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Extra Botox Extending Length of Results?

I recently relocated from Scottsdale AZ to Las Vegas and I was disappointed to learn that they regulate the sale and distribution of botox differently. I usually use about 20 units total. From what I've been told (from three drs offices) in Vegas they will not allow you to purchase less than 50 units because you have to purchase the entire vile. When I explained that's much more than I need one place told me that it's ok because using more will make the results last longer. Any truth to this?

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by B in Lv in Las Vegas ,NV

Doctor Answers (17)
Community Comments (2)

Las Vegas Botox dosage requirements

I am a physician in Las Vegas who has injected Botox for over 25 years and I know what you are referring to. It's single use vials, and my office does injections in 25 dose increments. My staff or I would be happy to go over how we comply with the state regulations but still allow you to get proper dosing. Do not allow an office to inject 50 units into a spot you only have 20 units normally. This is not effective, and can cause droopiness of the muscles from overinjection. more

Dose of Botox

Physicians should not inject more units of Botox in an area because a governing body set guidelines on the opening of a vial. It is true that if there is too little a dose of Botox, you may get a good immediate result but it won't last long so increasing the units to what is considered reasonalbe should work better, but injecting much more than that which you need, is unnecessary, a waste and might increase the risk of side effects such as effecting neighboring muscles which could create a... more

"Extra" Botox will NOT extend results; it WILL extend your injector's profits!

You are getting misleading information and non-factual data on "regulation of sales and distribution." Botox is sold in multi-use vials, and sterile technique ensures that each patient receives fresh, sterile, and non-contaminated Botox regardless of the number of units used. This is like saying you can only purchase the Costco or Sam's Club mega-size container of anything they sell. Of course, there are plenty of other grocery stores who will be happy to sell you the size... more

Nevada requirement for purchase of entire Botox vial

This is fascinating. There has been talk in the medIcal community for a few years about potential regulations requiring sale of single dose vials. Restylane and Radiesse are sold in this manner and, after some cases involving transmission of hepatitis, NY considered such a requirement but it was not implemented. I encourage you to contact the state of Nevada to verify the accuracy of the information provided to you before undergoing the procedure.

Does extra Botox extend the length of results?

I tell my patients when talking about Botox that we are trying to get the maximum result with the least amount of Botox. This is to avoid a "plastic" immobile look. If you are happy with the results that you have obtained using 20 units of Botox then do not get any more than this. Extra Botox will not extend the length of results if you have the correct dosage. Furthermore, you may run into difficulties and problems if you use more. It... more

Donald M. Brown, MD

8 reviews

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Patients do NOT need to purchase a botox vial

If you are happy with 20 units of botox, there is no need to purchase a vial of 50. This usually means that the practice you called doesn't do enough botox to "justify" the expense of mixing a vial for one patient (b/c they don't know if they will be able to use the rest and don't want to waste it). I would look for a doctor that will let you get the ammount you want. Also, more botox may cause problems, such as drooping. So be careful!

Do I have to purchase the entire vial of Botox?

Technically, bottles of Botox are single use so they are being technically correct. In point of fact, few physicians use an entire vial on a single patient. However, some states are being very difficult with how they allow physicians to use the vial and Nevada wants people to get a single use vial. With respect to using more units and getting a longer duration, this is partially true but doubling the dose (from 25 units to 50) will not double the duration and runs the risk of increasing... more

Extra Botox Extending Length of Results?

WOW! Keep looking for more understanding doctors in Las Vegas, I'm sure there are some. I always adjust the # of units to the patient.

How many units of Botox do you need?

There are patients that require 50 units of Botox, but that is relatively uncommon. If the amount that you usually get is 20 units and you are happy with those results, that is what you should continue to get. Besides the 50 unit vial, there is also a 100 unit vial that can certainly be used for multiple patients. If the Botox is reconstituted and drawn out of the bottle in the proper sterile manner, the remaining Botox can remain unused for up to 6 weeks without losing its... more

Extra Botox Extending Length of Results?

Keep looking. You should find an experienced MD that can give you 20 units of Botox without you having to purchase the entire vial.

More Botox

First of all a vial normally has 100 units, not 50. Secondly, at some point more Botox will only increase complications and not increase the duration of action which has more to do with how long your body takes to grow new nerve endings to the affected muscles. There is definitely something fishy going on with those offices so call around some more physicians in your area.

Botox dilution and effectiveness

Botox can be safely diluted for up to one month, and most patients do not need a complete vial of Botox (which is usually 100 units, not 50). I would find a board certified physician who will treat you with the appropriate amount.

Getting more Botox than needed

I can't speak with certainty about the rules in Nevada but it sounds awful fishy to me. Its true that undertreating a patient can cause the Botox to wear off sooner but administering more than what is necessary is unlikely to make the Botox last significantly longer.

How much is too much Botox

The average patient in my office is treated with 20 to 30 units of Botox per treatment. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of. Find a physician who treats you with exactly the amount of Botox you need and is not obviously trying to make you spend more money unnecessarily. In this case, more is NOT better.

Botox " Rules"

Botox can be stored in its diluted form for up to one month without any decrease in its efficacy. If your doctor is telling you to use more than necessary, it may be because he or she does not see enough Botox patients to use up the vial in one month. If that is the case, I would find a different doctor as yours does not have enough experience with the material. Do not let anyone talk you into more Botox than you have used in the past and are happy with... more

Extra botox

I have not heard of this. I would be careful, as too much may not be a good thing. If too much is given, you can get an unnatural result, as well as increased risk of complications. keep searching.

Rick Rosen, MD

3 reviews

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

OK-someone is pulling your leg.

There are no states that "regulate" the sale of BOTOX this way. This is some marketing rule in the particular offices you have spoken to. I would recommend that you do more homework on ethical doctors in Las Vegas and find someone will actually sell you what you need. That is how ethical offices work.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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Comments (2)

lvmombo 24 Oct 2012

I love the fact that doctors are actually responding to this so I'm hoping I can have some of them elaborate. Just recently I called my doctor for another botox session and was told that because of the "new ruling" that doctors can only use the 50 unit vials once per patient (due to the law suite recently where a doctor was using the same needle an several patients and giving many hepatitis) So now my doctor is saying she has to charge me $500 because I have to pay for the whole vial because they can't use it on more than one patient. Seems to me that a good respectable caring doctor would be smart enough not to use the same needle and inject it into the vial more than once. I really don't understand this whole ruling or is it my doctor who is just trying to make more money per patient. I only use 15 units and they are expecting me to pay for 50...how insane. What is the correct way to use a 50 unit vial on several patients. I don't want any contaminate but I know there has to be a better solution than buying 35 units of unneeded botox.

Megan P (Community Manager) 24 Oct 2012

I just wanted to let you know that it is unlikely the doctors will see the comments in this section, as it is an area for the community members to discuss the Q&As. You are welcome to submit a separate Q&A for your question though.

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