How Many Units of Botox Do I Need?

The most popular cosmetic treatment in the United States is BOTOX. It is an FDA approved, industry trusted, and customer-loved wrinkle reducing product that has allowed millions of men and women to age gracefully. One of the most common questions I get asked by new and prospective patients is this: "How many units of BOTOX do I need?"

Let's first get to know BOTOX a bit better in order to answer the question. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and wrinkles can form. Our wrinkle reducer treatments are performed by injecting small amounts of BOTOX, an FDA approved botulinum neurotoxin in the form of a highly purified protein. A qualified provider will target tiny muscles in your face that cause wrinkles when they contract and use BOTOX to temporarily relax the contraction. While BOTOX cannot get rid of deep creases that have been left untreated for many years, it may help soften them. BOTOX has been clinically proven to improve the appearance of wrinkles, smooth and tighten skin and lift areas when administered by a skilled injector. Results last from three to six months and there is little to no down-time or recovery period after treatment.

Below is an excerpt from Defy Aesthetic's proprietary FACE report that we customize for each patient at every consultation. You can see that there are a number of areas that can be treated. They are:

  • Forehead wrinkles and creases

  • Eyebrow area

  • Glabella (in between the eyebrows)

  • Crows feet (wrinkles beside your eyes when you smile)

  • Bunny lines (wrinkles around your nose when you scrunch your face or laugh)

  • Masseter

  • Upper lip

  • Chin

 
FACE Cosmetic Evaluation
 

During your consultation, your provider will share with you the treatment areas and how many units of BOTOX would be required to achieve lasting results. In general a totally untreated adult can expect to have the following units of BOTOX for each treatment area.

  • Forehead = 10-20 units

  • Eyebrow = 4-10 units

  • Glabella = 10-20 units

  • Crows feet = 10-24 units

  • Bunny lines = 4-8 units

  • Masseter = 20-40 units

  • Upper lip = 4-10 units

  • Chin = 5-10 units

Some things to note, everyone is different and may not need treatment in each area. Your individual treatment amounts can and will vary. You may only find that wrinkles on your forehead bother you so your treatment will be limited to that area. This is why it is so important to have a consultation with a professional provider.

You should be aware that some practices overly dilute BOTOX to the point where it is ineffective and unsafe. There are also some providers who may suggest they can provide BOTOX treatment for much cheaper or half the units, but often your results with these discount providers and large practices will not last as long as going to a specialist injector. For more on this, check out the article "How To Make Botox Last Longer."

As always, please reach out to me with any questions you may have about our dear friend, BOTOX. I am here to help!

Lindsay ScholzRecent Post