The standard dose of Xeomin for 11 lines (the vertical frown lines between your eyebrows) is 20 units. This is the FDA-approved dose, split evenly across five injection sites in the glabellar area. Some practitioners use up to 25 units depending on muscle strength and line depth.
How the 20 Units Are Distributed
Your 11 lines are created by two muscles: the corrugator muscles (one above each eyebrow, responsible for pulling your brows inward) and the procerus muscle (a single muscle between the brows that pulls them downward). When these muscles contract repeatedly over years, the skin above them creases into those vertical lines.
The 20 units go into five specific spots: four units at each site. Two injections go into each corrugator muscle (one in the inner portion, one in the outer portion), and one injection goes into the procerus. This pattern ensures the toxin relaxes both muscles evenly, so you get a balanced, natural result rather than one side looking smoother than the other.
When Providers Use More Than 20 Units
The 20-unit dose is the official recommendation, but cosmetic injectors sometimes adjust upward. A clinical study on Xeomin for glabellar lines used 25 units total, distributing five units per injection site instead of four. This higher dose is more common for people with stronger facial muscles, deeper etched lines, or a history of needing more product to see results.
Men, for example, tend to have thicker corrugator muscles and often need doses at the higher end of the range. People who’ve used neurotoxins before and found that 20 units wore off quickly may also benefit from a slight increase. That said, going above the recommended dose is an off-label decision your injector makes based on your anatomy and treatment history.
How Xeomin Compares to Botox in Units
Xeomin and Botox use a 1:1 unit ratio, meaning 20 units of Xeomin is considered equivalent to 20 units of Botox. If you’ve previously had Botox for your 11 lines and are switching to Xeomin, you can expect a similar number of units.
The key difference between the two is manufacturing. Xeomin is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A with no extra proteins attached, which is why it’s sometimes called the “naked injectable.” Botox contains a complex of accessory proteins surrounding the active molecule. Because Xeomin lacks these additives, it may carry a lower risk of allergic reactions and could be less likely to trigger an immune response that makes the product less effective over time.
What to Expect After Treatment
Xeomin typically starts working within 3 to 4 days, with full results visible by day 7 to 10. Some people notice smoothing as early as 48 hours, though this varies based on individual metabolism and muscle strength. The lines won’t disappear instantly after your appointment.
Retreatment should happen no more frequently than every three months. Most people schedule follow-up sessions in that 3-to-4-month window, though the exact duration depends on how quickly your body metabolizes the product. If you’re a first-time user, your results may not last quite as long as they will after several consistent treatments, since repeated sessions gradually train the muscles to stay relaxed longer.
Why Results Vary Between People
Two people can receive the same 20 units and walk away with noticeably different outcomes. The depth of your lines matters: if your 11 lines are visible even when your face is completely relaxed (called static lines), the toxin will soften them but may not erase them entirely. Lines that only show up when you frown (dynamic lines) tend to respond more dramatically to treatment.
Skin thickness, hydration, sun damage, and age all play a role too. Thinner skin shows improvement faster but may also show lines returning sooner. If your lines are deeply etched after decades of use, your injector may recommend combining Xeomin with a filler or a skin-resurfacing treatment to address both the muscle movement and the crease in the skin itself.