Bogus Botox: Some deals really are too good to be true.

They say “you get what you pay for,” and I think at some time in our lives we have all seen this to be true. Back in 2005, patients were asking questions before they received Botox injections, because they were aware of patients such as the Florida couple who were hospitalized after receiving fake Botox. In recent years, we are hearing fewer of these stories, and patients seem less concerned about who is injecting them and what is being injected.  However, even recently there have been several incidents of fake Botox injections that have put victims in the hospital.  One woman died after receiving a supposed Botox injection that was, in reality, cooking oil.  Not only is “Bogus Botox” still out there, in fact, there has been a rise in internet sales out of China of counterfeit Botox.  Additionally, there is fake Juvederm and Restylane on the market.

I see ‘daily deals’ such as Groupon, that offer Botox for less than I can purchase it from Allergan. When I see 20 units for $99 (less than $5 per unit), and about half of that goes to Groupon, I have to wonder how a business can survive by selling Botox for $2.50 a unit? I am not knocking daily deals.  I like deals and I like working with these companies. We have participated in daily deals with Groupon and Living Social. We’ve gained a lot of amazing new patients and have had a really great experience; however, in the process we’ve realized the importance of consumer awareness.  If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.  Because Botox is so popular, many people erroneously think that it is so simple. However, it is a medical procedure and therefore it deserves the respect and appropriate awareness by its consumers. Allergan is the sole distributer of real Botox, and because Botox is a medication that is regulated by the FDA, it cannot be discounted. If physicians can’t buy Botox for as low as $5.00 per unit, then how can an office sell it for less without losing money? Some offices are getting around this by purchasing their “Botox” from other companies, but how do they know if they are getting real or “Bogus Botox?” We know there is only one company that sells Botox, and if we do not like the price, we should look into other treatment options.

The take away here is to make sure you know what you are getting.  At VITAHL, we pride ourselves in having the most educated and qualified physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants administering our injectables, resulting in the highest level of patient care.  As one of the top 1% of Botox injectors in the country, patient safety and satisfaction are our highest priorities. Ask who is injecting, where were they trained, and is it real Botox (or Juvederm).  If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, check into it before you are injected.