How much movement is normal for Botox?

The amount of movement is
dependent on how many units are injected and where they are placed.
If you received 20 units for both our forehead and frown lines, you
may need more, specially in the frown lines. The amount of movement
that is "normal" is a personal choice. Some people desire
no movement and others desire a lot of movement -- all depends on you.
As a general rule, the more movement you have, the less likely the
lines will fade. Good luck!

Some males need more especially if you have larger muscles or exercise more. I suggest you go to someone who specializes in male aesthetics.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Hi Nick.  If you had 20 units in your forehead and this included both the area of the "11's" as well as the area above the brows, then it's very likely you need more.  A male patient will usually have at least 20 units in the glabella (between the eyes at the 11's), so if the product was spread out to include the area above the brows, then your duration will suffer and you will be back in less than 3-4 months.  Would recommend higher dosing if you are treating both areas.  Male forehead below with 15-20 units of Botox - exclusive of the area between eyes.

Hi Nick,There is no "correct" amount of facial movement after Botox treatment.  This is a very personal decision that depends on your age, profession, lifestyle, etc.  I generally recommend to my patients to aim for a very natural look that makes them look refreshed, well rested, energetic, and stress free.  I have many patients who are professionals who simply want to look their best for their age without looking "fake" or "done".  The stronger the dose, the more likely you will look frozen and the longer the Botox will last.  For truly natural results I generally use smaller doses but at quicker intervals.  Consult a board-certified expert like a plastic surgeon or dermatologist for best results. Regards--D. Yamini

Thank you for your excellent question.  As you know, Botox only temporarily prevents muscles from working, leading the overlying skin to not wrinkle. There are many factors that go into how much Botox is needed: the effect that a prior amount of botox provided, the thickness and activity of the muscle looking to be paralyzed, sex of the patient, etc.  If you are happy having a small amount of activity in your forehead after Botox, then maintaining your 20 units is a good idea.  If you add more Botox per injection to an area, it will lead to a longer total paralysis, and will affect a little more of the surrounding muscle fibers as well.  3-4 month dosing when starting botox is pretty typical, but with repeated use, some patients can last longer between sessions.  Males often have stronger/larger muscles in the face, such as the area between the eyes, and can require more Botox, for the same effect, as women. Hope this hellps 

Great question! The short answer is: the ideal dose is the one that achieves the results you want. The long answer is that each patient has an a goal in mind and every body is different. As a general rule, some movement is typical for this dosage, just as you described it. It's even desirable for many patients who may want the firmed, smoothed look that Botox offers, but do not want to completely immobilize the area. Others find that higher a higher dosage that does keep movement to a minimum, or eliminates it, is the right choice to help them achieve their long term anti-aging goals. If you were unhappy or have questions about your results, bring them up at your next appointment. Your doctor may be able to adjust the dosage or treatment areas for results that you are more happy with. 

Botx generally lasts approximately 3 months for most patients.  As it starts to wear off, one may notice increased movement in the treated area until it completely wears off.  That said, male patients generally require a higher amount of Botox as their facial muscles tend to be stronger than females. I would recommend speaking to your injector about your concerns and perhaps getting a higher number of units next treatment if you are looking for more correction.

The effect of Botox starts to wear off after it reaches its peak which is usually 2 - 3 weeks after injection.  So, at 1.5 months, some of the Botox effect has begun to wear off.  More movement over the outer edges of the eyebrows is typical since many injectors use less product in that area to reduce the chance of creating heavy eyelids.To get a longer lasting effect, your injector would have to add more Botox, but that would increase the risk of getting heavy eyelids or a Neanderthal look.20 units to the horizontal lines of the forehead is a pretty good dose for most men; however, it would be on the lower side if it was distributed between the frown and the forehead.