A few days before giving birth, her boss cut her salary. He quit and opened his own clinic.

Dr Michelle Ng turned a moment of loss into a new beginning for her

On June 28, 2025, Dr Michelle Ng was 39 weeks pregnant, nine days before she gave birth.

That’s when she got an email from her former employer, saying they were going to freeze her doctor’s incentive pay and deduct from her maternity pay to pay the commissions of the doctors hired on her behalf.

He read the email twice. He then wrote a guilty resignation letter.

What happened next would change the lives of Dr. Michelle and her family. In a few months, he would open ARTÉ by Dr. Ma beauty clinic that has built up a waiting list until Feb 2026 before it opens its doors in Dec 2025.

But on that Jun morning, there was no one to be seen. All she could see was the uncertainty of her future with her four-year-old daughter and her soon-to-be-born son, a career ending where motherhood began.

This is Dr. Michelle’s story—how she turned a moment of loss, on the brink of motherhood, into the beginning of something completely new. Vulcan Post spoke with her and her husband, Vincent, to understand the challenges, risks, and decisions that led to Dr. M’s ARTÉ.

She is facing “suicide at work” for taking maternity leave

A graduate of NUS Medicine who works in skin transplants in public hospitals, Dr Michelle builds a strong foundation in skin and facial surgery. He is famous for his ambidextrous injection skills, which are widely regarded as top-notch.

Over a decade in the field, she moved between doctor-led clinics and investors, bringing in S$200,000–S$300,000 in monthly profit from her work alone, according to her husband, Vincent.

He joined his former employer in 2023. But when she became pregnant for the second time in early 2025, her employer’s support waned. At 12 weeks, the test confirmed a high-risk pregnancy. Despite increasing fatigue and medical problems, he continued to show his patients, as his body indicated the need to slow down.

With the lessons she learned from her first pregnancy—when she had little time to bond with her first child after choosing to schedule half a day despite being fully entitled to maternity leave—Dr Michelle decided to take her full right to have her second child.

She took 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave and six weeks of shared parental leave (three weeks for her husband), for a total of 22 weeks (about five months) to recover and spend time with her family.

However, when she applied for leave, her former employer told her that going on maternity leave for that long was “killing her career.” Dr. Michelle was depressed and lost hope in her career, but she knew she had to prove otherwise.

The final draft occurred nine days before the birth of her son in July 2025. Her former employer sent her an email informing her of the temporary suspension of her maternity benefits, and any commissions paid to the attending physicians in her absence would be deducted from her maternity pay.

The next day, in between delivery appointments and delivery preparations, she wrote her answer. Dr Michelle informed them that the deduction was not allowed under the relevant laws, tendered her resignation, and began her four-month notice period—giving up her remaining parental leave in the meantime.

On the same day, his son Louis was born, and the idea of ​​ARTÉ gradually grew.

Mother’s wanderings & ambition

ARTÉ by Dr. M opened its doors in mid-Dec 2025, but the journey tested Dr Michelle in every way.

In the lead, she navigated one of the most difficult times of her life: caring for an infant, managing postpartum recovery, and simultaneously building a clinic from the ground up.

He found a unit at Millenia Walk, negotiated with the landlord, Pontiac Land Group, connected with medical providers, and oversaw a complex renovation—all within just a few months.

Then, just as things started to take shape, another challenge arose.

Her longtime housekeeper suddenly left, leaving Dr. Michelle scrambling to organize childcare while keeping the clinic’s infrastructure in shape. In addition, as in any major project, renovation delays arose, pushing the opening of ARTÉ a month from the original goal of Nov 2025.

Watching her put everything together during the chaos, her husband left his 13-year career in sales to support her.

“I couldn’t bear to see him carry everything by himself,” she said. “The way he showed himself to his patients during childbirth, and what he believed in. It was clear to me that this was more than just a job. It was his calling, and he convinced me to quit my job to help him give the best to his patients.”

The couple’s major investment exceeded S$1 million in equipment and renovations alone in the 1,600 sqft space, with monthly operating costs of between S$60,000 and S$100,000.

“Many people commented that I was crazy to start a business as soon as I gave birth, but it was this belief that I told myself that I wanted ARTÉ to be a beacon of hope for all women that anything is possible even in the most difficult seasons of life,” recalled Dr Ng.

He runs the clinic supported by a team of four

ARTÉ by Dr. M specializes in non-surgical anti-aging treatments that focus on injections (including botox, dermal fillers, and collagen stimulators), alongside lasers and Ultherapy Prime machines for skin lifting, tightening and rejuvenation.

Dr Michelle is the only doctor at this clinic, supported by a team of four.

Treatments led by him usually start from S$800 to S$2,000 per session, while non-physician treatments start at S$200. For patients seeking a more personalized approach, the clinic also offers customized programs that fit individual needs and budgets.

Dr Michelle said transparency is a core principle of the clinic. “There are no hard-sell payments and no hidden fees,” he explained. Treatment is usually arranged in three sessions, followed by a detailed review of progress.

The clinic’s reputation was evident even before its doors opened in December 2025: bookings were filled until Feb 2026, reflecting the trust Dr Michelle had built with her patients over the years.

Beyond the patient experience, Dr. Michelle shared that ARTÉ represents a deliberate choice about how care should be delivered. “The sector is becoming more and more bought and sold, as there are price wars and a race to the bottom,” he said. More investors are setting up clinics with commercial priorities, while medical risk is secondary to sales performance and the price of treatment.

“For us, all treatments, even tests, are done with complete intention, and we give our 100%,” he added.

“There are sacrifices that come with building something you believe in”

Today, Dr. Michelle is not only an aesthetic doctor but also a speaker and trainer for global brands such as Merz, where she mentors and trains young doctors.

He also has plans to grow ARTÉ in a meaningful way, guided by the same patient-centered principles on which it was built.

However, behind all this growth there is a truth that he carries quietly. She sees patients six days a week, often skipping meals and returning home after her children are asleep.

He said, “There is a sacrifice that comes with building something you believe in. I don’t always get the time I want to be at home, but when I am, I make sure I am fully present for my children.”

For Dr. Michelle, ARTÉ’s growth isn’t just about metrics or revenue—it’s about building something meaningful, even if it demands more from her.

“Every time I look at my clinic, I see blood, sweat and tears, but I also see that despite all this, we chose to continue building something that we can hold behind.” She hopes that her story shows other women that childbirth is not an obstacle to overcome, but a source of strength to find.

Since her former employer challenged her maternity rights, Dr Michelle has contacted lawyers and attended several legal meetings.

As a mother and doctor in an industry built on empowering women, I couldn’t keep quiet and accept what was wrong. That day, I chose to stand up for what I believe in.

Dr. Michelle Ng

This issue has not been resolved to this day, yet she continues to focus on her patients, her clinic, and inspiring other women to find strength in their journey.

• Find out more about ARTÉ by Dr. M here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Singapore businesses here.

Featured Image Credit: ARTÉ by Dr. M