3 Risks with Ultra-Cheap BOTOX®
Many of our Boca Raton patients use BOTOX® Cosmetic to eliminate wrinkles because it’s a super-effective treatment to turn back the clock. Occasionally, a patient will tell us that they saw an ad for BOTOX® at only $8 a unit. Naturally, they wonder why we cannot match that price.
Here are some potential reasons that a practice might offer BOTOX® Cosmetic at a rock-bottom price.
#1: The BOTOX® is Over-Diluted
Prior to injecting BOTOX® into a patient, it must be diluted with sterile salt water (saline) according to the specific manufacturer’s instructions. If a practitioner dilutes the BOTOX® beyond recommended amounts to “make it go further” they can sell more units from that 100-unit vial. Therefore, the practitioner can sell it for less. Will you get the same results? No, you won’t. It will not be as effective nor last as long as BOTOX® that has been properly diluted. We never over-dilute our BOTOX®.
#2: The BOTOX® is Old
Like many products used in our Boca Raton plastic surgery practice, BOTOX® has a “shelf life.” Once BOTOX® has been diluted with saline, the practitioner has about 2 weeks during which the BOTOX® must be used to achieve maximum effectiveness. If the BOTOX® is held beyond that 2-week window, ostensibly the practice might sell it at a discount rather than throw it away. Will you get the same results? No, you won’t. Old BOTOX® does not work as well, nor last as long. We never inject old BOTOX® at our Boca Raton plastic surgery practice. When the window of effectiveness is up, we throw it away.
#3: The Injector is Inexperienced
Some practices charge a rock-bottom price for BOTOX® for one of two reasons: (A) They aren’t as busy as they wish and hope that posting a super-low price will bring in more business, or (B) They’re new to injectables.
While it’s true that anyone learning a new skill must start somewhere, I think it’s safe to assume that you want the best results from any procedure or treatment, including BOTOX®, right? Well, it’s not uncommon in today’s world for non-plastic surgeons to take a weekend course to learn how to inject BOTOX® in order to supplement their income. Obstetricians, gynecologists, family physicians, and even pediatricians have jumped on the bandwagon to inject BOTOX® and fillers into their patients to “make up” for their losses with insurance cases.
While I don’t begrudge anyone the ability to earn a living, it stands to reason that a board-certified plastic surgeon who is also a board-certified ENT/Face & Neck surgeon with 22+ years of experience would be an expert injector. And I am. A friend of mine, who travels a great deal on business, told me that she has received BOTOX® from about 10 different physicians over the years and that each result was slightly different, proving my contention that it’s the hand that holds the syringe that determines the results. All injectors are not equal in skill and experience. While you may save money with a “newbie,” do you really want to be the person they practice on?
With any purveyor of service, whether a plumber or a plastic surgeon, there are journeymen and there are professionals. Don’t trust your face to anyone less than an experienced professional. Isn’t it comforting to know that at my practice I do all the injections, and I’ve injected for many, many years? So, if my prices are $10 or more per unit, compared with a medical spa, isn’t it worth it? You get what you pay for.
While price is always a consideration, it’s wise to remember that your face is there for the world to see, and caveat emptor is the byword for things like cosmetic enhancements, including BOTOX® and fillers. Poorly injected BOTOX®, or BOTOX® that is over-diluted and/or past its “sell-by” date, will not give you the results you seek. Why risk it? Get the real thing here in Boca Raton: BOTOX® that is fresh, properly diluted, and injected by an expert because your results matter.
Dr. Jonathan Ross Berman is a Boca Raton plastic surgeon who has been certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery with over 30 years of service experience specializing in Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty, Face Lift, Liposuction, and many other types of plastic surgery in Boca Raton, FL.
