How Much Is A Unit Of Botox For Lips

Unless you haven’t looked at your phone or watched TV in, idk, the last decade, then you already know that Botox is officially everywhere, and it seems like pretty much everyone and anyone has gotten it or is thinking of getting it. And if you’re currently in the ~curious~ boat, you’ve come to the right place. Because despite Botox’s popularity, there’s still confusion among patients about Botox basics, which is where I come in.

Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals to your facial muscles, which prevents them from contracting. “By reducing those contractions, the skin above the muscle stays smooth,” says plastic surgeon David Shafer, MD. It sounds intense, but rest assured: Botox only works on the little area where it’s injected, so it’s not like a single injection will shut down the nerve signals in your entire face or body.

This guide also discusses How Much A Unit Of Botox for Lips and How much I should expect to pay for Botox.

How much should I expect to pay for Botox?

The cost of Botox depends on a few different factors, including where you live, how many units of Botox you’re getting (yup, that’s how they measure it), and the area you’re injecting in your face (smaller areas obviously cost less).

If you’re getting your Botox from an experienced board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon (which, for the record, you 100 percent always should), it’ll cost you more than if you go to a discount medspa. And it makes sense: The more expertise an injector has—and the bigger the city they live in—the more money they’ll charge for their service.

But, in general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $19 to $25 per unit in bigger cities and as low as $10 a unit in smaller cities. “I prefer to charge per unit so patients are only paying for what they need,” says Dr Shafer. “If you pay by the area and only want a tiny bit of Botox, it’s not really cost-effective.” There is an advantage to paying for Botox by area though, and that’s consistency. It’s always going to cost the same—whether you’re getting a teeny bit of Botox or a lot, says Dr Shafer.

How much does Botox cost for the forehead?

If you pay per area, getting Botox in your forehead will cost $250 on the low end and up to $600+ on the high end. If you pay per unit, the cost will depend on what your provider charges per unit, so it’s not as easy to give a price range, but it can end up being a bit cheaper if you only want/need a bit of Botox.

That said, most adults get 20 to 30 units in their forehead for their wrinkles and often opt to get another 20 to 30 units in their glabella (the area between your eyes that’s prone to the frowning “eleven” wrinkles ), says Dr Shafer. So it really does depend on how much surface area you’re injecting.

How much does Botox cost for crow’s feet?

Again, this will depend on if you pay by the area or by the unit. If it’s per area, expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $400 for Botox for crow’s feet. As for units? A typical treatment of the crow’s feet takes 10 to 15 units on each side (so 20-30 total), though your injector may inject less if you still want a lot of movement around your eyes (and, thus, cheaper!).

What are the side effects of Botox?

Overall, Botox is incredibly safe and usually has zero side effects. You may notice a tiny bruise where you were injected, but that’ll go away in a day or two. There’s also no “downtime”, meaning your skin will look totally fine after your appointment, other than a few little red marks from where you were injected.

That’s not to say Botox is totally risk-free though. One of the more serious potential side effects is droopy eyelids, which can happen if the Botox spreads (often the result of you lying down or napping too soon after getting injected) or if your doctor injects Botox too close to the muscle that raises the lid (though experienced doctors will know which area to avoid).  Luckily, it’s not permanent, and the issue can be treated temporarily with prescription eye drops before resolving on its own after a few weeks.

Is Botox worth the cost?

IMO, Botox is absolutely worth the cost. It’s pricey, yes, but truly effective on everyone, and I can’t say that’s the case for most beauty treatments in general. I’ve been getting Botox in my forehead and around my eyes for five years now and I’m consistently happy with the result—and most people I’ve talked to who’ve gotten Botox done feel the same, especially if their skin is too sensitive to tolerate other anti-ageing creams and treatments.

Overall, any unwanted side effects of Botox are usually not a result of the Botox itself, but the injector, which is another reason to avoid shady spas or suspect Groupon deals. At the end of the day, if the price sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Conclusion

Botox comes in vials that are either 50 or 100 units, and a single injection tends to hold 3 to 5 units. The number of Botox units you’ll need will depend on your facial anatomy and desired result (more units = a more dramatic smoothing effect, while fewer units = a subtle softening effect).

On average, Botox lasts anywhere from three to five months. Most of my patients return every four months to maintain their results, says Dr Shafer, who also notes the more you get injected, the longer it will last. “You want to book your next treatment before the previous treatment has worn off, or you will lose the preventive effects of Botox—especially on the improvement of the static wrinkles,” Dr Shafer adds.