Botox Concentrations

The short answer is YES the concentration will vary from doctor to doctor depending on how much saline is added.  Botox is shipped in a vial with 100 units and it must be reconstituted with saline.  Allergan recommends using 2.5 cc saline to reconstitute the Botox.  This is the concentration that I use in most cases.

The most important number is units of Botox which should not vary even with different concentrations.  So if you use 40 units of botox in your forehead - this will not change no matter how much saline the doctor adds.  The other important factor for Botox is how long after it was reconstituted has it be sitting on the shelf? I always mix and use the botox right away because the potency will diminish over time.

This is a very common question about Botox.

Botox does come in a powder form. In order to inject Botox you must first reconstitute it into a liquid form. A sterile isotonic saline solution is used. This is where patients may become confused because it is within the proper guidelines to reconstitute the Botox with different volumes. It is best to have your treatment done by an experienced well-trained provider who uses a consistent reconstitution. In my office we adhere to the guidelines of the Consensus Recommendations published by the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society for Plastic Surgeons. The consensus panel agrees, “that a range of dilutions and injection volumes is acceptable and depends primarily on the preference of the practitioner. In general, dilution should minimize the likelihood of affecting neighboring muscle groups. Anecdotal and published reports also suggest that volume may influence duration, the greater the volume, the shorter the duration of effect.”

In my office, we have set a standardized policy for reconstitution. Every injector uses that same standard to insure quality and consistency in outcomes. This is a key factor in choosing who does your Botox treatment. Using a standard insures outcome-based quality. We use a standard dilution of 50 units per 1cc, which will fill the Botox 1 cc syringe. We quote our patients‘ treatments in units; never in cc or volume. Therefore, you know exactly the cost of your treatment based on the units you have received.. You can obtain a list of board certified plastic surgeons by visiting www.surgery.org. This is the website for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a member group of board certified plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery.

The most important decision you make about any medical aesthetic treatment is the choice of your physician.

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