Botox and Fillers Waste of Money?

Question

Had botox for my forehead and fillers on my temples and lips ,it's been 4 weeks now the lips fillers wore off, botox on the forehead did nothing , although I had it done before and it worked . This time changed doctors , $1600 were just wasted . Would I get money back? And what should I look for before I pick the doctor next time

Farhan Taghizadeh, MD · Answer

While technique is very important in the application of Botox and Fillers, your experience of the Botox not lasting is not necessarily linked to the practitioner. In fact there are people who either metabolize Botox quickly, or have muscle activity that requires higher dosing schedules. Here are my suggestions:

	 

	1. Ask your practioner if they can try and fix the problem at cost for you. Many practioners will either try to make the correction free of charge, or charge you their base price to get a correction. Here, the practioner tries to up the dosing and see if there is a resistance issue that can be overcome with a higher dosing schedule. Once this is done, make sure you document and communicate how long the product lasted on this new dosing stratedgy.

	 

	2. Prior to any Botox injection, make sure you ask about the product expiration date as well as the day and time the Botox was mixed. These two issues can impact the product effectiveness, and as cautious consumer you should ask these questions if you don't know the practice well.

	 

	3. You may want to try an alternative product like Dysport. Sometimes there is a better response rate between various products and you may get better longevity switching brands.

	 

	4. Finally there is a new technology worth discussing. It is called Thermigen (ThermiRase) and it uses RF energy to ablate the nerve endings. I have read the literature and performed a few procedures and the results are promising, especially in patients who might be Botox resistant. Other technologies in this space include GFX and Myoscience.

	 

	Good luck.

Paul S. Nassif, MD · Answer

In general, filler should last 6-7 months and the Botox will last an average of 3 months. Without seeing you in person before and after the treatment, it is difficult to give you precise advice. It is possible that a very conservative treatment was performed and you could use a touch up. I would recommend visiting the physician who performed your initial treatment and expressing your concerns to him or her, as they would be able to best help meet your needs. In general, when choosing a physician to inject filler and Botox, you should look for experience with Botox and fillers, board certification, and good patient testimonials. Thank you, and I hope this helps.

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Dear Paula123,

	
		You should go back to your injector and take some after photos
	
		After reviewing them, see what your injector says to do
	
		It looks like your expectations were not met and these should be addressed because both the Botox and the filler should be working


	Best regards,

	Nima Shemirani

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

For you to have no response to Botox would be highly unlikely, and properly injected Juvederm can last several months in the lips. You don't mention how many units were injected into your forehead however, and maybe you didn't receive enough for effective results. Return to the provider for further assessment to determine what your options may be - but always research or get a referral from a trusted friend to an established practice with well-trained and experienced injectors on staff.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

I would discuss it with the provider and perhaps return to the first provider with who you had better success. Since you had success with the first provider, you probably should have stayed with that procider as it is not likely that you got a better deal since you spent a lot of money for Botox and a filler. From what you are describing, it should have cost about 600 max for one vial of filler and no more than 500 for the Botox ... and probably should have cost no more than 1100 - 1200 dollars. Bouncing around different providers is usually not to give you much benefit. Once you find a physician who has given you a good outcome, stick to the same one for continued good outcomes.

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Botox and Fillers Waste of Money?

Answers (9)

Answer: Botox and fillers - results didn't last

Answer: Botox and fillers - results didn't last

Answer: Botox metabolism

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Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.