Anti-Wrinkle Injections: Botox®, Dysport® & Xeomin® in Grey Lynn
Anti-wrinkle injections in Auckland smooth frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet by relaxing the small muscles that cause them, using one of four prescription medicines: Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® or Xeomin®. At Aesthetica in Grey Lynn, every treatment is given personally by Dr Patti Piper, whose surgical background gives her a thorough knowledge of facial anatomy that underpins a careful, conservative approach. Dr Patti plans and injects slowly, charging per unit so patients only pay for what their face actually needs.
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Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® are botulinum toxin type A medicines, a natural, highly purified protein produced under strict laboratory conditions.
All three brands are registered in New Zealand for use in the upper face: frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. Under section 29 of the Medicines Act, a doctor may also use these medicines in other areas, such as softening a down-turned mouth, relaxing the chin, sharpening the jawline or defining the neck. Dr Patti discusses which brand and which areas suit a patient's face at consultation, rather than defaulting to one product for everyone.
How it works
Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® all work the same way: they block the release of acetylcholine, the chemical that triggers muscle contraction, from nerve endings in the treated muscle. A very small dose is injected with a fine needle directly into specific muscles.
Once a muscle can no longer contract as strongly, existing lines gradually smooth and new lines are slower to form. The treatment itself takes about 15 minutes, not including consultation time, and results build gradually rather than appearing overnight.
What to expect
The cost of anti-wrinkle injections depends on the number of units used, not the area treated. Dr Patti charges per unit so patients only pay for what their face actually needs, and the exact unit count and cost are discussed and agreed at consultation before any treatment begins. This per-unit approach reflects Dr Patti's conservative style: careful planning and careful injecting, making every unit count.
Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® are prescription medicines containing botulinum toxin type A, and each carries risks as well as benefits. Ask Dr Patti whether anti-wrinkle injections are right for you, and contact her if you experience side effects. The manufacturers' required information for each product is set out below.
BOTOX® is a prescription medicine containing 100 units of clostridium botulinium type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines associated 'crow's feet' around the eyes and wrinkle removal. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialists about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Caution people with neuromuscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning sensation or redness at injection site, temporary local muscle weakness including eyelid droop, decreased sensation and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns, talk to your doctor. A charge applies. Allergan New Zealand Pty Ltd, Auckland. Note: Botox® treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of Botox treatment may be necessary. Talk to your Auckland Botox specialist about the benefits/risks of this procedure.
DYSPORT® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow's fee round the eyes. Dysport® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor is Dysport® is right for you. If you have side effects see your doctor. You will need to pay for Dysport®, and clinic fees will apply. For details on precautions & side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Dysport® lasts about 4-6 months and further courses of treatment may be necessary. Should only be administered by trained medical professionals. Contains 500 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin. Galderma (NZ) Limited, Auckland.
XEOMIN® (Incobotulinumtoxin A) 50, 100 Units is a Prescription Medicine. Indications: In adults for the treatment of cervical dystonia; blepharospasm; spasticity of the upper limb; upper facial lines: glabellar from lines, lateral periorbital lines (crows feet), horizontal forehead lines. Xeomin® has both risks and benefits, consults your doctor if Xeomin® is right for you. Further information on the risks and benefits of Xeomin® can be found in the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) available from www.medsafe.govt.nz or by calling 0800 822 310. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or health care professional. Common side effects include: Headaches; nausea; tenderness, swelling, redness, numbness or bruising of the skin; dry eye; heavy feeling or eyelid/eyebrow/forehead; face/brow not symmetrical. dropping eyelids/eyebrows. Serious side effects are rare and include allergic reactions. XOEMIN® is an unfunded medicine, prescription charge will apply. Normal doctor charges will still apply. Medical information: Ph 0800 822 310. Copyright 2021. Pharmacy Retailing NZ Limited t/a Health Care Logistics (HCL) 58 Richard Pearse Drive, Mangere, Auckland 2022. All rights reserved. Xeomin® and Merz Aesthetics are registered trademarks of Merz Pharma MGMbH & Co.
RELFYDESS® prescription medicine contains 150 units of relabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of frown lines and crow's feet around the eyes. Relfydess has risks and benefits. Ask your healthcare professional if Relfydess is right for you and to explain the possible side effects. Tell them if any side effects concern you. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS YOU ARE GIVEN. For details on precautions and side effects, see the Consumer Medicines Information at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Unfunded for aesthetic indications. Product and treatment costs apply. AUS: Galderma Australia Pty Ltd, Level 18, 1 Denison St, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia. ABN 12 003 976 930. NZ: Galderma Australia Pty Ltd, 58 Richard Pearse Drive, Airport Oaks, Mangere 2022. NZBN 9429051812249. Distributed in NZ by Healthcare Logistics, 58 Richard Pearse Drive, Airport Oaks, Mangere 2022, NZ.
Careful anatomy knowledge behind every unit.
With years of surgical training, Dr Patti brings a thorough understanding of facial anatomy to every treatment. She plans and injects slowly, charging per unit so patients only pay for what their face actually needs, and her anatomical knowledge reduces the likelihood of an uneven or overly frozen result.
Frequently asked
The treatment itself takes about 15 minutes, not including the time spent on consultation beforehand. Dr Patti still allows enough time at the appointment to discuss your concerns, examine the muscles involved, and agree on the number of units and estimated cost before starting. Nothing is rushed, even though the injections themselves are quick to administer, because getting the plan right matters more than getting through the appointment quickly.
Results begin to appear from 2 to 5 days after treatment, depending on the brand used, as the treated muscles gradually relax. The full effect is usually evident at around 2 weeks, once the medicine has had time to take full effect on the muscle. Because the change is gradual rather than immediate, most people find the result looks natural rather than sudden or obviously "done".
Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® typically last about 4 months before wearing off naturally, at which point further treatment can be arranged if you wish to continue. Because the effect is temporary, there is no commitment beyond a single treatment, and Dr Patti will only recommend further courses if they genuinely suit your face and goals rather than as a matter of routine.
The cost depends on the number of units used rather than a flat fee per area, so two people treating the same area may pay different amounts depending on muscle strength and the result wanted. Dr Patti discusses the likely unit count and total cost at consultation, before any injections are given, so there are no surprises.
Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® are four different brands of botulinum toxin type A, all working by the same mechanism to relax wrinkle-causing muscles. They differ slightly in formulation, dose units and how quickly they take effect, which is why unit counts are not directly interchangeable between brands. Dr Patti recommends the brand best suited to your muscles and previous experience with anti-wrinkle injections, if any, rather than using a single brand for every patient.
Anti-wrinkle injections are generally safe when given by an experienced, appropriately trained doctor, though like all prescription medicines they carry some risk. Possible side effects include headache, pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, local muscle weakness including a drooping eyelid, and rarely nausea or a temporary lack of feeling nearby. Dr Patti explains these risks plainly at consultation, and her thorough anatomical knowledge reduces the likelihood of an uneven or overly frozen result.
Botox®, Dysport®, Relfydess® and Xeomin® are registered in New Zealand for frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. Use in any other area is considered off-label, and we are not permitted to advertise those uses. Dr Patti can discuss with you at consultation whether an off-label use is appropriate for your face, what it involves and what the alternatives are, so you understand exactly what is being treated and why before agreeing to anything.
Book a consultation with Dr Patti.
An honest conversation first. The cost of anti-wrinkle injections depends on the number of units used, agreed with you at consultation before any treatment begins.