The multiple introduced its ‘skin renew service’ – which includes Botox and dermal fillers – to its branch on The Strand, London, yesterday (August 16), with the view to extend it to further branches across the UK depending on consumer feedback.

The treatment – priced from £99 – will be administered by a nurse following a consultation, which will assess whether treatment is appropriate based on a patient’s answers to a questionnaire, Superdrug said.

Superdrug’s health and wellbeing ambassador Pixie McKenna said: “The popularity of anti-wrinkle treatments has increased dramatically in recent years.”

Ms Mckenna claimed to have heard “many horror stories” in this area, with patients undertaking treatment without understanding the competency of the practitioner carrying out the procedure. 

“This is why I supports Superdrug’s move in ensuring their high street service is delivering the high-end service the patient deserves,” she added.

Superdrug told C+D this week that its service “is following all best practice procedures. We fully follow regulatory standards and only use one vial [of Botox] per patient.”

The multiple will use treatments supplied by Allergan, including anti-wrinkle injections and Juvéderm’s Vycross and Ultra dermal fillers, it added.

Contractors: Price “undervalues” service

Two contractors – who both provide aesthetic treatments in their pharmacies – questioned the cost of Superdrug’s service.

Amish Patel, director of Hodgson Pharmacy in Kent, told C+D this week he is concerned the £99 price tag “undervalues” the service.

“This is a medical service and so needs to be treated as such. It is not a beauty product,” Mr Patel said.

The smallest vial of Botox costs Mr Patel’s pharmacy £86, on top of which there are the costs of saline solution, syringes, needles, insurance, disposal and antiseptics, he explained.

Sunil Kochhar, director of Regent Pharmacy in Kent, told C+D the price “seems questionable”, because “we can’t even buy [Botox] in for that price”.

Mr Kochhar said he charges between £200 and £275 for treatment, while most pharmacies charge “generally around the £200 to £250 mark”.

“Being Superdrug, I’m sure the procurement is high and they’re able to buy it [at a] much lower [price] than we can”, which would give the multiple a “competitive edge”, he added.

In response, Superdrug told C+D it does “not discuss commercial arrangements”.