How Many Units for Anti Wrinkle Treatment? – consultation based treatment at Core Aesthetics, Oakleigh, Melbourne. Individually assessed.
One of the most common questions people research before their first anti wrinkle treatment consultation is how many units they will need.
It is a reasonable question. But the honest answer is more nuanced than most online guides suggest, because anti wrinkle treatment dosing is one of the areas where individual variation matters most. Significantly more than most people expect.
“The appropriate amount of prescription product for one person’s forehead may be entirely wrong for another person’s forehead of the same size.”
This is not a disclaimer. It is the clinical reality of how facial muscles work, and understanding it is important before you walk into any consultation.
Why Units Vary: The Muscle Activity Factor
Anti wrinkle treatment works by temporarily reducing the activity of specific muscles. Prescription product is placed into the muscle belly, and the result is a reduction in contraction strength. Lines formed by that muscle relax.
Why the range is wide
But muscles vary. Not just in size, but in activity level, in the force they generate when contracting, and in how they respond to the prescription product. Two people with anatomically similar foreheads may have very different muscle mass. One may have low activity, hyperactive muscles that respond strongly to a modest dose. The other may have dense, high activity muscles that require a substantially higher dose to produce the same effect.
This is the core reason why dosing cannot be accurately predicted before a clinical assessment. The numbers you read online are population averages. They do not tell you what you specifically need.
Treatment Area Ranges: What the Research Suggests
While individual variation is the key message, it is also useful to understand the general territory. The ranges below are broad guidance only and not a substitute for individual assessment.
| Treatment Area | Typical Range | Key Variables |
|---|---|---|
| Forehead | 8 to 20+ units | Muscle mass, brow position, expression habits |
| Frown lines (glabella) | 15 to 30+ units | Usually the highest dose area, muscle group is strong |
| Crows feet | 6 to 15 units per side | Treated bilaterally, varies by eye shape and movement |
| Masseter (jaw) | 20 to 50+ units per side | Highly variable by muscle size, often requires multiple sessions |
| Brow lift | 2 to 8 units | Precise placement, small doses, highly technique dependent |
Why the range is wide
These ranges illustrate why the answer to “how many units do I need?” is genuinely individual. The spread within each area is wide. Where you sit within that spread is determined by assessment, not by the area name alone.
Gender Differences in Dosing
One consistent pattern in anti wrinkle treatment dosing is that male clients typically require higher doses than female clients for equivalent results. This reflects the generally larger muscle mass in male facial anatomy, particularly in the forehead, frown complex and masseter.
Why the range is wide
This does not mean male clients should expect to pay exactly double or follow a formula. It means the assessment must account for individual muscle anatomy, and that the starting dose used for female clients is typically not appropriate as a starting point for male clients.
At Core Aesthetics, every assessment is individual. Corey Anderson does not apply gender based formulas. He assesses the actual muscle anatomy of the person in front of him and doses accordingly.
The Consequences of Getting Dosing Wrong
Under dosing and over dosing produce different problems, and both are worth understanding before treatment.
Why the range is wide
Under dosing
- Minimal visible effect
- Shorter than expected duration
- Lines continue to develop
- Client feels treatment was ineffective
Over dosing
- Heavy, frozen appearance
- Reduced natural expression
- Risk of brow drop (forehead)
- Visible treatment effect, not a natural result
The sweet spot between these two outcomes is the goal of every treatment at Core Aesthetics. Conservative starting doses, combined with a two week review, allow for adjustment without over committing on the first session.
The Two Week Review: Why It Matters
Anti wrinkle treatment takes seven to fourteen days to reach its full effect. This means neither you nor your practitioner can fully evaluate the result immediately after treatment.
At Core Aesthetics, a two week review is standard practice. If the result after two weeks is appropriate, no adjustment is needed. If more product is clinically indicated to achieve the discussed outcome, a small top up can be administered. This process protects against both under treatment and over treatment by building assessment into the post treatment period.
It is also why the relationship between client and practitioner matters over time. Corey Anderson develops a treatment history with each client that informs subsequent appointments, making dosing more precise as the pattern of individual response becomes clear.
The Role of Consultation in Getting Dosing Right
A good consultation for anti wrinkle treatment is not just a formality before injection. It is a clinical assessment that determines whether treatment is appropriate and what the right approach looks like for the individual.
What happens in the appointment
At Core Aesthetics, Corey Anderson (AHPRA NMW0001047575) assesses muscle activity at rest and in motion, discusses treatment goals, reviews any prior treatment history, and explains what a conservative starting dose would look like and why. He does not simply default to the highest dose or the most popular area package.
The right dose is the one that achieves the discussed outcome for this specific person. That number can only be arrived at through proper assessment, not through online research alone.
Related reading: dermal filler at Core Aesthetics | anti wrinkle treatment at Core Aesthetics | cosmetic injectable consultation | about Core Aesthetics | patient safety and cosmetic injectables
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Frequently asked questions
Is dermal filler reversible?
Yes. All filler used at Core Aesthetics is hyaluronic acid based and can be dissolved using hyaluronidase. Dissolution is not always immediate and may require more than one treatment, but the option is available.
What is the difference between anti wrinkle treatment and dermal filler?
Anti wrinkle treatment uses prescription medicine to reduce muscle activity and soften the expression lines caused by movement. Dermal filler uses hyaluronic acid product to restore volume, structural support and definition. Many clients benefit from both, addressing different aspects of facial change.
How long does dermal filler last?
Duration varies significantly by area. Lip filler typically lasts six to twelve months. Mid face and structural filler generally lasts twelve to eighteen months or longer.
What does the assessment for dermal filler at Core Aesthetics involve?
Corey Anderson assesses the whole face rather than the individual areas a client mentions. The assessment covers volume distribution, structural proportions, skin quality and how changes in one area affect surrounding structures. Volume reduction in the mid face, for example, affects how the under eye and lower face appear.
Does dermal filler hurt?
Discomfort varies by area. The lips are the most sensitive. Mid face, cheek and structural areas are generally better tolerated.
What is the recovery time after dermal filler?
There is no formal recovery period. Swelling and occasional bruising are the most common post treatment effects, peaking at 24 to 48 hours and typically resolving within a week. The final settled result is visible at approximately two weeks.
What does filler feel like under the skin?
In structural areas, filler may be palpable as a slightly firmer texture beneath the skin, particularly in the first few weeks after treatment. This settles as the product integrates with surrounding tissue. In areas where product is placed superficially, firmness is more noticeable.
Is there a risk of migration with dermal filler?
Migration, meaning product moving from the intended placement to an adjacent area, is more associated with certain superficial treatment areas and can be caused by excessive volume, repeated pressure or incorrect placement. At Core Aesthetics, conservative dosing and anatomically appropriate placement are how migration risk is minimised.