Using sufficient botox

[marakesh]

I'm feeling quite irritated because I've just had to make the decision to switch to a new injector.

The last two occassions I've had botox done on 3 areas of my face, I've paid almost $800. Each time I've ended up going back for top ups twice to the 6 week mark!!! On this most recent time, I'm finally convinced I'm not getting a good enough job. Why skimp on product??? Surely it isn't that expensive to buy wholesale?

Honestly why do practitioners quote one covering price if they rely on using miniscule amounts of product to make their profit??

From now on I'll be trying doctors who charge for the amount they use.

[jomol31]

I always thought the "charge one price for an area" rather than charge per unit sounded like something the marketting dorks created rather than something clinically relevent.

I can just see it now.

"You see Doctor {insert plastic surgeon/dermatologist/cosmetic physician} people don't want to buy units of botox they want to buy solutions" Says the overenthusiastic 23yo newly minted marketing graduate in the training bra.

"You should be selling wrinkle **** areas of the face. Charge per area of face. Thats what your consumer (not patient) wants!"


Of course I'm in real estate so something our own selling gimmicks get to me.


The problem is we trust the doctors skill and we want to know exactly what they are doing. I already trust their skill will give me their patient a solution. I just want a fair way of knowing how they determined what I should be charged.


.... end of rant

[Sus]

I have never had Botox per area. Always by unit. Then of course, you can question, how the patient would know how many units the Dr has administered. I guess, it all comes down to trusting the Doc. Comes with territory. If you have no trust, don't bother with Botox.
I guess, if per area, **** top up should be given, if not enough administered. Does that mean some **** Botox? How viable would be for Dr if I wanted Kidman's forehead? Unless the Dr knows your face, you'd be going back and forth for appointments, until it's just right.
Sus

[marakesh]

I guess a solution isn't that simple.

I think jomols comment about it all boiling down to trust is so true.

[JOSHY]

Geesh, where do i start? I have had my fair share of Botox by several injectors in ******** untill finally settling for one clinic. When i first called to find out how much, they told me that they charge by the unit and that every major facial area requires a minimum of 20 units unless otherwise advised by the surgeon. Best thing is they refuse to book me in unless i read the information they sent out whch included a BOTOX CONSUMER AWARENESS sheet that essentially explained what to expect as a client. They have allocated injectable dates as where they only do the Botox Injections, as they say that each vial of Botox had 100 units and as such they werent going to open a vial for randoms that book in as and when. To confirm the appointment, I had to give credit card details and payment for the Botox is processed 5 working days before as that is when they order the product. After reading the consumer awareness guide, i understood thier policies. So on the day of the treatment, I met the *******, who could not care less if I had the it done before, as I was a patient of his for the first time, he explored in detail my expectations and told me exactly how many units i needed. Truth be told, they were alot more expensive that the other clinics, but I have never had to go for a top up. I still remember my first phone call when the receptionist was explaining their policy and when she eas concluding the call, she ended by saying, "and that is why we dont do top ups" so no more to 24 yr old nurse's injecting me, no more on demand botox, so no more bull from clinics trying to cash in. oh ya, dont forget botox only has a 24 hour shelf life .. so be weary if you could book in as and when you like

so my advise is that if you are ever in ********, visit ****** ******** ******, my injector was Dr ******* ******** and he does botox injections on the upper and lower part of face, i now have a total of 70 units, something he calls the *******. I could not recommend him and his clinic more.

ps: i will try and get a copy of their consumer awareness, it is really interesting to read. If i am not wrong it may be on their website.

[JOSHY]

This was sent to me by - edited -, thank the good lord i saved it in my attachment.

The three ESSENTIAL criteria for the best possible and longest-lasting correction are:
• the 'freshness' of the product (see below)
• adequate dosage (see minimum dosage requirements below)
• accurate placement (intimate knowledge of facial anatomy is crucial)
The more the treatment standards depart from these three criteria the poorer will be your result.

Your principal consideration should be the 'FRESHNESS' of the product: The manufacturer clearly states on the label that the product should be used within 24 hours of opening. The reasons for this are twofold: Firstly, it contains no preservative and if it is not all used within those twenty four hours but instead stored it could become bacterially contaminated and produce a serious skin infection when next injected.


Secondly, a UK study has shown that the product becomes progressively less effective beyond twenty four hours - so, if you're given 'old' product (i.e. older than 24 hours) you will almost certainly get an inferior result.

If you can walk into any clinic and have the treatment on demand, how would you know when the vial was first opened? It could have been one hour ago, one week ago or one month ago! So unless the clinic is prepared to open a fresh vial in front of you, you may be getting product much older than 24 hours.


Why do some practices do this? Simply because it is an expensive product to purchase and unless a clinic has enough patients to use up the entire vial within twenty four hours, it will may store the leftover amount in the refrigerator rather than discard it - and then it becomes progressively less effective with each passing hour. So always get an assurance that the product is less than 24 hours old and don't allow yourself to be convinced that it doesn't matter. It DOES and you deserve to get 'fresh' and not 'old' product for your money.

COST: Don't be misled by a cost quoted for any particular area unless you know how many units of product you're getting for that area - otherwise you may be paying more than you should 'per unit of product'. Always think of the product not in terms of '$.. per area' but in terms of '$.. per unit of product' - the same way as you think of petrol for your car. Surely you wouldn't give someone $50 to put petrol in your car without knowing how many litres they intended putting in, would you? Think of this product in the same way.

On average, the cost of Muscle Relaxant Injections in - editted - is around $20 per unit. As any of the major facial areas requires a minimum of 20 units this would then cost $400. As a theoretical example, suppose you're being quoted $280 for your frown lines by Clinic A and $400 by Clinic B. You may well be tempted to choose Clinic A ($250) over Clinic B ($380). However, if you are unknowingly being given only 10 units for $250 by Clinic A instead of the customary 20 units for $380 by Clinic B, Clinic A is overcharging you at $25 per unit even though Clinic A initially sounded better value! Moreover, your results at Clinic A will almost certainly not be as good or as long-lasting as with Clinic B because you are not getting the minimum 20 units required to produce the best and longest lasting correction possible. So, when comparing prices, don't think of total cost, think of 'cost per unit'. And if any clinic won't tell you how much you're paying per unit, find one that will!


Ensure each area is to receive at least the minimum dose to produce the required degree and duration of correction. Smaller doses produce less correction, less duration of correction, or both. Also spreading a given dose over many areas - the so-called "a little bit here and a little bit there" technique only serves to produce a weaker correction in each area! Each of the major facial areas needs a minimum of 20 units for the best and longest lasting correction possible.


Some Nurses are injecting Muscle Relaxants: We believe that this is not in the patient's best interests. Nurses are admirable and skilled individuals within their own profession but they are not trained to perform cosmetic procedures and do not have the intimate knowledge of facial anatomy as does a Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon. It is also illegal for a nurse to inject a muscle relaxant unless the patient has first had a consultation on this treatment with the doctor of that practice.

Be wary of 'Injection Parties': We consider these unprofessional and not in the best interests of patients. Treatments should be administered in a proper clinical setting and not in a frivolous party atmosphere.

Ensure you are getting the product you expect: Some clinics use a lesser known brand of Muscle Relaxant. Although it works similarly, there are some differences and if you are expecting the original product ensure you receive it.

Be wary of any Clinic offering to put a Medicare Item number on the receipt for your consultation or treatment so that you can claim a rebate from Medicare. Consultations and treatments in regard to the cosmetic use of Muscle Relaxants are NOT eligible for a Medicare rebate and it is both illegal and fraudulent for a doctor to willfully enable you to claim when you are not entitled to.

Remember, YOU are the consumer, YOU are spending your hard-earned dollars and accordingly you deserve the highest professional standards and the best possible results for your money.

Don't accept anything less. At the - edited - we can assure you of the highest professional and ethical standards and the best possible results strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the above criteria.

[jomol31]

Joshy this was a blatant adertisement for the clinic you work at. You obviously have some affiliation with the clinic you are so blatantly pushing.

I have reported you to the webmasters and have recommended that all IP addresses from your workplace be permanently banned from the forum.

Apologies to any other persons from your workplace who get caught up in the ban but they can contact the webmasters directly to appeal this.

[cindy_hk]

It seems joshy before bringing down the wrath of the webmasters had some valid points.


Can they be believed or is it all self serving promotion for the clinic he was promoting.

Was he the actualy doctor doing the injecting do you think? I wish you guys hadn't of banned him so fast I would have LOVED to have grilled him about where he comes from.

My bet is he is some plastic surgeon struggling to pay off his 2nd ferrari after the stockmarket crash :)

[Iron Man]

Nah he won't be a plastic surgeon.

I bet he is a fast talking merchant banker now looking for a 2nd job .... as a profesional spammer I mean "Internet and Network Marketting Business Analyst"