Friday, July 28th, 2023
by Terri Harper, FNP-C
We receive a lot of calls inquiring about how much a BOTOX® treatment will cost and how long it will last. It’s impossible and irresponsible to answer those questions without seeing the patient first. BOTOX® treatments are a lot like dress shopping with a friend. You shop for dresses that fit. Before you go to the boutique, you don’t know which dress is going to fit your body or your need for the occasion. You need to see the color, feel the fabric, try it on to see if it is the right length, if the sleeves are too long, if it is too tight in the hips. You know the drill. When you finally find it, the perfect dress for you, it may in no way resemble the one your friend selects. The dress that works best for you may cost more! I admit it’s not a perfect analogy but proves the point that BOTOX® treatments must be customized to “fit” the individual, as well. Just like you have to go to the store to shop for a dress, you have to be examined by your injector to know the specifics about your BOTOX® treatment. How much will it cost? How much do you need? How long will it last?
How BOTOX® is Measured
BOTOX® is measured in units instead of milligrams like most medications. There is a recommended dosage, number of units, per area that was determined during clinical studies for FDA approval in 2002. In my 20+ years practicing cosmetic medicine, I have found that FDA-approved dosages work well on about 1/3 of the patients I see. The other 2/3’s need either more or can get by with less. With experience, your injector should be able to decide on a dosage based on the strength of the muscle movement and the depth of the line created upon contraction of the muscle. Therefore, it is impossible to suggest dosing over the phone to new patients. I tell my patient’s a “blind” guess of dosing prior to a face-to-face exam by the injector is like asking an artist how much blue paint he will use on a blank canvas prior to beginning his masterpiece. It is impossible to know. This dosing principle also accounts for the discrepancy in the pricing of your treatment vs your friend’s treatment of the same area, such as forehead lines. I have given as few as 4 units across the forehead for a perfect result and longevity, and I have given as many as 30 units to a different patient in the same area for a perfect result and longevity.
