Dr Sanja Cook is our newest injectables expert at our Takapuna clinic. Read all about her experience in medicine, what advanced treatment she loves for an instant result, and what keeps her busy in her downtime.

Where did you grow up, and what made you want to go into medicine?  

I was born in Macedonia, which is a small country in Europe. I moved here with my family in 1997 and then from the age of eleven onwards grew up on the North Shore of Auckland.   

Going into medicine was a bit of a random choice. I wish I had some inspirational story for you! But my parents are both doctors and they told me not to, so I did! I am very glad I did though, because I’ve had such incredible variety and personal growth through my career, with the opportunity to travel and see the world.     

When and where did you decide to move into cosmetic medicine?  

I’ve been so fascinated by cosmetic medicine for a long time. I finally decided to sign up for a training program in London in 2019. My husband encouraged me to give it a go, after I’d been talking about if for years. So I completed my training and opened up a clinic in Mayfair, whilst also working as an emergency doctor in the NHS.   

Tell us a bit about your experiences doing injectables in the UK: 

Injecting in London is a bit different than injecting in NZ, as I find that the clientele there are far less conservative with their aesthetic choices. I did find myself having to turn people down on really extreme looks! I am a natural look enthusiast when it comes to cosmetic medicine. If it looks like you’ve had something done – you’ve gone too far!  

What do you enjoy about doing injectables?  

I enjoy the instant gratification! I am a Millennial at heart. I enjoy the procedural aspect of it and love it when clients are happy with their results, it warms my heart. 

Also after working in the Emergency Department for eight years, where every patient you see is probably having the worst day of their lives, it’s nice to have a job where people are happy to come and see you.  

You gained a lot of experience using dermal filler to enhance the nose – can you tell us a bit about how this works ?   

With a non-surgical rhinoplasty we can inject dermal filler at four different points in the nose to correct a hump, to raise the tip or give the nose a straighter profile. It can work really well in some, but it’s not for everyone, so I am fairly selective on who I do the procedure on. I’ve certainly had some great results in the past. Once injected the results can last 9-18 months depending on the person.   

What do you like about performing this treatment?  

I love how you get an instant result, and it can be quite significant in certain cases. All it takes is 15-20 minutes!   

What are some of your other favourite injectable treatments to do?  

I love dermal fillers for lips, tear troughs and cheeks. You can have some really nice results with these treatments and clients love them too. I’ve recently been getting to really enjoy jaw fillers too.   

What led you to join The Face Place and what are you looking forward to about working here?  

I was just so inspired by Dr Cat and her team. She is an amazing injector and a great person to learn from. I also love the Face Place approach to the consultation; you can really take your time with clients, which not only leads to better aesthetic results, but better relationships with your clients. To add, all the nurse injectors at the face place kept telling me how amazing it is to work there so I had to join!  

What are some of your favourite things to do in your downtime?  

I have a furbaby called Forest. My husband and I adopted him as a puppy from a shelter up north about a year ago. He is a mix of Greyhound, American Pit Bull, Border Collie and Jack Russell. He is the cuddliest and most loving dog and we love him so much.   

In my spare time I am learning how to play tennis and improving my spoken French with an online tutor once a week.   

I have an advanced scuba diving license, play the guitar and have completed the WSET course in wine tasting. (I love a good Chardonnay) 

In addition I love, love, love travelling and am so happy NZ has opened up to the world, I am already planning my next trip! 

Dr Sanja is available on Fridays at our Takapuna clinic. Click here to make an appointment or phone us on (09) 358 5860.