Among the hi-vis uniforms in regional airports there is a different type of FIFO worker, one in hospital scrubs carrying a suitcase full of cosmetic injections.

Ankita Sharma is managing director of Skin Rejuvenate, one of dozens of Perth-based cosmetic clinics that travel across regional Western Australia.

She saw a niche in the market after noticing clients were driving up to 14 hours to the city for treatments, which can typically cost around $600 per session.

“The popularity is actually growing and the stigma around cosmetic treatments is decreasing,” Ms Sharma said.

“We see people from all walks of life, from people who have suffered from illness such as cancer, to domestic violence, to gender reassignment — there’s a lot of other things we do injectables for.”

Clinics in high demand

Fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) cosmetic clinics provide men and women across regional Australia with minor treatments of facial fillers and wrinkle relaxers.

Australian consumers spend an estimated $1 billion annually on cosmetic procedures, with up to $350 million alone spent on Botox treatments, according to the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery.

Port Hedland and Karratha in the iron ore-rich Pilbara, the seaside town of Dunsborough in the south-west and the gold mining hub of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are just some of the WA destinations contributing to the billion-dollar industry.

FIFO clinics will hire out a room in a regional salon, typically one weekend a month, and are often booked out during visits.

Ms Sharma said fillers and wrinkle relaxers are the most popular treatments in regional areas, while information nights featuring live demonstrations have attracted dozens of curious locals.

Clinics also offer injections for medical issues, including jaw fillers that aim to stop chronic teeth grinding.

“We are not just there to do our job or do a treatment — it’s also informing patients about the risks, the treatments and what it entails because it’s really important for these treatments to be done by a proper practitioner,” Ms Sharma said.

Ms Sharma’s clinic only uses experienced doctors and nurses and she warns about the risks of using inexperienced staff.

Convenience key for cosmetic clients

Hairdresser Amanda Benge has had multiple cosmetic injections in Karratha and said FIFO clinics make it affordable for people living outside the city.

She said moving to regional areas should not mean sacrificing the quality of cosmetic treatments.

“I’ve had lip injections and Botox in my forehead,” Ms Benge said.

“I really like the convenience of not having to drive or fly to Perth.

“I know a lot of people who do go down to Perth [for treatments] and it typically costs about $1,000 just for flights.

“A lot of people feel if you move up north or into the Pilbara you can’t get these things done and can’t look after yourself as much.

“But I think if we get more people involved, then it’s going to be a big business up here.”

Ms Benge said her experience using cosmetic treatment like botox and lip fillers has been positive, but she urged other people to do their own research.

“I felt really comfortable with my doctor because he turned down a lot of things that I wanted, so he wasn’t money-hungry,” she said.

“It’s not scary at all and it doesn’t last forever, if you don’t like it.

“I think that settles a lot of people’s nerves.”

Brains over beauty: health risks are real

Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery president, Dr Irene Kushelew, said only a nurse or medical practitioner can legally administer cosmetic treatments and clients must have an initial consultation with a practitioner before undergoing any procedures.

“There is a major misconception across Australia that botox and dermal fillers are beauty treatments in the same category as facials,” Dr Kushelew said.

“This has been heightened by the number of practitioners offering these services in casual settings, and even at informal ‘botox parties’.

“Cosmetic injectables are medical procedures that carry risks and these need to be weighed up with the perceived physical and psychological benefits.

“You should make sure you go to a clean and fully-sanitised clinic and see an experienced practitioner, who knows what to do if there is a complication, this is particularly important in remote areas.”

The WA Department of Heath said cosmetic clinics who hire rooms in salons must hold a Health Service permit.

The permit requires all locations where treatments take place to meet professional standards for medical procedures.

The department said cosmetic injections and treatments can result in serious unwanted effects, including blood clots, skin necrosis (premature skin death) and blindness, although it said they are rare.

Other serious adverse effects include severe infections, allergic reactions, severe bruising, disfigurement, scarring and muscle weakness.

An investigation by the ABC’s Four Corners last year revealed Australian doctors had treated their first patient who had gone permanently blind from having dermal filler injected into her face.

The investigation found 98 documented cases of blindness caused by fillers.

The Australasian Foundation for Plastic Surgery says no one knows how many cosmetic procedures are being performed in Australia or New Zealand, as statistics are not being collected.

This is because cosmetic surgery can be elective and a range of different practitioners perform procedures, from specialist plastic surgeons to dermatologists.

Business reputation on the line

Joanne Slattery owns the Kalgoorlie-Boulder hair and beauty salon which hosts FIFO practitioners from Ms Sharma’s business.

She said she had her own reservations about the industry, but researched extensively before contacting cosmetic clinics about a partnership and only uses fully trained and qualified doctors and nurses.

“For me as a business owner it’s our reputation that’s attached to it, so I wanted to make sure that the product and the service was going to really match and make clients happy,” she said.

Ms Slattery said she had personally used Botox to deal with teeth grinding, which she said had “changed her life”.

She said many clients felt more comfortable seeing a visiting cosmetic clinic instead of a dentist for wrinkle relaxers and lip fillers.

“The procedure is to assist with teeth clenching and grinding and the cosmetic benefit is that it slims the jaw line,” Ms Slattery said.

“For me I clenched my teeth not just at night, but throughout the day.

“It’s made such a difference to my sleep and face and headaches.”