Botox® Injection Sites

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

PRESIDENT OF EMPIRE MEDICAL TRAINING

Neurotoxins | February 25, 2021

Botox® Injection Sites

Entry made by
Empire Medical Training

The FDA first approved Botox® for use in humans — specifically, for the anti-aging treatment of frown lines in the forehead — in 2002. Since then, the FDA and other national health authorities have cleared Botox and similar medications derived from botulinum toxin A to treat dozens of cosmetic and therapeutic treatment procedures

The ever-expanding array of FDA-approved Botox treatment procedures makes for an ever-expanding array of sites on the body where Botox can be injected safely and with optimal results. This necessitates a comprehensive examination of potential Botox injection sites in men and women.

First, we’ll review what you can expect from this guide to Botox injection sites. We’ll then dive into specifics with a comprehensive overview of common treatment areas to inject botulinum toxin products on the head, face, neck, and other regions of the body.

The types of medical professionals most likely to administer Botox
The prerequisites and training needed to safely administer Botox
General guidelines for administering Botox in clinical settings

What to Expect From This Guide to Botox Injection Sites

A detailed list of sites where Botox may be injected during an approved course of treatment for cosmetic or musculoskeletal issue
Guidance around identifying optimal Botox injection locations
Guidance around where not to inject Botox
Guidance for safely and effectively injecting Botox at each site
Monitoring Botox injection sites for possible side effects and complications

Where Botox Can Be Injected

Depending on the condition being treated, Botox injection sites may be found on the face, head, neck, underarms, abdomen, and feet. Common sites and corresponding conditions include:

The forehead, for the treatment of forehead lines and one of several sites for the treatment of migraine
The area above the bridge of the nose (between the eyes), for the treatment of “11” lines
The corners of the eyes, for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles (“crow’s feet”)
The corners of the mouth, for the treatment of crooked or drooping smile
The masseter (TMJ) muscles, for the treatment of involuntary jaw clenching (bruxism)
The back of the head (occipital nerve area), for the treatment of migraine
The underarms, for the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
The soles of the feet, also for the treatment of hyperhidrosis
The bladder, for the treatment of urinary incontinence

Identifying Optimal Botox Injection Sites

evaluate individual patients to identify and mark the precise location for each injection ( Optimal Botox injection sites). Depending on the condition being treated, this may involve asking the patient to make a series of controlled facial movements that indicate muscle location and massing. An ultrasound may be required to locate the optimal injection site for urinary incontinence patients.

Where to Avoid Injecting Botox Botox should not be injected in muscle groups other than those indicated to treat the patient’s specific complaint.

When injected into indicated muscle groups, the position of the needle is important. Botox injections are generally intradermal or subcutaneous — that is, injected into the lower layer of skin, below the dermis, or the fat layer below the skin. A too-shallow angle of entry may result in an injection that does not reach the target muscle, rendering the treatment ineffective. A too-deep angle may overshoot or bypass the target muscle, greatly increasing the risk that the medication’s active ingredient spreads beyond the injection site and causes systemic side effects or complications.

Injectors must take care to avoid major blood vessels that may spread the medication beyond the injection site and increase the risk of systemic complications. Injectors must also carefully review injection procedures for specific treatments, as the guidance above is highly generalized and different treatments may require different injection angles and depths. Active measures may be required to ensure that the injection reaches the desired location beneath the skin. For example, when injecting Botox into the lower eyelid, clinicians should use the non-dominant hand to pull back the skin of the lower eyelid and create a taut injection field.

Additionally, specific Botox injection sites present specific considerations and risks. For example, injections around the eyes must take care to avoid the area proximate to the upper orbital bone. Here, a wayward injection can cause a new or worsened eyelid droop.

General Guidance for Injecting Botox at Each Site Botox clinicians must do more than simply ensure the correct injection angle in the proper target muscle or muscle groups. Correct dosing, injection count, and injection frequency are also crucial.

Dosing, in particular, varies by patient and condition. For example, Botox dosing for bruxism treatments involves several injections in three distinct muscles:

2 injections in the masseter muscle at 4 to 5 units each
4 injections in the temporalis muscle at 4 to 5 units each
2 injections in the lateral/medial pterygoid muscle at 4 units each

Treatment of smaller muscle groups or finer cosmetic issues may require fewer injections. For example, cosmetic treatment of depressed nasal tip typically involves just 2 injections into the nasal tip at 3 units each, for a total of 6 units of medication delivered. By contrast, treatments of larger areas of the face or head typically involve 4 or more injections totaling upwards of 15 units. Clinicians must take care to avoid overdosing, which can increase the risk of complications, while ensuring adequate dosing to produce the desired results.

To obtain specific guidance about safely and effectively injecting Botox to treat cosmetic or musculoskeletal conditions for which the medication is indicated, it’s essential to get proper Botox course.

Possible Side Effects & Complications

Serious complications from Botox injection are quite rare, regardless of injection site or dosing. However, they do occur and both patients and providers must be aware of the risk. Further, providers must counsel patients on the possibility of such complications and clarify that they must seek treatment if symptoms occur. Complications that necessitate immediate medical evaluation include but aren’t limited to:

Muscle weakness in specific muscle groups or throughout the body
Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)
Difficulty speaking or swallowing
Vision problems

These complications can occur within minutes (during the post-treatment outpatient monitoring interval) or present hours later. Due to an increased risk of systemic complications, strenuous physical activity is not recommended for a period of 24 hours following treatment.

Less serious side effects of Botox may include:

Crooked or lopsided smile (typically associated with injections around the mouth)
Eyelid drooping (typically associated with injections around the eyes)
Swelling or pain at the injection site
Bruising at the injection site
Headache (typically associated with injections to the forehead, neck, and shoulders)
Flulike symptoms

These symptoms should be monitored but usually do not require immediate medical intervention. However, providers should make themselves available for followup consultation and instruct patients to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.