Botox for men, done so nobody can tell
The most common thing men say at a first appointment is some version of this: I don't want to look like I've had something done. I just want to stop looking permanently annoyed.
That's a reasonable brief, and it's the one this clinic is built around. Dr Nadja Haub assesses, doses and injects you herself. Prices are published per unit rather than hidden behind a vague per-area figure. And the brow stays where it is.
Why a man's dose is different, and what that does to the price
Male facial muscles are larger and stronger than female ones. Treat a man's forehead the way you'd treat a woman's and you get too little effect — or worse, the arched, surprised brow everyone is trying to avoid. Dose and placement both change.
These are the clinic's standard ranges. Men typically sit at the upper end of each, or above it — the honest reason male treatment often costs more than a headline "per area" price suggests. One unit of Xeomin® or Botox® is roughly equivalent to 2.5 units of Dysport®, which is why the per-unit prices differ. Your exact dose is confirmed in writing at assessment, before anything is injected.
You'll know the number before the needle
Botulinum toxin is charged per unit here: $15 for Xeomin® and Botox®, $5 for Dysport®. That matters, because a clinic quoting only "per area" isn't telling you how much product you're actually getting — and in men, dose is the whole game.
You leave the assessment with your unit count and total cost written down, whether or not you book treatment. There's no pressure to proceed on the day.
Three men book this for the lines. The fourth books it for his jaw.
Botulinum toxin isn't only a wrinkle treatment. Two of the most common reasons men book at Satini are functional rather than cosmetic — and men often find those far easier to walk in and ask about.
Frown lines & forehead
The "you look angry" problem. Softens the vertical 11s and horizontal forehead lines while keeping brow position and normal expression.
20 MIN · NO DOWNTIME
FROM $439
Crow's feet
Fine lines fanning from the outer eye. Common in men who've worked outdoors or spent years squinting into Canterbury sun.
12–24 UNITS TYPICAL
PRICED PER UNIT
Jaw clenching & grinding
Placed in the masseter to reduce clenching and teeth grinding. Frequently as much a functional complaint as a cosmetic one, and it can soften a very heavy jaw.
ASSESSED FIRST
PRICED PER UNIT
Excessive sweating
Injectable treatment may reduce excessive sweating and associated body odour in selected areas such as the underarms. Often the first appointment a man books, because it doesn't feel cosmetic.
30 MIN · NO DOWNTIME
LASTS 6–9 MONTHS
Brow position
A subtle lift where the brow has dropped and started to shadow the eye. Restrained in men — the aim is an open eye, not an arch.
ASSESSED WITH FOREHEAD
PRICED PER UNIT
Migraine
If migraines are affecting your work or family life, botulinum toxin is one option worth discussing with a doctor. Assessment first, and it isn't right for everyone.
DISCUSSED AT CONSULT
NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL
"Will anyone be able to tell?"
This is the single most common reason men don't book, so here's the straight answer: the goal is that they can't. Done conservatively, the usual response is that you look well rested rather than treated — and most men tell nobody at all.
What makes treatment obvious in a man is almost always a brow that's been lifted and arched, or a forehead frozen flat while everything around it still moves. Both are dosing and placement errors. In men the brow is kept low, the forehead is treated with restraint, and some movement is deliberately left in.
If what you actually want is a visibly changed face, Dr Haub will tell you honestly at the assessment that this isn't the clinic for it.
Twenty minutes, and you can drive back to work
Assessment
Medical history, then an assessment of your facial anatomy, muscle movement and skin. The dose comes from what your muscles actually do, not from a chart.
Your exact cost
Units and total price, confirmed in writing before anything is injected. No pressure to proceed on the day.
Treatment
A very fine needle, a few minutes. Most men describe a sharp scratch. Small marks settle within an hour or two.
Review at two weeks
Included. This is when the full effect has arrived, so it's the right moment to check the result and adjust if needed.
What men ask before a first appointment
Will people be able to tell?
That's the goal — that they can't. The brow stays low and flat rather than lifted, because a raised arched brow is what makes treatment obvious in a man. The usual response is that you look well rested.
Do men really need more than women?
Usually, yes. Male muscles are larger and stronger, so men typically sit at the upper end of each dose range or above it. It's also why a "per area" price quoted without a unit count can't be compared between clinics — you don't know what dose you're being given.
Does it hurt?
A very fine needle and a few minutes. Most men describe it as a sharp scratch. No anaesthetic is needed.
Can I train or drink afterwards?
Leave the gym for 24 hours, and avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area that day. Alcohol thins the blood slightly and can make small bruises more likely, so it's worth skipping on the day.
What if I don't like it?
Bring it to the two-week review. Botulinum toxin wears off, which is a genuine advantage for a first treatment — nothing is permanent. Dose can be adjusted next time, and if a small area needs softening at review, that's what the appointment is for.
Does it get worse if I stop?
No. If you stop, muscle movement returns and lines gradually go back to where they would have been. Treatment doesn't leave your face worse than it started.
Who performs the treatment?
Dr Nadja Haub, throughout — the same doctor who assesses you and prescribes. There's no separate injector and no off-site prescriber. She also teaches injectable technique to other doctors and nurses around New Zealand.
Can I come outside work hours?
Yes. The clinic runs to 8pm Wednesdays and 9pm Thursdays, and Saturday mornings to 1pm. Appointments are spaced so you won't cross paths with anyone in the waiting area.
Often booked at the same appointment
Dermal filler for men →
Jawline and chin definition. A different tool for a different problem — structure rather than movement. From $750 per ml.
Hair loss treatment →
PRP, prescription options and topical treatment. No membership and no lock-in packages. From $159 a month.
All treatments for men →
The full men's section — what men come in for, what each treatment costs, and how long it takes.
Book an assessment with a doctor
You'll leave with your unit count and exact cost in writing, and no obligation to book treatment on the day.
1/27 Waterman Place, Ferrymead, Christchurch 8023
0800 121 622 · enquiry@satini.co.nz
MON–TUE 8.00–14.30 · WED 8.00–20.00 · THU 8.00–21.00 · FRI 8.00–14.30 · SAT 8.00–13.00
FREE ON-SITE PARKING
PRICING — $439 is a starting price, current at the time of publication. Botulinum toxin is charged per unit, so your total depends on the areas treated and the dose required. Your exact cost is confirmed in writing at assessment before treatment.
Botox® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow's feet around the eyes. Botox® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Botox® is right for you. If you have side effects, see your doctor. You will need to pay for Botox® and clinic fees will apply. For details on precautions and side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Botox® treatment lasts about 4 months and further courses of treatment may be necessary. Should only be administered by trained medical professionals. (Contains botulinum toxin A 50, 100 and 200 units.) Allergan (NZ) Limited, Auckland.
Dysport® and Xeomin® are prescription medicines. They have risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if this treatment is right for you. If you have side effects, see your doctor. You will need to pay for treatment and clinic fees will apply. For details on precautions and side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information at www.medsafe.govt.nz.
Satini Cosmetic Clinic · 1/27 Waterman Place, Ferrymead, Christchurch 8023 · 0800 121 622