Pricing Guide: How Much Does Botox Cost?
Each year, 6.2 million Botox procedures are performed for aesthetic purposes, most commonly to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. But Botox isn’t just for wrinkles. It’s also used to treat conditions such as neck spasms or cervical dystonia, excessive sweating (also called hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder, and eye disorders. Botox injections can also help prevent chronic migraines.
For medical treatment, Botox may be covered by your insurance plan. In that case, the price you’ll pay out of pocket depends on your deductible and co-payment.
But for improving your appearance, Botox costs may come out of your pocket. So what can you expect? How much should you save up?
Let’s discuss the costs of Botox treatment.
What is Botox and How Does it Work?
Botox treatment to reduce facial lines and wrinkles is the most common cosmetic procedure performed in the United States. It takes about two weeks to see the full effect of your Botox treatment, and the effects may last as long as four months.
Botox is the brand name for an FDA-approved drug called botulinum toxin manufactured by Allergan. Botulinum toxin is actually a purified pharmaceutical substance derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), which is known to cause particularly bad cases of food poisoning.
C. botulinum was found to cause paralysis of the gastric muscles. Scientists in the United States were the first to isolate the toxin and begin testing it for therapeutic uses. By the 1980s, it was marketed as a treatment for an eye condition called strabismus, which causes problems like crossed eyes.
Injections of botulinum toxin block neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected. Without a signal, the muscle cannot contract.
During testing, scientists noted that besides paralyzing targeted eye muscles, injections of botulinum toxin also reduced wrinkles along the glabella, which is the skin between eyebrows and above the nose. The result was diminished facial wrinkles.
There are seven basic types of botulinum toxin derived from C. botulinum. Type A is the strongest, and the first that was formulated for both cosmetic and therapeutic uses. Botulinum toxin type A may be sold under brand names like Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
Specific Cosmetic Treatments and Botox Cost
Compare.com strives to provide you with the most accurate answers to all your medical cost-related questions. As with all medical prices, Botox costs change frequently. These prices are current as of January 2022.
Botox is measured in units and typically costs around $10 to $25 per unit according to multiple sources. An average dosage of 30-40 Botox units might treat two areas, for example, bringing the total cost of just the Botox to around $300 to $1,000 per treatment, which is usually not covered by medical insurance. Keep in mind that the actual dosages required may vary by case.
Other Factors That Affect Final Botox Cost
There are a number of factors that may influence how much your Botox treatment costs.
In addition to the cost of the Botox, there may be charges associated with the provider’s time. This charge will vary based on their expertise and billable rate. A professional aesthetician located at a MedSpa may charge less than a dermatologist or a neurologist.
Administrative costs, supplies (needles, syringes, gloves, anesthetics), and facility charges will also factor in the total fee. The prices outlined here are for a single procedure. Because you’ll need maintenance treatments, your provider may offer bundled pricing or an incentive program to reduce your costs.
Glabella Wrinkles
Glabellar lines are a pair of deep vertical wrinkles that form between your eyebrows.
According to multiple sources, the amount of Botox needed for this treatment in women is up to 40 units. Depending on the price per unit for your area, the cost for just the Botox would be as much as $400 to $1,000.
For men, the amount of Botox needed in this area increases to between 40 units to 80 units. That means the cost of the injectable would be between $400 and $2,000.
Crow’s Feet Wrinkles
Crow’s feet or smile lines are the spray of wrinkles that form on the outer edges of your eye area. Laughing, smiling, and squinting contribute to their formation.
Since they are dynamic wrinkles, Botox offers an excellent solution if you want to lessen the appearance of crow’s feet. For women, sources indicate that 10 to 12 units per eye is the typical dosage of Botox, or about $100 to $300 per eye. A starting dose for men is usually 15 units which comes to between $150 to $375 per eye.
Forehead Wrinkles
Horizontal forehead wrinkles occur over time due to the normal everyday act of raising your eyebrows. Genetics and sun damage contribute to the severity but to the extent your wrinkles are related to facial muscle activity, Botox may help alleviate their appearance.
For women and men, between 10 and 30 units of Botox may be used, and cost between $100 and $600.
Does HSA or FSA Cover Botox?
Money available in your health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA) isn’t usually eligible for cosmetic procedures. However, if you are prescribed Botox for a medical necessity, it’s very likely that you can pay for your treatment out of these accounts. To find out for sure, ask your provider or contact your savings plan administrator.
Setting Your Botox Expectations
Before getting Botox, you’ll want to understand the types of fine lines and facial wrinkles it treats. There are a couple of different types of wrinkles that may crop up as you age:
- Dynamic wrinkles occur from repetitive movements like squinting, smiling, frowning, and raising your eyebrows.
- Static wrinkles form as you age due to the loss of collagen and elastin. This happens over time in areas like your neck, cheeks, and around your mouth.
Botox is most effective on dynamic wrinkles. However, some static wrinkles that increase with movement may show improvement after Botox treatment. Dermal fillers like Juvederm may be the best fix for static wrinkles that do not improve after Botox.
Be sure to discuss with your provider any medications and supplements that you take before you book a Botox procedure as well as side effects and downtime. In general, you should avoid taking medications like aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (like Advil) and naproxen sodium (like Aleve) for several days prior to your appointment. Immediately after your appointment, avoid heavy exercise, drinking alcohol, and facial treatments, including massages.
Find Out How Much Botox Costs at a Provider Near You
Price comparison helps you understand and plan for medical expenses as well as ensures you don’t pay too much.
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