Consultation first
Every patient is assessed in person before anything is booked. If a treatment is not right for you, we will say so — and you are never asked to decide on the day.
Injectable treatments · Gold Coast & Melbourne
Wrinkle Reduction
Wrinkle-softening treatments soften the lines that form from repeated facial movement — frowning, squinting and smiling. A consultation with an AHPRA-registered nurse comes first, to assess whether treatment is suitable for you at all.
- Assessment before treatment
- Doctor-led prescribing
- Afterpay available
At a glance
- Appointment time
- 10 – 20 minutes
- Results appear
- 3 – 5 days, full effect at 2 weeks
- Results typically last
- 3 – 4 months
- Downtime
- None for most people
- Prescription required
- Yes — Schedule 4
What wrinkle-softening treatments actually do
Wrinkle-softening treatments use a purified protein that temporarily relaxes the muscles underneath a line. When the muscle stops pulling with full force, the skin over it settles and the line softens. That is the whole mechanism — it works on lines caused by movement, and it does very little for lines caused by volume loss or sun damage. Knowing which kind you have is the first thing your nurse assesses.
Because the effect is on muscle rather than skin, dose and placement matter more than product. Too much in the wrong place is what produces the frozen look people worry about, so we treat conservatively at a first appointment and review you at two weeks, when the result has fully settled, rather than chasing it on the day.
These are Schedule 4 prescription medications in Australia. That means they cannot be sold, advertised by brand, or administered without a consultation with a qualified prescribing doctor — at our clinics, a telehealth consultation with Dr Katie Duncan before your nurse treats you.
Why have it with us
AHPRA-registered nurses
Treatments are carried out by registered nurses, not beauty therapists, with registration numbers published on our team page so you can verify them yourself.
Doctor-led prescribing
Schedule 4 medications are prescribed only after a formal consultation with one of our qualified prescribing doctors, in line with AHPRA and TGA requirements.
Written pricing
You get your full cost in writing at the consultation, including the new-patient scripting fee, with Afterpay available. No estimates that change at the counter.
What it is used for
Wrinkle-softening treatments address dynamic lines — the ones that deepen when you make an expression. Whether yours are suitable is assessed face-to-face.
Frown lines
The vertical lines between the eyebrows, from the muscles that draw the brows together. One of the most commonly treated areas.
Forehead lines
Horizontal lines across the forehead. Treated cautiously, because the same muscle holds the brow up — dose here is a balance, not a maximum.
Crow's feet
The fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of the eyes when you smile or squint.
Lip flip
A small dose along the upper lip to relax the muscle so slightly more lip shows. It adds no volume, and it is not a volume treatment.
Areas commonly assessed
- Forehead
- Between the brows
- Around the eyes
- Upper lip
What's involved
The same sequence at both clinics, every appointment.
- Consultation and assessment: Your nurse reviews your medical history, watches how your face moves, and works out which lines are movement lines and which are not. If wrinkle-softening treatments are not the answer for what is bothering you, this is where you are told. The appointment is free and you can leave without booking anything.
- Prescribing consultation: Because these are Schedule 4 medications, a telehealth consultation with one of our prescribing doctors is required before treatment. New patients, and anyone who has not visited in 12 months, pay a one-off $35 scripting fee that covers it.
- Your quote, in writing: You are told the areas being recommended, the total cost including the scripting fee, and the risks involved, before you decide anything.
- The injections: The skin is cleansed and small amounts are injected into the targeted muscles with fine needles. Most people describe a brief sting. No anaesthetic is usually needed, though numbing cream can be applied if you would prefer it. Ten to twenty minutes, start to finish.
- Straight back to your day: Small raised bumps at the injection sites usually settle within half an hour. Stay upright for four hours and avoid rubbing the treated areas for 24 hours. Most people go back to work immediately.
- Two-week review: A follow-up appointment once the effect has fully developed, so the actual result is assessed rather than predicted, and anything that needs adjusting is adjusted.
Cosmetic procedures carry risks. These are explained to you in full at your consultation, along with the aftercare involved, before you decide whether to proceed.
All treatments require a consultation with a qualified practitioner. Individual results vary. This page is general information only, not medical advice.
Results, downtime and aftercare
Timings below are typical and vary between individuals. Yours are discussed at your consultation.
Onset
Nothing changes on the day. Softening begins at around 3 to 5 days and the full effect is there at about 2 weeks.
How long it lasts
Generally 3 to 4 months. Metabolism, the area treated, the dose used and how strongly you use those muscles all change the number.
Downtime
Effectively none. Injection-site bumps settle within 30 minutes, and bruising, where it happens, is small.
Maintenance
Most patients return every 3 to 4 months. Some find the interval stretches over time as the treated muscles are used less.
For the first 24 hours
- Stay upright for at least four hours after treatment.
- Do not rub, massage or apply pressure to the treated areas.
- Skip strenuous exercise, saunas, hot yoga and sunbeds.
- Avoid facials, laser and any other treatment over the treated areas.
- Contact the clinic if you notice a drooping eyelid or brow, spreading redness, or anything that worries you.
Where to have it
Wrinkle Reduction is offered at both clinics, by AHPRA-registered practitioners. Each clinic has its own page for this treatment.
- Wrinkle Reduction Gold Coast — 1/32B Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218. Practitioners: Charlie Ralph, Sherllesea.
- Wrinkle Reduction Melbourne — 542 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032. Practitioners: Cat.
New patients: a $35 doctor scripting fee applies. This covers the prescribing consultation required before any Schedule 4 treatment. It applies to new patients and anyone who has not visited in the past 12 months, and is included in the quote you receive.
Who will treat you
Charlie Ralph
Founder & Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002241390. Founder and Clinical Director, based at the Gold Coast clinic.
Sherllesea
Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002195471. Clinical background in emergency nursing, with formal training in cosmetic nursing procedures.
Dr Katie Duncan
Prescribing Doctor & Medical Director
AHPRA MED0002653304. Conducts telehealth consultations for patients at both clinics.
Cat
Registered Nurse
AHPRA NMW0002914224. Based at the Melbourne clinic, with clinical training in cosmetic procedures.
Wrinkle softening questions
How long do wrinkle-softening treatments last?
Generally 3 to 4 months, though this varies between individuals. Metabolism, lifestyle, the area treated and the dose used all influence how long the effect is maintained. Your nurse will give you a realistic range for your own treatment at your consultation.
Does it hurt?
Most patients describe a brief, mild sting. The needles used are very fine and the treatment is generally well tolerated. Numbing cream can be applied beforehand if you are concerned about discomfort — tell your nurse and the appointment can be paused at any point.
When will I see results?
Nothing changes immediately. Softening usually begins within 3 to 5 days, with the full effect visible at around 2 weeks. That is why the review appointment is at two weeks — assessing the result any earlier means assessing something that has not finished developing.
Will my face look frozen?
That appearance comes from dose and placement, which is why we treat conservatively at a first appointment and review you at two weeks rather than aiming for a maximum on the day. If you want a specific amount of movement kept, say so at your consultation — it changes how you are dosed.
Do I need a prescription?
Yes. Wrinkle-softening treatments are Schedule 4 prescription medications in Australia, so a consultation with a qualified prescribing doctor is required before treatment. We arrange a telehealth consultation with our prescribing doctor; the one-off $35 scripting fee for new patients covers it.
Who is not suitable for treatment?
Treatment is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people with certain neuromuscular conditions. Some medications also affect suitability. Your medical history is reviewed at your consultation and by the prescribing doctor, which is the point at which this is decided.
Can I have it on my lunch break?
The injections themselves take 10 to 20 minutes and there is effectively no downtime, so for a returning patient, yes. A first appointment is longer because it includes the consultation and the prescribing doctor's telehealth appointment.
How soon can I have wrinkle-softening treatments before an event?
Allow at least two weeks, because the effect takes that long to develop fully and a review may be useful. Booking a fortnight or more ahead of anything you are being photographed at is the sensible approach.
Risks and side effects
As with all cosmetic treatments, wrinkle-softening treatments carry risks. Common side effects include temporary redness, mild swelling and bruising at the injection sites, and a mild headache. Less commonly, temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow can occur, which resolves as the effect wears off. All risks are discussed in full at your consultation.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Certain neuromuscular conditions and some medications make treatment unsuitable — which is why your medical history is reviewed first.
- The effect is temporary and wears off. Lines return to how they were as muscle movement returns.
- Results differ from person to person. A consultation assesses suitability — it does not promise that a treatment will suit you or that you will achieve a particular outcome.
Important health information
Required disclosure under AHPRA and TGA guidelines
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
- All treatments require a consultation with a qualified practitioner. Individual results vary. This page is general information only, not medical advice.
- All cosmetic procedures carry potential risks, including bruising, swelling, infection, scarring and allergic reactions. Some risks may be serious or lasting.
- Results differ from person to person. A consultation assesses suitability — it does not promise that a treatment will suit you or that you will achieve a particular outcome.
- Schedule 4 medications are prescribed only after a formal consultation with one of our qualified prescribing doctors, in line with AHPRA and TGA requirements.
Start with a consultation
Book a Consultation or call 0483 988 863 (Gold Coast) or 0483 982 999 (Melbourne).