People often walk into a clinic asking for a number. How many units for my forehead? How many for a lip flip? They expect a tidy answer, like a shoe size. In practice, dosing botulinum toxin is more like tailoring a suit. The fabric is your anatomy and muscle strength, the pattern is your expression habits, and the fit depends on how you heal and what you consider a natural result. A good injector reads all of that before drawing up a single unit.
I have treated first timers who needed half the typical dose to look rested, and marathon frowners who barely soften with standard amounts. I have also seen how a conservative plan on visit one can save a heavy handed correction later. If you are trying to estimate your own plan or prepare for a botox consultation, it helps to understand how we think about units, patterns, and outcomes.
What a “unit” actually measures
A unit is a measure of biological activity, not volume. One unit of onabotulinumtoxinA (commonly known as Botox) represents a specific amount of neuromodulator that can weaken muscle signaling. That definition is brand specific. Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, and Daxxify use their own assays, so units are not interchangeable. Five units of Botox is not the same as five units of Dysport. If you are comparing notes with a friend or reading pricing online, make sure you are looking at the same product.
Most aesthetic clinics in North America quote doses in Botox units for clarity, even if they also carry other neuromodulators. This guide uses Botox units and notes when different strategies apply.
Factors that push your dose up or down
Two faces with the same number of lines can require very different amounts. Before discussing site specific ranges, it helps to know what changes the calculation.
Muscle strength and mass. Stronger, bulkier muscles need more units to relax. People who squint aggressively, frown while concentrating, or have athletic builds often demand higher doses, particularly in the glabella and masseters.
Anatomy and brow position. A low resting brow or thin forehead skin increases the risk of heaviness if the frontalis is overtreated. In those cases, a lower forehead dose with careful placement provides lift without drop.
Sex and hormonal status. On average, men need about 20 to 30 percent more units than women for the same effect, largely due to muscle mass. That is a trend, not a rule.
Previous exposure and patterning. If you have maintained regular wrinkle relaxer injections for years, your baseline muscle activity may already be lower. You might do well on fewer units. Conversely, if you habitually underdose with partial results, muscles can compensate and demand more over time.
Expression goals. Some people want “frozen” for events, others want subtle botox results so their brows still lift and their eyes still crinkle. The target look changes the unit count. Natural looking botox tends to be lighter and more precise.
Brand and dilution. Even within Botox brand usage, injectors can choose concentrations that suit their technique. Units remain units, but diffusion and spread change with dilution, which influences patterning and the need for touch points.
Medical versus cosmetic indication. Therapeutic botox, like masseter treatment for TMJ or migraine protocols, can require higher doses and broader coverage than a cosmetic plan.
Typical unit ranges by area
These are defensible, everyday ranges for professional botox injections with Botox brand toxin. They are not prescriptions. A certified botox injector will refine these based on your anatomy and the factors above.
Glabella, the “11s” between the brows. Most patients land between 15 and 25 units. A common pattern uses five injections around the corrugators and procerus. Heavier frowners may need 30 units to fully relax. Men often trend higher.
Forehead lines, the frontalis. Expect 8 to 20 units, spread across multiple points. The goal is balance with the glabella. Overtreating the forehead without controlling the frown muscles can drag the brow. People with low brows or heavy lids do better with 6 to 12 units, kept higher on the forehead, and an active glabella plan to preserve lift.
Crow’s feet, lateral canthal lines. Typically 6 to 12 units per side. Thin skin wrinkle patterns respond nicely at the lower end. Deep, radiating lines that extend far from the eye often need closer to 24 units total. Injectors adjust depth to avoid bruising and maintain natural smile cues.
Brow lift. Small doses above the lateral brow tail can create a mild lift by relaxing the orbicularis oculi that pulls down. Think 2 to 4 units per side, often combined with tailored forehead and glabella work.
Bunny lines, on the upper nose. Around 4 to 8 units total, placed along the nasalis. This is typically an add on for those who scrunch the nose after frown or forehead treatment.
Lip flip. Usually 4 to 8 units total to the upper lip, sometimes with 2 units to the lower, targeting the orbicularis oris. This is a subtle effect that softens vertical lip lines and slightly everts the lip. Overdoing it can make it hard to sip through a straw, whistle, or pronounce P and B sounds, so cautious dosing matters.
Gummy smile. 2 to 6 units per side, typically near the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, to reduce upper lip elevation. Precise placement keeps your smile genuine.
Chin dimpling. 8 to 12 units to the mentalis helps smooth orange peel texture and softens a puckered look. Positioning here is critical to avoid lip heaviness.
DAO, downturned corners of the mouth. 2 to 5 units per side in the depressor anguli oris can lift the oral commissures subtly. This is often combined with mentalis work for a harmonious lower face.
Jawline slimming and TMJ, masseter botox. Cosmetic jaw slimming commonly uses 20 to 30 units per side for women, sometimes 30 to 40 in men or strong clenchers. TMJ botox treatment for bruxism can match or exceed those numbers. Expect a re evaluation at 6 to 8 weeks to assess function and aesthetics.
Platysmal bands and Nefertiti lift. Doses vary widely based on neck anatomy, from 30 to 60 units total across multiple bands and along the jawline to soften vertical cords and define the mandibular line. Good neck results demand realistic expectations because skin elasticity and fat distribution limit outcomes.
Migraine protocols. Botox for migraines follows a standardized medical botox pattern called PREEMPT, typically totaling 155 units across 31 injection sites in the head and neck, with optional additional sites up to 195 units. This is a therapeutic plan under a botox provider trained for headache management, distinct from a cosmetic session.
Underarm sweating. While not a facial botox treatment, many ask about it during an aesthetic visit. Hyperhidrosis dosing often runs 50 units per underarm, sometimes up to 75. The effect can last longer than facial treatments, often 6 to 9 months.
These ranges reflect real clinic norms. The art lies in adjusting within them to respect your facial dynamics.
The difference between preventative, baby, and full correction
Preventative botox and baby botox are buzzwords that describe lighter dosing strategies, not different products. I use them when fine lines appear at rest but grooves have not etched deeply, or when a first time botox plan aims for minimal change.
Preventative botox dampens repetitive movement before creases set, often using 50 to 70 percent of a full corrective dose. For example, 10 to 14 units in the glabella and 6 to 8 in the forehead on a young patient who frowns while reading.
Baby botox speaks to very small aliquots spread across many points. You might see 1 to 2 units per forehead injection site, with six or eight sites, plus tiny touches around the eyes. The benefit is control and a very natural finish. The tradeoff is shorter duration and the possibility of partial movement that still creates lines in expressive faces.
Full correction treats the dominant muscles at the dose required to truly inhibit movement. It can look very natural when balanced well. It also tends to last longer, which improves value for those seeking fewer visits.
How long it lasts and why that varies
On the face, botox aesthetic treatment typically peaks at two weeks, holds steady for another two to eight weeks, then slowly fades. Most people notice movement returning around three months, with lines softening for four months or more. Areas with more activity return sooner. Crow’s feet and lips often fade faster, while the glabella hangs on.
Dose matters. Higher doses generally last longer, up to a point. Muscle size and usage matter more. A violinist who squints under stage lights may burn through crow’s feet dosing quicker than someone who works in an office with diffuse light. Athletes, metabolically active people, and those with strong neuromuscular compensation can also see shorter duration.
For masseters and hyperhidrosis, you may enjoy 4 to 6 months. For migraine protocols, treatments repeat every 12 weeks for best results.
Safety, side effects, and how units tie in
Safe botox injections rely on anatomy, sterile technique, and honest dialogue about medications and medical history. Units do not directly cause complications, but more product across more sites adds more chances for spread, bruise, or asymmetry.
Common short term effects include mild tenderness, small bumps at injection points that settle within an hour, and light bruising. Headaches can occur after a forehead session. Temporary eyelid heaviness can happen if forehead dosing is too low while the glabella is strong, or if toxin diffuses near the levator palpebrae. That is why precision botox injections and careful mapping matter.
Rare risks include true eyelid ptosis, smile asymmetry after bunny line or DAO work, and difficulty with certain lip functions after a lip flip. These resolve as the product wears off. Medical grade botox in experienced hands is very safe. Any serious side effects like swallowing or breathing difficulty fall into the extremely rare category and require prompt medical attention.
Pricing by unit versus by area
Clinics price botox cosmetic injections in two main ways, and each has merit.
Per unit pricing is straightforward and fair across faces with different needs. If your glabella requires 25 units, you pay for 25. If your friend needs 18, they pay less. This structure also encourages transparent planning and makes a botox touch up easy to price.
Per area pricing offers predictability for the patient but can tempt underdosing if the provider tries to fit a strong muscle into a small budget. High quality botox clinics avoid this by setting area packages that cover realistic ranges, with clear add on options.
The exact numbers vary by city, injector expertise, and product. In many US markets, Botox runs roughly 10 to 20 dollars per unit. A glabella at 20 units might cost 200 to 400 dollars, a crow’s feet plan at 12 units per side might cost 240 to 480. Affordable botox does not mean bargain basement. It means appropriate dosing with a trusted botox provider who stands behind their results. Beware of prices so low that they imply diluted product, expired stock, or rushed technique.
What a good consultation looks like
You botox NY should leave a botox consultation with a clear plan, not just a quote. The process should include an assessment at rest and during expression, palpation of the muscle bellies, and a review of your medical history, including any neuromuscular conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, blood thinners, and prior botulinum toxin treatment. Photos help track progress over time.
I ask patients to show me their strongest frown, the highest brow lift, and their biggest smile. I watch for asymmetry, brow position, and lines that persist after relaxation. If someone is a first timer, I often stage treatment conservatively, especially in the lower face where function matters. We agree on the look they want, and I explain tradeoffs. That is personalized botox treatment by design.
How injectors customize placement
Dose is only half the story. The map matters as much as the math. The forehead, for example, is not a single muscle. The frontalis varies across individuals, sometimes with a central gap, sometimes broad and low. If I see lateral lines that stand out, I will place gentle units out toward the temples while keeping the medial brow mobile enough to avoid a flat, heavy look.
In the glabella, I pay attention to how the eyebrow heads move. Some people pull them down and together with power. Others flare the procerus and create a horizontal bar. Those patterns dictate where to place more or less product. Precision botox injections minimize spread into the levator palpebrae superioris, the muscle that lifts your eyelids, reducing the risk of droop.
Around the eyes, I feather doses to avoid a sharp cutoff line where the smile suddenly disappears. A little diffusion makes results look soft and elegant. For a botox lip flip, I stay superficial and conservative, focusing near the vermilion border to reduce the chance of functional changes.
The case for starting conservative, then adjusting
If you are new to botox cosmetic injections, start on the lighter side, then reassess at two weeks. I counsel first timers to choose 70 to 80 percent of a full dose in mobile areas. This gives us information. If the result is perfect, great. If there is a stubborn line or uneven movement, we add a small touch safely. If we overshoot on day one, you live with the side effect until it fades.
Experienced patients who know their numbers can go straight to their usual plan. Even then, I adjust seasonally. Photographers, teachers, or public speakers might want a stronger hold before a busy season. Actors or singers often prefer more movement. Long lasting botox is not always the priority. Fit is.
Combining botox with other treatments
Wrinkle relaxer injections soften dynamic lines, which are caused by muscle movement. Static lines, etched into the skin from years of motion, may stick around even when muscles are at rest. That is where filler, skin resurfacing, and skincare come in.
For deep glabellar creases that persist after a full neuromodulator dose, a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler can lift the groove, but only when the muscles are truly controlled. Otherwise, the filler bears the brunt of pressure and can look lumpy. Around the eyes, energy based devices and medical skincare improve texture while botox decreases the cause.
In the lower face, toxin around the mouth botox offerings in New York is conservative by necessity. Lip lines respond to a mix of skincare, microneedling, resurfacing, and sometimes a tiny toxin for motion, with filler when appropriate. A botox clinic that offers integrated services can sequence treatments for efficient, natural results.
Maintenance, timing, and touch ups
Most cosmetic botox plans repeat every three to four months. Some patients come in twice a year and accept more movement between sessions. Others maintain a calendar for consistent softness. There is no single correct cadence. Choose the interval that matches your goals, budget, and tolerance for movement.
Touch ups are best scheduled 10 to 21 days after your botox appointment, once the product has fully declared. Small asymmetries, like one eyebrow creeping higher, are easy fixes with 2 to 4 units. Significant undercorrection usually reflects an initially conservative plan, which is fine as long as expectations were set. Repeat botox treatment does not require starting from scratch each time. We learn and refine.
Special scenarios worth mentioning
Event timelines. For a wedding or big photo shoot, book your botox session 4 weeks ahead. That leaves time for maximal effect and a tidy touch up if needed. Do not make your first botox experience right before the event.
Athletes and heavy sweaters. You may metabolize product faster. Consider appropriate dosing and accept that you might return sooner than your desk bound counterparts. For underarms, botox therapy is often a game changer in confidence during training and competition.
Post COVID and immune shifts. A subset of patients report slightly altered duration or kinetics after illness or vaccination. The effect is inconsistent and usually modest. Plan your follow up based on your lived response, not assumptions.
Switching brands. If you change from Botox to Dysport or another neuromodulator, your injector will adjust units. Some patients feel one brand “kicks in” faster or spreads differently. There is no universal winner. The best botox treatment is the one that matches your anatomy, goals, and previous response.
Choosing a provider who gets dosing right
The work looks easy when done well, which can lull people into thinking any provider will do. Results vary with training, experience, and judgment. Look for a botox specialist who:
- Takes a full history, studies your expressions, and explains a plan in plain language. Welcomes a two week check and stands behind appropriate touch ups. Uses medical grade botox from reputable sources and transparent pricing. Has before and after photos that look like the result you want, not just the most dramatic cases. Communicates what botox can and cannot do, and offers other options when toxin is not the best tool.
Credentials matter, but so does aesthetic sense. A trusted botox provider blends science with restraint.
A quick dosing snapshot to anchor expectations
People crave a reference point, even with all the nuance. Here is a conservative to typical view for cosmetic areas using Botox units: glabella 15 to 25, forehead 8 to 20, crow’s feet 12 to 24 total, brow lift 4 to 8 total, bunny lines 4 to 8 total, lip flip 4 to 8 total, chin 8 to 12, DAO 4 to 10 total, masseters 40 to 80 total, platysmal bands 30 to 60 total. If you arrive at a botox clinic and the plan deviates wildly without a clear reason, ask why. Sometimes the answer is simple, like strong muscles or a very conservative goal. Sometimes it is a red flag.
What your first visit feels like
Most botox sessions take 10 to 20 minutes. You start with a botox consultation, photos, and consent. Makeup is removed from target areas. Some clinics apply ice or a topical anesthetic. The injections themselves feel like quick pinches. Forehead and glabella are easy for most people. The lip flip is spicier but brief.
After your botox procedure, you can return to normal daily life. I recommend avoiding heavy workouts, upside down yoga, and tight hats for the rest of the day. Keep your hands off the treated areas. You may see small wheals that settle within an hour. Makeup can go on later that day, gentle pressure only.
Results begin to show within 2 to 5 days, peak around day 14. If you are a first timer, schedule your follow up before you leave, so you do not forget.
When to consider medical botox
Beyond aesthetics, botulinum toxin treatment improves quality of life in several conditions. Chronic migraine, cervical dystonia, spasticity after stroke, and hyperhidrosis are established uses. TMJ botox treatment helps many teeth grinders with jaw pain and tension headaches, and can slim a hypertrophic jawline at the same time. Therapeutic botox dosing follows protocols, but experienced injectors still tailor to anatomy and response.
Insurance may cover certain medical indications. Documentation and consistent follow up are essential, and your botox doctor should coordinate with your other providers when needed.
The bottom line on units
There is no universal dose card that applies to every face. The best botox treatment emerges from a conversation about your anatomy, movement patterns, and preferences. Use unit ranges as a compass, not a contract. Demand thoughtful placement as well as appropriate amounts. Expect to fine tune over your first two sessions. Value expertise and safety as much as botox cost. If you keep those principles in mind, you will land on a plan that looks like you, just more rested.
If you are searching for “botox near me,” bring this understanding to your botox appointment. Ask for personalized botox treatment, not a one size fits all package. The right injector will welcome the discussion and design a plan that fits your features, your calendar, and your goals. That is how you get results you love, and how you keep them with smart botox maintenance over time.