How Much Does Botox Really Cost?

Introduction

So you’re trying to figure out if botox is worth the money after all the hype you’ve seen online. At first glance it can seem pricey and out of reach for some. But for many individuals who want to improve their appearance, the price is modest in comparison to the confidence boost gained.

In this article, we’ll break down what Cosmetic Botox is and what it’s used for. Then we’ll break down the types of Botox (Botulinum Toxins) and how much they cost for aesthetic treatments. We’ll also look at why cheap botox may not be all it’s cracked up to be and why prices for Botox near you might be different than elsewhere. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to get a sense of whether or not this procedure is the right choice for your aesthetic goals and your wallet.

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What is Botox?

What is Botox used for cosmetically?

Different types of Botox (Botulinum Toxins)

Differences in the types of botox (Botulinum Toxins)

Why is Botox so expensive?

Prices of Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, and Jeuvaeu for each area of the face

How long does botox last?

Why choosing the right medical professional is important

Images of real clients before and after Botox or Xeomin

Botox, as it is commonly known, is actually just one specific brand name for the purified  bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When injected it works to stop the communication between the nerves and muscles. If used in small targeted doses by a trained professional like Ali at EMA, this process prevents the muscles from repeatedly contracting.  Without the muscles being able to repeatedly contract, wrinkles are reduced in these areas. In 2019 more than 7.5 million people utilized botox for a cosmetic procedure. 

Areas that botox is used on:

Crow’s Feet

Glabella Frown Lines

Forehead and Glabella Line

Lip Flip

Bunny Lines

Frown Lines

See more images of real clients below

As previously mentioned, Botox is actually the brand name for a specific type of Botulinum toxin. There are several different producers of slightly different variations of the Botulinum toxin. These variations have been studied and used for various treatment areas. Below are some of the most common commercial preparations of Botulinum Toxin Type A, the type most often used for cosmetic treatments.

• Botox– onabotulinumtoxin A
• Xeomin– incobotulinumtoxin A
• Dysport– abobotulinumtoxin A
• Jeauveau– prabotulinumtoxin A

Botox is cleared by the FDA for use on frown Lines, forehead lines, and Crow’s Feet, while Dysport and Xeomin are only FDA approved for use on Frown Lines. According to the FDA, approval means that “the company must show that the drug is safe and effective for its intended uses. “Safe” does not mean that the drug has no side effects. Instead, it means the FDA has determined the benefits of using the drug for a particular use outweigh the potential risks.” 

Many healthcare professionals will also use botox for “off-label” uses. Off-label uses are procedures where a healthcare professional deems the use of a drug to be the safest and best choice for a specific treatment area outside of what it has been cleared for by the FDA. These procedures include treatments for the jawline and lips. The differences in the types of botox (Botulinum toxins) are minor but let’s go into detail on some of them below:

• Botox- onabotulinumtoxin A

Botox is the original FDA approved Botulinum toxin and is still the most popular. Besides being around the longest it also has the most FDA-approved treatment areas (as we touched on above). It is a great product but tends to be more expensive than it’s counterparts. Botox also contains a protein coating that our bodies are more likely to build antibodies against when compared to its counterpart Xeomin. This protein coating is sometimes falsely called a “protective protein”.  In reality, that is only true of its organic form with food poisoning. When the medication is mixed for injection, most of the toxin and the protein dissociate. When this happens, the protein is simply injected with the medication but not as a part of it. This leads to a higher incidence of antibodies.

• Xeomin- incobotulinumtoxin A 

Xeomin may be the right option for patients that produce antibodies against Botox or simply want a cleaner, more purified product. Due to the fact that it is a “Naked” Botulinum toxin without complexing (foreign) proteins, it does not induce the same antibody production as Botox. The effects of Xeomin generally start to show in a few days, and in many people within 24 hours when getting consistent treatments, and lasts around 3 months, like Botox. 

• Dysport- abobotulinumtoxin A

Dysport, similar to botox, contains the protein coating that may lead to antibody production. Generally, Dysport is the quickest to show results, often beginning to become noticeable in 24 hours and usually lasts 3-months. It is important to note that for every 1 unit of Botox or Xeomin required, 2.5-3 units of Dysport are needed for the same result. Due to the higher dilution of the product, it is more likely to spread to unwanted areas and has a higher risk of side effects.

• Jeuveau- prabotulinumtoxin A 

Jeuveau is one of the newer Botulinum toxins on the market. As a result, it has not had the same usage and research conducted on it that Botox has. It also contains the above-mentioned protein complexes and is similar to Botox. Results show in 24-72 hours and last 3 months according to the pharmaceutical company. However, many clinicians are reporting that their clients are only getting 6-8 weeks of results from this new medication.

Because it is so new, and without adequate research on efficacy and safety, EMA does not offer this product at this time. 

The cost of botox is heavily dependent on many factors. The most major of which is the price of the Botulinum toxin itself and the number of units needed.  After that, the next major cost is the education and experience of the medical professional performing the procedure. An experienced provider (NP, PA, Physician) has spent numerous years in school learning the medical aspects of the procedures and years perfecting the procedures themselves. The final element of the cost is generally the location of the office. In larger cities, Botox tends to be more expensive. Below is a general breakdown of the average botox cost to treat specific areas.

Disclaimer: Prices may vary by location, the prices listed are based on services provided around Denver, Colorado and these are averages only. Some injectors may also price services like Lip Flips, Bunny Lines, and Frown Lines around the mouth differently if not paired with another procedure. In this case you may see these services cost $125+ per area rather than by units alone. 

Botox generally begins to show results in 24-72 hours but may take up to 14 days to fully show results. As detailed above, the type you choose may also have an impact on how quickly it takes effect. According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the results of your Botox procedure will last an average of 3-4 months. In some cases, it can be even longer depending on the type of product used. This means that once you go ahead with the procedure it will require some upkeep to maintain the same appearance. 

Choosing the right medical professional is the most important factor to consider when making the decision to get Botox or another type of Botulinum Toxin. Many people will opt for the cheap botox choice when choosing to undergo the procedure. This often means getting an injector that may not have the experience or capability to give you natural-looking results. In some cases, a provider that pushes for more units may cause the dreaded “frozen face”.  A provider that does not give you enough units may end up with a result that doesn’t accomplish much. 

When considering whether or not to go with the Groupon option consider consulting other professionals to get a sense of what you’d like the experience and results to look like. You truly get what you pay for when it comes to a procedure like this.

Remember that the most expensive Botox is the kind you pay for twice. Especially if you start with an amateur and have to pay an experienced provider to fix it. In some cases, you have to live with a poor result for the full 3-months. 

If you’re in the Denver, Colorado area, Elite Medical & Aesthetic is the best choice for whichever Botox procedure you decide best fits your needs. Ali is a trained Nurse Practitioner (NP) and artist that has numerous years of experience. She has expertly administered botox to hundreds of happy clients that have achieved natural-looking results. EMA offers Botox and Xeomin to treat everything covered in this post. Check our services page to find out more or book an appointment.