrunk rather than suppressed, treated pores generally stay clear. Some patients have a small touch-up session after a year for pores that were not fully treated or new pores that become active.
Untreated pores can still break out. AGNES is usually combined with a maintenance plan — prescription topicals, and AviClear or Gold PTT where the whole face is oily — set out on the acne treatment page.
Published evidence for selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis
The technique behind AGNES — selective electrothermolysis of the sebaceous gland through an insulated needle — was described in a prospective pilot study of 12 patients with facial acne, each treated three times. One month after the final session, nearly all of the inflamed spots had cleared, and most of the blackheads and whiteheads had cleared too. All patients reported transient redness. Two of twelve had a clinically evident relapse one year after the last treatment. The study is listed under References below.
This is a small, uncontrolled pilot study. The figures describe what the technique achieved in those twelve patients, not a guarantee for any individual. Larger comparative trials have not been published.
AGNES vs AviClear vs Gold PTT for acne
| AGNES | AviClear | Gold PTT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it treats | Individual recurring pores | Every oil gland in the treated area | Oil glands across congested, oily skin |
| How | Insulated-needle radiofrequency to the gland | 1726 nm laser absorbed by the gland | Gold nanoparticles delivered by ultrasound, heated by laser |
| Best for | Same-spot, recurring, cystic acne | Widespread moderate–severe acne. Patients avoiding isotretinoin | Oily skin, blackheads and congestion with active acne |
| Sessions | 2–3, 4–8 weeks apart | 3, a month apart | Course of 3, 5 or 10 |
| Downtime | 1–2 days of spot swelling | None to minimal | Minimal |
| Price | $800–$1,500 per session | $1,800 per session, $3,000 for two | $1,000 per session, $2,500 ×3, $3,500 ×5, $5,800 ×10 |
| Pregnancy | Not first choice | Not used | Offered |
Many patients combine AGNES on their stubborn pores with AviClear or Gold PTT for the rest of the face. The full comparison is on AGNES vs AviClear in Singapore.
AGNES downtime, discomfort and aftercare
- During — the area is numbed with cream (injection or nerve block optional, no extra charge). Most patients describe a brief warm prick per pore.
- After — redness and small swellings on the treated pores for one to two days. No bandages. Normal washing from the same evening. Make-up from day two.
- Day 2 — follow-up clearing by our therapist (included).
- First two weeks — sunscreen daily. No scrubs, acids or retinoids on the treated spots. No picking.
- Scarring — AGNES does not treat existing acne scars. By stopping the pore from breaking out it prevents new scars at that site.
Full preparation and aftercare instructions — preparation and aftercare for acne device treatment.
AGNES for eye bags and syringoma
The same insulated-needle radiofrequency platform is used at The Clifford Clinic for non-surgical eye bag removal and for syringoma removal. Those are separate treatments with their own pricing.
AGNES acne treatment reviews
Patient reviews of The Clifford Clinic, including AGNES treatments, are on our Google Business Profile. Independent write-ups of AGNES at the clinic have been published by Mothership and by patient bloggers. We do not reproduce patient testimonials on this page in line with the Healthcare Services (Advertisement) Regulations.
AGNES acne treatment FAQ
For the treated pore, yes. The oil gland is destroyed and does not grow back, so that spot stops recurring. New glands elsewhere can still flare, which is why two to three sessions are spaced over a few months to cover every active area.
$800–$1,500 per session at The Clifford Clinic, before GST, depending on how many pores are treated. The $100 consultation is separate. The day-2 clearing and the review are included.
Two to three on the same areas, four to eight weeks apart. A touch-up after a year is occasionally needed.
The area is numbed with anaesthetic cream first. A local anaesthetic injection or nerve block can be added at no extra charge. Most patients feel a brief warm prick at each pore. The day-2 clearing is not painful.
AGNES if your acne returns in the same spots or you have a limited number of cystic lesions. AviClear if acne is spread across the face and you want to avoid medication. Many patients have both. See the comparison table above.
The common reasons are pores that were not fully treated, too few sessions, or acne driven mainly by hormones or by widespread oiliness rather than by damaged pores — which needs hormonal acne treatment or a whole-face treatment alongside AGNES. Bring your treatment record to the consultation.
AGNES is usually planned before or after an isotretinoin course rather than during it. The doctor will sequence them.
Patient discussions exist on r/singapore and skincare forums. The consultation is where your own suitability is assessed. Forum experiences describe other people’s acne.
Yes, with a parent at the consultation, where the acne is of the recurring-pore type.
The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place #01-01, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623. Tel +65 6532 2400, WhatsApp +65 8318 6332.
- Lee JW, et al. Selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis as a treatment for acne, a prospective pilot study. Int J Dermatol 2012, 51(3), 339–344. doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05226.x
- Reynolds RV, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024, 90(5), 1006.e1–30. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017
The Clifford Clinic offers the treatments described on this page. No manufacturer funded this content.
Our acne doctors
Every acne plan at The Clifford Clinic is set and reviewed by one of our doctors. You see the same doctor at each review.
Dr Gerard Ee
Managing Director · MBBS (St George’s) · MRCS (Edin) · PG Dip Dermatology (Cardiff)
Trained at SGH, NUH and Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Accredited in lasers, light therapies, fillers and Botox. Has published in medical journals on surgical and aesthetic topics.
Dr Chow Yuen Ho
Medical Director · MBBS (NUS)
More than 10 years in clinical practice with a special interest in aesthetic dermatology procedures and lasers. Formerly founding Director of Medical Informatics at SGH.
Dr Law Zhi Wei
Partner · MBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edin) · PG Dip Practical Dermatology (Cardiff)
Surgical training across KKH, SGH and CGH. Accredited in lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound therapies, Botox and fillers, with a focus on acne care.
Dr Bernard Ong
MBBS (NUS)
Aesthetic and wellness medicine. Former national-level badminton player. Represented Singapore at the Youth Olympic Games.
Book your acne consultation
Message us on WhatsApp or call the clinic to find out if AGNES is right for your acne.
Mon–Fri 10am–8pm · Sat 10am–5pm · 50 Raffles Place #01-01 Singapore Land Tower