How to read a med spa price list

Two med spas can charge the same for a treatment and still print prices that look nothing alike. One lists Botox per unit, another per area, a third as a package, and a fourth only says “from”. Before comparing numbers, work out what each number buys. These are the questions we ask of every price before it goes on this site.

1. What is the unit?

Every price is a price for something. The common units are:

• Per unit for neurotoxins such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. A unit is a measure of dose, and a treatment uses many of them.
• Per area, also for neurotoxins: one price for the forehead, the frown lines or the crow’s feet, whatever dose that takes.
• Per syringe for hyaluronic acid fillers, and per vial for products such as Sculptra.
• Per session for facials, peels, microneedling and most laser treatments.
• Per month for weight-loss medication programs.
• Per package: several sessions, or a fixed number of units, sold together.

A per-unit price can only be compared with another per-unit price for the same product. Units of different neurotoxin brands are not the same size, which is why we rank them separately. Our guide on Botox units explains the conversion from a per-unit to a per-area price.

2. Is it the regular price?

The same treatment can carry several prices on one site. We label each one:

• Regular: the standing price anyone pays.
• Starting at: the lowest price the treatment can cost. A “from” price is a floor, not a typical bill.
• Promotional: a sale or first-visit price, often with an end date or limited to new clients.
• Member: a price for people who pay a monthly membership fee, which the per-treatment price leaves out.
• Range: a low and high figure, where the final price depends on the area or amount used.

Our comparison tables rank only regular and “starting at” prices. Promotional and member prices appear underneath with a label, because ranking them next to standing prices would make some clinics look cheaper than they are for most people.

3. What is included?

Ask whether the price covers:

• a consultation, or whether that is charged separately and credited against treatment;
• a follow-up visit, and whether a touch-up after two weeks costs extra;
• numbing cream, aftercare products or the device fee for laser treatments;
• the whole syringe or vial, or only the part used.

4. Which product, and who injects it?

“Filler” can mean several different products, and “tox” can mean any of several brands. A clinic should be able to tell you the brand before you book. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned about counterfeit and unapproved botulinum toxin sold to clinics, so it is reasonable to ask to see the product. Ask who will treat you and what their license is. Rules on who may inject differ by state.

5. How old is the price?

Prices change, and promotions end. Every price on this site shows the date we last saw it on the clinic’s own website, with a link to that page. We mark a price “possibly expired” once it is 60 days old or past its stated end date. Confirm the current price with the clinic before you book.

No price at all

Many med spas publish no prices and ask you to book a consultation. That is common, not a warning sign in itself. Our price statistics show what share of clinics in each city publish any price. Our methodology explains where every number on this site comes from.