For many of us, a young, smooth face is priceless. At your local med spa, however, Botox likely costs a set amount per unit.
If you are considering Botox to treat your frown lines, bunny lines, masseter muscles, or any other area of your body, you need to know how much to budget — and whether the results are worth it to you. Below, we will break down how much Botox you will likely need and how much you can expect to pay for common treatment types.
What Are the Areas for Botox, and How Much Will I Use?
The amount of Botox you will use depends on the person and treatment area. While we cannot give you an accurate estimate without an in-person consultation, we can give you some general guidelines based on how much most patients use:
- On the forehead: Botox can reduce the appearance of frown lines and other wrinkles and fine lines on the forehead. Most people use 10-25 units of Botox to treat horizontal forehead lines and up to 16-30 units for “11” lines between the eyes.
- Around the eyes: Botox can treat fine lines in the crow’s feet area, relax the muscles between the brows to help the brows lift, and treat other wrinkles in the eye area. Patients seeking Botox treatment around the eyes typically use 12-24 units.
- Beside the nose: Botox is sometimes used to treat “bunny lines” on either side of the nose. This treatment tends to be less expensive than others, often using as little as 8-14 total units of Botox.
- In the neck: The platysmal bands in the neck are a relatively large treatment area, so it can take quite a lot of Botox to see results here. It may take anywhere from 50-100 total units to lift and relax the platysmal bands.
- Gummy smile: Botox can help you keep your gums from showing when you smile. Depending on the degree of gum show, units typically range between 4-20 units.
- Above the upper lip: Better known as the lip flip, treatment in this area helps those who feel like their upper lip disappears when smiling. It also provides a beautiful perk to the cupid’s bow area. The best part is that it only takes 4 units to achieve!
- In the masseter muscles: Many patients who wish to slim their jawline or treat bruxism get a substantial amount of Botox injected into their muscles. We often see patients using 30-80 units to get effective results, depending on the muscle thickness and strength.
- In the chin: You can reduce the appearance of chin dimpling and also prolong the duration of your chin filler with just 4-6 units of Botox in most cases.
- In the armpits or palms of the hands: If you struggle with hyperhidrosis and wish to treat excessive sweating with Botox, you can expect to use about 100 total units (50 in each armpit) to get symptom relief for 6+ months. Injecting smaller amounts may only generate relief for a few months.
One of the largest factors affecting the amount of Botox you will use is the size of your muscles. Men tend to need more units than women to achieve their desired results because they have larger facial muscles on average.
How Long Does Botox Usually Last?
Most Botox treatments last about three to four months, although it depends on your body chemistry and the injection area. Treatments in deeper wrinkles like frown lines tend not to last as long because these are areas of repeated expression.
What Is A Good Price for Botox Per Unit?
Botox prices generally depend on the injector’s qualifications, experience, and to a lesser degree, the medspa location. You can generally expect to pay at least $11-15 per unit for injections from an experienced, appropriately qualified provider in the U.S.
At a typical rate, a Botox forehead treatment may cost about $300, while a jaw-slimming treatment for someone with very large masseter muscles may cost $600 or more. On the other hand, a small treatment above the upper lip that uses just a few units may cost under $100.
If a provider is willing to charge extremely low prices, be suspicious. They may not be qualified or have any experience, and they may be using counterfeit product from overseas.
How Much Does Botox Cost In California?
At Beauty Boost Med Spa in Newport Beach, CA, we charge $12 per unit of Botox as of this writing. Some medical spas in the Bay Area charge $18 or more, while others in lower-cost areas of California or with less experienced injectors may charge a lower amount.
Why You Should Never Choose A Cheap Botox Provider
Cheap Botox is often a sign of an inexperienced or unqualified provider. You do not want to take the risk of getting Botox from someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing! Some clinics offer discounted Botox because they are actually using product that is purchased overseas at a cheaper price. However, this is not FDA regulated and it is unknown what is actually in the product.
As with any other injectable treatment, there are some risks, especially in the hands of a provider who does not have enough experience or lacks extensive knowledge of anatomy. When too much Botox is injected, or Botox is injected in the wrong area, you can end up with issues like a “frozen” face, asymmetry, or drooping.
The best way to minimize these risks is to work with a highly experienced provider. You should also check the before and after photos on the provider’s website beforehand to get an idea of what to expect.
Is Botox Worth It?
Only you can decide whether a Botox treatment is worth the cost. For many patients, especially those in industries or social circles where appearance can substantially affect success, the answer is yes! Many people find that Botox is worth it for the confidence boost alone.
If you are looking for reasonably-priced Botox treatments from a highly qualified, experienced provider in Orange County, schedule a complimentary consultation with Beauty Boost Med Spa. We were recently named one of Allergan’s Top 50 Med Spas in the U.S. and Top 100 Injectors nationwide. We look forward to meeting you!
