Skip to main content

Cosmetic injectables · London

Anti-wrinkle Botox injections, by a registered prescriber.

A 5 to 10 minute treatment with a GMC, GDC or NMC-registered prescriber - all listed on the JCCP register. Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture, Xeomin or Nuceiva, chosen for your face rather than the clinic’s stockroom.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private anti-wrinkle injections cost in London.

Indicative ranges across London prescribers.

In short

One area: £180–£280. Combined packages: £280–£650. Back to work the same day.

Treatment Indicative range
One area (glabellar, forehead or crow’s feet) £180–£280
Two areas combined £280–£420
Three areas (full upper face) £350–£650
Masseter (jaw slimming, per side) £250–£450
Nefertiti neck lift or hyperhidrosis (armpits) £400–£850
Chronic migraine (PREEMPT protocol, 31–39 sites) £450–£900

Prices vary by prescriber seniority, product choice and clinic postcode. A two-week review is included in every quote.

The journey

From first message to two-week review - what happens, in order.

One prescriber, one plan, one no-charge review at 14 days.

  1. 04

    On the day

    Consultation and facial mapping

    Medical history, facial mapping, muscle testing at rest and on animation, product choice (Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture, Xeomin or Nuceiva) and dose plan.

  2. 05

    On the day

    The injections

    Five to ten minutes with a very fine needle. No anaesthetic is usually needed. You can drive home and return to work the same day.

  3. 06

    On the day

    Aftercare instructions

    Stay upright for four hours, no strenuous exercise or facials for 24 hours, no lying face-down or rubbing the treated area.

  4. 07

    After

    Two-week review and top-up

    Results appear in 3 to 7 days and peak at 2 weeks. A no-charge review at two weeks; any small asymmetry can be fine-tuned then. Effect lasts 3 to 4 months.

Areas treated

Where botulinum toxin helps - face, jaw and beyond.

The most common cosmetic areas, plus the therapeutic indications (masseter, hyperhidrosis, chronic migraine) that are often insurer-funded.

  • Glabellar frown lines

    The vertical "11" between the brows, caused by corrugator and procerus activity. The most common single area treated.

  • Forehead lines and brow lift

    Horizontal forehead lines from frontalis; careful dosing lifts the tail of the brow rather than dropping it.

  • Crow’s feet

    Lateral orbicularis oculi lines when smiling; three to four small doses per side soften them without freezing the smile.

  • Bunny lines and gummy smile

    Fine diagonal creases on the nose bridge and excess upper-lip elevation on smiling, treated with tiny microdoses.

  • Dimpled (pebbled) chin

    A single dose into mentalis smooths an orange-peel chin and lengthens the lower face.

  • Masseter (jaw slimming, bruxism)

    Bulky masseter muscles slim over 8 to 12 weeks; also helps clenching, grinding and jaw pain.

  • Nefertiti neck lift

    Microdoses along the platysma bands soften vertical neck cords and sharpen the jawline.

  • Hyperhidrosis and chronic migraine

    Axillary sweating (a licensed indication) and chronic migraine via the PREEMPT protocol, both often covered by private insurance.

Product options

Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture, Xeomin or Nuceiva.

All five are botulinum toxin type A - dosing units differ and are not interchangeable. The prescriber’s technique matters far more than the brand on the vial.

  • Botox (Allergan)

    The original onabotulinumtoxinA. Widest evidence base, licensed for glabellar, crow’s feet, forehead, hyperhidrosis and chronic migraine.

  • Azzalure (Ipsen)

    AbobotulinumtoxinA. Often described as slightly faster onset; dosing units differ from Botox and are not interchangeable.

  • Bocouture (Merz)

    IncobotulinumtoxinA, a "naked" toxin without complexing proteins - a rational choice if you have developed antibody resistance.

  • Xeomin

    The same molecule as Bocouture, marketed for therapeutic indications such as spasticity and cervical dystonia.

  • Nuceiva (Evolus)

    PrabotulinumtoxinA, the newest entrant to the UK cosmetic market. Licensed for glabellar frown lines.

  • Combination with filler

    Botulinum toxin softens dynamic wrinkles; hyaluronic acid filler restores static volume. Sequenced correctly, they work better than either alone.

  • Microdroplet ("baby Botox")

    Very small, superficial doses across many sites - preserves movement and expression while softening surface lines.

  • Therapeutic indications

    Bruxism, chronic migraine (PREEMPT), axillary hyperhidrosis, blepharospasm, cervical dystonia - a prescriber-only decision, sometimes insurer-funded.

Safety and side effects

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Botulinum toxin has been used medically for over 30 years and cosmetically for over 20. In a registered prescriber’s hands it is one of the safest procedures in medicine; the risks come from untrained providers.

  • Bruising and pinpoint bleeding

    The commonest side effect. Fades over 3 to 7 days. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and alcohol for 48 hours beforehand where medically safe.

  • Eyelid ptosis (droop): 1 to 3%

    Almost always from diffusion of frontalis or glabellar doses; self-resolves in 4 to 6 weeks. Apraclonidine drops can help in the meantime.

  • Brow droop (heaviness)

    A heavy-brow feeling if the frontalis is over-treated. Usually settles within a fortnight; careful mapping prevents it.

  • Headache after treatment

    Around 10 to 15% report a mild headache for 24 to 48 hours - responds to paracetamol.

  • Dry eyes after crow’s feet

    Occasional transient dry-eye symptoms after periocular treatment - lubricating drops help.

  • Antibody resistance is rare

    Neutralising antibodies from repeated high-dose treatment can dull the effect - switching to naked-toxin Bocouture often restores response.

  • Avoid untrained providers

    Illegal "boutique" clinics offering unregulated, non-prescriber toxin injections are a real UK problem. Check the JCCP register before you book.

  • Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding

    Elective cosmetic toxin is not offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have myasthenia gravis or a related neuromuscular disorder.

  • Red flags after treatment

    A drooping eyelid, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision or breathing difficulty - contact the clinic and, if severe, go to A&E the same day.

Your treatment record

Your record in four parts. Keep it for next time.

A proper treatment record - product, batch, dose and mapping - is what lets a good prescriber refine the next course rather than start from scratch.

  1. 01 Header

    Product, batch and dose per site

    Which toxin (Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture, Xeomin or Nuceiva), its batch number, and the units injected at each marked site.

  2. 02 Assessment

    Facial mapping and muscle strength

    Photographs at rest and on animation, muscle-strength grading and any pre-existing asymmetry noted before treatment.

  3. 03 Plan

    Areas treated and expected onset

    Areas dosed today, areas deferred, onset (3 to 7 days), peak (2 weeks) and expected duration (3 to 4 months).

  4. 04 Aftercare

    Aftercare and two-week review

    Read this first: upright for 4 hours, no facials or exercise for 24 hours, and a booked no-charge review at 14 days.

Therapeutic indications may be covered by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cosmetic anti-wrinkle treatment is self-funded. Therapeutic uses (chronic migraine, axillary hyperhidrosis, bruxism) are often covered when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Common questions about anti-wrinkle injections.

Quick answers on regulation, cost, pain, brand choice and the two-week review.

  • Who is legally allowed to inject Botox in the UK?

    Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. Only a GMC-registered doctor, GDC-registered dentist or NMC-registered nurse (or pharmacist) prescriber may prescribe it. Illegal "boutique" clinics run by non-prescribing therapists are unsafe and are being actively prosecuted in the UK.

  • How much does anti-wrinkle Botox cost in London?

    A single area is roughly £180 to £280. Two areas combined are £280 to £420, and three areas £350 to £650. Masseter jaw slimming is £250 to £450 per side, and the PREEMPT chronic migraine protocol is £450 to £900.

  • When will I see results, and how long do they last?

    You will notice softening at 3 to 7 days, and the peak effect at around 14 days - which is why the review is booked then. Effect typically lasts 3 to 4 months for facial treatments, up to 6 months for masseter and hyperhidrosis, and 12 weeks per cycle for chronic migraine.

  • Is it painful, and can I go back to work?

    The needles are very fine and most people describe it as a small pinch. No local anaesthetic is usually needed and the whole appointment takes 5 to 10 minutes. You can drive home and return to work the same day; just stay upright for four hours and skip the gym for 24 hours.

  • What are the risks of a droopy eyelid or brow?

    True eyelid ptosis (levator drop) affects 1 to 3% of glabellar treatments and self-resolves in 4 to 6 weeks; apraclonidine eye drops can lift the lid in the meantime. Brow heaviness from over-treated frontalis usually settles within a fortnight. Careful mapping and conservative first-time dosing minimise both.

  • Which brand should I choose - Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture or Nuceiva?

    For most patients the differences between Botox (Allergan), Azzalure (Ipsen), Bocouture (Merz) and Nuceiva (Evolus) are marginal - the prescriber’s technique matters far more than the brand. Bocouture (a "naked" toxin without complexing proteins) is a rational choice if you have shown reduced response to Botox, as antibody-mediated resistance can develop with repeated high-dose treatment.

Related treatments

Looking for something else?