Is There a Way Around the Required 50 Units of Botox?

Every face has a slightly different requirement when it comes to cosmetic Botox injections. If you're visiting a reputable provider, you shouldn't be forced to buy 50 Units of Botox. With some quick research, you can find several providers in your area who are legitimate and won't insist on the same treatment cost for everyone.

In general, 16-20 units is adequate for the forehead. The amount of Botox required for each patient depends on the following:

1) Areas that the patient would like treated
2) Severity of wrinkles in the area

If too much Botox is injected in a given area, it can lead to undesirable side effects such as:

1) A frozen or expressionless appearance
2) Ptosis, or drooping of the eyelid/brow

If your provider requires a pre-purchase of a certain amount, that is their individual policy. But be sure that you do not have too much injected in one specific area. I hope this helps, and good luck.

The pricing structure is specific to whatever clinic or doctor you are going to. There is no set number of units of Botox, as many people use even less than 20 units for one treatment. If the clinic won’t budge and allow you to pay only for the product you use, I suggest looking elsewhere for treatment. Always make sure your injector is an experienced, board certified physician.

Technically, Botox is labeled as a "single use" vial. This has to do with the way it was approved for use by the FDA during the clinical trials. Most physicians use it "off label" by using one bottle for more than one patient. If done with new syringes each time and a sterile technique, no deleterious effects have ever been demonstrated or published. By using the vial for a second patient, no harm is being done and you are trusting that your doctor is using proper patient safety precautions.
 

If you have always had the exact same area of your forehead treated with 20 units of Botox and obtained a good result, I would stick with that dose.  If you are adding other areas, such as the frown lines or crow's feet, you will most likely need more than 20 units.  If your injector is requiring you to pay for 50 units and only using 20, I would seek out a different physician to treat you.