How Many Units of Botox for Frown Lines? What Pros Use

If you have a habit of scowling at spreadsheets or squinting into the sun, you probably know those stubborn vertical lines between the eyebrows, often called the “11s.” In clinical terms, they are glabellar lines, formed by the corrugator and procerus muscles. They are one of the most common requests in any aesthetic practice, right up there with botox for forehead lines and crow’s feet. Patients usually ask one thing first: how many units of Botox do I need?

Here is the short, honest answer from years of injecting faces that move differently, age differently, and want different outcomes. Most adults need 15 to 25 units of botox for frown lines, split across five injection points in the glabella. Men with stronger muscles often sit at the higher end, 20 to 30 units. If you want very subtle movement, that may be 10 to 16 units. If you prefer a completely smoothed frown, it may take the full recommended range. The right number lives at the intersection of anatomy, expression habits, skin quality, and your aesthetic goals.

That range sounds simple, but getting it right is about nuance. Let’s unpack how professionals land on a personalized dose and what that means for results, cost, longevity, and safety.

What “units” actually mean

A unit is a standardized measure of potency for onabotulinumtoxinA, the active ingredient in Botox Cosmetic. Units are not interchangeable across brands. Twenty units of Botox is not the same as twenty units of Dysport or Xeomin. Dysport uses different units, and conversion ratios are approximate. Most injectors use a 2.5 to 3 to 1 ratio when moving between Dysport and Botox, but that decision depends on experience and patient response. If you are comparing botox pricing per unit across clinics, make sure you are comparing the same product.

Understanding units matters for realistic expectations. If a friend says she needed 12 units and you needed 22, that does not mean you were overtreated. It probably means your corrugators are stronger, you have a deeper crease at rest, or you want less movement.

The classic glabellar map, and why technique matters

The FDA study design for botox cosmetic treatment of glabellar lines used five injection points: two on the corrugator muscles on each side and one in the procerus between the eyebrows. Most injectors follow a similar map because it diffuses product across the muscle group that creates the frown. Typical dosing looks like 4 units per point for a total of 20 units. That is a common starting point and still a frequent final dose.

Great results come from more than a diagram. Your injector evaluates where your corrugators pull the brow, how much bulk they have, how the procerus pulls downward toward the bridge of the nose, and whether you have asymmetry. If your left brow pulls harder, an injector may place an extra unit or two on that side, or shift a point slightly higher. If you have a strong inward frown and minimal downward pull, they might emphasize corrugators and lighten the procerus. These micro-adjustments keep the brow shape balanced and reduce the risk of heaviness.

I once treated a fitness instructor whose job had her squinting into studio mirrors all day. Her corrugators were energetic, and she did not want a frozen look. We landed at 22 units, slightly higher on the lateral corrugators with a lighter central dose, and set a two-week follow-up. At review, she had soft movement and the “11s” had relaxed without a drop in her medial brow. That balance came from placement and spread, not just the headline number.

How many units most people actually get

Most adults fall into one of these broad patterns.

The classic full treatment for frown lines: 20 units, split as 4 units across five sites. Reliable smoothing, natural brow position for most faces, and a three to four month duration for the average patient.
The conservative look or “baby botox” approach: 10 to 16 units. This softens lines and preserves more movement, useful for first time botox patients or those testing their comfort with reduced expressiveness.
The high-movement or strong-muscle plan: 22 to 30 units. Common for men, athletes, and anyone with deep set lines, thicker skin, or a habit of forceful frowning.

Those ranges assume standard reconstitution and traditional botox injections. Advanced botox techniques, like micro botox or hybrid approaches that combine points in the upper brow for a subtle botox brow lift, can shift dose slightly while maintaining the same total units.

First time botox versus maintenance

First time botox often starts slightly conservative, especially if you are nervous about feeling heavy or flat. Your injector may begin at 16 to 20 units, then adjust at the two-week mark. This is not hedging, it is calibration. Once we see how your muscles respond, we can set a steady plan. Over time, many people maintain at the original dose. Some need a small increase because their metabolism chews through neurotoxin faster. Others can hold results with a few fewer units as the muscle weakens after repeated treatments.

For long-term botox maintenance, I find a consistent interval matters more than chasing an exact unit number. Most patients repeat every 12 to 16 weeks. A few stretch to five or even six months if they accept some movement between visits. Going too long lets the muscle regain strength, and you may need more units later to reestablish control. If you keep a steady schedule, the muscle stays quieter, the etched lines soften, and we can often maintain with similar or slightly lower doses.

When a pro will recommend more

There are times when the standard 20 units for frown lines simply is not enough.

Deep static lines etched into the skin at rest. If the crease is visible even when you are not frowning, a stronger muscle and a longer history of repetitive movement are at work. You may need the higher end of dosing and expect two to three cycles before the line softens meaningfully.
Male patients with heavy corrugators or a very expressive brow. Many men land at 22 to 30 units.
Thick, sebaceous skin. Product diffusion can be slightly different in thicker tissue, and more units may be required for the same effect.
Adjacent goals, like a gentle eyebrow lift. If we are using botox for a brow lift effect, placement can be adjusted and total units can change to balance the glabella with the frontalis.

We also run into the opposite scenario. Some patients are prone to eyebrow heaviness, either from baseline brow anatomy, mild dermatochalasis of the upper eyelid, or their frontalis doing a lot of lifting. In these cases we may reduce glabellar units slightly and redistribute to the frontalis carefully, so the brow remains open and alert without a drop. This is where personalized botox treatment matters more than a standard number.

Timing, onset, and how long the results last

You will feel nothing dramatic on the day of treatment. Most people begin to notice a softening around day three to five. Maximum effect arrives around day 10 to 14. For glabellar lines, the bulk of patients enjoy botox results for about three to four months. That is the average. I have seen patients return at 10 weeks asking for a refresh because they like a crisp, no-movement look. Others come back at 16 or 18 weeks with partial movement returning.

How often to get botox depends on your goals and metabolism. Endurance athletes, fast metabolizers, and those under chronic stress sometimes wear off a touch sooner. A consistent schedule helps build predictable outcomes.

What about mixing areas: forehead, crow’s feet, and the 11s

Treating frown lines alone is common, but the glabella works in concert with the frontalis and orbicularis oculi. If you get botox for forehead lines without addressing the glabella, the frontalis might overcompensate and lift unevenly. On the other hand, paralyzing the glabella without considering the forehead can unmask compensatory lift and create unnatural arches. Many pros plan glabella and forehead together, especially for first-time treatment, then adjust.

Crow’s feet are often treated at the same visit as well. Typical units for crow’s feet sit in the 12 to 24 unit range total, depending on how many lateral lines you show and whether you want to preserve a little smile crinkle. This is why a thorough botox consultation matters. It is not just about a single area. It is a map of how your face emotes.

How much does botox cost for frown lines

Pricing varies by region, injector experience, and clinic model. Two common approaches exist: per unit pricing or per area pricing. Per unit pricing may range from 10 to 20 dollars per unit in many U.S. markets. A 20 unit glabella treatment could therefore cost 200 to 400 dollars. Per area pricing might list a flat fee for the glabella, often calculated around the same ballpark.

Discounts, botox deals, membership programs, and package deals exist, but do not chase the lowest price without considering skill. Precision injection saves you units and refines your result. If you are searching online for botox near me for wrinkles, use that as a starting point, then vet training, patient reviews, and before and after images. The best botox clinic or best botox doctor for you is the one who listens to how you want to look and has the anatomical mastery to make it happen.

Safety, dosing, and what to expect after

At typical cosmetic doses, botox cosmetic has an excellent safety profile. Common side effects include small injection site bumps that resolve within 30 minutes, minor bruising, a headache, or a tight sensation as the product settles. Less common is a brow or lid ptosis when toxin diffuses to the levator palpebrae or when too much product is placed too low. Good technique and accurate anatomy keep this rare. Choosing a clinician who understands danger zones and dilution makes a difference.

Aftercare is simple but important. Avoid rubbing the area for several hours, skip strenuous workouts the same day, and remain upright for at least four hours. The question can you work out after botox comes up at almost every appointment. Light walking is fine. I advise patients to wait until the next day for hot yoga, HIIT, or heavy lifting. Alcohol can increase bruising risk, so minimize drinking that evening if possible.

Subtle versus smoothed: setting your target

You can get natural looking botox without sacrificing animation. It is a spectrum. Think about your goals in specific terms, not just “natural.”

If you want to keep a hint of movement with fewer etched lines, aim for a conservative dose and accept that some fold may remain when you frown hard.
If you want the 11s gone in photos and in the mirror, expect a full dose and perhaps slightly stronger units for the first two cycles to retrain the muscle.

A useful trick is to bring a photo of your expression when the lines bother you most. Morning mirror frown, end of day squint at a screen, or direct sunlight grimace. Your injector can read how your muscles recruit and translate that to dosing. This is also where preventative botox enters the conversation. If you are in your late twenties to early thirties and lines are starting to etch, a lighter dose earlier can delay those lines from carving in. Baby botox for the forehead and glabella plays well here, but it still requires skill. Too little and you will not notice a difference. Too much in the wrong spot and the brow gets heavy. Balance is the point.

When botox alone is not enough

Botox for wrinkles that are caused by movement is unmatched. But if you have deep static lines that persist at rest, botox reduces the muscle-driven folding but may not erase the line. This is where treatments can work together. Light resurfacing, microneedling, or energy-based devices improve skin texture. In some cases, a minute amount of hyaluronic acid filler in a microdroplet technique can lift a stubborn crease. That is not the same as botox and fillers for volume. It is a targeted approach to a single line. Your injector should explain trade-offs and sequence. Often, we soften the muscle first, then reassess in six to eight weeks.

Brand questions: Dysport vs Botox, Xeomin vs Botox

All three are neuromodulators that relax muscles the same way. Differences are subtle and often preference based. Some patients feel Dysport kicks in a day earlier and spreads a touch more, which can be useful Burlington botox in broader areas like the forehead. Xeomin is nudenized, without accessory proteins, which some believe may reduce antibody risk, though clinically significant antibody formation at cosmetic doses is rare. Conversions are not unit to unit. If you are switching because a clinic’s supply or your preference changes, your injector will convert the plan appropriately.

Men and the “brotox” conversation

Men increasingly request botox for frown lines, crow’s feet, and masseter botox for jaw clenching or facial slimming. Doses for men’s glabella often land 20 to 30 units simply because of thicker muscle mass. The goal is not to feminize the brow or erase character. It is to control the heavy inward scowl that reads as angry or tired. Communication helps: say if you want to keep a little movement or if meetings and photos drive the decision for a stronger hold. The same onset, longevity, and aftercare apply.

Special situations worth noting

If you have migraines, botox treatment protocols exist for therapeutic dosing, which is different from cosmetic placement and involves 31 or more injections across the scalp, temples, neck, and shoulders. That is medical botox, not a glabella-only plan, but it often softens frown lines as a side effect.

For those with hyperhidrosis, botox for excessive sweating is used in the underarms, palms, or scalp, again at higher total doses than cosmetic glabella treatment. None of these replace a focused cosmetic plan, yet they often coexist for people who benefit from both therapeutic botox and aesthetic results.

TMJ botox treatment for jaw clenching uses doses in the masseter that are many times higher than glabella dosing. If you are already receiving jawline botox or masseter botox, tell your injector. Total toxin exposure across areas matters for planning intervals and observing response.

A realistic timeline from consult to results

A typical botox appointment for the 11s takes about 15 to 20 minutes. After a brief consultation, we capture expressions for your chart and sometimes quick botox before and after photos under the same light to track progress over time. Skin is cleaned, points are marked, and injections are done with a fine needle. You might feel a quick sting or pressure, usually very tolerable without numbing.

You can return to work right away. Makeup can be applied a few hours later if there is no bleeding or weeping at the injection sites. Most bruises, if they happen, are pinhead sized and fade quickly. Plan your botox touch up review at two weeks if this is your first time or if we adjusted your usual plan. This is when micro-corrections happen: a unit or two to even a left-right asymmetry or to add a hint more control to a stubborn line. Do not judge results at day two or three. Give it the full two weeks. That is when botox results are mature.

What not to do after botox

Here is a concise, practical checklist many patients find useful.

Skip heavy workouts, saunas, and hot yoga until the next day.
Avoid rubbing or massaging the injected area for at least six hours.
Stay upright for four hours, no naps or face-down massages.
Delay facials, microdermabrasion, or aggressive skincare for 24 hours.
Minimize alcohol the first evening to reduce bruising risk.

These simple steps help the product settle where it should and lower the chance of diffusion to unintended muscles.

Cost transparency and finding value

A fair, transparent price per unit is helpful, but cost per outcome is what matters. An experienced injector may use fewer units for the same or better result, or they know when additional units are worth it to last through a busy quarter. If a clinic advertises a very low per-unit price, ask about dilution, product authenticity, and injector training. When it comes to a neurotoxin near your eyes, affordable botox should still meet a high standard. If a clinic offers a botox membership with modest savings for regular appointments, that can be a smart way to stay on schedule and protect your results.

Frequently asked calibration questions from real consults

How soon does botox work for the 11s? You should notice changes by day three to five, with a full effect by two weeks.

When does botox wear off? Expect movement to slowly return around three months, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Complete return to baseline typically happens by four months.

Can I do baby botox in the glabella if I already have static lines? You can, but know that very light doses preserve movement. If you want those etched lines to fade, you may need a stronger dose for the first couple of cycles before you lighten up.

Will treating the 11s give me an eyebrow lift? Sometimes a little, especially if your procerus is strong and pulling down the inner brow. If a brow lift is a goal, your injector can tailor placement and may add small points at the tail of the brow. Eyebrow lift botox is technique dependent.

Do I need fillers for my 11s? Not usually as a first step. Start with botox for frown lines. If a deep crease remains at rest after two cycles, discuss a touch of filler or skin treatments to address the line in the dermis.

The core takeaway on units

If you are scanning for a number to anchor your expectations, use this: 20 units is the most common professional dose for glabellar lines, delivered as five points of 4 units each. If you want a softer, low-motion result or you have strong frown muscles, the range expands from 15 to 30 units. Your best result comes from a customized botox plan that respects your anatomy, expression style, and aesthetic preferences, not a one-size chart.

A good injector will talk through how you frown, show you the proposed injection sites, and explain why they are choosing the dose. At your two-week check, they will fine tune if needed. That is how you achieve natural looking botox that softens the 11s without flattening your personality.

If you are ready to explore botox for frown lines, book a botox consultation with someone who treats faces all day and keeps detailed follow-up photos. Ask about how they approach first time botox, their philosophy on subtle botox results, and how they handle asymmetry. Bring your questions about botox side effects, how much does botox cost in their practice, and whether they offer same day botox if you are a good candidate. The right partnership delivers results you forget about daily because they simply look like you on a rested day, even when the sun is high and the inbox is full.