How do you calculate how many botox units needed to inject the glabella and crow's feet area?

Experience on Long Island has taught me to start off with usual doses in the glabella and crow's feet.  While each doctor may have a slightly different protocol, many of us use about 20-25 units in the glabella and then a lesser amount in the crow's feet. I usually ask for my patients to be in touch by phone or return to the office after a week to make sure we used the correct amount.  In reality, these treatments require a personalized touch and cannot be applied to all.  So, I like to start with a lesser amount because we can always do more later.

The amount of Botox needed to achieve a desired effect (e.g. wrinkle reduction) depends on the mass or bulk of the muscles, the strength that the muscle pulls on the skin, and the severity of the dynamic wrinkles.  I evaluate these factors during a consultation.  1 unit will always equal the dosage of 1 unit of Botox, regardless of how many units are packaged in the bottle or how the dilution is done by your doctor.  There's a wide range of "typical" dosages for an area.  A glabella with weak muscles may only require 20 units while a male with strong eyebrow muscles may require 40 units in that same area.  

Thank you for your question. There are certain amount of units recommended per area. It is best to consult with a Board Certified Dermatologist for best treatment plan. I hope this helps!

The number of units you might need depends on how strong your muscles are and how they are creating the lines on your face. The decision on how many units to use is a combination of your anatomy and your desired outcome.

The amount of units of Botox ® to treat the glabella and the
crow’s feet area depends on how active is the muscle and how evident and deep
the lines are in those areas. In average the amount of Botox needed in those
areas range from 5 units to 15 units. Patients interested in undergoing Botox
treatment of the glabella and crow’s feet are should consider making a consultation
with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specialized in Botox treatments.



John Mesa

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Livingston, Hoboken, Edgewater, NJ

New York City, NY

The number of units I use on a patient depends on my examination.  So each person is unique and requires a speicific amount to treat their wrinkles.  I would suggest consulting a doctor with a lot of experience and asking what is right for you.

hi,the dosing of botox varies with sex (males needing more dose), the strength of the muscle to be weakened (stronger the muscle more the dose), the degree of post-botox movement desired (frozen look needs more dosing) and if it is the first time or after many treatments (after a series of regular treatments, the need for Botox reduces, both in frequency and dosing)hope this answers your questions.warm regardsDr Prashant

Botox comes bottled in 50 or 100 units. Each is freeze dried and needs to be reconstituted by the provider. Strength depends on the reconstitution factor or amount of fluid mixed in and not the amount of Botox in the bottle. It is like getting a large packeage or small package of jello...you still have to mix in the right amount of water. How many units of Botox are used depends on each patient. Most of my patients prefer a softened or natural look and therefore need a bit less than someone who wants to be totally "frozen." Men almost always need more than women, especially in the glabella area (the lines between the eyebrows) since their muscles are generally much larger. It is most important to find a competent provider who is trained in plastic surgery or dermatology and is frequently giving Botox so they remain expert in these injections. If you are gooing a new provider for the first time be sure to ask to see photos of their patients. 

It depends on the severity of the wrinkles and the response you would like.If you need 'softening' of the wrinkles the Botox dose will be lesser than if you ask for a ' get rid of wrinkle' dose. Average Glabella Units range from 15- 25 Units ( with 20 being the usual dose). Crows feet range from 6- 12 Units depending on the severityAll the best

The amount of botox/dysport/xeomin vary between each person.  The size of the muscles, the age of the patient and most importantly the desired outcome of the patient are all variables in determining the amount of product used.All the Best!Dr. Tony Perkins.