Why Botox Costs $40 for Glabella But $250 for Calves — The Unit Count Explanation

Why Botox Costs Around $40 for the Glabella

But $250 or More for the Calves —

A 6x Price Gap Explained

Last Wednesday,

a woman in her early 30s came into my consultation room.

"Doctor, I was looking online and

saw Botox advertised for $25,

but also for $350 —

what on earth is the difference?"

I get this question at least five times a week.

So today, I want to break it all down properly.

If You've Been Searching for Botox Prices,

You've Probably Run Into This Confusing Gap

Botox works by injecting botulinum toxin — a protein —

into a muscle to temporarily reduce

muscle activity for a certain period.

Unlike other wrinkle procedures (Filler or Lifting), Botox

acts directly on the muscle itself,

so pricing is determined by which muscle is targeted

and how many units are injected.

It's priced by unit, not by surface area.

Why the Same Botox Can Cost

Up to 6 Times More Depending on the Area

Key Takeaways from This Post

Glabella and crow's feet typically run $40–$80,

masseter botox ranges from $120–$330,

and calves or trapezius start at $250 or more.

The core driver of price differences is unit count —

100 units and 150 units differ

in both duration of effect and total cost.

If you landed here after searching for Botox prices,

you're probably dealing with one of two situations.

"I saw a $40 glabella ad —

is that actually a real price?"

Or: "Why does the masseter botox quote

vary so much from clinic to clinic?"

Either way, the answer comes from the same place.

Unit count.

Botox pricing is actually straightforward.

(Cost per unit of product)

× (number of units injected) + procedure fee.

The glabella typically requires 10–20 units,

and crow's feet about 12 units per side.

That's why glabella and crow's feet tend to fall in the $40–$80 range.

The masseter, on the other hand, is typically 50 units per side —

100 units total for both sides —

and patients with thicker muscles may need up to 150 units.

The calves and trapezius are large-volume muscles,

so unit counts climb to 200–300,

which is why $250 and above is the norm.

But here's something important to keep in mind.

Even if two patients both receive 100 units for the masseter,

one might maintain results for 6 months

while another sees them fade in just 3.

This variability comes down to

muscle thickness, activity level, and individual physiology.

If someone actually needs more than 100 units

but we stick to exactly 100,

they'll often come back within a month saying

"I'm not noticing any difference."

And that means additional costs down the road.

A 150-unit quote may look more expensive upfront,

but in many cases it's actually the more cost-effective choice over time.

One more thing worth addressing

when it comes to "slimming" Botox —

calves and trapezius in particular.

This is a common misconception: Botox

makes the muscle appear smaller —

it does not reduce fat.

If calf bulk is primarily muscular, the results are typically noticeable.

If it's mainly fat, you may spend $250

and not feel much of a difference.

That's exactly why you can't just go by the price tag alone.

Dr. Wi Young-jin's Core Summary

• Botox pricing is determined not by area,

  but by unit count.

• 10 units for the glabella and 100 units for the masseter

  simply cannot cost the same.

• If an advertised price looks attractive,

  start by asking: "How many units does that price include?"

Two Factors That Determine Your Results:

Unit Count and Resistance

A lot of patients find this part surprising.

I'm reminded of a case last month — a 27-year-old woman

who came to see me after receiving masseter botox

at another clinic for around $500.

She came in one to two weeks later saying

"I'm not seeing any change at all."

When I assessed her, she had received

exactly 100 units on both sides,

and the placement looked reasonable.

I told her,

"Adding more injections at this stage would actually be risky —

please give it four more weeks."

When she came back a month later,

she said, "Oh — I can actually see a V-line now."

Botox isn't a procedure where results appear immediately.

The full effect typically takes 2–3 weeks to develop.

If you evaluate results in the first week, you'll almost always be disappointed.

Another patient — a 45-year-old man —

had been receiving trapezius Botox every 6 months

for 8 years, and starting last year,

he mentioned that "the effects seem to be wearing off faster."

This is antibody formation —

commonly referred to as resistance or tolerance.

When the same toxin is administered too frequently or in high doses,

the body begins to recognize it as a foreign protein

and produces antibodies against it.

Once that happens, the same number of units produces a weaker effect.

That's why for high-dose areas like the calves and trapezius,

I recommend a minimum interval of 4–6 months,

while low-dose areas like the glabella at 10 units

carry relatively less concern about resistance.

Here's a quick reference table:

That said, this information comes with an important caveat.

You'll occasionally see ads like

"masseter botox for $40" — well below the ranges in the table.

In my experience, that's one of two things.

Either the unit count is significantly lower than standard,

or the product's distribution legitimacy is questionable.

In both cases, results tend to be short-lived or minimal,

and additional costs follow.

That said, for naturally low-dose areas like the glabella and crow's feet,

the standard price really does land around $40,

so an advertised price in that range can be entirely reasonable.

3 Things to Ask Before You Get a Quote

Q1. One clinic quoted me $150 for masseter botox,

another quoted $290.

Does the higher price mean better quality?

A. Honestly, price alone doesn't tell you the answer.

The key question is: "How many units total does that price cover?"

If the $150 clinic is quoting 80 units

and the $290 clinic is quoting 150 units,

the cost per unit is actually comparable.

Start by asking how many units are recommended for your muscle thickness.

Q2. Is it safe to receive Botox every 6 months indefinitely?

I'm conscious of the ongoing cost.

A. For low-dose areas like the glabella and crow's feet,

receiving Botox on a consistent 4–6 month schedule

carries very little risk of antibody formation.

For high-dose areas, however, resistance can develop over time.

If you notice the effects shortening, the answer isn't to increase the units —

it's to extend your intervals to 6 months or more.

Q3. I've read reviews saying people had trouble walking normally

after calf Botox. Is that common?

A. Calf Botox should be injected into the gastrocnemius (the outer muscle).

If the placement isn't precise, it can inadvertently affect

the soleus (the deeper muscle underneath).

This typically resolves within 2–4 weeks,

but physical activity can feel uncomfortable during that time.

That's why for calf Botox, precise placement by the injector

matters far more than the price.

If you take one thing away from today's post —

don't just look at the number on the price tag. Ask about unit count.

That's where the real comparison begins.

In my next post,

I'll break down masseter botox: 100 units vs. 150 units —

and help you figure out which is right for you.

This has been Dr. Wi Young-jin.

Further Reading

• Botox Pricing: $40 vs. $250 — Is It Really About Xeomin?

• Can Cheekbone Botox Cause Mouth Drooping? [Needle Change Required]

• Just Got Botox? Don't Expect Immediate Results — It Varies by Area