What does anti-ageing treatment cost in India?

Key takeaways

• Prices vary because the inputs vary: product, amount, area, sessions and who is treating you.
• Injectables wear off. Anti-wrinkle injections are usually repeated every few months if you want to keep the effect, so think in yearly cost.
• A cheap per-unit price means little if the product, dose or injector is not what you expected.
• The NHS advises including aftercare and future treatments when you think about cost, and never paying before a consultation.
• A written quote with the product name, amount and number of sessions is the fairest way to compare.

Why don't I just give a price list?

People ask me, "Doctor, just tell me the rate for injections." I understand. But I don't quote a price before I see your face, and here is why.

See, what happens is, two people asking for "forehead injections" may need very different doses. Two people asking for "cheek filler" may need very different amounts, or one of them may not need filler at all. A price list encourages you to buy a treatment before we know whether it is the right one. That is backwards.

So I won't quote market prices here either. Prices change, vary by city and clinic, and I can't verify a fair "average" for you. What I can do is explain what drives the cost, so you can compare quotes properly.

What actually drives the cost?

That is very important to understand. When a quote looks unusually cheap, one or more of these is usually different from what you assumed.

How do I compare quotes fairly?

Ask each clinic the same questions: - Which product, exactly? The NHS advises asking for the product name and where it came from. - How much? Units for anti-wrinkle injections, millilitres for fillers, number of sessions for devices. - Who will treat me? Their qualifications and training. - Is a review included? And what happens if a top-up is needed. - What if something goes wrong? Who looks after you, and is that included. - What is the total? The NHS lists the total cost, including further treatment, among the questions to ask.

If two quotes name the same product and amount, then you are comparing like with like.

Why think about the yearly cost, not one session?

Basically, most non-surgical anti-ageing results are temporary. - Anti-wrinkle injections: DermNet explains the nerve-muscle connection recovers after about three months, so the effect wears off and people who like it repeat it a few times a year. - Fillers: the FDA says duration depends on the product, area and amount, and that many fillers are absorbed over time, so repeat treatments may be needed. - Devices and lasers: often a course, then occasional maintenance.

So a treatment that looks affordable once may add up over a year. When I write a plan, I include the expected maintenance, so you can see the cost over a year, not just today. My article on the maintenance calendar shows a typical rhythm.

Where can I save money sensibly?

• Sunscreen and a retinoid. The cheapest anti-ageing steps with the best evidence. Nothing in a clinic matches their value per rupee.
• Fewer treatments, better chosen. One well-placed treatment often does more than three random ones.
• Don't buy big packages before you know how your skin responds.
• Skip treatments with weak evidence, such as glutathione drips. See IV drips and glutathione.
• Wait if you don't need it yet. I'd rather tell you to wait than sell you something early.

Where should I not cut corners?

• The product. Doubtful or unapproved fillers and toxins are a real safety risk. The FDA warns never to buy fillers online.
• The injector. The most serious filler risk, injection into a blood vessel, is uncommon but can cause tissue damage or vision problems. Training and the ability to manage a complication matter.
• The setting. The NHS warns against treatments at parties, at home, in hotels, or bought on voucher sites.
• The consultation. The NHS advises never paying for a procedure until you have had a consultation to check it's right for you.

How I approach cost at Dr Tvacha

The face assessment under the Long Game Anti-ageing Plan costs Rs 499. After it, your plan is quoted in writing. Injectables are priced per treatment, with the product and dose written down before treatment, so you know exactly what you are paying for. Review dates are fixed on day one, and we plan maintenance from the start. You can read about the Long Game Anti-ageing Plan, what happens at a face assessment, or find our centres in Thane and Mumbai.

Written by

Dr Amit KarkhanisAesthetic Physician · MBBS, Dip. Dermatology (UK) · Reg. No. 2001/02/1124

Founder of Dr Tvacha, practising in Thane since 2005. Leads the weight loss and hair programmes.