AESTHETICS & MED SPA
Botox in South Carolina & North Carolina
Botox Cosmetic is a purified botulinum toxin type A complex, produced from Clostridium botulinum. In adults it temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines, forehead lines (treated together with frown lines), crow's feet, and platysma bands. Our expert injectors administer it under the supervision of our Medical Director at our South Carolina and North Carolina clinics.
Free consultations are available to help you determine if Botox is right for your aesthetic goals.
What Botox Is and What It Treats
Botox is a neuromodulator: in small doses it temporarily reduces a muscle’s activity so the skin above creases less. Treatment is meant to stay local, though the toxin’s effect can spread beyond the treated area — see risks and safety.
It works on dynamic lines, which appear when you make an expression. Static lines show at rest and can come from repeated creasing, lost volume, or skin quality — ask your provider what is driving yours.
FDA-approved cosmetic treatment areas
Approved to temporarily improve these lines in adults when they are moderate to severe:
- Glabellar lines — the vertical “11s” between the brows
- Crow’s feet (lateral canthal lines) — lines fanning from the corners of the eyes
- Forehead lines — horizontal lines when you raise your eyebrows, treated together with glabellar lines
- Platysma bands — vertical neck bands that tighten and stand out
Other areas people ask about — bunny lines, for example — sit outside the approved indications, so we do not market them. Raise one at your consultation; it is your prescriber’s decision.
Therapeutic Botox is prescribed separately
Therapeutic BOTOX has the same active ingredient in the same formulation as Botox Cosmetic; their labeled uses and administration instructions differ. The therapeutic indications include chronic migraine in adults, and severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis not controlled by topical treatments. This page covers cosmetic uses; therapeutic uses are prescribed and managed separately.
Not sure whether your concern is muscle, volume, or texture? See fine lines and wrinkles treatments or all injectable treatments.
Candidacy, Risks, and Safety
Botox Cosmetic is approved for adults with moderate to severe lines in the areas above. In the label’s frown-line, crow’s-feet and forehead-line studies, response rates appeared higher in people under 65 than in those 65 or older. Milder lines, or treating to prevent lines, falls outside that indication — your prescriber’s decision, not something we advertise.
When Botox is not appropriate
Hard stops, not judgment calls:
- An infection where the injection would go
- A known allergy to any botulinum toxin product, or to an ingredient in the formulation
Cosmetic botulinum toxin treatment is generally not offered during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Tell your provider if either applies, or if you are planning to become pregnant; treatment waits.
Tell your provider if you
- Have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, or ALS
- Have ever had trouble swallowing or breathing
- Have had any botulinum toxin injection within four months, or reacted to one before
- Take blood thinners or muscle relaxants, or have recently received an antibiotic by injection
Neuromuscular conditions and existing swallowing or breathing problems can substantially raise the risk of serious effects and may make treatment inappropriate after your provider’s assessment.
Risks you should know about
Botox carries an FDA boxed warning — the agency’s strongest — about the spread of toxin effects. The effect can travel beyond the treated area and cause symptoms hours to weeks later: general muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, trouble swallowing, changes to your voice or speech, loss of bladder control, or trouble breathing. Swallowing and breathing problems can be life-threatening. If you have any of these symptoms, get emergency medical help right away. The risk of symptoms from toxin spread is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity, but symptoms can also occur in adults, particularly those with an underlying condition that would predispose them to these symptoms.
The label’s highlights name the most common reactions for each facial area: eyelid drooping (3%) with frown lines, eyelid swelling (1%) with crow’s feet, and headache (9%) and brow drooping (2%) with forehead lines. These are selected examples; additional reported reactions and the complete safety information are in the prescribing information linked at the end of this page. For platysma bands, the label describes the safety profile as consistent with the known safety profile of Botox Cosmetic for its other uses. Bruising is a general injection-site effect, not one of the most common labeled reactions. In many cases reactions are transient, but how long they last varies and some persist for months — tell your provider about anything that lingers.
What to Expect
1. Your medical evaluation
Botox Cosmetic requires an evaluation and a valid order from a practitioner who can prescribe it. The law requires that evaluation and a valid practitioner-patient relationship; how often you are reassessed afterward is a clinical decision you make with your provider.
2. Your treatment plan
Ask your provider how the treatment areas and the number of units will be determined.
3. The appointment
Visit length depends on your plan. Our expert injectors administer Botox Cosmetic under the supervision of our Medical Director. South Carolina requires a supervising physician or APRN on site when an RN administers a cosmetic neuromodulator; in North Carolina an RN administers under the evaluating practitioner’s order.
4. Afterward
Downtime varies. Small bumps at the injection sites, mild bruising or a headache can occur.
Results Timeline and How Long Botox Lasts
Botox does not work instantly. Results appear gradually over the days after treatment.
- Days 1–2: for frown lines, the label describes the effect beginning one to two days after injection and increasing over the first week; timing varies for other areas
- Day 30: the primary efficacy timepoint in the frown-line, crow’s-feet and forehead-line studies (day 14 in the platysma-band studies). Individual timing varies
- Months 3–4: for frown lines, the label puts the duration of effect at about three to four months, after which lines begin to reappear
The safety and effectiveness of treatment more often than every three months have not been evaluated. Most patients settle into a three-to-four-month rhythm, depending on area, dose, muscle strength, and metabolism.
Individual results may vary.
How Much Does Botox Cost?
Botox is not priced as a flat fee.
What determines how many units you need
Botox Cosmetic’s FDA-approved labeling gives 20 units for glabellar (frown) lines, 24 units for crow’s feet, and 26, 31, or 36 units for platysma bands depending on how the bands present. Forehead lines are labeled at 20 forehead units together with 20 glabellar units — 40 total; treating forehead lines alone is outside the approved labeling. These are the label’s recommended doses; your provider sets the amount. The total cost depends on how many units are needed, which is why a lower price per unit can mislead.
Botox at Physician’s Plan
$12.99 per unit
Payment and financing options
Eligible patients may apply to pay over time; approval, terms, and APR are lender-set. We accept:
- Cherry — monthly payment plans, subject to eligibility; no hard credit check
- CareCredit — health and wellness credit card, subject to credit approval
- HSA / FSA — only for expenses that qualify as medical care. Purely cosmetic treatment generally does not qualify; confirm with your plan administrator or tax adviser
Full details are on our payment options page.
Botox at Our Locations
Physician’s Plan has seven clinics across South Carolina and North Carolina. Call the clinic nearest you to confirm Botox scheduling, availability, and hours.
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Botox in West Ashley, Charleston, SC
12-A Farmfield Ave, Charleston, SC 29407 · (843) 769-5510
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Botox in Mount Pleasant, SC
1705 Beaucastel Rd, Suite 101, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 · (843) 606-3333
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Botox in Summerville, SC
102 W 8th N St, Suite G, Summerville, SC 29483 · (843) 261-1111
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Botox in Rock Hill, SC
526 John Ross Pkwy, Suite 107, Rock Hill, SC 29730 · (803) 329-7777
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Botox in Florence, SC
2151 W Evans St, Suite I, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 629-0099
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Botox in Hickory, NC
1706 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602 · (828) 485-2833
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Botox in Huntersville, NC
9601 Holly Point Dr, Suite 202, Huntersville, NC 28078 · (704) 987-8446
Treatments That Pair Well with Botox
Botox addresses lines caused by muscle movement. Volume, texture, and pigment concerns respond to other treatments.
- Dermal fillers — volume
- Microneedling and RF microneedling
- Laser resurfacing — lines etched at rest and skin quality
- IPL photofacial — sun damage, redness, and uneven tone
- Chemical peels — surface texture and tone
Controlled studies have not evaluated dermal fillers used with Botox, so ask your provider about the timing of combined treatments. Significant weight loss changes the face too, and patients in our medical weight loss and HRT programs can raise it at any consultation. Browse our med spa services or skin conditions pages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Botox
How much does Botox cost?
Botox is priced per unit — $12.99 per unit at Physician's Plan — so the total cost depends on how many units are needed. Payment plans through Cherry and CareCredit are available, subject to approval.
How many units of Botox will I need?
Botox Cosmetic's FDA-approved labeling gives 20 units for frown lines between the brows, 24 units for crow's feet, and 26, 31, or 36 units for platysma bands depending on how the bands present. Forehead lines are labeled at 20 forehead units with 20 between the brows — 40 total; treating forehead lines alone is outside the approved labeling. Your provider sets your actual dose.
How long does Botox take to work?
For frown lines, the label describes the effect beginning one to two days after injection and increasing over the first week; timing varies for other areas. Day 30 was the primary efficacy timepoint in the facial-line studies, and day 14 in the platysma-band studies. Individual results may vary.
How long does Botox last?
For frown lines, the label puts the duration of effect at about three to four months, and the safety and effectiveness of treatment more often than every three months have not been evaluated. Most patients settle into a three-to-four-month rhythm; duration varies by area, dose, muscle strength, and metabolism. Individual results may vary.
Does Botox hurt?
Injection discomfort varies and may feel like a brief pinch. A topical numbing option can be used if needed.
Is Botox safe?
Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved. A proper medical evaluation and a qualified injector matter, and Botox still carries the risks on its label, including an FDA boxed warning: the toxin's effect can spread beyond the treated area and cause muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, vision changes, or trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing, hours to weeks later — get emergency help right away if that happens. The label's highlights name the most common reactions by facial area — eyelid drooping, eyelid swelling, brow drooping, and headache — and additional reported reactions are in the prescribing information; for platysma bands the label describes a safety profile consistent with Botox Cosmetic's other uses. Bruising is a general injection-site effect, not one of the most common labeled reactions.
Will Botox make my face look frozen?
How expressive you look after treatment varies from person to person, and no particular look can be promised. Muscle weakness and eyelid or brow droop are recognized side effects of the drug itself; ask your provider what to expect for the areas you want treated.
What should I avoid after Botox?
You may be advised to avoid intense exercise, lying flat, or touching the treated area for a few hours after your appointment. Follow the instructions you are given — they are clinic instructions, not FDA requirements.
Who administers Botox at Physician's Plan?
Our expert injectors administer Botox Cosmetic under the supervision of our Medical Director. Botox Cosmetic is a prescription medicine: a practitioner with prescriptive authority must evaluate you and order it, and a registered nurse may administer it under that order but does not prescribe. South Carolina requires a supervising physician or APRN on site when an RN administers a cosmetic neuromodulator; in North Carolina an RN administers under the evaluating practitioner's order.
Book Your Botox Consultation
Schedule nowPrefer to call? Every clinic’s number is listed under Botox at our locations above.
Individual results may vary. Botox is a prescription medical treatment; candidacy is determined by a practitioner with prescriptive authority acting within their scope. See the key risks and safety information above; this page is a summary, not the complete safety information — read the BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information and Medication Guide, and talk with your provider.