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Botox cost: $471

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How much does Botox cost?

I am in my late 20s and looking to get my first Botox injection for frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet.  I don't want to get ripped off, so can someone please tell me - What is the normal cost of Botox?

Bridget

Answers (73)

1
10 days ago

Botox Pricing

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Actually, Botox Cosmetic is affordable. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the cost per treatment in the United States averages between $300.00 and $500.00, with results that last up to 4 months on average.

First, you always need to meet with the Physician or Nurse to determine if botox is the right product for your facial concerns. A lot of patients come in and think they need Botox when they may need an injectable filler or laser resurfacing.

During a free consultation a worksheet is presented to the patient  with a projected number of units that will most likely be used during an injection session. This gives the patient a very good idea of the amount it will cost to complete a session.

2
2 months ago

Botox prices

Francis Palmer, M.D.
Francis Palmer, M.D.
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox pricing can be by area. Between the eyes (Glabella) is considered 1 area, the forehead maybe 2 or 3 areas, and so on. Botox can also be priced by the number of units used.

Botox comes as a freeze dried powder that must have sterile saline added to make a solution for injection. Surgeons and doctors may add different amounts of saline making the solution stronger or weaker.

Let's make it simple: If you have 12-20 units of Botox injected to your Crow's Feet, Glabella or central Forehead the going rate is about $400. A bit less in some areas of the US. You want to avoid leader ads promising $99 Botox or other really low prices as there is counterfeit Botox out there that has caused illness and death. So be sure to go to an experienced MD that only uses certified Botox from Allergan...and no, I have no affiliation with the company.

3
2 months ago

Three areas of BOTOX costs $725.

Eric M. Joseph, MD
Eric M. Joseph, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

 Dear Bridget,

In my NJ office, you pay per area. Our current Summer Promotion has one area: $350, 2 areas: $550. and 3 areas: $725. Each area gets around 25 units, so treating your frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet costs $725 for 75 units.

I check all of my patients 7 to 14 days post-treatment, and if any additional product is needed, the dose adjustment is free.  

I hope this is helpful, and best regards.

4
2 months ago

Botox costs about $10-15 per unit

Doctors may have different ways of charging for Botox injections. 

Usually it's by the unit, in which case it can vary between $10-$15 per unit. 

The other main method is per area, i.e. the frown lines might be $300, forehead $250 etc.  Usually multiple regions done at the same time are discounted.

Overall to know you're getting good value you should ask to be charged per unit and find out what your dose is.  This also tells you what you will need for your next injection.

For the areas you mentioned, the frown lines would typically need 25 units, the forehead about 15 and the crows feet about another 20. 

Overall you are looking at about 60 units so you should be paying about $600 - $900.

5
2 months ago

Cost of Botox

David L. J. Wardle, MD
David L. J. Wardle, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Botox is supplied to physicians as a freeze-dried vial of 100 units of Botulinum toxin which requires reconstitution with Normal Saline solution prior to use.

Each physician determines the exact "dilution" used to reconstitute the vial of Botox.

The recommended "standard" of dilution is approximately 2.5cc Normal Saline per vial of 100 U of Botox which equates to 4 U Botox per 0.1cc.

Physicians will charge in either of 2 ways (Usually) : either "per area" or "per unit" of Botox used.

In Newport Beach, CA you can find a wide range of quoted prices for Botox. In general, between $9-$13 per unit is seen locally. For those that charge per area, expect a graded scale ($400 for one are, $500 for two and $550-600 for all three areas)- (both sides of the crow's feet is considered one area).

Be cautious of those advertising $99 Botox for one or more areas -- they may be overdiluting the Botox.

I recommend researching and finding a well respected BOARD CERTIFIED Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist for your needs.

Jimmy_nv
34 posts
11 Oct 2008

It varies, but, for around the forehead and eye "Crows Feet" area , it averages around $450.00 per session. Usually one session per three months is required.

Katherine Robinson
unregistered guest

23 Nov 2008

A family friend of mine is a family practioner and is now giving patients Botox. I however, will only see a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for this treatment. My current dermatologist charges me the 'family & friends' price @ $10 a unit. It still costs me $650.00 per session which is quite expensive at almost 42 years of age. I am aware that Allergan charges $6.00 per unit for Botox having been in sales for plastic surgery and dermatology for 8 years. Do you have any suggestions for me? My dermatologist got upset upon learning that I knew the actual cost per unit of Botox and suggested I see my family practitioner friend to save money! Of course, I'd never do such a thing and told my dermatologist this. He does such a fantastic job. Any tips on how to save money? I am a regular, long term customer, going to the same physician since he started and to his father before him. Thank you.

JoJo
87 posts
15 Dec 2008

I went to a Medspa and paid $10.00 a unit, had crows feet done and paid total $200. plus tax (NJ), it did the trick,no more crows feet, I would NEVER pay much more than that....can't afford it every 3 months*

mv
1 post
31 Jan 2009

Lucky you are not in San Francisco, it costs me 18 per unit.

Grant
unregistered guest

6 Feb 2009

My understanding is that Botox cost, that is what doctors pay to Allergan, is about $5.60 per unit. Most doctors put a margin on a 2-3x margin to cover overhead, staff, profit, etc. So if you see a doctor offering botox deals like $8 per unit, you're likely going to get a pressure sales to do other things like laser treatments.

lhaney
154 posts
29 Nov 2007

The average cost for Botox in our area of practice is $12.00 per unit. Depending on the area being treated and the amount needed to reach your goals will directly affect the cost. For example, most patients require anywhere from 10 to 20 units of Botox to the forehead (not between the eyebrows). The dose will depend on how much muscle mass you have, thickness of skin, gender, muscle movement, etc. I would recommend balancing concern of cost with safety and effectiveness. Make certain your practitioner is trained and knowledgeable with the newest methods/techniques and is willing to educate you on the treatment. Rather than underdosing an area to fit your budget, it is better to eliminate an area to be treated so that the other areas receive correct dosing for optimal results. There are certainly many highly skilled and competent non-dermatology physicians, Physician Assistants, and Registered Nurses who perform these treatments. When I go to the many workshops and seminars offered, it is mostly non-physicians that are in attendance... I know this because they perform a computerized audience survey each and every time. I have learned many "pearls" from other practitioners and respect the role that we all have in this area of practice.

John Shieh, M.D.
16 posts
23 Jun 2008

As we can all see, the cost of Botox varies considerably, but is usually from about $10-$15 per unit.  The cost is usually calculated by the amount of Botox given.  You should ask your provider how many units you are receiving in each area being treated.  Knowing the number of units gives you an idea about your "dosage", similar to knowing how many milligrams dose of a blood pressure pill is being given.  If your results tend to be relatively weak for what you are looking for, then you may need a higher dose, or vice-versa.  If for some reason you change providers or practices, then you can tell the new doctor how much you have been given in the past and your experience with it. The FDA approved Botox for cosmetic use based upon a dose of 20 units divided into 5 injection points to the "Glabella" area, or the muscles that cause the frown lines between your eyebrows.  Ideally the minimum effective dose should be used.  We have found that a dose of 12 - 15 units works well for most people.  Some practitioners still give 20 or 30 units to the area, so that is a much more aggressive approach. For the forehead, a low dose of around 8-10 units works well if the glabella area is already being treated. This is because some of the Botox injected to the glabella area also diffuses upwards to the forehead, and therefore only a smaller dose is needed on the upper 1/2 of the forehead. On the crowsfeet area, average doses are around 12-18 units, divided into around 3 injection points on each outer eye area, where the crowsfeet are seen.  Sometimes an additional 3 units on each tail of the eyebrow is given, which causes the outer eyebrow area to be lifted. It is important to understand that use of Botox is for stopping an unwanted facial expression, since the Botox actually paralyzes the injected muscle.  If the facial expression happens to be the cause of an unwanted wrinkle, then Botox is a good treatment for it.  If the wrinkle is already ingrained into the skin, and it is visible while the muslces are relaxed, then Botox will not resolve or smooth that wrinkle.  Those are called static wrinkles.  To smooth those static wrinkles, there are a variety of lasers that stimulate collagen, tighten and rejuvenate skin and ultimately reduce or eliminate the wrinkle.  In our practice, we use a Triniti protocol of Fotofacial RF (IPL+RF) skin rejuvenation, Refirme skin tightening, and Matrix fractional for wrinkles. Treatment of wrinkles is another topic, but whenever a client is requesting Botox for wrinkles, we have to make sure that they are not led into a false belief and false sense of security that they are rejuvenating or changing their skin in some way.  Botox to us is like a sunblock.  Sunblock blocks some of the UVA/UVB rays that damage the skin and collagen.  Botox blocks the muscle contractions that cause the skin to be folded and creased, damaging the collagen fibers, and creating an ingrained wrinkle.  Ultimately, a combination of regenerative treatments (laser based) with Botox to help prevent damage to new collagen and skin, has brought the most satisfaction to patients. Finally, laws regarding who can inject Botox varies in each state.  Since the question was posed by a California resident, I can comment on the California guidelines.  The California Medical Board requires that all patients receive a good faith examination by an M.D. before being given Botox by an RN.   RN's can administer Botox, but it must be within an established medical delivery system, which means in a medical practice.  An RN cannot operate independently and administer Botox.  It is also illegal for a nurse to hold "Botox parties" and administer Botox, because the Botox party is not within an established medical system.  On the other hand, a physician can hold the Botox party legally.   Because of the abuses that are prevalent, and because the Medical Board has had difficulty in enforcing its requirements, there are new laws being introduced into the legislature that will reduce the infractions. Of course, the professional opinion on this forum will recommend that you do your due diligence in checking out the legitimacy of the providing facility, and the experience and skill level of the provider.  

Raisa Howard CNP
11 posts
18 Nov 2008

It's best to come in for a consult to see how much you really need.I can't imagine you need more than a minimum based on your age. We offer $1200 a year no limit Botox. This way you know you are not being overcharged.You can come as many time as you want and correct as little or as much as needed for a whole year!

Botox not only seems to vary from state to state and office to office but from provider to provider.  In general, physicians often charge more than an RN or Mid-Level.  A physicians time is often "seen" as more valuable.  In our office we have Botox Tuesdays and charge $10 a unit the rest of the time its $14.  However, having said that, sometimes we will put packages together for our clients that combine Laser, Botox and Filler or surgery and Botox etc. Be sure to check the qualifications of your injector.  It's important that they inject on a regular basis 3-4 times a week, understand the product and what it can do.  Depending on the strength of the muscle pull ususally determines the amount of botox you wil need.  The average amount of units I have provided for clients in your age group is 24-30 units.  If the lines are not "static" meaning they are not deep and don't appear unless you raise your brow or frown then you will likely be treating preventatively meaning "you need less Botox" rather than more. Hope this was helpful.

drhumes
28 posts
18 Oct 2007

Botox is $14 a unit Multiple units used in each treatment and can range anywhere from 20 units to 1000 units I usually recommend treatments 3-4 months apart, or as often as desired

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