Our Story
2000
A FORK IN THE ROAD
Dr Cat leaves a promising career, training towards plastic and reconstruction surgery
- Our story starts back in 2000 with Dr Cat: a curious young doctor who was training toward becoming a surgeon in plastic and reconstruction surgery. She remembers being horrified when asked by a friend at a dinner party to “do his BotoxⓇ for him”. She had used BotoxⓇ to help children with cerebral palsy walk but had never thought to put it into someone’s face.
- Dr Cat dives headfirst into extensive overseas research and secures an opportunity to get trained by the pioneers of cosmetic BotoxⓇ, the Carruthers.
2001
ONE-WOMAN BAND
Dr Cat makes a decision that will help pioneer an industry
- In 2001, she goes all in and sells her beloved Jeep Cherokee for $13,500 and sets up a clinic, becoming the first in Australasia to specialise exclusively in BotoxⓇ. She runs everything; the marketing, the booking, the accounting and the injecting. In 2002 Dr Cat is hand picked to be a part of the official launch of BotoxⓇ into the NZ market.
2004
EXPANSION AND TABOOS
Despite the taboo around BotoxⓇ, Dr Cat makes the brave call to expand, creating NZ’s first medical spa, ‘The Face Place’
- We become New Zealand’s first medical spa, gathering a team of NZ’s top non-surgical Cosmedicine experts (doctors, nurses and skin therapists). We stand out because we care deeply about breaking industry stigmas to help people experience meaningful moments.
2005 - 2009
GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Dr Cat is selected as a key opinion leader in the hit series ’10 Years Younger’
- The series is a springboard to a myriad of opportunity and success. The show helping show that these treatments are actually about the huge internal impact and that they’re accessible to all – not just the rich and famous. People begin traveling from around the world to be treated at The Face Place (no, really!)
- Pictured above is Treena, our longest standing team member who has been with us for 19 years.
2007 - 2006
RISE, THEN PIVOT
The growing team of 10 open a custom-built clinic in Albany. Both clinics are thriving and the success of the business looks promising
- Sadly, during the GFC, Dr Cat makes one of the hardest decisions in her time in business. The beautifully-made Albany clinic closes its doors after 5 brilliant years.
2013
LONDON CLINIC
An invitation to the world-renowned Phi Clinic
- In 2013 Dr Cat starts traveling to London regularly to work at the world-renowned Phi Clinic in Harley Street, working alongside some of the world’s top injectors. She shares her knowledge with everyone and sets the bar high, not only for TFP, but the industry as a whole.
2013
FLAGSHIP BRITOMART
The Face Place is invited to occupy space in the hub of Britomart
- Once again, a custom built clinic is created and we begin to experience exponential success. People travel from all over the world to visit the Britomart Clinic, and the injectable and skin team grow to occupy all 6 rooms. The ‘TFP family’ now comprises of 20 incredible humans all at the top of their game.
2014
LEARN, GROW, INVEST
In a nutshell: Cosmedicine with integrity
- We invest heavily in our team, sending them to the top conferences all across Australasia. Our team develop their own bespoke style and are coined ‘artists in natural Cosmedicine’ because of their fine skill to co-create – with our clients – a holistic, unique treatment plan that honours who they really are.
- We also take a unique stance in the industry where we reject sales targets and commissions, and instead build a team who feel comfortable to say “No” if it’s not going to give a natural-looking outcome that’s alive with expression and facial harmony.
2018
TRAILBLAZING IN TAKA
We grow to a team of 27 and open a second, world-class facility on Auckland’s North Shore
- This purpose built clinic takes off and becomes home to our training workshops and academy. Our team work across both Takapuna and Britomart, delivering the ultimate experience in non-surgical cosmedicine.
2010 - present
PROUD AS PUNCH
The Face Place and our team members are recognised as leaders in their field and are awarded year after year
- MFMB Best Aesthetic Practice NZ
- MFMB Ruby Hall of Fame Winners
- AST Best Medical Skin Clinic
- FQ Best in Beauty Awards: Dr Cat for extraordinary contribution to the beauty industry
- NZ Business Awards Best BotoxⓇ Clinic
- Verve Best In Beauty Salon Treatments
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist 2009
- Westpac Women of Influence finalist 2016
2023
A DREAM TEAM
As we celebrate 20 years of The Face Place, it’s important to acknowledge the driver of our success – our ‘TFP Team’
- Unlike many clinics in the medical/health and beauty space, not a single clinician (that includes our doctors, nurses and medical skin therapists) on our team have financial KPIs or revenue targets, and NONE of them work on commission. We made this decision since day dot as it means we don’t compromise on our service or recommend treatments that we don’t genuinely believe our clients could benefit from. We choose to focus on creating exceptional experiences for all our clients so they are with us for a lifetime.
2024
MOVING INTO BIGGER AND BETTER
After 11 years in Britomart on street front, it was time to move somewhere bigger, quieter and more discrete.
We have created our biggest custom built clinic to date, focused on sustainability and a place of calm. Our new clinic on Auckland’s waterfront in Quay Street opens with 10 rooms to accommodate our growing team of doctors, nurses and skin therapists.
We’re always looking for the best of the best. If you want to be a part of our story please click the link below to visit our Careers page.