Am I paying too much for a series of 46 Botox?

Elllie 

The value of the service is ultimately up to you to decide if you are getting what you pay for.  Certainly there should be absolute transparency about how many units you are being treated with and which of the cosmetic botulinum toxin agents you are being treated with (Dysport or BOTOX).  There are three treatment trends that are quite misleading:  Advertising a small fee by area, but not defining what an area is.  In Los Angeles, there are offices that advertise $99 or $199 BOTOX by area but to do an actual standard forhead and brow treatment, this might represent 10 "areas".  You can do the math.  Another scam is sell BOTOX by the unit.  However, it is impossible for the consumer to know how many units are in fact in the syringe.  It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that saline is cheaper than BOTOX or Dysport.  A vial of BOTOX costs about $550 for 100 units.  So if you are being offered BOTOX for $6 per unit, there is a good chance that you are going to get less that a unit of BOTOX for your $6.  FInally many offices, glide over precisely how much medication by unit you are getting and instead price by "syringe."  Again it is impossible to know what is in that syringe.  

Look for honest offices.  They will tell you how much product you are getting.  Treatments will be every consistent in their effects from treatment to treatment for years.  However, expect pay more for experienced physician injectors.  Provided you like the service, generally the premium these injectors charge is worth it.  This is also about peace of mind.  If you don't agree, I am sure you can find a store front that provides a cheaper service.  Please do not stay with an office you are not happy with.

The price of Botox operation depends on several factors such as the difficulty of your case and your request for your operation area.
In my practice, prices for Botox operation reaches from 325 Euro up to 350 Euro range. If you want to learn more you can visit my profile.

Generally, clinics provide a per unit price, and you simply multiply that amount with the number of units administered during treatment. The exact dosing for you can be determined in consultation with your cosmetic physician with an in-person evaluation, as this will allow for a better assessment of your concern. In Toronto, Ontario, the price ranges from $10-$15 per unit.In some cases, it can be difficult to say exactly how many units will be administered prior to treatment. Sometimes, more or less may be required to achieve the desired results. However, I think your injector should be clearer about pricing if you ask them straight.

Some doctors charge per zone but as many patients require different units injected into the same zone depending on their muscle mass, other doctors have charged per unit.  The patient cost of Botox varies considerably from State to State and City to City.  There are doctors that are more expert than others in injecting Botox. It is not a black and white science.  The physician must know the anatomy and also evaluate your unique anatomy to determine what are the correct insertion sites to inject and how many units of Botox to inject. Leaving you with less wrinkles but a natural appearance and with little risk of a asymmetric eyebrows or a drooping eyelid comes with experience and talent. If the receipt is indicating you had 46 units, then the fee is in line with the upper range of normal and you are not being ripped off.
 

Hi Ellie.  It would help a bit if we knew which areas you had injected and certainly more so if we knew how many units.  If we make the assumption that you are paying $915 for 46 units (series of 46) of Botox, then you are probably paying too much.  

Where we are in Los Angeles, Botox can vary between about $8 per unit and $20 per unit.  The ones at the low side are most likely importing illegaly (which has it's own dangers and ethical challenges) and the ones at the high side are likely the most exclusive practices with hard to get appointments.

For the rest of us, we are somewhere in between and $10 - $15 per unti is a reasonable range for most practices.

Botox costs range anywhere from 9 dollars to 20 dollars a unit. While you may be paying on the higher side, it can depend upon your market and the skill of your physician. If you are happy with the results and they are lasting you a sufficient duration, then the higher costs are probably justified. Some areas like New York City and Beverly Hills, for example, may routinely get those higher costs per unit.

Botox prices like other cosmetic surgery services vary widely across the country and even in the same city.  If you have a concern that you are not getting good value, consult with 2 other physicians prior to your next treatment.  Choose the current or one of the others that best meet your needs.

My fee is at the high end of Botox but the amount which I inject to produce the desired result is lower than average. I am judicious in use of the product and do not over inject. It is important to ascertain that your physician is not using gray market or imported Botox of questionable origin. We receive advertisements for off shore Botox almost daily and they go straight into the circular file. Also significant is whether your injector is a board certified plastic surgeon or a nurse. In my practice, patients pay for my expertise. Many local newspapers advertise for Botox by the area. I find this to be a come on. No two individuals require the same treatment and the ads do not clarify what is meant by an area. The key thing is to have confidence in your doctor's technique and in his integrity in disclosure and pricing. Ask about the price and number of units and, if a clear response isn't forthcoming, seek another opinion. Counterfeit product is definitely in circulation as some Floridians learned at great danger last year.

Ellie, You need to be more in charge of your care and you need a doctor that will be you partner not your boss. I think that every patient should know what I charge per unit botox  and be able to tell me what they can and are willing to spend. I will then tell them if that might or might not be what I feel is going to give them the best result.  The patient can then discuss their wishes and will be prepared for what it will cost  Sometimes I do not know exactly how much of a product I will use until I start working with it but more often than not I can give a very close estimate or exact cost. I do not think that you should shop for price as there are a lot of poor performers out there trying to give you a bargain and you might just get what you pay for plus a lot of misery.  All that being said, I think that that price  was a bit high  for 46 units of botox.

Botox Cosmetic is administered by the unit. Many plastic surgeons and dermatologists price and inject based on a unit price. Some cosmetic practices price Botox Cosmetic based on the region being treated instead of the exact unit amount, for example frown lines, forehead, or Crow’s feet. Some Botox specialists may give touch-ups, as needed, after 1-2 weeks without additional charge.

National cost varies and may range from approximately $9 to $20 per unit, which means a typical (full) treatment is 50 units or $450 to $1000. Many cosmetic physicians offer special pricing, if combined with other plastic surgery treatments.

The cost of plastic surgery varies greatly, but it's usually similar for plastic surgeons in your area. Portions of plastic surgery may also be covered by your insurance provider. The cost of cosmetic surgery involves several charges for the entire service. The total fees may also include cost of surgical supplies, laboratory tests, anesthesia, and hospital operating room charges, in addition to the surgeon's fee for performing the cosmetic surgery.

Plastic surgery cost depends on several factors, but largely dependent on the following:


Region - Beverly Hills more expensive than rural Midwest

Complexity - Full or more extensive procedures more expensive than minor, quick procedures

Revision surgery - Revision plastic surgery is generally more expensive than primary surgery

Surgeon - Some plastic surgeons charge significantly more or less than their peers