I charge by the number of units used because I have found that this makes the most sense to my patients. I dilute the Botox with 4cc of sterile saline solution so that each 0.1cc is equal to 2.5 units. I use 1 cc syringes so that the syringe will hold 25 units. The reason for charging by the unit rather than charging by the area is simple: Each patient is treated differently according to their needs and each area will require different amounts of Botox to achieve results. For instance, crows feet will usually require 15 units while the "11s" will require 25 units depending on the muscle activity. If I charged by the area the patient would pay more than the unit charge.
I prefer to charge by the unit just like you pay for gasoline by the number of gallons used and not by the tank. I believe that my patients are best served if I under correct the area and have them return in two weeks to "tweak" the area with a little more Botox if necessary. My prices vary from $13 per unit during my specials to $20 per unit at other times. Results with Botox are dose dependent but are also technique dependent. If your surgeon knows exactly where the muscles are that require relaxation, less Botox will be necessary.
