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How dermal filler is priced: the syringe, explained
Filler is sold by the syringe, and a treatment can use one or several. What is in a syringe, how many you might need, and what to ask before comparing filler prices.
Neurotoxins are sold by the unit. Dermal fillers are sold by the syringe. A filler price on a med spa menu is usually the price of one pre-filled syringe of gel, and a treatment can use one syringe or several, depending on the area and the result you are after.
What is in a syringe
Most fillers used at med spas are hyaluronic acid (HA) gels: Juvederm, Restylane, RHA, Revanesse Versa and others. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar the body makes naturally. Manufacturers cross-link it into a gel, and each product is made firmer or softer for a different job, such as lifting a cheek or softening fine lines around the lips.
Many of these products come in a 1.0 mL syringe, but some, including some lip products, also come in smaller sizes such as 0.55 mL. A lower per-syringe price can simply mean less product, so ask how many milliliters the syringe holds.
How many syringes
There is no fixed dose. Lips often take one syringe. Cheeks, chin or jawline often take more, and a full-face plan can be spread across several visits. Clinics publish both single-syringe prices and multi-syringe treatments. A provider should tell you how many syringes they plan to use, and what happens if they use less, before they start.
What clinics publish
Median per-syringe prices that med spas publish on their own websites. Brand-specific prices are listed separately from “filler” where the clinic does not name a brand.
Juvederm
| City | Median per syringe | Clinics |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $600 | 6 |
| Miami | $825 | 4 |
| New York City | $699 | 3 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $700 | 8 |
Restylane
| City | Median per syringe | Clinics |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $610 | 4 |
| Miami | $800 | 5 |
| New York City | $750 | 3 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $700 | 4 |
Filler, brand not stated
| City | Median per syringe | Clinics |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $700 | 5 |
| Miami | $700 | 10 |
| New York City | $749.50 | 5 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $659 | 14 |
Questions to ask about a filler price
- Which brand and product, by name? Different products in the same family are made for different areas.
- How many milliliters per syringe?
- Is the price for a whole syringe, or a partial one? Can unused product be saved for you? Usually it cannot.
- Is a follow-up included? Is dissolving filler, if needed, charged separately?
Safety and approvals
The FDA regulates dermal fillers as medical devices and approves each product for specific areas and ages. Its consumer advice is to get filler only from a licensed provider using FDA-approved products, and never to buy filler or needle-free injection pens online for use at home. The most serious risk it describes is filler injected into a blood vessel by accident, which can block blood flow. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme, hyaluronidase, which is one reason providers keep it on hand.
Lips are the most common filler area at med spas. Our lip filler guide covers what to expect in more detail.
Compare published prices
- Juvederm: Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area
- Restylane: Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area
- Dermal filler (brand not stated): Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area