Botox use has exploded in New Zealand in the past four years.
One the largest providers of botox, Caci Medispa, treated a touch over 2000 people in 2005. Last year they treated more than three times that amount.
Botox was predominantly used by women in the 40-plus age group to treat deep-set wrinkles, but now increasingly women in their 20s use it as well.
Nisha Henry, 24, is happy to talk about her injections of youth.
"I started having botox about two years ago," says Ms Henry. "I first had it through the frown area, it takes about 15 minutes and I have it every three to four months."
She spends around $360 per visit, but believes the cost is an investment in her future.
"All of my sisters and my mum have quite strong frown lines, so I wanted to start early and beat that, really."
Caci Medispa have been administering botox for more than 10 years, usually to women 20 or 30 years older than Ms Henry, but she is part of a growing trend.
Five years ago almost no one under 30 was buying botox.
"More recently we'd estimate 4 to 7 percent of our clientele that are using botox as a preventative measure are under that 30-year bracket," says Jannelle Rennie, marketing manager.
Internationally in 2007 the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery said almost 14 percent of botox clients were aged under 35, and that figure included some teenagers.
So how does it work?
Jackie Smith, owner of Caci Medispa says, "Botox relaxes the muscles that lie under the skin."
Despite the strain of bacteria botox is made from being one of the most lethal naturally occurring substances known, it is widely used for cosmetic purposes in a purified form.
But there are risks.
"Botox is a medicine and there are always risks associated with medicine," says Ms Smith. "But the nice thing about botox is that any complications don't last very long."
That could be a couple of weeks, or the three or four months it usually takes to wear off.
Side effects include bruising or redness at the injection site, the risk of temporary droopy eyelid, paralysis of the wrong muscle group, headaches and allergic reactions, but research shows people have used it for up to 20 years with no adverse effects.
"I think I'll continuously get botox," says Ms Henry.
It seems even the recession is failing to freeze the botox industry.
"I can tell you that 2007 stats compared with 2008, we experienced a 36 percent growth," says Ms Rennie, "and 2009 is tracking well above that growth."
With users like Ms Henry happy to pay the costs, for the manufactures and practitioners botox is proving to be a real cash injection.
3 News