How Much Botox Do I Need?

How Many Units Of Botox Are Usually Needed For The Forehead?

The number of Botox units required for the forehead, or other facial areas, will vary by patient. Each patient will be evaluated individually considering specifics such as the areas of treatment, the patient’s gender, facial muscle strength, etc. A customized plan will then be developed to achieve their desired results.

Generally, men have stronger facial muscles and require more units of Botox to obtain the same result that fewer units will produce on a woman.

The most precise way to determine how many units of Botox you need to achieve your desired aesthetic would be to consult with a licensed medical professional who has extensive knowledge and training in administering Botox injections.

This chart can be used as a guide to give you an idea of how many units may be needed to address your areas of concern.

How Many Units Of Botox Is Normal?

We often get questions from patients wanting to know things like “How far does 20 units of Botox go?” or “Is 20 units of Botox too much for the forehead?”. Again, the answers to these questions are highly patient-specific and based on factors such as:

Goal for desired results – the number of Botox units you require may depend on the final results you are looking for from your treatment. Is your goal to eliminate all appearance of wrinkles from your face or just the majority of them and still have some muscle movement? There can be a fine line between looking younger and looking frozen.

Muscle strength – if you have strong muscles in your face, you may require more units to alleviate forehead wrinkles than someone with weaker facial muscles. Gender plays a part in how many units are required to obtain the desired results because males tend to have stronger facial muscles than females and often require a higher number of Botox units.

Metabolism – the effects of Botox are only temporary because, over time, your body naturally metabolizes and processes substances. If your metabolism tends to run faster than average the effects of Botox may wear off before someone who has a slower metabolism. Maintaining your desired results will require Botox treatments more frequently.

Gender can influence this area in the same way it does with muscle strength. Men tend to have higher metabolism rates than women so they often not only require a higher number of Botox units but require more frequent maintenance as well.

Budget – when used for cosmetic purposes, Botox is not normally covered by health insurance and is a self-pay procedure. This can factor into how many units you choose to get at one time. It is recommended that you treat at least one full area during a visit and not just use a lesser amount in several areas.

For example, If your budget only allows for 20 units of Botox then using these on each side of your eyes should adequately treat crow’s feet and produce pleasing results.
Most cosmetic surgery practices, such as SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics run Botox specials periodically so make sure to keep an eye out for those. Also, most cosmetic surgeons offer several different financing options to approved patients that can help you obtain optimal results from your Botox treatments.

How Do You Know How Much Botox You Need?

The short answer to this is that you don’t! But your experienced, Botox specialty-trained cosmetic surgeon, dermatologist, or medical professional will know. When it comes to Botox, most medical professionals stay true to the old adage “Less Is More”.

When you first begin using Botox, your medical professional will just be getting to know you and all the factors that play a role in how many units you will need. Normally they will do initial injections using a conservative number of units and observe your progress after about two weeks when the peak results of Botox will be visible. If needed, they will add additional units of Botox.

After they have worked with you for a few rounds of injections, they will know what schedule works best and how many units of Botox to use to give you the results you want. Here are some typical FAQs about how much botox is needed to correct common cosmetic imperfections.

How Much Botox Do I Need To Get Rid Of Crow’s Feet From Both Eyes?

Typically, somewhere between 12 and 24 units of Botox are sufficient to treat both eyes and significantly reduce the look of crows feet. The number of units you will need will depend on how much correction is needed and if you have previously treated this area with Botox.

How Much Botox Do I Need To Get Rid Of Forehead Lines?

Ten to 20 units of Botox will normally be enough to erase lines in the forehead; however, the depth and length of the lines will be the deciding factors.

How Much Botox Do I Need To Smooth Out My Bunny Lines?

The wrinkles that appear on the sides of the nose are often called bunny lines, and these can take anywhere from 8 to 20 units, depending on their severity.

How Much Botox Do I Need To Fix The Lines Around My Mouth?

Depending on where the lines fall and how deep they are, smile lines and vertical lines around the mouth can take anywhere from 6 to 12 units of Botox to correct. Sometimes, individuals only need correction on one side of their mouth, which would normally require between 3 and 6 units.

How Often Will I Need Botox Injections For My Face?

Most patients will require Botox maintenance injections every three to six months. Sometimes, when first starting Botox injections, it may be necessary to increase the frequency of maintenance. In some cases, after using Botox for a while, the facial muscles will “train themselves” slightly and require fewer units that may last a longer duration of time.