As the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

As an experienced aesthetic medical professional I believe that the offers of ‘cheap Botox® treatments’ fit this description……..

Botulinum Toxin, whether it is the product ‘Botox®’ or offered under another product name for use in cosmetic indications, is a costly ‘prescription only’ medicine…………. So how are individuals able to offer such an expensive drug at very low prices?

Here are some of the possibilities that come to my mind:-

Any ‘Botox®’ product that is purchased by an individual from ‘anywhere’ other than a reputable pharmaceutical company, for any price, could in reality no matter what the label may say on the bottle, be absolutely ‘anything’. This of course is an extremely worrying thought, and this very situation has tragically resulted in deaths in other countries.

But there are other possibilities that could account for a Botox® treatment being offered at very low prices.

Botulinum Toxin of the type used in the majority of cosmetic procedures when purchased is in a powder form, therefore in order to be able to inject it to deliver a treatment, the product must be reconstituted with fluid. The amount of fluid added to each individual product required to deliver optimum treatment results is well documented. If you want the product to ‘go further’, maybe provide more treatments than it is designed for, you can add more fluid when reconstituting the products. Unfortunately if this is the case, the client can have poor treatment results and any results achieved very often wear off much sooner than they should…..not such a bargain!

There is another important point to make at this time in regards to the pricing of ‘Botox®’ treatments:

When you wish to buy yourself, let’s say, an expensive dress for example, to treat yourself and maybe boost your confidence, you find the dress you want and you may then shop around to get the best price for it; you then make your purchase….job done!

When purchasing any kind of non surgical treatment e.g. fillers or Botox®, or surgical cosmetic treatments, you either know what you want, or following research, you have a good idea of what you are looking for. You then search for what you want, usually online, or in magazines until you find it. If it is the price that has drawn you to a particular treatment being offered you must remember that this is not a straightforward purchase, as is buying ‘a dress’.

Another analogy would be your hair cut, colour, style etc. We know of many places that offer these services, but would we really choose to have our hair done at a salon purely on the basis that they only charge £20? At salons you pay a premium to have the senior stylist, or the artistic director work on your hair………… experience, an eye for what is required and technical skill have great worth.

It is I feel, important to stress that expertise is not gained by attending one day training courses which provide the individual with a ‘certificate’ This expertise includes the gaining over time of an aesthetic eye, delivering the ‘appropriate’ treatment expertly along with the management of any problems that may occur during and following treatment which, although rare, can happen. This experienced professional aftercare, also includes the successful management and correction if required, of any situation that you may have concerns about.

So, it is vital to remember that you are not just paying for the ‘product’ when you purchase a cosmetic treatment; an extremely important part of the cost that is incurred is payment for the expertise gained over many years of the individual that is going to inject your face, or perform surgery upon you.

Even though cosmetic treatments are part of everyday life now for many people, these decisions should not be taken lightly; ask questions, make sure yours is a ‘fully informed’ decision.

By having all the information you require, enabling you to choose the right practitioner for you, medical cosmetic treatments provide us with a fantastic opportunity to maximise our aesthetic potential; helping us face our stressful lives with confidence and positivity.