Non-surgical aesthetic treatments: what it is and how clinics abroad price it

Non-surgical aesthetic treatments change the look of the skin or face with injections, lasers or threads instead of an operation. Clinics abroad sell them per area, per syringe, per session or as a course. This page explains the main types and how their prices are built.

What does it involve?

• Botulinum toxin injections — a purified substance injected into facial muscles to relax lines such as frown lines and crow's feet. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists the brands in use, such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau and Daxxify. The effect is temporary.
• Dermal fillers — gel injected under the skin to add volume to areas such as lips, cheeks or chin. The FDA regulates fillers as medical devices, lists their approved uses, and advises against using them for body contouring such as the breasts or buttocks.
• Laser skin resurfacing — a laser removes or heats layers of skin on the face (ASPS).
• Thread lift — absorbable barbed sutures placed under the skin of the face or neck to lift tissue (ASPS).
• Laser or radiofrequency vaginal treatments — a device probe applies laser or radiofrequency energy to vaginal tissue, usually as a course of sessions. Clinics often market these as "vaginal rejuvenation" or "tightening". Surgical intimate procedures are on the cosmetic surgery page.

Related treatments are grouped in the site's anti-aging collection.

How do clinics price it?

Most of this topic does not yet have fixed price units in the catalogue. Clinics typically publish:

• Botulinum toxin — per area (for example forehead), per unit of product, or per session.
• Fillers — per syringe or per milliliter, with the brand named.
• Laser resurfacing — per session or per course, sometimes per face area.
• Thread lift — per procedure or per number of threads.
• Laser or radiofrequency vaginal procedure — per session or per course, with the device and number of sessions stated.

Prices are only comparable within the same unit. A price per area is not comparable with a price per unit of toxin, and a price for one session is not comparable with a course. A published price may or may not include the consultation, numbing cream, a review visit or a "top-up" injection. The product brand is often, but not always, named.

What should I ask the clinic before paying?

• What exactly is in the price: how many areas, units, syringes or sessions?
• Which product or device is used, by brand name, and can I see the packaging or device label?
• Who performs the treatment, and are they a licensed doctor or nurse? See how to check a doctor.
• Is a review visit or top-up included, and when?
• What happens if there is a complication after I return home, and who pays to treat it?
• How long is the written price valid?

What this page does not tell you

This page reports prices and terms that clinics publish. It does not say whether a treatment suits you or what result it gives. Those questions belong with your own doctor. In 2018 the US FDA warned that the safety and effectiveness of energy-based devices for vaginal "rejuvenation" or cosmetic vaginal procedures have not been established, and that it has not cleared or approved any such device for these uses; the warning is reproduced by New Zealand's regulator Medsafe.