Dermatology-trained injectors placing the right dose in the right muscles
Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, and Daxxify are all neuromodulators. They block the nerve signals that tell specific muscles to contract. When those muscles relax, the expression lines they create, like the 11s between your brows or the horizontal lines on your forehead, soften or disappear. Results last three to four months for most neuromodulators and up to six months for Daxxify.
Done well, Botox softens expression lines while keeping your face expressive. Done poorly, it freezes the whole upper face. The difference is the injector.
There are four major neuromodulators on the market. Botox is the original and the most widely used. Xeomin is a purified version without accessory proteins, which some patients prefer. Dysport typically spreads slightly more than Botox, which can be useful in larger areas like the forehead but requires an experienced hand. Daxxify is the newest and offers longer duration, typically four to six months versus three to four for the others. All four work through the same mechanism, and an experienced injector can get excellent results with any of them.
Dosing varies by area and by patient. Typical doses for the most common areas include 10 to 30 units for the 11s between the brows, 10 to 20 units for forehead lines, and 8 to 24 units for crow's feet on both sides combined. Men often need slightly higher doses than women because of larger muscle mass. Patients who exercise heavily or who metabolize Botox quickly may need higher doses or more frequent visits.
Newer and expanding uses include masseter Botox for jaw clenching and facial slimming, trapezius Botox for tension in the shoulders, chin Botox for the dimpled or pebbled appearance, lip flip Botox to subtly roll the upper lip out, and Botox for migraines or excessive underarm sweating. We treat all of these regularly. They require specific technique and dosing that is different from cosmetic facial Botox.
Safety is excellent when injections are done correctly. The most common side effects are mild bruising or swelling at injection sites, brief headache, and occasional temporary drooping of an eyelid or brow if the product migrates, which happens in a small percentage of cases and resolves within weeks. We place injections carefully to minimize these risks and follow up if anything happens.
Longer-term, Botox does not permanently weaken muscles or change how they function when you are not being treated. If you stop, your face returns to its pre-Botox baseline over three to four months. Many patients continue Botox for decades without issue.
Finally, an honest note about prevention. Starting Botox in your late twenties or early thirties can slow the formation of expression lines that have not yet set in, and many patients find this worthwhile. But starting younger is not necessary for everyone, and skincare plus sun protection remain more important foundationally than early Botox for overall skin aging.
Most adults in their late twenties through seventies are good candidates for Botox. It works preventively to slow the formation of expression lines and correctively to soften lines that have already set in. The goal you bring to the visit determines the dose and placement.
If you have never had Botox and you are not sure whether it is right for you, the aesthetic consultation is a good starting point before you book the injectable visit directly.
Every Botox injection here is placed by a dermatology-trained provider. That matters because dermatologists understand facial anatomy and skin aging from years of clinical practice, not from a weekend course.
Our injectors use the minimum dose that achieves your goal. That usually means softer results than aggressive dosing, but it also means you look like yourself, not like you had work done.
If a specific area needs a little more at your two-week follow-up, the touch-up is included. We would rather spend five more minutes to get the result right than have you feel unhappy for four months.
The visit takes 15 to 30 minutes. Your injector examines your face at rest and when you make expressions, marks the injection points, and walks you through the plan. Injections themselves take five to ten minutes. You feel small pinches but most patients describe the pain as minimal.
You can return to normal activities immediately but avoid strenuous exercise, lying flat, rubbing the treated areas, or wearing hats that press on the forehead for about four hours. Results start to appear in three to five days and reach full effect at two weeks.
Touch-up visits at two weeks are included for new patients if a specific area needs more product. After that, maintenance visits are typically every three to four months.
Most neuromodulators last three to four months. Daxxify lasts up to six months for some patients. Duration varies by person, by dose, and by the area treated.
Not with our dosing philosophy. Our injectors use the minimum dose that achieves your goal, which preserves expression. If you want softer results, we can dose accordingly. If you want fewer lines even at rest, we can adjust up.
Most patients describe small pinches that are easily tolerated. We can apply topical numbing cream before your appointment if you prefer.
Botox is priced per unit. Typical visits run from about ten units for a subtle single-area treatment to 60 or more units for a full upper face. Our team confirms pricing at your visit.
No real downtime. You can drive yourself home, return to work, and resume normal activities. We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise and hot yoga for the rest of the day.
Please give us a call and we will be happy to answer all your questions or concerns you may have.
