Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

  • Kelly and Clare combined have 20 years experience and we strive to do an excellent treatment every time. You will never feel pushed into a treatment or be rushed through. We take great care to look after every patient and your individual needs.

DERMAL FILLERS

  • ​A Dermal Filler is a product that fills the skin. At The Skin Department we use Restylane and Belotero brands.

    Dermal Fillers are made of a synthetic hyaluronic acid that our body accepts well as it mimics the hyaluronic acid we naturally have in our body.

    Dermal Fillers are used to correct wrinkles or folds in the skin and to enhance volume where volume loss occurs as we age. For example they are often used for lips, temples and cheeks. There are different thicknesses in the fillers so there is always a good option, for the finest of lines to the most sunken cheeks.

  • Each person is unique with different needs. The best thing is to come in for a free consult and see if fillers are the best option for you.

  • The hyaluronic acid fillers we use are the safest fillers on the market. They are well accepted into our tissue and allergy to these products is extremely rare. The biggest risk with this product is placement. You should choose your injector well and make sure they have excellent skill and knowledge of anatomy.

    The most common side effects are transient redness, itching, swelling, bruising and tenderness. These usually resolve quickly with the exception of fillers in the lips – this area can swell for up to a week in extreme cases. 3 days is typical. Bruising of the lips can also take a week to resolve.

  • The most sensitive area to have treated is the lips. This area can easily be nerve blocked so you will experience no pain at all. You can also opt to have numbing gel as this works well in the lip region.

    Other areas are generally tolerated well. All the fillers we use have an anaesthetic in them so they become more comfortable as they are injected.

BOTULINUM TOXIN

  • Botulinum Toxin is made from a highly purified form of a natural protein complex. It inhibits the neuro transmitters in the muscle, temporarily relaxing the muscles being injected and therefore smoothing out wrinkles.

  • Botulinum Toxin is an excellent option for almost anyone wanting to relax muscles and look younger and fresher. However, it is not recommended for people with albumin allergies, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers or individuals with certain uncommon neurological/muscle disorders.

  • Botulinum Toxin has been used for more than 40 years. It was originally used to treat various conditions associated with muscle spasms in infants, children and adults. These individuals need high doses to relax large muscles. For cosmetic results much lower doses are needed. Many women and men have been enjoying the benefits of Botulinum Toxin treatments, in some cases for more than a decade without experiencing any serious problems.

    To date there have been no reports of lasting side effects, safety risks or allergies associated with cosmetic botulinum toxin therapy. The most common side effects are drooping eyebrows or eyelids and headaches. Eyelid and brow problems can almost always be avoided by skilled technique. If or when you cease your maintenance treatments your appearance gradually reverts to what it would have been without treatment.

  • Immediately after the treatment there is nothing to see!! But over the course of 2-10 days the muscles will relax and the skin will have less wrinkles. If you have deep wrinkles prior to treatment they will not be removed completely but will soften and improve with each subsequent treatment. Typically the products last around 3-4 months. You will gradually be able to move these muscles again, which means an emergency appointment is due!

  • The whole procedure only takes a few minutes and the smallest of needles are used. There is a minor discomfort with the administration but this is only short lived. We use preserved saline which makes it “ouchless”.

  • We recommend that you don’t touch the injection site for two hours post treatment. This is to prevent infection and also to prevent the product from spreading to unintended areas. Spreading can reduce the effect on the targeted muscles as well as cause temporary relaxation of non-targeted muscles. We don’t recommend excess exercise on the day of treatment, or facial treatments for two weeks after the procedure. Otherwise you can go back to your normal life straight away.

  • We charge $18.50 per unit for Botulinum Toxin. Below are some average amounts required for common treatments. The actual number of units required for a treatment depends on the individual patient, so these numbers should be used as a guide only:

    Frown lines 16-30 units

    Crow’s feet 8-20 units

    Forehead lines 6-16 units

    Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating) underarms 100 units. The set cost for this treatment is $1000 (generally lasts 9-12 months)

  • Call for an appointment for a free consult on 09-217 3695 or make an appointment for yourself online.

    During the consult, we assess you and discuss your personal concerns. Accurate pricing will be given at this appointment. Sometimes it is possible to have the treatment at this appointment if you wish to do so.

Contact Us