Botulinum toxin injections, better known by the brand name “Botox,” are today the reference treatment for reducing the glabellar wrinkle, also called the glabellar line. Located between the eyebrows, this vertical wrinkle often gives the gaze a severe, worried, or tired expression. Thanks to its targeted action on the muscles responsible for frowning, Botox smooths the area and prevents worsening of this skin fold.
A frequently asked question during consultations is: what is the cost of a Botox injection for the glabellar wrinkle ? And above all, what does this cost actually include ? Between product quality, physician expertise, clinic location, and potential touch-ups, price differences can be significant.
The price of a Botox treatment in the glabella cannot be standardized, as it depends on several specific factors. The first is the required dose: the glabellar wrinkle requires high doses, on average between 40 and 60 units of botulinum toxin, distributed between the two corrugator muscles and the procerus. This volume must, however, be adjusted according to the patient’s muscle strength, age, sex, and the initial depth of the wrinkle.
The expertise of the injecting physician is a second determining factor. A precise, symmetrical, and safe injection relies on perfect anatomical knowledge and high technical mastery. This expertise naturally has a cost, justified by the quality and safety of the result.
Finally, fees vary according to geographic location. In large cities such as Geneva or Paris, the level of professional rents and clinic expenses directly influences the session price.
In Switzerland, the average price of a Botox injection for the glabellar wrinkle alone ranges between 200 € and 300 € francs, depending on the physicians.
This price generally includes the consultation before the injection, the product itself, from approved brands such as Botox® (Allergan), Azzalure® (Galderma), or Bocouture® (Merz), the injection in the clinic, and the post-injection follow-up consultation, often offered 10 to 15 days after the procedure to check the result and perform any necessary touch-up.
It is therefore essential to verify whether the announced price really includes all these elements, as some very low prices may seem attractive but only cover the cost of the injection.
The aesthetic market remains exposed to certain aggressive commercial practices, particularly on the internet. Attractive offers promising a “Botox glabellar wrinkle for 150 francs” or less often hide worrying realities: excessively diluted products, non-certified toxins, or the absence of medical follow-up. Even more serious, some procedures are performed outside any medical framework, which constitutes both an offense and a danger to the patient.
Botulinum toxin is above all an injectable drug, subject to prescription and requiring strict conditions of storage, preparation, and administration. Faced with an abnormally low price, it is essential to ensure the physician’s qualifications, the authenticity of the product, and the complete traceability of the treatment. The price does not only reflect the quantity injected: it is inseparable from safety, ethics, and the quality of the result.
It is common in aesthetic medicine to apply decreasing rates per area. If the patient wishes to treat the forehead wrinkles or crow’s feet at the same time, the physician will often offer a global price, lower than the sum of the three areas treated separately.
For example, treatment of the glabella alone may be billed at 250 CHF, while a protocol including the glabella, forehead, and crow’s feet will be offered around 600 to 650 CHF, instead of 750 CHF. This difference is explained by the synergy of medical procedures and the savings achieved on the preparation of toxin units.
The result of botulinum toxin injections is not permanent: it gradually diminishes over 4 to 6 months, depending on the individual. It is therefore recommended to repeat the treatment two to three times a year to maintain a consistent effect on the glabellar wrinkle. Some patients, after several sessions, notice a progressive decrease in muscle strength, which allows spacing out the injections.
From a budgetary perspective, it is therefore relevant to consider an annual maintenance cost, generally between 400 CHF and 750 CHF, for the glabellar wrinkle alone. This amount can be optimized if the patient chooses to have injections in multiple areas in a single session.
In Switzerland, Botox injections for aesthetic purposes, including for the glabellar wrinkle, are not covered by health insurance or supplementary insurance. They are a personal choice, and are therefore entirely at the patient’s expense.
An exception does exist, however, in the context of medical indications, such as blepharospasm, severe chronic migraines, or certain facial dystonias, for which Botox is prescribed in neurology. But these treatments, although sometimes involving the glabellar area, do not have an aesthetic purpose.
Among all the available options, Botox remains the most effective, safest, and best-standardized technique for treating the glabellar wrinkle. Its targeted action relaxes the muscle responsible for frowning, without freezing the face or altering expression, provided it is injected with precision and moderation.
The investment made by the patient, when addressed to an experienced doctor, is guaranteed by the predictability of the result, the quality of follow-up, and the safety of the procedure. Unlike many expensive cosmetics or spa treatments with uncertain effectiveness, Botox ensures a visible, measurable, and lasting improvement, which fully justifies its cost.
Not all botulinum toxins authorized on the market have the same purchase cost for the doctor. The most common brands are Botox® (Allergan), Azzalure® (Galderma), Bocouture® (Merz). Although they have generally similar pharmacological profiles, some have specific characteristics (purity, diffusion, speed of action) that can influence the doctor’s choice.
In some practices, the exclusive use of Azzalure® (the toxin whose effect lasts the longest) may justify a slightly higher price. However, a responsible doctor will always explain which toxin is used, for what reason, and with what pricing implications.
When a touch-up is necessary (asymmetry, a more active muscle on one side, partial response), some doctors offer it for free, within 10 to 15 days after the initial injection. However, others may charge for this second procedure, especially if it results from the patient’s choice (for example, wanting a more pronounced effect than expected).
This additional cost usually ranges between 50 and 100 CHF, depending on the amount of toxin used and the time required by the doctor. It is therefore essential, before any treatment, to clarify whether the touch-up is included in the quoted price, to avoid any ambiguity. Touch-ups are free at Dr. Romano’s office in Geneva.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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