5 Common Botox Injection Sites

Where is Botox Injected?

As we age, we typically notice signs of aging such as laugh lines, frown lines, crow’s feet and more. Some people may cringe when looking at themselves in the mirror noticing these natural signs of aging and to combat this many men and women choose to use Botox as a way of maintaining a youthful appearance.

Botox (Botulinum toxin) comes from the bacteria clostridium botulinum. It’s a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria that can cause muscle paralysis, difficulty of breathing and death. However, due to scientific advancements, this fatal neurotoxin was found to have medical and cosmetic use.

There are seven types of Botox, however, only two types are used for clinical use: type A and type B. For cosmetic purposes, Botox A is what is used. It is currently used in different areas of the face to block neural chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. As an effect, the muscles relax reducing visible lines and wrinkles.

Botox can be placed in different areas of the face. Depending on which muscle is being injected, there are different outcomes that can be observed and the injection site can determine the desired effect. This article will show the top Botox injection sites and their cosmetic effects.

Top 5 Botox Injection Sites

1. Forehead

The forehead is the injection site for eyebrow lifts and for the reduction of forehead lines. The target muscle is the frontalis muscle, the contraction of which leads to elevation of the eyebrows and horizontal wrinkles in the forehead.

Relaxation of this muscle removes the wrinkles and horizontal lines in the forehead.

Botox is injected in two sites per side: the middle area in the upper third of the forehead and in a lateral location one fingerbreadth to the medial injection. Each injection site will contain five units of Botox to achieve the desired effect.

2. Between the Eyebrows

Another common Botox injection site is in between the eyebrows. This targets the procerus muscle which causes wrinkles and furrows between the brows and in the nose bridge.

Relaxation of this muscle removes wrinkles between the brows and nose bridge.

Five units of Botox are injected in the midline after the patient is asked to furrow. The desired effect is an eyebrow lift.

3. Upper Eyebrows

The Botox injection in between the eyebrows is usually coupled with an injection above the eyebrows for that complete brow lift. The muscle being targeted here is the corrugator muscle which is a small muscle above the eye.

This muscle is responsible for pulling the eyebrow downward and inward which is helpful for protecting the eyes from external elements like sunlight or rain. This Botox injection can result in vertical wrinkles on the forehead.

Relaxation of this muscle can result in a brow lift and removal of forehead wrinkles.

Botox is injected about a fingerbreadth above the medial part of the superior orbital rim. Five units of Botox are injected per side.

4. Sides of the Eyes

One of the most noticeable signs of aging is the crow’s feet. To address this, Botox injections can be placed on the sides of the eyes. This targets the orbicularis oculi which are responsible for closing the eye such as blinking, winking, or squeezing.

12 units of injection on each side (divided into three sites) can correct crow’s feet.

5. Jaw

Botox isn’t always used for cosmetic reasons or concerns. Sometimes symptomatic medical concerns can also be addressed by Botox.

One of these is teeth grinding or medically known as bruxism. This usually occurs during sleep and can be caused by stress or anxiety. Some people might think this is not a medical concern, but this can cause facial pain and stiffening of the jaw which can be uncomfortable long term.

Botox can be injected in the jaw, targeting the masseter muscle which is responsible for mastication. Because this is a relatively bigger muscle, more Botox units are required to produce the desired effect, which can be around 20-30 units divided into three injection sites per side of the face.

Prior to injection, patients are asked to clench their jaw so that the muscle will be prominent and can be marked. This can relieve teeth grinding especially when done unconsciously during sleep. This can also be given for patients with hypertrophy of the masseter where the masseter muscle is naturally large.

Is Botox for You?

There are many other Botox injection sites. Results can be noticeable within one to two days, peaking at seven or 10 days and can last for three to four months. Botox injections have been helpful to many people who want to minimize signs of aging in the face.

Botox is not without side effects. Side effects include pain and bruising in the area. Botox can also lead to droopy eyelid syndrome which occurs in around 1-5% of patients. Make sure that you are going to a well-known and skilled doctor for your procedures. Do you think Botox injection is for you? Look at the options available for you and book a consult today.