How Do You Measure the Unit of Botox? Can It Be Diluted So Derma Can Charge More?

All Botox and Dysport must be reconstituted by adding sterlie liquid with the powder. To compare different treatments you need to know how many units were used, not the number of ccs of fluid.  The doctors may charge per cosmetic area treated or the number of units used.  Dysport uses a different number of units than Botox so you can't compare them easily, especially since different doctors use different dilution formulas (as an example some use 2, others 2.5 and other 3 times the number of Dysport units to one unit of Botox). Most Botox and Dysport only last up to four, maybe very slightly more, than four months.  Some patients have been able to retrain themselves not to frown when the botox wears off so they don't see the wrinkles until more months go by but the muscle when examined is able to move so we know the Botox wore off.

Units of the various neurotoxins are not the same.  You should be treated by a physician that you trust who gives you results you like.

Absolutely! 

Whenever I'm told by a patient "Botox does not work on me..." I suspect this is what happened.

There are MANY ways an unsuspecting patient can be short-changed and over charged for Botox
- the Botox is outdated and no longer active or as active
- the Botox is NOT Botox (it came to the country from either Canada or other unknown sources (Federal crime) and you are being injected with an unknown
- while you are TOLD you are getting X number of active units, you may be getting less. (By over diluting the original 100Unit vial, an injector can discount her charges but make a lot more money - similar to serving dilute drinks in a bar)
- your injector is not as experienced as they say and your results will be mediocre or poor.

OR a combination of ALL of the above.

Read the link below and you will know everything you need to know about Botox treatment.

Peter A Aldea, MD