Botox® for Males vs. Females: Similarities & Differences

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

Botox® is the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, medical providers performed some 7.4 million Botox injections in 2018.

A large majority of Botox patients are women, but Botox’s popularity with men is increasing as well. By some estimates, up to 30 percent of all Botox procedures are now performed on men.

Do male and female patients have different experiences and outcomes with Botox? Not drastically, but there are some important distinctions to understand.

Is Botox Different for Men? Popular Botox Male Procedures

Botox is not much different for men and women. The biggest difference is that more women receive Botox than men right now — but that is changing as more men wake up to the age-defying power of minimally invasive Botox treatment.

Botox has the same indications for men and women as well. The treatment areas and effects of Botox are similar for men and women, though the dosing tends to be higher in men.

Which types of Botox work are especially popular with men? They include:

Medical Botox for medical conditions like chronic migraine, blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid movements), and excessive sweating
Medical Botox in the lower facial muscles to treat square jaw and TMJ disorders
Cosmetic Botox around the corners of the eyes to address crow’s feet
Cosmetic Botox between the eyes to address glabellar lines (frown lines)
Cosmetic Botox in the forehead to smooth forehead creases and fine lines related to aging

Should Men Get Botox Injections?

There’s no reason for men not to get Botox injections. If you’re a man eager to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging, or treat medical complaints like excessive sweating and chronic migraine, Botox could be right for you.

Of course, not all men should get Botox injections. Common contraindications include:

Neurological issues like myasthenia gravis
Keloidal scarring
Allergy to any of Botox’s components or local anesthetics like lidocaine
Certain facial abnormalities

Because men tend to have more robust musculature than women, more Botox may be needed to achieve the desired results. Your provider may choose a dose at or near the top of the recommended dosing range for the relevant procedure. This may increase the total cost of your treatment.

Botox Results: What to Expect

The active ingredient in Botox is botulinum toxin A, which temporarily paralyzes muscles near the injection site.

Cosmetic Botox procedures target the facial and head muscles responsible for fine lines and wrinkles. While medical Botox procedures target muscles responsible for involuntary movements or pain, or act indirectly on muscles that affect other parts of the body (like sweat glands).

Botox results take a few days to appear. Full results typically arrive within one to two weeks of the procedure.

Depending on the patient, dosage, and area being treated, Botox effects begin to wane within three to six months of treatment. Further treatments are needed to restore the desired effects.

Botox Side Effects and Cautions

In addition to the contraindications described above, Botox — like all medications — has some side effects and potential complications that bear noting.

Most side effects are mild and temporary. They include:

Mild swelling or bruising at the injection site
Tenderness or soreness at the injection site
Minor bleeding

More serious complications are rare but can include muscle weakness, temporary facial paralysis (such as eyelid drooping or ptosis), and urinary incontinence. To reduce your risk of these more serious outcomes, choose an experienced provider who has completed a comprehensive Botox training course with an accredited medical education provider.