BHRC BLOG
Xeomin vs Botox: Units, Formula, Results and Cost Compared
Neurotoxins · Comparison
Xeomin and Botox are the two neurotoxins most often compared, and for good reason: they are dosed almost identically. Here is what is actually different, what the studies show, and what each costs at BHRC.
Xeomin vs Botox at a glance
| Xeomin | Botox Cosmetic | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | incobotulinumtoxinA | onabotulinumtoxinA |
| Maker | Merz | Allergan Aesthetics (AbbVie) |
| What is in the vial | The 150 kDa neurotoxin without accessory proteins, human albumin, sucrose | Botulinum toxin type A neurotoxin complex, human albumin, sodium chloride |
| FDA cosmetic approvals | Frown lines (2011); forehead lines and crow’s feet, alone or all together (2024) | Frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines and platysma (neck) bands |
| Label dose, frown lines | 20 units | 20 units |
| Label dose, crow’s feet | 24 units | 24 units |
| Label dose, forehead | 20 units, with 20 for frown lines | 20 units, with 20 for frown lines |
| Onset and duration on the label | Median onset 2 to 7 days; typical effect up to 12 to 16 weeks | Frown-line effect about 3 to 4 months |
| Unopened vial storage | At or below 77°F, no refrigeration required | Refrigerated, 36°F to 46°F |
| Rewards program | Xperience+ (Merz Aesthetics) | Allē (Allergan Aesthetics) |
| BHRC price | $11.50 to $12.99 per unit | $13 to $14 per unit |
Are Xeomin units the same as Botox units?
This is the question most people are really asking, and the honest answer has two parts.
On the labels, the doses match. Xeomin’s prescribing information gives 4 units into each of five points for frown lines (20 units), 4 units into three points per side for crow’s feet (24 units) and 20 units for the forehead given with 20 units for the frown lines. The BOTOX Cosmetic label gives the same numbers for the same three areas. That is very different from Dysport, whose labeled frown-line dose is 50 of its own units.
In head-to-head trials, equal doses performed alike. A 381-patient trial that gave the same dose of each product for frown lines found Xeomin noninferior to Botox, with four-week response rates of 96.4% and 95.7%. A 250-patient double-blind trial at 20 units of each found the two equivalent at one month and similar through four months. A third study found that giving 50% more Botox than Xeomin did not produce a better result.
But units are not formally interchangeable. Both labels say that their units of biological activity cannot be compared to or converted into units of any other botulinum toxin product, because each manufacturer measures potency with its own assay. So if you are switching, your injector may start at a familiar number, then adjust it to how your muscles respond. They should not simply copy your old chart.
What “naked” Xeomin actually means
Botulinum toxin is made in nature wrapped in other proteins. Xeomin’s label describes a manufacturing process that separates the active neurotoxin from those proteins (hemagglutinins and non-hemagglutinins), “without accessory proteins”. Merz describes it as a formula free of inactive proteins and a simple three-ingredient formula. The other two ingredients are human albumin and sucrose, so naked refers to the toxin, not to the vial having nothing else in it.
What it does not mean: neither the Xeomin label nor the BOTOX Cosmetic label claims that one product works better or lasts longer than the other because of it. In Xeomin’s frown-line trials, none of the 464 people tested developed neutralizing antibodies. If you have been told a toxin “stopped working” for you, that is worth a conversation with your provider, who will look at dose, placement and timing before assuming a product problem.
Which works faster, and which lasts longer?
Expect them to behave similarly. Xeomin’s label puts the median onset at two to seven days and the typical duration at up to 12 to 16 weeks; Merz says results typically last about three to four months. The BOTOX Cosmetic label gives about three to four months for frown lines. In the 250-patient head-to-head trial, efficacy stayed similar between the two through four months. Dose matters more than brand: an under-dosed treatment of either wears off early.
Which areas each one is approved for
Both are FDA approved for the three classic upper-face areas: frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Xeomin’s 2024 approval added forehead lines and crow’s feet, including all three treated together at a maximum of 64 units. Botox Cosmetic is also approved for platysma bands, the vertical cords in the neck; Xeomin is not, so using Xeomin there is off-label. Lip flips, bunny lines, chin dimpling and jaw (masseter) treatment are off-label for both.
Storage: a real difference, mostly for the clinic
Unopened Xeomin vials can be stored at or below 77°F, and the label says refrigeration is not required. Unopened BOTOX Cosmetic is kept refrigerated. Once either is mixed with saline, it goes in the refrigerator and is used within 24 hours. This affects how a clinic handles stock rather than your result.
Xeomin vs Botox cost at BHRC
Because the labeled units match, comparing the price per unit is a fair comparison here, which it is not with Dysport. At BHRC, Xeomin is priced per unit at every per-unit clinic, and it is the lower of the two everywhere:
| Clinic | Xeomin | Botox |
|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood (near Beverly Hills) | $12 per unit | $14 per unit |
| West Los Angeles | $12 per unit | $14 per unit |
| Valencia | $12.99 per unit | $13 per unit |
| Westlake Village | $12.99 per unit | $13 per unit |
| Downtown Summerlin (Las Vegas) | $500 per 50-unit vial | $600 per 50-unit vial |
| Henderson | Priced at consultation | Priced at consultation |
| Paradise Valley | $12 per unit | $14 per unit |
| Houston CityCentre and River Oaks | $11.50 per unit | $13.25 per unit |
BHRC list prices, November 2026, before the 15% new-client offer at our corporate clinics. Nevada clinics sell neurotoxins by the full vial.
For a frown-line treatment at the label’s 20 units, that is about $230 to $260 with Xeomin and $260 to $280 with Botox at our per-unit clinics. Your provider confirms your units before treating. Full Xeomin pricing by clinic is on our Xeomin page, and Botox pricing on our Botox page.
What about Dysport, Daxxify and Jeuveau?
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Galderma) is dosed in its own units, 50 for frown lines on its label, so its lower price per unit does not mean a cheaper treatment; see Dysport cost per unit and Dysport vs Botox. Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA, Revance) is offered at our Henderson clinic. Jeuveau is not on BHRC’s current price lists. Our clinics list Botox, Xeomin and Dysport side by side, so you can compare them at one visit; the neurotoxins overview covers all of them.
So which should you choose?
Xeomin may suit you if
You want a toxin approved for the full upper face, prefer a formula without accessory proteins, or want a slightly lower price per unit for the same labeled dose.
Botox may suit you if
You are happy with your current results, want neck (platysma) bands treated on-label, or collect Allē points.
Many people try both and stay with the one they like. Tell your provider what you have had before and how long it lasted, and they will set your dose for the product you choose.
Where to get Xeomin or Botox
Every BHRC clinic offers both. Each page below has that clinic’s neurotoxin prices, hours and booking, and every treatment starts with a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Xeomin cheaper than Botox?
Per unit, yes, at every BHRC clinic: $11.50 to $12.99 for Xeomin against $13 to $14 for Botox at our per-unit clinics. Because the labeled doses are the same number of units, the treatment total is usually a little lower with Xeomin.
Is Xeomin as good as Botox?
In head-to-head trials for frown lines at the same dose, Xeomin was noninferior or equivalent to Botox, with similar results through four months. Neither is better for everyone.
Is 20 units of Xeomin the same as 20 units of Botox?
For frown lines, both labels use 20 units, and trials comparing 20 units of each found them equivalent. Both labels still say units cannot be formally converted between products.
Does Xeomin last as long as Botox?
Generally yes. Xeomin’s label gives a typical effect of up to 12 to 16 weeks, and the Botox Cosmetic label gives about three to four months for frown lines.
Why is Xeomin called the naked toxin?
Its neurotoxin is separated from the accessory proteins that surround it in other products. The vial also contains human albumin and sucrose.
Can I switch from Botox to Xeomin?
Yes. Your provider will usually start from a similar number of units and adjust to how you respond, reviewing the result at about two weeks.
Which is better, Dysport or Xeomin?
Neither is better for everyone. Dysport is dosed in different units and tends to start a little sooner in studies; Xeomin is FDA approved for more upper-face areas and has no accessory proteins.
Which BHRC clinics offer Botox, Xeomin and Dysport?
Every BHRC clinic: West Hollywood near Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles, Valencia, Westlake Village, Henderson, Downtown Summerlin in Las Vegas, Paradise Valley, and Houston CityCentre and River Oaks.
References
- Merz. XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA) full prescribing information, revised 06/2026: indications 1.5, doses 2.6, onset and duration 2.9, unit equivalency 5.2, adverse reactions 6.1, description 11, storage 16. accessdata.fda.gov
- AbbVie / Allergan. BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) full prescribing information, revised 10/2024: indications, doses, duration, storage, description. rxabbvie.com
- Sattler G, et al. Noninferiority of incobotulinumtoxinA, free from complexing proteins, compared with another botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of glabellar frown lines. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36 Suppl 4:2146-54. PMID 21134045. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Kane MA, et al. A randomized, double-blind trial to investigate the equivalence of incobotulinumtoxinA and onabotulinumtoxinA for glabellar frown lines. Dermatol Surg. 2015;41(11):1310-9. PMID 26509943. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Prager W, Rappl T. Phase IV study comparing incobotulinumtoxinA and onabotulinumtoxinA using a 1:1.5 dose-conversion ratio for glabellar frown lines. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2012;11(4):267-71. PMID 23174049. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Merz Aesthetics. XEOMIN Aesthetic: formula, upper facial lines, results typically last about 3 to 4 months. xeominaesthetic.com
- American Med Spa Association. Merz Aesthetics announces FDA approval of Xeomin for the simultaneous treatment of upper facial lines (July 2024). americanmedspa.org
- Galderma / Ipsen. DYSPORT (abobotulinumtoxinA) prescribing information: glabellar lines dose and unit equivalency. accessdata.fda.gov
Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center. This content is general education and does not create a provider-patient relationship or constitute medical advice. Candidacy, dosing, results and pricing vary by person and by clinic and are confirmed at your consultation. Prices shown are standard list prices as of November 2026 and exclude promotions. Written and reviewed by the BHRC clinical team.
