Best places to get Botox, fillers and cosmetic injectables in Melbourne
Melbourne’s lucrative cosmetic injectables industry is flourishing, and these health professionals are some of the best at erasing wrinkles and plumping lips.
Lifestyle
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Once considered an out-of-reach luxury, Australia’s multibillion-dollar cosmetic surgery and injectables industry is continuing to flourish.
For some, getting Botox or filler is now as routine as a brow wax or spray tan, with everyday people coughing up thousands for wrinkle-free faces and plumper lips.
While the industry has recently come under fire for rogue practices and social media exploitation, prompting the national medical regulator to conduct a sweeping review, there are still credible injectors in Melbourne.
Both doctors and nurses can perform cosmetic treatments. While you’re right to assume doctors have a greater depth of knowledge, it’s not just about the qualification in the cosmetic game.
The number of cosmetic treatments an injector has performed, and their length of time in the industry, should also inform your decision.
DR GAVIN CHAN
Dr Gavin Chan founded the Victorian Cosmetic Institute in 2005 and has a medical background in intensive care, anaesthesia and emergency medicine.
He specialises in Botox, fillers, laser and liposuction.
“Botox has always been the king and the biggest, most popular procedure, followed by fillers” Dr Chan said.
“Doing good Botox is in the highest demand because it wears off every three to four months. Usually when patients start, they don’t want to stop the treatments.”
Dr Chan is an advocate for ethical cosmetic treatments.
His study into dermal fillers found the lifespan of injectables was longer than the typical six months spruiked in cash-hungry industry.
“A couple of years ago I looked at MRI scans on patients who had filler years ago — some up to 12 years ago — and we found in all cases scanned that filler was persistent and lasted a lot longer than expected,” he said.
“This study generally changed my whole practice and the way I looked at fillers. It doesn’t make sense to be injected every six to 12 months or so, into an area like the cheeks and lips.”
Dr Chan began sharing his insights via a YouTube Channel, with each of his videos watched by millions.
“I wouldn’t say (the videos) have increased filler business, but I think when people see my videos they can see there’s a sense of trust and my goal is to help perpetuate that fillers don’t go away quickly,” he said.
Dr Chan advised anyone considering getting cosmetic treatments to find a doctor or nurse they trusted.
“You have to find someone who has a good reputation, someone that you trust, and stick with them. That is the way to get the best result.”
DR JONATHAN BROWN
Jonathan Brown may be the name of an AFL star, but it’s also the moniker for this well-regarded Melbourne cosmetic physician and GP.
Dr Brown founded Cityskin a decade ago, and it now has seven locations citywide.
He specialises in anti-wrinkle treatments and double-chin injections.
“Our focus is on fresh, not fake,” Dr Brown said.
“We are really trying to make people feel and look refreshed. That’s been our mantra and belief for years.”
Dr Brown said he never got on board the “full fake lips and cheek” fad, saying the average age of his clients was 36.
“Our patients are your sister, mother-in-law, friend from school — about 85 per cent are women and 15 per cent men.
“We don’t do surgery, mainly dermal filler, double chin injections, facial slimming treatments, which we see 1000 people each year for.”
In lockdown, Dr Brown created a one-stop cosmetic directory, Cosmetic Finder,for Australian clinics, which compares price and years experience of each surgeon or injector.
“I’m trying to help people have a good experience and inform what they are doing,” he said.
“We are about trying to empower people.”
Dr Brown is not actively taking new clients, but the cosmetic staff at his clinics are.
DR EUGENE GREEN
Dr Green worked as a GP and locum doctor for two decades before practising cosmetic medicine.
Since 2014, Dr Green has been helping patients achieve natural-looking results in his Albert Park clinic, specialising in anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, bio-stimulators and thread lifts.
Dr Green holds the philosophy that non-surgical enhancements should help make the individual look more youthful, attractive and rejuvenated.
Over the years Dr Green Cosmetic Group has continued to grow, with Dr Green employing two cosmetic nurses to cope with demand.
DR JENNY KIMMINS
Dr Jenny Kimmins’ passion for cosmetic medicine was built after years working in general practice. She now has 16 years of experience, with an interest in helping patients fix skin concerns, such as acne and rosacea. She’s an expert in skin laser treatments, as well as dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. Her goal is to improve skin health via skincare, injectables and laser treatments.
DR ALICIA TESKA
Skin Temple
Victoria-born Dr Alicia Teska has been a cosmetic physician for 21 years. In 2002, she founded Skin Temple on St Kilda Rd.
Dr Teska is a specialist GP and also has a dermatology background. Her work includes skin treatments, laser, dermal fillers an anti-wrinkle injections.
She has previously worked as a consultant for L’Oreal and has appeared in media campaigns for cosmetic brands La Roche Posay and Skinceuticals for her interest in sunscreen.
SANDRA WALLACE
Sandra Wallace is a registered nurse with 25 years of injecting experience.
Ms Wallace works at Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery, which has clinics in Hawthorn and Berwick.
“When I started working I was working in operating theatres with plastic surgeons for (cosmetic) facial surgery,” she said.
“Working with the surgeons gave me an interest in pursuing the injectable side of things, so I started on that trajectory.”
Ms Wallace said in the 2000s, when fillers and collegian injectables first became popular, it was quite expensive, with nurses having minimal training or resources available to further their expertise.
Today that’s remarkably different, with a surge in everyday people seeking cosmetic injectables in a post-lockdown world.
“People have spent the last two years looking at their facial movements on Zoom and now want to get work done,” she said.
Most of her clients are aged above 25 and in recent years has seen people even younger getting work done thanks to social media.
Ms Wallace’s most popular treatments include Botox for frown lines and fillers for cheek and oral commissure (downturn of the mouth).
She works at the clinic three days a week and sees an average of 60 people for Botox and 40 for fillers.
“I do love what I’m doing and I love seeing what it does for someone’s self esteem when you can anti-age them gracefully,” she said.
“I have an interest in facial anatomy and through using injectables, I like to enhance a client’s defining features”.
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