Botox is diluted with saline before injection, which makes it the easiest thing to cheat on: the same vial can yield 50 units or 150 "units". These are the things to ask to see.
1. The box and hologram
Botox (Allergan), Dysport, Xeomin: each carries a hologram, seal and batch number. The box is opened in front of you, not brought in open from another room.
2. The fridge
Botox is refrigerated from factory to clinic. A vial left out since morning, or carried in a bag without cooling, has weakened.
3. Dilution in front of you
The doctor adds a known amount of saline to the vial while you watch. A pre-filled syringe from elsewhere tells you nothing about the units in it.
4. Units written down
At Injection Studio the units per area are recorded in your file and visible in the app. "A full dose" without a number is not an answer.
5. Duration
Original Botox at the right dose lasts three to four months. If it fades after five or six weeks every time, the dose was most likely diluted, not "your fast metabolism".
Quick answers
How much does original Botox cost?
We do not publish prices, but the price of an original vial is known and varies little between clinics. Ask how an offer at under half is possible.
Is Dysport weaker than Botox?
No, the units are counted differently (about 3 Dysport units ≈ 1 Botox unit). Both are original, registered products.
Can I ask to see the box?
Yes, and you should. A clinic that is bothered by the question is the one with something to hide.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; your treatment is decided at your consultation with Dr. Sara El Hamawy.