Botulinum therapy is both the most studied treatment in aesthetic medicine and the one most overgrown with myths. Some fear the “frozen” look, others expect instant results, and many count units by other people’s examples from the internet. Here are the questions patients ask most often—at consultations and in search engines.
How it actually works
Botulinum toxin type A temporarily relaxes the muscle it is injected into. The line that this muscle creases with every contraction stops deepening and gradually smooths out. The key word is temporarily: the product dissolves completely, and the muscle returns to normal work. Botulinum toxin has been used in medicine for decades—in neurology at doses many times higher than cosmetic ones—and remains one of the most studied drugs.
How many units you need
The most common question—and the only honest answer: as many as your muscle requires. A unit is a measure of product quantity. The strength of facial muscles varies severalfold between people: a powerful glabella that has been folding a crease for years needs more units than a weak one. Sex matters too—men’s muscles are usually stronger, and doses are higher.
That is why the RE/FACE price list shows a per-unit price—from ₽330. The total is the number of units, and the doctor names that number at the consultation, after assessing your expressions—before the treatment, not after. Other people’s “N units were enough for my forehead” is no reference for you: those are the parameters of someone else’s muscles.
When to expect the effect and how long it lasts
Botulinum therapy is a delayed-result treatment. First changes show in 3–7 days; the full effect unfolds by two weeks. The procedure itself takes up to 30 minutes and needs no downtime—you can return to your day right away, keeping the first-hours restrictions.
The result lasts 4–6 months on average. The term depends on the product, your metabolism and how active your expressions are: people with very mobile faces and fast metabolisms get shorter runs. After a first treatment the effect often lasts less—around three months. That is not a defect and not a failure: the body is getting acquainted with the product, and the term usually evens out on repeat treatments.
What to avoid after: hours and days
The restrictions after botulinum therapy are short, but in the first hours they are non-negotiable. While the product is settling into the target muscle, the goal is not to help it migrate into the neighbouring ones.
- First hours: no prolonged bending down, no lying flat, no sleeping face-down
- Hands off: no rubbing or massaging the injection area, no facial massage
- For a few days: no sauna, steam room, hot baths or tanning beds—heat boosts blood flow
- Workouts—paused; your doctor names the return date
- Alcohol—paused too: dilated vessels work against the product’s precision
Preparation has its requirements as well: two weeks before the treatment—no tanning and no anticoagulants; on the day—clean skin, no make-up. Tell your doctor about any regular medication at the consultation.
Ptosis: the main fear—and what to know about it
A drooping eyelid or brow is the complication people ask about most. The mechanism is clear: the product acted on the wrong muscle—through imprecise mapping, an excessive dose, or broken first-hours rules. Two practical conclusions follow. First: the doctor’s technique and mapping matter more than the product brand—choose the hands, not the vial. Second: the first-hours restrictions are not a formality but part of your protection against ptosis.
Beyond wrinkles
Botulinum toxin solves non-mimic problems too. The most common is hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating): injections into the problem area block the sweat glands for months. At RE/FACE, hyperhidrosis treatment with Dysport is from ₽28,000. We work only with products registered in Russia, by protocol, with contraindications checked before the treatment.
Common questions
How many units do the forehead and glabella need?
There is no universal number, and that is not evasion—it is the essence of the method. The dose depends on muscle strength: one person’s forehead is held by weak muscles, another’s by powerful ones, and the difference in units is severalfold. The doctor assesses your expressions in motion and names the exact number and cost before the treatment. That is why the price list shows a per-unit price—from ₽330—rather than a per-area one.
When does the effect show?
Not immediately—and that is normal. First changes appear in 3–7 days; the full result unfolds by two weeks. If a line still moves on day three, it does not mean the treatment “didn’t work”: the product takes effect gradually. Judging the result, and deciding whether a touch-up is needed, only makes sense after the two-week mark.
What should I avoid after botulinum therapy?
The first hours are the strictest: no prolonged bending down, no lying flat, no rubbing or massaging the injection area. For the next few days, heat (sauna, steam room, hot baths), workouts and alcohol are restricted—your doctor sets the exact terms. The logic is simple: anything that boosts blood flow in the area can affect how the product distributes.
What is ptosis and how likely is it?
Ptosis is a drooping eyelid or brow—the best-known complication of botulinum therapy. It happens when the product acts on the wrong muscle: through flawed technique, dosing, or ignored first-hours rules. Two facts matter: with competent work it is rare, and it is always temporary—the product dissolves, and the ptosis goes with it. To lower the risk, choose a doctor who maps injection points to your own expressions, and follow the first-hours restrictions.
Are Botox and “hair botox” the same thing?
No—all they share is the word. Botulinum therapy is a medical procedure: injections of botulinum toxin type A performed by a doctor. “Hair botox” is a salon treatment, a smoothing formula for hair with no relation to botulinum toxin or medicine. This article is only about the former.