You have seen them in the party pages of society magazines dressed to the nines in designer confections. With hair and make-up immaculately done, they fit right in with the glam crowd of socialites. You might even think that these head-turners are ladies of leisure who have all the time in the world to primp for the next gala ball.

Upon reading the captions, however, you realise that these glamazons are in fact doctors who work long hours in high-pressure jobs where their patients depend on them for their well-being.

How on earth, then, do busy bees like Dr Georgia Lee, Dr Jade Kua and Dr Caroline Low-Heah find time to dress up when the rest of us barely have time to look human every morning?

The secret lies in time management.

Dr Kua, an emergency medicine doctor, sometimes relies on multi-label boutique The Link to recommend suitable dresses.

'The sales assistants are quite discreet. They won't sell me the same item as another person who might be attending the same event,' she says.

On the big day, she gets her outfit sent to her hair salon, Passion, where her hair and make-up are done, before slipping into her dress, then she is off.

Doctors who work the social circuit make up a small group of about 10, say event organisers and editors of society magazines.

Elsie Yah, managing editor of Chinese luxury lifestyle magazine Icon, says some attend these events as a form of relaxation while others use them to network. The magazine holds the annual Icon Ball which is attended by about 300 guests, including top-tier socialites and celebrities.

Francis Kan, editor of luxury lifestyle magazine The Peak, says: 'Doctors add a different conversational element to social events as people are interested in health issues and like to talk to them.'

Professionals such as doctors, lawyers and bankers also 'lend cachet to an event', he adds.

These are the same people who feature regularly in society magazines, which often run lifestyle articles on successful men and women.

Dr Lee, 40, can always be counted on to show up in the most avant garde of designer outfits.

On why she enjoys a regular injection of party fun, she says: 'I need to have a more balanced lifestyle. These events are where I let my hair down and have a good time.

'I will attend events only if they are fun or to support the (charitable) cause or my friends.'

In fact, fund-raising galas in aid of charities are most likely to draw doctors out in larger numbers.

'Most doctors attend events with a charity peg... to lend their support to something worthwhile,' says Yah.

In spite of their good intentions, tongues can - and do - wag about doctors spending time on 'frivolous' merry-making.

'It is my private life and nobody's business,' says Dr Low-Heah, 43, a senior family physician at Raffles Aesthetics Centre in Raffles Hospital.

Even doctors who rarely attend these events think the gossip is undeserving.

'They can do whatever they wish during their personal time as long as it does not conflict with their professional standing or place the profession or industry in disrepute,' says Dr Ashraff S Eilyaas, 36, an aesthetics doctor at Eden Medical Aesthetics.

He does, however, advise potential patients to pick a doctor 'not because a doctor is seen publicly' but based on his or her 'knowledge, skills, work results, via recommendations or simply because of the comfort level'.

Indeed, queen of glam Dr Lee says: 'Everyone is entitled to his opinion and I respect that.

'I am not very affected by what others think or speak of me as long as I do not do anything against my conscience and my family and friends support me.'

Urban chats with four hot docs - Dr Kua,

Dr Low-Heah, Dr Yvonne Goh and Dr Ivor Lim -

to find out how they keep work and pleasure separate, while excelling at both.

Dr Yvonne Goh, 35, medical director of aesthetics clinic Medical Aesthetics@Cluny

This chic doctor had her first taste of the social scene at 17, when she accompanied family friends to charity fund-raisers.

'I met many close friends through these events and, over the years, I would attend functions like the Tatler and Prestige balls to catch up with them,' she says.

These days, however, the University College Dublin graduate, who started her own practice last year, has cut down on her social outings.

At her peak during her university holidays, she would attend about one event a month.

Nowadays, Dr Goh, who works six days a week and is often in the clinic from 10am till after 8pm, says she limits her party-going to two society balls a year and the occasional charity fund-raiser.

'It is a fun social activity where we can dress up and I can catch up with my friends while we do our bit for charity. It is not work-related for me,' she says.

She observes that an increasing number of young doctors are making it a point to balance work with play.

'It is normal for doctors to have a social life,' says Dr Goh, who is single.

'They may not be able to go out every day but it is possible to fit something in during the weekends.'

When she does find time to dress up and head out, she favours chic, simple and flowing gowns from labels such as Lanvin and Alberta Ferretti.

She also stops by multi-label department store Lane Crawford or Joyce boutique to pick up clothes when she is in Hong Kong for holidays.

'I don't take dressing up too seriously, but I do enjoy shopping in places with a wide selection of clothes,' she says.

She has no problems with wearing the same dress to different events, but says she will style it differently with accessories and sport a different hairstyle.

She likes going online to snag good buys too.

Net-a-porter.com, which offers a wide selection of luxury labels, is one of her favourite websites.

'Best of all, it has a great exchange policy so you can exchange something easily if it does not fit.'

She counts herself lucky that she has not been the target of gossip.

Besides, it has become the norm for doctors to dress up, she says.

'This is especially so for doctors in the aesthetics field... so it is no surprise that there are many stylish doctors out there.'

Dr Jade Kua, 30, registrar in emergency medicine at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. She is currently on attachment with the National University Hospital

Nothing about her day job is glamorous, considering that she deals with blood and gore on a daily basis as an emergency medicine doctor.

Except for one thing - her snazzy red Dolce & Gabbana sneakers, as seen on the cover picture, which she pairs with her hospital scrubs.

Even then, there is a practical side to these hot red shoes.

'I'm chuffed that they are comfortable enough to dash about at work in. They do amuse my patients as well as my bosses and the blood stains don't show up,' she says with a laugh.

Once she is done with saving lives, however, she sure knows how to let her hair down. Dr Kua, who is dating a businessman, has a soft spot for events held to raise funds for charity.

For her 30th birthday bash in January, she threw a party for her friends and asked them to make a donation to the Kidz Horizon Appeal charity in lieu of gifts. She also makes time for society balls such as the Icon and Tatler gala dinners about three times a year.

'It's like an annual get-together when it comes to society balls. It is an honour and pleasure to attend these balls,' she says.

She began attending these soirees after she graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2003.

You are likely to see her in gowns from Roberto Cavalli and cocktail dresses by Dolce & Gabbana at these dos. Local names such as Posse, Hansel and Francis Cheong are also her go-to labels for pretty frocks.

Otherwise, she will be decked out in cheongsam (Photo 2) by local couturier Lai Chan, which shows off her figure toned by years of wakeboarding.

'I wouldn't go to a ball and moan about the effort it takes to be there. When I attend, I certainly have fun,' she says. 'I've also made good friends such as lawyer Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi through attending these events.'

The social circuit, she says, is no more superficial than any other circle.

'I am sure most of us have encountered fair-weather friends and rumour-mongers in school and at work. Those who haven't must lead very sheltered lives,' she says.

She is quick to point out, however, that work comes before play.

'I place a high priority on work and my professionalism. I don't rush off after work just to attend an event. The parties don't interfere with my work or family commitments,' she says. 'If I can't afford the time to attend a friend's charity do, I will write a cheque and send it over.'

Which is why she considers a rumour about her showing up at work hungover from a party the night before such an affront. For the record, the story, which circulated among her colleagues when she was a houseman in late 2003, is not true, she says. She was ill with gastric flu then and vomited while on her rounds.

Rather than confront the rumour-mongers, however, she chose to ignore them.

'When people are thoughtless and spread silly stories for the sake of killing time, I think that's unproductive,' she says.

'I don't waste time worrying about people who do not matter.'

HAVING A BALL

Dr Caroline Low-Heah, 43, senior family physician at Raffles Aesthetics Centre in Raffles Hospital

She reports to work at Raffles Hospital at 7.30am with glasses, her hair in a bun and nary a trace of make-up.

On days when there is a ball to attend after work, however, the doc - whose work involves treating age-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity - undergoes a stunning transformation.

She leaves her office in a gown - designer labels Christian Dior and Bottega Veneta are her favourites - with immaculate make-up and contact lenses in place.

'I believe in packing everything in so I put on make-up in between patients, put on my gown at the hospital and leave for the ball from work,' she says.

'The security guards have got used to seeing me come in as one person and leave as another.'

As the founder of Kidz Horizon Appeal, a charity she set up in 2004 with KK Hospital to help children with chronic illnesses such as cancer and Aids, she attends charity balls and social events about six times a year.

'I started the charity as I felt that I could give back to society, plus I had done enough networking to be able to drive it,' she says.

Kidz Horizon Appeal raised $1.35 million last year and has raised about $3.5 million since it began.

Besides lending her support to medical-related fund raisers, she is also an avid supporter of the arts and attends the annual gala parties of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Proceeds from the ticket sales go to these groups.

'It is difficult to convince someone to support another person who plays the violin, as opposed to contributing money to save someone's life. That is why it is even more important that I lend the arts my support,' she reasons.

But she makes no excuses for getting all glammed up at the end of a long day.

'I do appreciate the finer things in life, that is why I work so hard - to support my desires.'

Dr Low-Heah, who graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, certainly knows how to separate work from play.

'That's why I have two names. At work, I am Dr Low and after work, I am Dr Heah,' says the mother of a daughter, 15, and a son, 13. She is married to Dr Heah Sieu Min, a surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

She adds: 'With my patients, I am not frivolous but outside of the professional realm, it is my private life and nobody's business.'

Indeed, she has set a clear rule for herself: 'I never say 'yes' to a cocktail party that starts before my office hours are over at 7.30pm.'

She laughs when told gossip has it that some tai tais are jealous that glamorous doctors like herself have upstaged them at these chi chi events.

'All the women I've met are very supportive of what I do. They are also generous in giving to my charity,' she says.

Besides, 'nothing comes easy, I work hard to look the way I do'. She runs and pumps iron at the gym three times a week.

She started moving in socialite circles more than 10 years ago, when she attended the 1994 Diamond Ball in aid of the Apex Harmony Lodge, a home for Alzheimer's patients.

Besides being able to network, these events are also a way to catch up with friends, she says.

The toughest part about working the social circuit?

'Having to put on my contact lens and make-up and to do my hair.'

People have become more open-minded, she says.

Back then, 'people could not understand why doctors should be glamorous'.

'But I've held my own. Everyone has her reasons for doing whatever she does. I do it to raise awareness for my charity.'

Dr Ivor J. Lim, 42, plastic surgeon and owner of Ivor J. Lim Plastic Surgery

While women fret over what to wear, this plastic surgeon has his prep routine for black-tie events down pat.

'I go home, have a shower and put on my tux in 10 minutes,' he says.

The tuxedo in question is a trusty Valentino number which he bought for his wedding 14 years ago and has been wearing since.

If the Valentino is at the dry cleaners, his 'emergency' tux from local tailor Justmen takes its place.

The Cambridge University graduate, who set up his own clinic in 2005, knows that he has it lucky as a man - his wife, Ann, the director of his clinic and his date to such events, takes about half a day to get ready, he says.

The couple, who used to attend about five or six balls a year, have now cut back to two society or charity dos a year.

For one, their four daughters, aged two to 12, keep them busy.

They have also tired of the scene.

'At some stage, you reach ball saturation,' he says.

'It gets repetitive seeing the same people and having to keep wearing a tux.'

It may be less stressful for men on the appearance front, but such affairs are also less exciting for them, he says.

'Women get to show off their beautiful gowns while men go, 'What bow tie to wear with my tux?' '

Gossip, he admits, is part and parcel of this circle.

'You do hear things in the social circuit, from people who have lost jobs to people who have lost partners. The best thing to do is just listen and not say anything.'

Contrary to popular perception, he says there are hardly any prima donnas in this crowd that is used to getting the best in life.

'They are largely regular people, just a bit more prominent because they do what they do well.'

Even talk of women competing to outdo each other is largely exaggerated, he notes.

'Generally, the women put effort into dressing up because they want to look good. Everyone has her own style so it is not about competition,' he says.

The most recent social event he attended was The Peak's 25th anniversary gala dinner in May, where he was one of the personalities featured in the magazine's commemorative coffee-table book.

For variety, he chooses different events to attend each year.

Some of these include the Passionball in aid of food distribution programme Food From The Heart, the Singapore Repertory Theatre's annual gala as well as Tatler and Prestige's yearly society balls.

'It is good to be introduced to new people and it does help business, but networking is secondary,' he says.

'Attending a ball should be fun.'

He also understands the need to be discreet should he run into patients.

'I'll just smile, say 'hi' and move on.'

Besides, he prefers not to become a social fixture.

'Too much exposure may work against you as people may think you're there to hog the limelight,' he says.

'I'd rather be more low profile and keep my life private.'

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.