Two quotes for the same treatment can cover different amounts of product, different brands and different staff, so compare what sits inside each one. The only dollar figures here are national averages from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which come from plastic surgeons and are not Austin med spa prices.
What a price pays for
A treatment price usually covers several things:
- The product or device
- The training of the person treating you
- Equipment and upkeep
- Insurance and the cost of following Texas rules
- The delegating physician's involvement
- The space and staff
A price much lower than others may mean savings, or it may mean less of one of these. Ask which.
Compare the same thing
Ask each practice for the product name, the amount, and who will treat you. Without those three, two quotes cannot be compared.
How injectables are priced
Neurotoxins such as Botox are dosed in units. Some practices charge per unit and some per area. Units of one brand cannot be compared with another brand's; the Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Xeomin and Daxxify labels each say so. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a national average of $435 per treatment for botulinum toxin injections.
The Botox Cosmetic label lists doses of 20 units for frown lines, 24 for crow's feet and 20 for forehead lines. Frown lines and forehead lines together come to 40, and all three areas together to 64. Ask how many units your plan involves and get it in writing.
For dermal fillers, the same society reports a national average of $715 for hyaluronic acid fillers. Ask which product the quote covers and how many syringes it includes.
Laser and other devices
Prices depend on the device, the area and the number of sessions. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons gives a national average of $697 for laser skin treatments such as hair removal, and notes that the average leaves out other related expenses.
Ask whether the quote is for one session or a series, what the device is called, and what follow-up visits cost.
Memberships and packages
A membership or package may lower your cost per visit if you already plan to return. Before you sign:
- Ask for the monthly fee, the discount and how to cancel
- Ask whether unused credit expires or transfers
- Try one treatment first if the practice is new to you
- Request pricing line by line, not only a bundle
- Get neurotoxin units in writing
- Ask how many syringes a filler quote includes
- Confirm the brand before comparing packages
- Wait to prepay a large package until you trust the practice
Financing and insurance
Some practices offer financing or payment plans. Read the interest terms before signing, and add the interest to the price when you compare.
Ask your insurer what it covers, since cosmetic and medical uses are different. Separately, BOTOX, the non-cosmetic product, is FDA-labeled for severe primary underarm sweating, a medical use distinct from Botox Cosmetic.