A pharmacy at one of New Zealand's biggest malls is offering shoppers walk-in Botox treatments.
Life Pharmacy St Lukes has become the first New Zealand chemist to offer a range of cosmetic procedures usually found at specialist facial clinics.
Customers at the busy Auckland mall can book in for a variety of treatments including Botox injections, dermal fillers, platelet-rich plasma therapy and skin needling.
A qualified nurse operates out of the store's private beauty rooms one day a week providing consultation and treatment.
Dispensing manager Alan Ma said the treatment, introduced without fanfare last November, had grown in popularity to the point the pharmacy needed to look at extending treatment hours to a second day.
He said the cost was "quite competitive".
The Caci Clinic, which specialises in "appearance medicine," quotes on its website an initial treatment for frown lines costs around $380.
Ma said it was a natural progression for the pharmacy to extend into medical-related beauty services.
The pharmacy was in the business of selling cosmetics and already offered beauty treatments including waxing and facials. Adding a Botox service was convenient for customers, who could shop and run errands before having a treatment.
Dion Gomas, 66, began pondering the treatment after spotting the pharmacy sign. Three days ago she decided to add Botox to a pre-booked facial treatment at the chemist shop.
"I am a convert," said a happy Gomas. "The lines have softened so nicely. I'm just delighted."
She said she would have a second procedure - dermal fillers to erase lines around her mouth - for a family wedding soon.
Alison Van Wyk, head of professional services at pharmacy operator Green Cross Health, said plans were afoot to roll out the Botox treatment through its chain of Life Pharmacies nationwide.
Just two pharmacies - St Lukes Mall and Remuera - offered the service but more would be providing the treatment before the end of the year, she said.
"St Lukes was the first pharmacy in the Life brand to run with the programme. It gave us a good feel for feedback to make sure it resonated with customers,"she said.
Van Wyk said the move to appearance medicine was about customer access, convenience and giving customers options.
Skin Plus' Cathy Botica, whose company is behind bringing Botox into pharmacies, said the pharmacy was a place where women felt "in their comfort zone".
Many clients were newly retired women who wanted to freshen their look.