[Top: The result of Mdm Asmah's botched breast enhancement treatment.]

Two women and a man had wanted to look better but now have to face a lifetime of regret.

The three Singaporeans had let a beautician from Batam allegedly inject into them what they thought were safe substances, but found to their horror later that these were not.

The two women were left with pus-filled abscesses on their breasts, while the man - who had wanted a dimpled chin like actor John Travolta's - now has an ugly permanent lump on his chin.

In 2006, Madam Asmah (not her real name), a housewife, visited a beautician called Madam Nora Bima in Batam.

Her godsister, who lives there, had recommended Madam Nora. Madam Asmah, 54, was a frequent visitor to the Indonesian island for its cheap saunas.

She said: 'My godsister told me, 'your face can look prettier'.'

The mother of three had her reservations. She was suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure and did not know if her health would be affected.

But when she met Madam Nora, she claimed the beautician assured her that the injections would be safe.

Madam Nora runs a run-down salon in the residential neighbourhood of Taman Sari in southern Batam. The salon, the size of a one-bedroom HDB flat, is part of a row of single-storey ramshackle shophouses.

Furnished with rusty chairs, it offers hair cuts and facial treatments. Madam Nora was said to have over 30 Singapore customers.

Madam Asmah claimed she allowed the beautician to inject her face and lips with 'collagen' and her breasts with 'hormones', the day they met.

These injections were supposed to give her tighter skin, plumper lips and firmer breasts. But, following the treatments, she experienced painful swelling for a few days.

She claimed she telephoned Madam Nora who said this was normal. Indeed, the pain subsided.

Spurred by this, Madam Asmah alleged that she continued to go to Madam Nora for more injections for almost a year, and estimates she must have received more than 50 injections and spent about $4,000 in all.

These were done either in Batam at Madam Nora's salon or when Madam Nora came to Singapore. The beautician often did so, on social visit passes, and would stay with Madam Asmah or other customers.

Batam locals and former clients described Madam Nora, in her 40s, as having a friendly disposition.

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