$4 BOTOX PRICE WAR

BUT IS IT THE REAL DEAL?

People need to make sure they’re in safe hands DR LINDSEY HOOKE

A BOTOX war has erupted on the Gold Coast as clinics slash injectable prices and some even thin out products to nab cash-conscious customers.

A number of cosmetic practices are offering anti-wrinkle injections for as little as $4 while reputable clinics can charge as much as $17 a unit.

Sources say people without proper qualifications are also offering cut-price injections in the wrinkle war or having “Botox parties” at home.

However, the problem is that many crease-free customers are not aware people need to be qualified.

Creative company Hybrid Web has released the results of a survey that aimed to find out how people were using injectables on the Coast.

The survey found more than 32 per cent of people did not know that only a nurse or doctor could carry out an injectable treatment.

More than 80 per cent did not know that Botox was a powder that must be mixed with a saline solution before use and nearly 93 per cent did not know the recommendation for this is a specific volume of 2.5ml.

Most people believed that providers would increase this amount to make more of the product and therefore more by treating more people per dose or reducing the price.

But in knowing that, several people said they did not care and would still base their decision on price.

Dr Lindsey Hooke, owner of Rejuven8 Cosmetix, said she was shocked at the figures.

“A lot of people simply thought it could be done by a beauty therapist,” she said.

“People need to make sure they’re in safe hands.”

In 2011 the top non-surgical procedure was Botox, accounting for almost 70,000 jabs.

Statistics show it was the most requested treatment in 91 per cent of clinics belonging to the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons has guidelines in place for botulinum toxin that state supervising doctors must be satisfied the nurse has adequate qualifications, training and expertise for the duties performed.

Plastic surgeon Dr Craig Layt said some businesses were also wrongly advertising Botox and using a different brand called Dysport.