How to Determine the Number of Botox Units I'm Getting?

Question

How do I know how many units of Botox I am actually getting? Is there something I can look at, like maybe the syringe?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You would have to ask your injector how much they are administering to you. Just ask your injector before your treatment.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Ask your doctor. It is information to which you are entitled. The dilution of the Botox, which must occur as the Botox comes in a powder, is different in different offices. The volume in the syringe doesn’t tell you the units unless you know the dilution. Just ask your provider how many units you are receiving.

Amir M. Karam, MD · Answer

You should simply ask your physician this question. The number of units of botox you receive should be disclosed to you the same way the number of milligrams of any other drug that is prescribed to you. Further, this is what you are paying for. So just ask. If this is not disclosed, then I would recommend finding another provider.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a great question as every person who in injects Botox has a different "dilution" rate. Usually, 3-4cc is used to dilute each vial. Ask your injector how many cc's were used to dilute the vial. As each vial has 100 units, divide the number of cc's into 100 to determine how many units are in each cc. Each area of the face is injected with a different amount, so keep track of the total amount injected to calculate how many units you received.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

It really is as simple as asking, as Dr. Neigel said, at least it used to be. Your injector will determine the right dose, and patients quickly learned to compare prices in terms of units a few years ago after Botox Cosmetic was approved. Now we have Dysport, another botulinum product, which has different units. In other words, 20 units of Botox equates to somewhere between 50 and 60 units of Dysport, though the cost to treat the same area is less with Dysport. So now we have to start thinking in terms of cost per area instead of cost per unit again.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

There should be no mystery regarding how many units of BOTOX you are getting. If your doctor won't provide this information or you do not trust that you are getting what you are being told, move on to a new doctor. There are some office that play a big game with how many units of BOTOX they use for the very simple reason that the medication is very expensive. The more saline they inject and the less BOTOX, the more profit. Not that there is anything wrong with profit, it just that you should know what you are paying for. 
So, if the same "amount" of BOTOX seems much more effective in one office than another, that is a pretty good sign that someone is pulling your leg. If a treatment price seem too good to be true and the service only lasts a few weeks, it is not that you are "immune" to BOTOX, it is much more likely that you are getting ripped. So be aware, that super good price for BOTOX by the unit is only good if you actually get the product you paid for.

Maurice M. Khosh, MD · Answer

You should simply ask your doctor. Any physician should feel comfortable to give that basic information to his/her patient. If you don't have confidence that the treating doctor is telling you the truth, then you should find someone whom you trust!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

To determine how many units you are receiving, you should ask the doctor specifically how the solution was diluted. If it was diluted as 2cc's for the bottle and you recieved 1 cc of solution than you received 50 units.

Mary P. Lupo, MD · Answer

First, pick a reputable, board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Then, just ASK! A well trained and reputable doctor will always tell you. You cannot go by "cc's" or "syringes" or "areas". Every doctor has their unique dosaging and dilutions based on their experience, so if you get good results, you know they did the right thing. Remember, the result is based on units of the product, but also the artestry and experience of the injector!

Janet M. Neigel, MD · Answer

The only way to know how many units of Botox you are getting is to ask. Injectors use several different dilutions so the amount in a syringe will vary. Most injectors use a 1cc syringe. If Botox is diluted with 4cc of saline then the syringe would hold 25 units. A 2cc dilution would result in 50 units in the same syringe. The important thing is to get the right amount of units in the right place by an experienced injector.

How to Determine the Number of Botox Units I'm Getting?

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