I reached out to the owner, Christina, to clarify why I was charged Botox pricing after being…read moretalked into Dysport without a clear explanation of the cost difference. Her responses were filled with confusing jargon that didn't match standard unit conversions or my actual experience. When I asked for clarification, the conversation was dismissed instead of resolved. For a $200 difference, I was surprised by the lack of transparency and the unwillingness to address the issue. I'm sharing our correspondence so others can see the interaction for themselves.
Our correspondence after many failed attempts! Her response was not correct, a confusing bunch of jargon and then she dismissed me after my response!
Hi Christina,
I want to clarify my concern one last time. Ten days before this appointment, I had a full Botox treatment elsewhere. At your office, I only received a very small touch‑up: a bit above my brows, a small amount in the DAO area, and a tiny amount above my lip. This was not a full forehead or full‑area treatment.
Your injector specifically told me she used 1 unit of Dysport on each side of my top lip, and when I asked about the conversion and pricing, the explanation I received didn't make sense. Now that I see the lack of results -- and considering I also had swelling in one eye afterward -- I do not believe I received anything close to the Botox‑equivalent of 24 units. It feels consistent with 24 units of Dysport total, not 72 units.
I also want to mention that during the visit, I asked about options for skin tightening and wrinkle reduction and explained that I have rosacea. I was told that CO resurfacing would be good for me, even though that type of treatment is generally contraindicated for rosacea and can worsen redness and sensitivity. I was also encouraged toward hormone pellets after mentioning I take hormones, which felt like unnecessary upselling. Overall, the experience came across as high‑pressure rather than patient‑focused.
I'm not going to continue going back and forth. I'm simply asking for fair billing based on the actual amount injected. A $200 reimbursement would resolve this. If not, I will leave an honest review and move on.
Best,
Her only email before the response you just read. Then I was dismissed.... Ghosted..
Thank you for reaching out and for sharing your concerns. We completely understand that pricing for injectable treatments can sometimes be confusing, especially when comparing Dysport and Botox.
Dysport and Botox are both neuromodulators, but they are measured using different unit scales. Dysport units are not equivalent to Botox units. In clinical practice, approximately 2.5-3 units of Dysport provide a similar effect to 1 unit of Botox.
To keep pricing straightforward and consistent for our clients, our office structures Dysport pricing so that the treatment cost is comparable to Botox for the same aesthetic outcome. We use a 3:1 approach. For example, what may be normally be documented as 72 units of Dysport corresponds roughly to about 24 units of Botox in clinical effect and we call 24 units of Dysport in our office.
For reference, the manufacturer's (Galderma) recommended dosing for Dysport in FDA-approved areas includes:
* Glabellar lines (frown lines between the brows): 50 units total (administered across 5 injection points)
* Lateral canthal lines (crow's feet): 30 units per side (60 units total)
Actual dosing may vary based on muscle strength, anatomy, and desired results, which is why your treatment plan is customized during consultation.
Our goal is always to deliver safe, natural-looking results while maintaining transparent and consistent pricing. If you would ever prefer pricing strictly by Dysport unit rather than Botox-equivalent dosing, we are happy to discuss options.
Please let us know if you would like to review your treatment plan in more detail or schedule a time to talk -- I am always here to help.
Warmly,
Christina OBrien, NP, owner
DermaVogue
