Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic dermatology treatments. It offers a non-invasive treatment option to turn back the clock. Botox helps to minimize dynamic wrinkles to help skin look smooth and youthful. According to Dr. Jean Charles of U.S. Dermatology Partners in Cedar Park, Texas, “Botox treatment offers dramatic improvement in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles without the need for advanced or invasive procedures. However, this treatment is not permanent. Depending on a range of factors, patients need to receive retreatment periodically to ensure they maintain the desired results.” In this blog, Dr. Charles walks through how often Botox treatment is needed and what the typical dosage is by treatment area.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin injection treatment that utilizes controlled doses of botulinum toxin to control unconscious facial movements and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles. Originally developed to control involuntary muscle movements as part of pain management and in the treatment of muscle spasms and injuries, researchers discovered that the administration of Botox injections also reduced the appearance of wrinkles. Dr. Charles says, “What started as an unintended secondary use for Botox has quickly become the primary purpose of this treatment with millions of people receiving Botox cosmetic treatments annually.”
How Does it Work?
During a Botox treatment session, your dermatologist will strategically place each injection within the treatment area to ensure optimal results. Each injection relaxes a specific set of muscles, decreasing facial muscle movements. The process of treating one area usually takes less than 30 minutes. Botox is approved to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the eyes. Botox uses extremely fine-gage needles to minimize discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Within the first few days, you will start to see an improved appearance of dynamic wrinkles, resulting in diminished wrinkles at rest, and you should see the final results within two weeks of treatment. After these first few weeks, your dermatologist will evaluate the results and discuss whether additional treatment is necessary as well as make recommendations for retreatment frequency.
Botox Injection Sites, Number of Units & Reapplication
When it comes to Botox treatment planning, Dr. Charles says, “It’s important to partner with an experienced aesthetic provider to receive the best Botox treatment, like a dermatologist or nurse injector. They have the knowledge of skin health and facial anatomy necessary to provide a customized Botox treatment plan that delivers the desired results. They will walk you through the number of units needed as well as the expected reapplication timeline. Reapplication will vary based on the area being treated, age of the client, depth of the wrinkles, frequency of muscle movements, and lifestyle factors, including skin conditions, piercings, and wearing glasses.” Below, Dr. Charles outlines a basic Botox plan for the three most frequently treated areas, including average dosages and retreatment timelines.
Forehead Treatment
By far one of the most popular Botox targets, the deep creases and wrinkles in our forehead show how hard we’ve concentrated or how often we’ve been surprised over the years, but if you’re ready to erase these years of developing wrinkles, Botox may be a great option. There are typically between 10 and 50 units of Botox administered depending on the strength of facial movements, eyebrow placement, and size of the area injected. The number of Botox units used for the first application will probably be a lower dose. After the initial treatment, your aesthetic provider will evaluate the results and the amount of time they’re maintained to determine the appropriate dosage and retreatment cycle moving forward. Most people receive retreatment every three to four months.
Eyebrow Treatment
Between the eyes, lines form that are often referred to as the elevens or frown lines. These wrinkles can be difficult to treat because they are deeply embedded and close to sensitive eye structures. In some cases, your dermatologist may recommend using Botox as a way to prevent the formation of these frown lines, or they may utilize Botox in combination with other cosmetic dermatology treatments to address deeper lines. Botox injections are placed in five locations to diminish the appearance of elevens. The injections are administered in a V shape with the point between the eyebrows. The number of units varies from 15 to 50. For the first treatment, your aesthetic provider will err on the side of caution, which usually means fewer units are injected to ensure safety. You’ll meet with your aesthetic provider a few weeks after the initial treatment. At this time, they’ll help you determine how often you’ll need to schedule retreatment. In most cases, treatment takes place three or four times each year.
Crow’s Feet Treatment
One of the most difficult-to-treat areas is the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes. These wrinkles, often called crow’s feet, can be very responsive to Botox treatment, but it takes a gentle touch and expert skill to administer Botox safely in this area. For this reason, your aesthetic provider may advise you to receive a low-dose treatment first as a trial to see the possible results before moving forward with a higher dosage. Injections are usually made in six locations on the corners of the eyes. On each side of the face, an injection is made above and below the eye’s natural corner formed by the eye’s creases. A final injection is placed between the two. The number of units may start as low as 6 or 8 units per eye, with retreatment planned three or four times each year.
Is Botox the Right Treatment for Me?
According to Dr. Charles, “Botox can make a big difference for many people, but no cosmetic dermatology treatment is right for everyone. At the end of the day, the decision to move forward with Botox is a personal one that should be considered carefully in partnership with a skilled aesthetic provider. They will walk you through every aspect of Botox treatment to ensure you feel comfortable and confident moving forward, and that includes the number of units required and their estimated retreatment timelines.”
Schedule a Consultation Today
When you’re ready to learn more about Botox treatment, reach out to the U.S. Dermatology Partners to schedule a consultation visit. We make it quick and easy to schedule your consultation. You’ll just need to take a few moments to fill out our consultation request form online. Once we hear from you, a local team member will be in touch to answer your questions and finalize the details of your visit.
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