Botox Vs Botox Cosmetic: What is the difference?
Botox and Botox Cosmetic are the same drug (onabotulinumtoxinA) made by the same parent company, AbbVie. The key differences are in their FDA-approved uses, marketing, and vial strengths.
Botox:
- FDA approved for various medical conditions
- Treats issues like chronic migraines, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, cervical dystonia, eye muscle disorders including strabismus, and muscles spasms and stiffness
- Often covered by insurance for medical conditions
- Can be injected into the muscle, intradermally (into the skin dermal layer), or into the bladder wall depending on the condition being treated
- Typically used in higher dosages than Botox Cosmetic
- Available in 100 Unit or 200 Unit vials.
Botox Cosmetic:
- FDA-approved specifically for appearance (aesthetic) purposes
- Temporarily improves the look of frown lines, crow’s feet lines, forehead lines, and platysma bands (vertical bands connecting the jaw and neck).
- Usually not covered by insurance
- Only injected into specific facial or neck areas
- Generally used in lower dosages than Botox used for medical treatments
- Available in 50 Unit or 100 Unit vials.
While they contain the same active ingredient, the “Cosmetic” label is primarily a marketing and regulatory distinction to separate aesthetic from medical uses.
Related questions
- Does Masseter Botox work for TMJ and jaw slimming?
- How many units of Botox do I need and what will it cost?
- Where do they inject Botox for migraines?
Ingredients
The ingredients in Botox and Botox Cosmetic are the same.
- Active ingredient: onabotulinumtoxinA
- Inactive ingredients: human albumin and sodium chloride.
Vial strengths
- Botox is available as 100 Units or 200 Units vacuum-dried powder in a single-dose vial for reconstitution and injection.
- Botox Cosmetic is available as 50 Units or 100 Units vacuum-dried powder in a single-dose vial for reconstitution and injection.
Manufacturer
Abbvie makes Botox and Allergen Aesthetics (an Abbvie company) makes Botox Cosmetic.
References
- Botox Prescribing Information. https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/botox_pi.pdf
- Botox Cosmetic Prescribing Information. https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/botox-cosmetic_pi.pdf
- Botox Package Insert. https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/botox_medguide.pdf
Read next
Daxxify vs Botox: Which should you use?
Both Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) and Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) are effective neuromodulators derived from botulinum toxin type A, designed to smooth dynamic wrinkles. Botox offers a long-established track record with results typically lasting 3-4 months. Daxxify represents a newer innovation, distinguished primarily by its longer duration of effect, often lasting 6 months or more, thanks to its unique peptide stabilizer.
Continue reading
Does Botox for migraines also help with wrinkles?
Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes for wrinkles and Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for different medical conditions, including migraine headache prevention. Botox Cosmetic and Botox come as separate products but are both prescription medicines that contain the active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA. Continue reading
What is Daxxify, the recent FDA-alternative to Botox?
Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) is the first Botox alternative that is free of human albumin or animal-based components, and it was FDA-approved in September 2022. It is also the longest-lasting of all the cosmetic injectable wrinkle treatments, lasting for 6 months in most people and 9 months in some. Continue reading
See also:
Botox
Botox is used for cosmetic purposes and to treat overactive bladder symptoms, urinary incontinence ...
Nurtec ODT
Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) is used to treat acute migraines and prevent episodic migraines, by ...
Aimovig
Learn about Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) a once-monthly, injectable medication that can be ...
Vyepti
Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr) is used for the preventive treatment of migraine. Includes Vyepti ...
Depakote
Depakote is used to treat various types of seizure disorders. Learn about side effects ...
Topamax
Topamax (topiramate) is used to prevent seizures in adults and children and to prevent migraine ...
Emgality
Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) is a CGRP antagonist for the preventive treatment of migraine and for ...
Inderal
Inderal (propranolol) is used to treat angina, high blood pressure and heart rhythm disorders ...
Ajovy
Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) is a preventive migraine treatment. Includes Ajovy side effects ...
Valproate Sodium
Valproate Sodium is used for epilepsy, seizure prevention, seizures
Related medical questions
- How much does Botox cost?
- Xeomin vs Botox: How do they compare?
- How many units of Botox are used for migraines?
- Jeuveau vs Botox: Which is best for you?
- How does Botox work for migraines?
- How long does Botox last for migraines?
- How does Botox (botulinum toxin) work?
- What is a Botox lip flip?
- Dysport vs Botox: What's the difference?
- What is botulinum toxin used to treat?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Botox (32 questions, 161 members)
- Botox Cosmetic (3 questions, 6 members)
- OnabotulinumtoxinA (3 questions, 6 members)
- Hyperhidrosis (149 questions, 364 members)
- Migraine Prevention (137 questions, 345 members)
- Migraine Prophylaxis (80 questions, 86 members)
- Overactive Bladder (41 questions, 186 members)
- Urinary Incontinence (32 questions, 129 members)
- Chronic Migraine (24 questions, 68 members)
- Facial Wrinkles (18 questions, 36 members)
- Cervical Dystonia (11 questions, 65 members)