Your forehead is smooth, but the corners of your eyes still crinkle. Or your frown lines have softened, yet your jawline looks heavy on video calls. This imbalance is the telltale sign of spot-treating with neuromodulators. Full face Botox takes a different approach. Instead of chasing a single wrinkle, it maps the way your entire face moves and treats the system.
I have treated thousands of faces, from actors who emote for a living to data analysts who stare at spreadsheets all day. The most satisfying results come when we think like choreographers, not mechanics. Muscles don’t work alone. They push and pull against each other. When we relax only one small area, the neighboring muscles can overcompensate. A comprehensive plan keeps everything in harmony and preserves expression.
What “full face” actually means
Full face Botox is not a single package or a rigid formula. It is a treatment strategy that considers the upper, mid, and lower face as an integrated unit. Doses are distributed based on animation patterns, skin thickness, muscle strength, and aesthetic goals. The aim is wrinkle reduction and wrinkle prevention without freezing personality.
The technique uses botulinum toxin type A, a cosmetic neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes selected muscles. Brand names vary by region, but the principle is the same: targeted injections interrupt the signal between nerve and muscle. In skilled hands, this creates softer expression lines, smoother skin texture, and, in many cases, subtle lifting effects.
When I design a full face plan, I start by watching how a person speaks. Do the brows climb high with every word? Does the nose scrunch during laughter? Are the corners of the mouth tugged down when concentrating? These small tells guide the map more than static wrinkles do.
The logic of treating the face as a whole
Wrinkles form differently across zones. Forehead lines are horizontal because the frontalis lifts; frown lines sit between the brows where the corrugators pull inward; crow’s feet radiate at the outer eyes from frequent squinting. Lower face creases tend to appear where muscles of speech and chewing overlap. If one zone stays overactive while its partner is relaxed, imbalance shows up as odd arching, an unnatural smile, or a mouth that looks pinned.
Full face Botox smooths the canvas evenly. It can reduce forehead lines and glabellar lines while preventing crow’s feet from deepening. It can refine a bulky masseter without weakening your bite for daily life. Treated correctly, the net effect is calm, rested, and natural looking.
The other reason to go comprehensive is prevention. Micro-movements repeated all day engrave lines, especially on thin skin. Preventative Botox, often at lighter doses, keeps dynamic wrinkles from etching into fixed lines. When you address the usual suspects together, you delay the need for heavier correction later.
A tour of the face, zone by zone
Upper face Botox focuses on the moving trio: forehead, glabella, and crow’s feet. The goal is to soften while keeping brows alive.
Forehead: Not everyone needs many units here. Over-treating the frontalis can drop the brows. I place micro-aliquots higher on the forehead to keep lifting power while smoothing forehead lines. If someone has a naturally heavy brow or hooded lids, I use even lighter dosing and rely more on the frown-line complex to balance the lift.
Glabella (frown lines): Most people carry tension between the brows. Relaxing the corrugators and procerus softens the “11s” and can produce a small brow lift by removing downward pull. This is the anchor point of many plans because it balances the forehead.
Crow’s feet: These lines aren’t just about vanity. Frequent squinting in bright light or while reading a screen builds strong orbicularis oculi. Gentle dosing softens the radiating lines and can open the eye slightly. If someone relies heavily on smiling with the eyes, I keep doses conservative to preserve warmth.
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Midface looks serene when tension lines fade and the nose and cheeks move smoothly.
Bunny lines: If the sides of the nose crease when you laugh, a couple of small points on the nasalis stop vertical scrunching. It pairs nicely with a glabellar plan because patients often compensate with nose wrinkling once the frown is quieted.
A gummy smile: If more than a few millimeters of gum show, carefully placed units at the elevator muscles of the upper lip can lower the smile line slightly. Precision matters here. Overtreatment can blunt expression.
Lower face needs customized dosing, more than any other zone. Muscles here do a lot of work for speech and eating. Light hands keep function intact.
DAO (depressor anguli oris): When the corners of the mouth turn down at rest, small injections here can relax the downward pull, letting the lip corners sit neutral. This often pairs well with lip hydration fillers, but many patients are happy with Botox alone.
Chin (mentalis): A pebbled or dimpled chin comes from overactive mentalis. Two to four tiny points can smooth the texture and soften a “pouty” look. It also helps set off the jawline cleanly.
Masseter: For those who clench or have a square jaw, masseter Botox can slim the face and relieve tightness. I treat conservatively at first, reassessing in eight to twelve weeks. Over-reduction can feel weak when chewing tough foods. Most people adapt well to a moderate reduction.
Platysmal bands: Vertical neck bands can pull the lower face down. A “Nefertiti” style pattern, placing units along the jawline and bands, can sharpen transitions and give a modest lift. This is subtle and works best when paired with good skin quality.
Each of these areas can be treated alone. The art lies in sequencing and proportion. Full face treatment means calibrating all of them together so the final look feels coherent.
How many units and how long it lasts
Unit counts vary with muscle strength, sex, age, metabolism, and brand. Broad ranges help set expectations without overpromising:
- Forehead lines: roughly 6 to 20 units, adjusted downward if brows are naturally low. Glabella: often 10 to 25 units. Those with strong frown habits may need the higher end initially. Crow’s feet: about 6 to 15 units per side, depending on smile dynamics and skin thickness. Bunny lines: 2 to 6 total units. Gummy smile: 2 to 6 total units, placed with high precision. DAO: 4 to 8 total units for subtle corner lift. Chin: 4 to 8 total units to smooth dimpling. Masseter: commonly 20 to 50 units per side for aesthetic slimming; medical bruxism protocols can be higher. Platysmal bands/jawline: 20 to 60 total units, guided by band prominence.
Most people see initial softening within 3 to 5 days, with peak effect around 10 to 14 days. Longevity averages 3 to 4 months for the upper face. Masseter treatments can last 4 to 6 months, sometimes longer after a few cycles as the muscle remodels. Frequent exercisers and fast metabolizers may fall on the shorter side. Maintenance typically means two to four sessions per year.
Designing a natural result
Two faces with the same number of lines may need very different patterns. I balance three variables:
Dose distribution: Heavier in depressors that pull the face down, lighter in elevators that lift. For example, if someone wants a brow lift, I prioritize glabellar relaxation over a heavy forehead dose. If the smile feels flat after crow’s feet treatment, I reduce the next round laterally and add micro points more posteriorly to keep the eye’s warmth.
Depth and dilution: Micro Botox or baby Botox strategies use smaller aliquots spread across a broader field, especially in the upper face. This yields smoother skin with preserved movement. In oily or thick skin, slightly deeper placement can tame shine and pore look. In thin or crepey skin around the eyes, shallow microdroplets minimize bruising.
Sequencing over time: It is safer to under-correct on the first visit, then refine at a two-week check. Muscles learn new patterns. As recruitment changes, your map should evolve. After two or three cycles, you can often reduce total units and still hold nice smoothing because habitual expressions soften.
What the appointment is like
Most full face Botox appointments run 20 to 40 minutes. The consultation takes the most time. Expect to:
- Review medical history, migraine history, medications, and supplements that affect bleeding or healing. Be photographed at rest and in animation. These photos guide the plan and create a reliable botox before and after record. Discuss specific priorities. “I want to look less stern on Zoom,” or, “My jaw feels tight,” is more useful than, “Just do what you think.”
Numbing cream is rarely needed for facial neuromodulator injections. A cold pack and gentle pressure keep discomfort low. The needles are very fine, and each injection takes a second. Most patients describe it as a series of quick pinches with minimal botox downtime. Small raised blebs flatten within minutes. Makeup can go on after an hour, though I prefer people wait until the tiny entry points have sealed.
I ask patients to avoid heavy exercise, saunas, and face-down massages for the rest of the day. Do not rub or aggressively massage treated areas. Sleep on your back if possible the first night. These are conservative measures to minimize unintended spread.
Safety, side effects, and what can go wrong
Is Botox safe? In qualified hands, cosmetic botulinum toxin injections have an excellent safety profile. Temporary side effects include pinpoint bruises, mild swelling, or a headache the first day or two. Small asymmetries are common and easily corrected at the two-week follow-up.
Less common issues are tied to dose and placement:
Lid or brow heaviness: Usually from over-relaxing the frontalis without adequately treating the glabella, or from dosing too low on the forehead and too high between the brows in someone with naturally heavy lids. The fix is better balance next time. Rarely, a prescription eyedrop can help during the waiting period.
Smiled change: Overtreating crow’s feet or gummy smile points can dull the outer smile or make it look tight. This usually fades within weeks to a few months. Conservative dosing and careful anatomic landmarks prevent it.
Mouth weakness: Too much DAO or mentalis dosing can feel odd when drinking from a straw. Precision and experience are key.
Chewing fatigue: Heavy masseter dosing, especially the first time, can make tough meats more work. Most people acclimate. If you grind at night, the comfort benefit often outweighs the chewing change.
Allergic reactions are very rare. If you have a neuromuscular disorder or are pregnant or nursing, we defer botox treatment. Always disclose medical conditions and medications. If you develop unusual symptoms like difficulty swallowing or speaking, contact your provider immediately, though this is extremely uncommon in cosmetic dosing.
Strategy for first-timers vs. seasoned patients
First-timers often carry tension in their expressions but worry about looking frozen. I favor light botox treatment across several zones rather than a heavy dose in one area. We can always add more at the two-week mark. The goal is to build trust and learn how your face responds.
Seasoned patients who know their response can shift to maintenance. Sometimes we rotate zones: full upper face every visit, lower face every other. If someone is preparing for a major event, we schedule a botox appointment 4 to 6 weeks prior. That timing allows for full onset and a touch up if needed.
Preventative botox strategies make sense for patients in their late 20s or early 30s with strong animation but minimal etched lines. Baby Botox or micro Botox dosing keeps the skin glassier with less risk of a blocky look. If lines are already static at rest, we combine neuromodulator injections with skin treatments that address the surface: retinoids, peels, microneedling, or lasers. Botox relaxes motion; it does not fill deep grooves.
Combining with other treatments without losing subtlety
Botox is a muscle relaxer treatment, not a volumizer. Full face rejuvenation often pairs neuromodulators with carefully placed filler for structure and biostimulatory treatments for texture. I caution against stacking too much change at once. A measured plan could look like this: first, stabilize muscle pull with cosmetic neuromodulator in the upper and lower face. Four weeks later, refine with a touch of hyaluronic acid at the lip border or chin crease. Finally, address skin quality with light energy or chemical resurfacing.
Patients who care most about natural looking botox often dislike the overfilled look that became common on social media. Moderation is the safeguard. For the jawline and temples, consider subtle contouring only after muscles settle, so you do not chase shifting shadows.
Cost, value, and planning for maintenance
Botox cost structures vary: per unit pricing or area-based fees. In most cities, per-unit pricing ranges widely. A full face botox treatment can range from modest to premium depending on how many zones, how many units, and the provider’s expertise. While budget matters, the cheapest option is not a bargain if the map is poor. Correcting heavy brows or an asymmetric smile takes time and more product later.
Ask during your botox consultation how your provider estimates units, what a typical full face plan entails for someone with your features, and how touch ups are handled. Some clinics include a two-week tweak in botox pricing. Others charge per unit regardless. I prefer transparent totals and to under-treat slightly at first. You should leave feeling presentable that day, not swollen or marked.
How to evaluate your own face before you book
Good preparation makes the appointment more efficient and the results more personal. Stand in front of a mirror in bright, even light. Raise your brows as if surprised. Frown. Squint hard. Smile big, then a gentle smile. Puff your cheeks. Talk to yourself for thirty seconds and watch what your mouth corners do. Notice:
- Where lines appear first and deepest during expression. Whether your brow rests low or high at baseline. If the jaw looks square in photos and feels tight at night. Whether dimpling shows on the chin when speaking. How the corners of the mouth sit at rest.
Bring these observations to your botox appointment. They translate goals into a precise map and reduce the trial-and-error phase.
The role of skin quality and lifestyle
Neuromodulators excel at smoothing dynamic wrinkles. Skin quality still matters. Sun exposure, smoking, sleep, and skincare affect how good the result looks and how long it lasts. Daily sunscreen slows collagen breakdown at crow’s feet and forehead lines. A gentle retinoid improves texture so lighter doses can achieve visible smoothing. Hydration and a balanced diet won’t make Botox last twice as long, but they support better healing and overall tone.
Stress amplifies frown lines. Many patients tell me their botox results feel stronger when they practice jaw relaxation or do short stretch breaks at work. If migraines or TMJ are part of your story, neuromodulator treatment may offer medical benefits alongside aesthetic ones. Discuss this with your clinician, as patterns and dosing can differ for botox medical treatment versus purely cosmetic goals.
Before and after: what realistic progress looks like
I advise patients to judge results with three benchmarks:
At rest in neutral light: The resting face should look calmer, not waxy. Horizontal forehead lines and the “11s” soften or disappear. Crow’s feet should fade but still allow a warm smile.
In motion on video: Record a 10-second clip before and two weeks after your treatment saying the same sentence. The forehead should still move, but less. The brows should not spike or dive. The smile should remain yours.
In photos from different angles: Look at three-quarter views to see how the jawline and chin have changed. Masseter reduction will not show in a week. Expect gradual slimming over six to twelve weeks as the muscle atrophies slightly.
Botox results are temporary. Longevity patterning becomes clear by your second or third cycle. If one area consistently fades early, your provider can adjust dose or spacing. A thoughtful maintenance plan avoids the rollercoaster of looking great briefly then suddenly “undone.”
Who is not a good candidate
Anyone seeking a frozen, porcelain look with zero movement is better served with a different philosophy or perhaps different tools. Full face Botox aims for refined animation, not erasure. Patients with significant skin laxity or deep etched folds may need a combination plan that includes lifting procedures, energy devices, or volume restoration. Neuromodulators alone cannot lift descended tissue or fill volume loss.
If you cannot commit to maintenance two to four times per year, a targeted plan on your top priority might be a better use of budget and time than a full face approach. Likewise, if your schedule is too unpredictable to support a two-week follow-up for refinements, communicate this so your initial plan errs on the conservative side.
Small choices that separate a good result from a great one
I keep a few habits that improve outcomes:
I mark while you animate. Static face mapping misses where lines actually form.
I reduce units when switching brands. Potency and spread characteristics differ among botulinum toxin cosmetic options.
I leave “safety valves” for expression. Micro-doses are intentionally skipped at points that control warmth of smile or brow lift.
I schedule the first two rounds slightly closer. Doing sessions at three to three and a half months apart for the first year can train hyperactive muscles down. After that, we stretch to four months or more as tolerated.
I document exact injection points and units. The second visit builds on real data, not memory. If the right brow arched slightly more than the left, we correct with a half unit in a precise spot, not by guessing.
The bottom line on effectiveness
Botox effectiveness depends less on total units and more botox near me on matching dose to muscle strength, mapping to movement patterns, and keeping the entire face in balance. Full face botox is a mindset as much as a technique. It acknowledges that your face tells a story in motion, and it aims to edit that story carefully.
If you have only ever treated one area and felt something looked off, a comprehensive session might be what you were New Providence botox services missing. The process is straightforward, the recovery minimal, and the impact on how you look in everyday life is often greater than any single-zone approach. When done well, friends don’t ask whether you had botox injections. They ask if you switched moisturizers, slept better, or took a week off. That is the quiet power of a balanced, full face plan.