The number of Botox units depends on gender, the strength of muscles, the area treated and other factors. This article explains the Botox units, how much Botox is too much and the frequently asked questions.
Botox has become a general cosmetic procedure. It is an effective and simple treatment for minimizing the occurrence of ageing on the face. Most patients have been using it to enhance their facial appearance and treat several medical conditions. It is not permanent; it can last for three to six months. When Botox is used in small amounts, it is considered safe. The units of Botox used during injection vary from patient to patient. When needed for botulinum toxin, patients should look for a professional cosmetic doctor to conduct the procedure. A licenced cosmetic doctor will be able to know the number of Botox units to use, which will be safe and effective for the patient.
Botox Units
The most common regions for Botox procedure are the frown region, crow’s feet and forehead. According to Chirico et al. (2021), the number of Botox units is modified for every patient according to the strength of facial muscles, treatment area, gender and other factors. For patients with stronger facial muscles, more units are required for optimal results; those with weaker facial muscles will need fewer units. When it comes to gender, men possess stronger facial muscles compared to women. In this case, men will need more units of Botox to achieve optimal results. Botox is at all times measured in units. Some patients decide to receive several Botox injections at once. It means the number of Botox they will receive that day will be more when combined for all regions. Some patients usually wonder how many units of Botox they should use. When they visit a licensed cosmetic doctor with approved products, they will be able to give them the right units to achieve their desired results.
How Much Botox Is Too Much?
According to Bakke (2022), many Botox units may result in some side effects and health risks to the patient. It is recommended that patients look for a licenced cosmetic doctor. The cosmetic doctor will be able to know the number of units of Botox that will be safe for the patients. Different areas are injected with different doses to obtain the desired results. For instance, the number of units needed between the eyes is fifteen to twenty. Any amount beyond this may result in complications. Again, this depends on the strength of the patient’s muscles. The number of Botox units for forehead lines can range from ten to twenty. For crow’s feet, the average number of Botox units can range from ten to twelve, and glabella lines can range from fifteen to twenty. Any units beyond this average can result in some health risks and complications to the face. To avoid all these, patients should always see a well-skilled, experienced, qualified cosmetic doctor.
Common Results of Too Much Botox
When Botox is injected in large quantities, it may raise some undesirable results like:
The Drooping or Arched Eyebrow
Bhatnagar et al. (2022) state this typically occurs when patients receive many Botox units on the forehead. The Frontalis muscle is accountable for the movement of the eyebrows. Excessive Botox injected into this muscle can elevate the eyebrows in an unwanted way. The eyebrows droop and collapse when the frontalis muscles relax. It may make the eyelids droop, and the patients look more tired when they are even more awake.
Weakened Muscles
When the muscles relax, they become weaker and smaller. When patients receive botulinum toxin more frequently than required, the muscles may feel loose, and the skin looks thinner and unattractive than before the procedure.
Frozen Face
The arched eyebrows go together with the frozen face. Patients having frozen faces cannot display their facial expressions. The face does not change when happy, angry or sad. The only movements observed on the face are for the mouth when talking. Patients receiving many Botox units near the mouth can result in a non-stop frown.
Eyelid Droop
When many Botox units are injected into the forehead, it relaxes more than required. It makes the eyebrows sag and feel weighty. These eyebrows drop for patients with hooding skin, causing the eyelids to appear worse. Patients may experience difficulty in opening their eyes fully. It can be completely prevented when the patients visit licenced cosmetic doctors to give them Botox injections.
How to Receive a Successful Botox Procedure
There are some things that patients should put into consideration to get a successful treatment and achieve optimal results. One of them is to look for a licenced cosmetic doctor. Unqualified cosmetic doctors can risk the patient’s health and experience issues after the treatment. Patients seeking Botox should find out if the cosmetic doctor meets certain criteria. Patients should look if the cosmetic doctor is board certified. It implies that they have attained the right training and experience. After the treatment, patients should avoid touching or massaging the injection site. It can lead to bruising on the treated area and cause the migration of toxins to unintended regions of the face. It may result in complications and may make the toxin not last longer. Cosmetic doctors advise patients to avoid exposing themselves to excessive sun. Excessive sun rays can lead to collagen damage which results in premature wrinkles. Patients can protect themselves from the sun’s rays by wearing protective clothing and sunscreens.
Is Botox Safe?
According to Mitkov et al. (2018), Botox is safe when the procedure is conducted correctly by a professional cosmetic doctor and when the toxin is injected into a small amount. However, after the treatment, some patients may experience excessive tearing or eye dryness, drooling or crooked smile, fatigue, headache, swelling and pain ant the treated area. When patients observe these side effects, which do not disappear after a while, they should see a cosmetic doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions about Botox
How Do You Know If You Got Too Much Botox?
When Botox is injected in large amounts into the forehead, it makes the eyebrows sag and makes the eyelids appear hooded and heavy. The face appears frozen and looks sad or angry at most times.
What Does It Look Like When Botox Goes Away?
Patients can easily know if their Botox has gone wrong. Some signs include facial asymmetry, a drooping eyelid and overarching eyebrows.
Are 80 Units of Botox Too Much?
It is a very large number of Botox units for the forehead. It can result in complications. Always looking for a licenced cosmetic doctor to determine the right dose for you is a great idea.
Conclusion
The number of Botox units used depends on gender, the strength of the muscles, the area treated and other factors. Patients with strong muscles require a larger dose than patients with weaker muscles. It is a great idea to select a licenced cosmetic doctor to conduct the procedure for you. The cosmetic doctor will determine the right units for you for injection. Remember, the Botox treatment is safe when used in small amounts.
References
Bakke, M. (2022). Botulinum Toxin, a Drug with Potential Interest for Dentists—An Introduction. Toxins, 14(10), 667.
Bhatnagar, A., Rai, R., Kumar, S., Mitra, B., Chopra, A., Singh, G. K., … & Sandhu, S. (2022). Safety and Efficacy of Restoring Facial Symmetry Using Polydioxanone Thread Face Lift Technique in Patients with Facial Palsy. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 15(2), 26.
Chirico, F., Bove, P., Fragola, R., Cosenza, A., De Falco, N., Lo Giudice, G., … & Rauso, G. M. (2021). Biphasic Injection for Masseter Muscle Reduction with Botulinum Toxin. Applied Sciences, 11(14), 6478.
Mitkov, M. V., Thomas, C. S., Cochuyt, J. J., Forte, A. J., & Perdikis, G. (2018). Simulation: an effective method of teaching cosmetic botulinum toxin injection technique. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 38(12), NP207-NP212.
MS, Lund University, Sweden
Nutrition plays an important role in human life. Eating habits are one of the factors that affect our health. There is often a misconception among people that nutritionists force a very restrictive diet, but that is not true. In fact, I don't ban any products, but I point out dietary mistakes and help change them by giving tips and new recipes that I've tried myself. I advise my patients not to resist change and to be purposeful. Only with willpower and determination can a good result be achieved in any area of life, including changing eating habits. When I don't work, I love to go climbing. On a Friday evening, you are most likely to find me on my couch, cuddling with my dog and watching some Netflix.
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