The Average Cost of Botox

Botox weakens the facial muscles in small, diluted quantities and prevents the skin from wrinkling. Instead of eliminating wrinkles permanently, Botox stops the wrinkles you already have from moving and becoming visible. It does not last forever: Over four-to-six months, the muscles under the epidermis regain movement and wrinkles slowly return. Botox cannot treat all wrinkles: Wrinkles caused by the sun or from gravity will not respond to injections.

Geography

Similar to the price of gas, the price of Botox varies regionally in the United States. Generally, you won't find Botox injections out of the $300-to-$1,000 dollar range. The northeastern section of America has the highest costs of Botox, averaging around $500 and the Western part has the lowest, approximately $370. These figures can be deceptive, as Southern California, where Botox is in greater demand, has higher costs than a sleepy town in Maine.

If you're in an area of the country where Botox is quite popular and the surgeons are extremely qualified, the prices will be more expensive.

Considerations

Some surgeons offer a flat rate for Botox and others break the procedure down into "units," charging you around $10-to- $15 per unit. Each syringe contains approximately 25 units. You need 25 units to completely paralyze the muscles in the frown and laugh lines and as many as 75 units or 3 syringes to fix forehead wrinkles. Priced in this manner, your cost on average per area of treatment will range from $250-to-$1,125.

Warnings

You can find a cheaper price of Botox units at a "Botox party." This is when a group of four or more candidates gather at the doctor's house or other location. At a "Botox party," the price per unit is often reduced by $1-to-$3. While people find a group environment can relieve tensions, The American Academy of Dermatology made an official warning against such parties. Medical procedures done outside of a doctor's office are often less than ideal and possibly dangerous, particularly when such parties often serve alcohol.

Overseas

Botox prices are slightly cheaper in countries like Thailand or India and range from $150-to-$350 per site of injection. Airfare and lodging are of course added expenses to the cost of the overall trip.

You must consider the risks involved in having such a procedure performed overseas. Make sure your health insurance covers you for travel. Be prepared to deal with a language barrier and if anything should go wrong, be aware that malpractice suits outside of the United States are uncommon.

Time Frame

Botox is considered to be one-of-the-least expensive cosmetic treatments, particularly when compared with a face-lift, which costs $5,000 to as much as $15,000 and is generally a "one-time" affair. Remember that Botox is a procedure that should be repeated approximately every four months, which will be an added yearly expense of $1,200-to-$4,000 for as long as you intend to reap the benefits.

References

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