Confused About Units of Botox Received Previously Vs. New Recommendation, Am I Missing Something?

asked 7 months ago by Donna in MD in Bethesda MD
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 222 times
Tags: quantity, units

4/11 in Texas I got "10 units Botox in 1 syringe, 7 for forehead/glabella, 3 for frown lines at $25 a unit=$250, dilution ratio 4:1. Saw results I was pleased with (didn't know what to expect for 1st time but definitely improved) for 5 months. 10/2011 MD -recommends 20-25 units for forehead/glabella and 20 (total) for both frown lines so 40-45 total 'units'. Cost around $575. See everywhere that current recommendation is the norm. Confused by what what given in TX. What am I missing?

11 answers to Confused About Units of Botox Received Previously Vs. New Recommendation, Am I Missing Something?

How Many Units of Botox do I Need?

Hi Donna. Your research is pointing you in the right direction. The number of units of Botox is pretty standard at around 20. We find we use less in the forehead, but it depends on the patient. A ballpark of 40 units for glabella and forehead is about right and that is what the second injector is recommending. We are not sure how you would have achieved a 5 month result with only 10 units of Botox and also $25 per unit seems pretty high so that does not make sense... more

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Botox dose in units varies from doctor to doctor

I am surprised to hear you had five months duration of effectiveness from the 10 units total of botox that was used to treat the glabella and forehead when four months is the norm with greater number of units used. I would expect a markedly diminished result and a less than average duration from that treatment. Something just doesn't make sense and I certainly can't comment on what was done in the past in another practice. The current treatment seems more typical but those... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

What the cost does not tell you about your Botox injector.

All physicians pay the same price to purchase Botox from Allergan. Therefore, the price a physician charges to inject Botox has more to do with how much profit the doctor wants to earn than how much talent and/or skill they have. I am a highly experienced platinum level Botox injector as well as the highest level Radiesse injector and am a member of the medical education faculty (physician trainer) for Radiesse, yet I charge less for Botox than a new, inexperienced physician in my area. That... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

Botox units & pricing

The proof is in the pudding: if u got results & are happy with them, u have received the corect amount. Usually the total dose for the "11 ' frown lines is 12-25 units, depending on the particular patient. However , I do have a couple of patients that receive only 6 units total. Any higher doses, for them, lead to abnormal looks! In ur case, maybe u misunderstood the number of units used. Bottom line: you are happy with the results,[ & the total price is very reasonable]. more

Khaled El-Hoshy, MD
Detroit Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elhoshy.com

What amout of Botox is needed for forehead and glabella

The amount of Botox needed for forehead, glabella or any other area primarily depends on what amount of muscle mass is being treated. If your corrugators (muscles that pull the eyebrows together to make a frown or the famous "11's") are very strong or over-developed, you may need more units. I agree that $25 per unit is extraordinarily high. The cost on the East Coast is usually around $14-15 per unit. I normally start with 5 units into the procerus (on... more

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox dosing needs to be individualized

There must be some miscommunication as the dose you reported having received the first time is far too low to have done very much. The range of 20-25 units for the glabella and 20 for the crow's feet (10 on each side) is typical. The dilution ratio would not affect this, only the total dose in units.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Confused About Units of Botox Received Previously Vs. New Recommendation, Am I Missing Something?

Botox and the amounts of units used can vary significantly with individuals and between MD's performing the Botox injections. IMHO, 10 units doesn't seem like the correct dose for what you describe as being treated (the first time) while the second dose is more likely. Perhaps a miscommunication somewhere.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

What you are missing is that there is no norm.

$25 per unit is top dollar and you should get very good service for this cost. The other injector is charging about $12 per unit. This is a common price point for ho-hum injectors. Top people get top prices. Personally, I think there is a huge difference in how these treatments are performed. FInding that right person in your new market can be a challenge. With BOTOX, more is not necessarily better. You could end up with a densely frozen forehead.... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Botox dose ranging study

The Carruthers (the Docs who brought the cosmetic use of Botox to us) have done several dose ranging studies that were reported at our national dermatology meetings. The average dose for females was 25units in the glabella area.The low dose they used was 20. It may be that there was some misunderstanding of the dose you recieved in Texas. I my many years of injecting Botox I haven't had any patient with define gabellar lines get by with only 10 units.

Ann Lott, MD
Lincoln Dermatologist

Botox dosage

The price of 25 dollars a unit is exorbitant and the number of units used for those areas is extraordinarily low. Average per unit cost is 12-14 dollars. Average number of units for glabella is 20-25. Average for forehead is 12-20. These doses are if areas are done individually. If both forehead and glabella are done together you don't usually need the full dose for both areas. 45 units for the forehead area is a bit high if it is your first time with that dose. I would recommend a... more

Jacqueline Calkin, MD
Sacramento Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox dosages

I think this is a very difficult issue for patients to deal with. Some doctors quote by the area, others by the unit. The unit #s you describe for Texas seem very low for the areas involved. Those from October are at a lower price than anything I'd charge but for a larger # of units. I'd suggest that you go to the physician with whom you are most comfortable for treatment and make sure that he is board certified in dermatology or plastic surgery and that the... more