Wrinkle relaxer injections have matured from a niche cosmetic treatment into a precise craft. When done well, botulinum toxin injections soften expressive lines without flattening character. The key is not just the product, but the map: where to place it, how deep, how much, and when to stop. I have treated thousands of faces, and the same lesson returns every week. Anatomy decides, not fashion. The best botox results come from understanding how each muscle pulls, where skin folds originate, and how aging patterns vary person to person.
This guide walks through common injection sites for neuromodulator treatment, with practical dosing ranges, safety notes, and the small decisions that separate natural from “done.” It also touches on newer uses, such as masseter botox for jawline slimming and micro botox along the lower face and neck. Consider it a map with commentary from the driver’s seat.
How neuromodulators work, in practice
Botulinum toxin type A acts at the neuromuscular junction to reduce acetylcholine release. Translated to clinical reality, that means targeted relaxation of overactive muscles. Lines that appear with movement - frowning, squinting, raising the brows - soften. Lines etched at rest improve more slowly, because skin needs time and repeated sessions to remodel.
Different brands vary in diffusion and dosing equivalence, but technique matters more than label. Whether you use an established botox cosmetic product or another FDA-cleared neuromodulator, the goals are the same: match dose to muscle strength, place product where it acts, and respect the vectors of pull across the face. Over time, smaller maintenance doses often suffice, a practical form of preventative botox.
Onset is not immediate. Most patients feel a difference within 3 to 5 days, with full effect at 10 to 14 days. Wrinkle reduction botox typically lasts 3 to 4 months in the upper face. Heavier or more active muscles, such as the masseter, may require higher doses and may last longer. Repeat botox sessions two to three times a year keep results steady. Some prefer micro dosing touchups at 6 to 8 weeks, especially in the perioral region, but that belongs in careful hands.
Forehead and frown complex: the central map
The upper face is where most people start. It is also where subtlety matters most, because you cannot fully relax the forehead without thinking through the eyebrows.
Glabellar lines (the 11s)
The glabellar complex spans the corrugator supercilii, procerus, and depressor supercilii. These muscles pull the brows inward and down, creating vertical lines between the eyebrows. Typical botox treatment involves 5 points across the complex, usually 15 to 25 units total in an average patient. Strong frowners may need 25 to 40 units across brands, adjusted affordable botox FL for equivalence.
Placement should be intramuscular, angled slightly superior to avoid diffusion near the levator palpebrae superioris. The procerus is midline and broader than it looks. Too superficial and you chase bruises without much effect; too low and eyelid heaviness can follow. When dosing frown line botox, I imagine the vector of pull. If I treat the corrugators and procerus thoroughly, a natural brow rest position returns, often with a slight lift.
Forehead (frontalis)
Forehead botox is deceptively simple. The frontalis elevates the brow, so it should be treated carefully, always in balance with the glabella. Over-treat the forehead while leaving the glabella active and the brows will drop. Under-treat the forehead and horizontal lines persist.
I start conservatively, often 6 to 12 units across 4 to 8 small points for a first session, then adjust at follow up. A tall forehead with strong movement may require 12 to 20 units. I avoid the lower centimeter above the brow to reduce the risk of a heavy look. For patients who animate primarily medially, I focus dosing higher and toward the midline. For lateral animators, I use shallow micro-aliquots across the lateral third to prevent a “Spock brow” while preserving expression.
Crow’s feet (lateral canthus)
These lines come from squinting, so treatment targets the lateral orbicularis oculi. Typical dosing is 6 to 12 units per side, in 2 to 4 injections per side, placed superficially. When patients are photophobic or have dry eyes, I soften dosing to preserve a light squint. The injection points should stay at least a centimeter away from the orbital rim laterally and superiorly to avoid diffusion that can alter smile dynamics. Crow feet botox remains a crowd favorite because it brightens the eye area and pairs well with a bit of cheek filler or skin treatments for texture.
Brow shaping and the gentle brow lift
Selective relaxation around the lateral orbicularis can create a subtle botox brow lift. Small doses at the tail of the brow can help, but do not rely on this area if the forehead is heavy or the brow position is already low. The best candidates have a strong frown complex that was properly treated, a moderately active frontalis, and a desire for a 1 to 2 millimeter lift. Brow lift botox is an art: a couple of units too many laterally and the brow can look surprised, especially in thin-skinned patients.
Midface dynamics: around the eyes, nose, and cheeks
The midface holds muscles that influence each other. Change one, and the others compensate. Small doses and strategic placement protect expression.
Bunny lines
Diagonal creases across the upper nose often worsen when the glabella is treated alone, as the nasalis recruits to help frown. Two tiny injections on each side, 2 to 4 units each, soften these lines. Stay lateral to the midline to avoid the nasal valve region. This is one of the easiest wins after glabellar treatment, and patients appreciate how it balances the look.
Jelly roll under the eye
A visible “roll” under the lash line when smiling comes from the pre-tarsal orbicularis. I use this sparingly, often 1 to 2 units per side, placed very superficially and only in well-selected patients without pre-existing lower lid laxity. Over-treat and you risk a hollow or rounded lower lid. If a patient describes puffiness at rest, I advise against it.
Gummy smile
An excessive gingival display relates to hyperactivity of the levator labii superioris and associated elevators. Two small injections near the alar base and piriform aperture, 2 to 3 units each, can reduce gum show by a few millimeters. The goal is balance, not a rigid upper lip. This can be combined with later adjustments in the depressor septi for patients whose tip dips with smiling.
Lower face artistry: lips, chin, jawline, and neck
Lower face botox requires a quieter hand. Muscles here guide speech, eating, and nuanced expression. Micro dosing is better than bold dosing unless we are intentionally treating the masseter.
Lip lines and the lip flip
For vertical lip lines, the most common request is to soften movement while keeping articulation clear. Micro botox or baby botox can help, often 1 unit per quadrant of the orbicularis oris, placed superficially, for a total of 2 to 4 units around the mouth. Over-treat and straws become a challenge. I warn every patient about transient lip heaviness for a few days, which passes as the brain adapts.
The lip flip botox targets the superficial orbicularis oris just above the vermilion, usually 2 to 4 units total, to gently evert the upper lip. It does not add volume like filler, but it can reveal more pink at rest. Ideal for someone who tucks the upper lip when smiling and wants a subtle change.
DAO and marionette shadows
The depressor anguli oris pulls the corners of the mouth down. A small dose - often 2 to 4 units per side - brightens the resting expression and can soften early marionette lines. Correct placement hugs the lateral chin just above the jawline, taking care to avoid the depressor labii inferioris. I often pair this with a touch of filler at the marionette origin or along the pre-jowl sulcus for contour.
Chin dimpling and the pebbled chin
Mentalis overactivity causes peau d’orange texture, chin dimpling, and even chin projection that looks tense in photos. A typical pattern uses 4 to 8 units split across two points in the mentalis. Good depth matters. Too superficial and you risk a smile quirk without relaxing the core of the muscle. For strong chins, botox for fine lines in this area pairs nicely with a small dose of hyaluronic acid filler to correct texture at rest.
Jawline contour and masseter botox
Masseter hypertrophy creates a square lower face. Masseter botox reduces bulk and can soften clenching, snoring, and tension headaches for some patients. It is quintessential medical botox that also changes aesthetics. Dosing ranges from 20 to 40 units per side, with higher doses for thicker muscles or bruxism. Full change takes 6 to 8 weeks as the muscle deconditions. Photos are helpful here, as patients often forget how prominent the angle once was. Botulinum toxin treatment in the masseter should respect the parotid duct and stay superficial to avoid unintended deep diffusion. When done in three to four points per side, the result is a clean taper from earlobe to chin.
Neck bands and the Nefertiti lift
Vertical platysmal bands respond to platysmal botox. I assess at rest and with grimace, marking each band from jawline to clavicle. Typical dosing is 20 to 40 units total across the neck. For the Nefertiti lift, small aliquots along the mandibular border weaken the downward pull, allowing the elevators to win slightly. Neck botox works best in early laxity. Advanced skin laxity needs collagen remodeling, energy devices, or surgical consultation. Patients appreciate that platysmal botox does not change voice or swallowing in safe doses, but I still counsel that first-timers may notice mild neck fatigue for a few days.
Skin quality moves: micro dosing and combination therapy
Micro botox disperses tiny amounts intradermally rather than into the muscle. The goal is smoother texture, tighter pores, and reduced sebum, not dramatic paralysis. I use it across the T-zone, cheeks, or lower face in grid patterns, 30 to 50 microdroplets across a session. The effect is subtle and shines on camera - makeup glides, shine calms, and fine crinkles soften. Expect a lighter, three-month effect. When combined with light resurfacing or biostimulators, results last longer and skin looks refreshed rather than frozen.
Wrinkle relaxer treatment complements, but does not replace, volume restoration and collagen stimulation. In the upper face, neuromodulator injections do most of the heavy lifting. In the lower face, a balanced plan often includes filler, skin tightening, and skincare. That ensemble is what people call facial rejuvenation injections, even if they only see a few pinpricks in the mirror.
Mapping by face shape and muscle strength
Two patients with the same lines can require different maps. Consider these common patterns.
- High-arched brows with thin skin: Start with lower forehead dosing and avoid lateral over-treating. Protect expression and prevent a startled look with small lateral aliquots. Low set brows with strong frontalis: Treat the glabella thoroughly first. Use conservative forehead dosing in the upper half only. A gentle brow lift laterally can help if anatomy allows. Thick sebaceous skin and powerful frown: Expect higher units in the glabella and crow’s feet. These patients metabolize faster and may prefer botox maintenance at 10 to 12 weeks. Asymmetric smiles: Map differences carefully. A single extra unit in the stronger DAO or levator side can balance the smile. Reassess at two weeks.
That short checklist captures how I adjust a standard plan, and it prevents the common traps: heavy brows, asymmetric smiles, or over-smooth lower faces.
What to expect on treatment day
A botox consultation should include photos at rest and in movement, a review of medical history, and a frank talk about goals. I ask patients to show their strongest frown, highest brow raise, hardest squint, biggest smile. A map takes shape on the skin with a makeup pencil. Ice or topical anesthetic reduces sting, though most injections feel like quick pinches. The botox procedure itself usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Afterward, I suggest staying upright for 4 hours, skipping strenuous workouts that day, and avoiding rubbing or massaging the areas. Small bumps or dots resolve within 30 minutes. Makeup can go on later that day if the skin is calm. Some people see a tiny bruise or two, particularly around the crow’s feet or lip lines. Arnica or a dab of concealer solves most of it.
The two-week check: where the real finesse happens
Every face settles differently. A routine botox follow up at 10 to 14 days allows small adjustments: one unit to lift a tail, one unit to lower a peak, or a touch to equalize a smile. That micro course correction is where facial botox turns from good to great. Patients also learn their personal timing. Some hold for five months, others for barely three. No serum will change the pharmacology, but sunscreen, retinoids, and sleep absolutely change how skin looks between sessions.
Safety and sensible boundaries
Botox safety rests on dosing, placement, and the injector’s judgment. When complications occur, most are temporary, and most are preventable. The common issues include brow heaviness from over-treating the lower forehead, asymmetry from missing a strong vector, and smile quirks after lower face dosing. True eyelid ptosis is rare, even rarer with careful technique and anatomy respect. If it happens, it usually improves as the effect wears off; temporary eye drops can help open the lid.
Allergic reactions to botulinum toxin injections are extremely rare. The more common medical cautions involve neuromuscular disorders, certain antibiotics, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. A thorough medical review comes before any needle touches skin. That is non-negotiable.
Results, maintenance, and cost realism
The story people tell about injectable anti aging treatment usually focuses on before and after moments. In real clinics, the plot unfolds across a year. The first session builds a baseline. The second refines. By the third, dose and map are stable and the maintenance rhythm feels easy.
Costs vary by geography, brand, and clinic model. Some practices price per unit, others by area. A single upper face session might run 30 to 60 units total, spread across glabella, forehead, and crow’s feet. Masseter treatments can add 40 to 80 units. Per-unit pricing helps budget by muscle strength; per-area pricing simplifies for first-timers who want predictable totals. Be wary of prices that seem too low. Product sourcing, dilution integrity, and injector time have real costs. A trustworthy botox clinic or med spa will be transparent about units used, explain the plan, and schedule a touchpoint at two weeks.
Who benefits most from neuromodulator treatment
The happiest patients are not necessarily those with the deepest lines, but those who know what they want to change and what they want to keep. A few reliable profiles:
- Expressive professionals who want to look well rested without losing animation. They do well with a conservative glabella and crow’s feet plan, maybe a small forehead dose, and a check-in at two weeks to fine tune. Early 30s patients considering preventative botox. Small doses at regular intervals prevent etching in high-movement zones and keep skin smoother long term. The total units can be quite low at this stage. Jaw clenchers with masseter hypertrophy. They enjoy both the aesthetic jaw slimming and the functional relief. Photographs and bite awareness diaries make the benefit more obvious to them. Patients with neck banding who want a cleaner jaw and neckline without surgery. Platysmal dosing improves contours and improves the look of the chin-lip angle in profile.
These are the cases where botox benefits are immediate and durable. Edge cases exist. Recurrent under eye puffiness is not a good match for jelly roll treatment. Heavy brows and dermatochalasis respond better to eyelid evaluation than to more forehead units. Perioral smokers’ lines often need combined approaches: minimal orbicularis dosing, collagen-stimulating procedures, and a hint of filler.
Planning a first session: how I build the map
New patients often walk in with an area list: frown lines, forehead, crow’s feet. I start by watching their natural resting face, then their strongest movements. The plan that follows usually follows three steps. First, I build a safe upper-face base, usually glabella plus crow’s feet, then a conservative forehead if needed. Second, I address any midface recruiting like bunny lines that appear after the glabellar units settle. Third, we consider lower face refinements, if requested, in small steps.
Patients who ask for botox for smile lines around the cheeks often mean nasolabial folds. Neuromodulators do not fix cheek folds well. I explain why - those folds are volume and skin tone issues more than muscle overactivity - and we pivot to filler or skin tightening as needed. Trust grows from saying no when botox is not the right tool.
A few lived lessons from the chair
Over the years, a couple of patterns stand out. A photographer who could spot a half millimeter brow change from across the room taught me to under-dose lateral forehead in creatives who live by expression. A personal trainer who hated the “dead eye” look reminded me to leave a little crow’s feet activity. A violinist’s lip flip went one unit too far and nudged her embouchure for a week; since then, I test micro dosing in performers and schedule around their events. None of these are textbook rules, just human details that shape good care.
I also learned never to chase a quirk with fast add-ons in the first 7 days. The product is still settling. Reassess at two weeks, and most “quirks” disappear. If an asymmetry remains, a single unit often solves it, but only if you place it in the muscle that causes the imbalance, not the most obvious crease.
Choosing a provider and setting expectations
Results depend on the injector, not just the brand. A seasoned botox specialist maps the face in motion, not just at rest, and knows when to say that an area is not a good candidate. Look for depth in the consultation, a clear explanation of units and targets, and before and after photos that show expressions, not only serene faces. A good botox provider welcomes questions, suggests a staged plan for first-timers, and invites you back for a check within two weeks.
Patients often ask how long they will need to keep doing this. The answer depends on how they like to look. If you enjoy the rested, smooth effect, neuromodulator treatment becomes part of routine maintenance, like dental cleanings for your face. If you stop, the muscles wake up, and movement patterns return. You do not age faster for having used it. You simply go back to your baseline, plus the natural passage of time.
Putting the map together
Upper face: glabella, forehead, and crow’s feet form the core of botox for wrinkles. Treat the frown complex fully, the forehead judiciously, and the crow’s feet in a pattern that respects eye shape. Midface: address bunny lines and small dynamics that appear after upper-face relaxation. Lower face: move carefully near the mouth, consider a lip flip for subtle enhancement, use chin botox to calm dimpling, and reserve more significant dosing for masseter botox when jaw slimming or clenching relief is the goal. Neck: platysmal injections for bands and light contouring along the jawline work best before laxity dominates.
This is the practical map I use daily. It flexes for each face, each goal, each profession. When it all comes together, injectable wrinkle treatment does more than smooth lines. It restores a face at rest to match how the person feels, awake and at ease, with expression intact. That is the standard to aim for, every time.