How Many Units of Botox Do You Need?

The desire for youthful, wrinkle-free skin has made Botox a popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment. The exact number of Botox units a patient needs depends on many factors, including age, skin type, severity of wrinkles, the area being treated, and the desired outcome.

This article explains how many units of Botox you need according to experts, depending on the area you want to treat.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need Per Area?

The number of units depends on the severity of wrinkles, the treated area, and the goals you wish to achieve. If it’s your first time receiving Botox, the medical practitioner may administer a lower dosage (around 1 to 3 units) to test your response and check for any side effects. After the testing phase, they will advise on another treatment in a couple of months.

The following table shows the recommended number of Botox units for each area.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Forehead?

The forehead is one of the most common Botox treatment areas, especially for softening horizontal and vertical (glabellar) lines.

Estheticians typically recommend 10 and 30 units of Botox for forehead lines, depending on muscle strength and the depth of the wrinkles. When it comes to Botox for frown lines, providers usually administer 15 to 30 units to relax the muscles and smooth the skin.

Note: Learn about the best treatments for forehead lines.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Eyes?

The skin around the eyes is particularly sensitive, which makes it more prone to bruising or swelling after injections. However, these side effects are usually mild and subside within a couple of days.

Common Botox areas around the eyes include:

• Brow lift– 2 to 5 units per side (5 to 10 units in total).
• Droopy eyelids – 12 to 24 units.
• Crow’s feet– 5 to 15 units per side (10 to 30 units in total).
• Under eye area – 1 to 4 units per eye (up to 8 units in total).

Note: Overfilling is a common cause of droopy eyelids. Discover other potential side effects of too much Botox and ways to prevent them.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Nose?

The number of Botox units for the nose depends on the concern you wish to address. This injectable neurotoxin can effectively reduce bunny lines (wrinkles on the bridge), nostril flaring (a wide nose), and a drooping nasal tip.

These are the typical dosing ranges for targeting different nasal muscles:

• Bunny lines – 5 to 10 units (2 to 5 units per side).
• Nasal tip lift – 2 to 6 units injected into the depressor septi nasi muscle.
• Nostril flaring– 4 to 8 units in total (2 to 4 per side).

Note: Learn how to recognize, prevent, and fix a nose filler gone wrong.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need Around the Mouth?

The area around the mouth is more prone to developing premature aging signs due to repeated facial movements such as smiling, laughing, smoking, drinking from straws and bottles, and puckering.

Your medical practitioner will recommend the number of units based on the conditions you want to treat:

• Nasolabial folds (smile lines) – 5 to 10 units per side.
• Lipstick lines (smoker’s lines) – 4 to 8 units for the entire upper lip area.
• Lip flip – 4 to 6 units.
• Gummy smile – 2 to 5 units per side.
• Marionette lines – 2 to 8 units per side.

Note: Discover the best treatments for wrinkles above the lips and learn the difference between a lip flip and a lip filler.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Neck?

As we age, the skin on the neck develops vertical and horizontal lines that can be more pronounced than those on the face. This is why most medical practitioners recommend preventive Botox for this area, with a higher number of units, ranging from 25 to 100.

These are the most common neck concerns treated by Botox:

• Vertical neck bands (platysmal bands or “turkey neck”) – 25 to 50 units.
• Horizontal neck lines (“necklace lines” or “tech neck”) – 20 to 50 units.
• Full neck treatment – 25 to 100 units.

Note: Read how fillers such as Sculptra can rejuvenate your neck and fill in smaller creases.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Jawline?

When it comes to our jaw and chin, Botox targets wrinkles, sagging skin, and loose muscles to improve tone and definition in this area. It can slim and redefine the jawline, reduce the downward pull of the neck muscles, and alleviate potential pain from teeth grinding.

It successfully treats the following:

• Chin wrinkles – 4 to 10 units.
• Chin projection (dimpled chin) - 4 to 10 units.
• Jaw slimming– 25 units per side.
• Jaw definition (masseter) – 20 to 30 units.
• Nefertiti lift (jawline and upper neck) - 20 to 80 units.

Note: Discover the most effective jawline contouring treatments.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Hands?

Botox is commonly used in the hand area to treat hand wrinkles and veins on the back of the hands, or excessive palmar sweating (hyperhidrosis).

Providers typically use these amounts of Botox:

• Hand wrinkles and veins - Up to 20 Botox units for both hands.
• Palm hyperhidrosis - Between 50 and 100 Botox units per palm.

Because palmar Botox may cause temporary grip weakness, it is essential to choose an experienced injector who knows how to adjust dosage based on sweating severity, aesthetic concerns, hand size, and other lifestyle factors.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for the Feet?

Most providers inject 50 to 100 units of Botox per foot to treat plantar hyperhidrosis (sweaty feet), reducing odor, moisture, and shoe discomfort caused by overactive toe clenching.

Purely cosmetic foot treatments with Botox are less common, as many aestheticians prefer hyaluronic acid fillers and medical pedicures for this area.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for Underarms?

Botox is also used for non-cosmetic reasons as the treatment is effective in controlling excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Because sweating plays a vital role in regulating body temperature and removing toxins, the goal is not to stop it completely but to bring it to a manageable level. Therefore, Botox providers use it only to control excessive sweating.

Medical practitioners typically inject about 50 units of Botox into each underarm to reduce excessive sweating.  

The Number of Botox Units FAQ

Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about the recommended number of Botox units.

How Many Units of Botox Are in a Syringe?

A single Botox syringe does not contain a fixed number of units. While a vial may hold up to 100 units, the number of units in a syringe depends on how much sterile saline is used to dilute the powdered Botox. In other words, the unit count is what matters, not the number of syringes.

Providers may adjust the injection volume without changing the total number of units to achieve better diffusion or greater precision in delicate areas, such as the area around the eyes or lips.

What Affects How Many Units of Botox Are Needed?

The following factors influence how many units of Botox you may receive:

• Age – Older patients have more prominent, established wrinkles and creases requiring more units.
• Metabolism – Individual metabolic rate affects how quickly the body breaks down Botox and how long the results last.
• Muscle strength – Larger, thicker muscles create deeper wrinkles and usually need more units, while smaller or weaker muscles respond well to fewer units.
• Severity of creases and wrinkles – Deeper, more pronounced lines typically require a higher dosage to achieve visible smoothing.
• Facial expressiveness – Frequent frowning, squinting, or scowling increases dosage requirements, whereas neutral or “less expressive” faces often need lower doses for similar results.
• Previous Botox history – First-time patients start with fewer units, which may increase with follow-up treatments based on response and the desired effect.
• Treatment goals – Subtle, natural-looking enhancements require fewer units, while more dramatic smoothing or reshaping requires higher doses.

Note: Extended or excessive Botox use may cause the body to build antibodies and neutralize the neurotoxin. Read more about it in our blog article on Botox resistance.

Will the Number of Botox Units Increase Over Time?

The number of Botox units may gradually increase depending on the patient’s response, metabolism, current condition, and treatment goals. Some patients require higher doses in later sessions to maintain the same results, while others remain stable at the same unit count for years. Any increase is individualized and based on clinical assessment rather than a fixed treatment pattern.

How Much Does a Unit of Botox Cost?

At Vibrant Skin Bar, you can schedule a consultation to determine the best injectable treatment.

You can purchase Botox for $13.50 per unit to eliminate the wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet, and Botox Lip Flip for $125 to create a natural-looking pout.

Conclusion

Botox treatments are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The number of units required depends on factors such as facial anatomy, muscle strength, the depth of wrinkles, and desired results. Seeking the advice of a qualified medical professional, such as a cosmetic dermatologist or plastic surgeon, is crucial for achieving optimal, natural-looking, and lasting results.

For Botox in the Phoenix area, contact our medical professionals at Vibrant Skin Bar to schedule your consultation.