Botox for men: uses, cost, side effects

Botox for men is growing in popularity as a way to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. Here’s what to consider before getting male Botox, sometimes called “Brotox.”

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Botox, also known as botulinum toxin or botulinum toxin type A, is a popular, temporary treatment for facial wrinkles. It is considered a neurotoxin, which means that it impacts your nerves. The injections can also be used to treat excessive sweating, neck spasms, lazy eye, and migraines (Padda, 2021).

When it’s used as a cosmetic procedure, it prevents facial muscles in the area of the injection from moving. This is what makes it so helpful in smoothing the appearance of creases and wrinkles. People who get Botox, though, have to keep getting it to prevent wrinkles from returning.

These are some other cosmetic neurotoxins comparable to Botox:

• Dysport

• Jeuveau

• Xeomin 

You might have also heard about Juvederm and Restylane, which also are injections. These are considered fillers so they don’t fall under this group of injectables.

Anyone can get Botox, regardless of biological sex. And it’s growing in popularity specifically among male patients to treat creases and fine lines. 

Just how popular is Botox for men? 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 250,000 men got neurotoxin injections, like Botox and Dysport in 2020. On the whole, injections of neurotoxins including Botox have gone up 182% among males between 2000 and 2020 (ASPS, 2020).

Men get Botox everywhere that women do, including the areas of crow’s feet and forehead lines. In short, the treatment areas for the cosmetic procedure are the same. 

But there’s one key difference between the sexes. That is, biological men often require more of the material to gain desired results. This is because their muscles are larger than biological women’s muscles (Flynn, 2007).

For instance, adding Botox in the area of glabellar lines—those are the creases between the eyebrows that can look like the number 11—has been the most well-studied application of Botox. The recommended dose to start is 40 units of Botox, but some men require up to 80 units to see the desired results (Flynn, 2007).

You’ll see results around two weeks after your treatment. Male Botox injections (much like female Botox injections) typically last around 3 to 4 months (Padda, 2021). Wrinkles will reappear if you don’t keep up with these injections. The good news is that some experts think long-term Botox use can be preventative or reduce wrinkles from being as prominent as they were before the injections (Binder, 2006).

Botox injections are generally well tolerated, but some people can experience side effects or have a longer recovery time. 

Minor side effects include irritation, headache, pain, fever, dry skin, or bruising at the injection site. Infections are also possible. Depending on the location of the injection, you may have eyelid drooping, tearing, or drooling (Witmanowski, 2020).

Serious side effects are rare, but can include (Witmanowski, 2020):

• Difficulty swallowing

• Abnormal voice or trouble speaking

• Muscle weakness

• Vision issues

Serious side effects are more common when Botox is used for medical purposes (like migraine treatment) than in cosmetic cases. Therapeutic uses typically require more product, which is why there’s an increase in risk (Witmanowski, 2020).

The average cost of Botox injections is based on where you live and the type of medical professional who administers the product. Other factors include where you get the injections, as some parts of the body require more to get the desired results.

Note that when you’re looking to price out Botox, it is measured in units. A unit can cost about $10 to $15, and an average treatment may call for 30 to 40 units, so you can pay anywhere from $300 to $600 each time you get it done. The average cost for a Botox treatment is around $460 (ASPS, 2020; Mariotti, 2019). 

The area being treated makes a difference as some areas require more units than others. Because men typically need more Botox than women, male Botox tends to cost more.

You may find that comparable products such as Dysport cost less. However, patients sometimes need more of it, so it can wind up costing the same as having Botox injections.

Other minimally-invasive alternatives to ease wrinkles include using injectable fillers. But if needles aren’t your thing, creams that include hyaluronic acid, collagen, retinoids, or niacinamide may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some people swear by essential oils to treat wrinkles. But if you’re a guy looking for instant results, Botox may be right for you.

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Current version

June 27, 2022

Written by

Kristen Fischer

Fact checked by

Chimene Richa, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Chimene Richa, MD

Dr. Richa is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and medical writer for Ro.