A full face Dysport treatment typically requires between 100 and 300 units total, depending on which areas you’re treating, how strong your facial muscles are, and what results you’re after. That range sounds wide, but it makes sense once you break it down by area. Most people don’t treat every possible zone, so your total will depend on which combination your provider recommends.
How Dysport Units Compare to Botox
If you’re used to thinking in Botox units, the numbers for Dysport will look high at first. The most widely supported conversion ratio is roughly 3 units of Dysport for every 1 unit of Botox. So if someone typically gets 20 units of Botox in their forehead, they’d need about 60 units of Dysport for the same effect. Research published through the National Institutes of Health found that a 3:1 ratio (or even slightly lower) consistently produced equivalent clinical results, while the older 4:1 ratio that some clinics still use can lead to overdosing.
Units by Area: Upper Face
The upper face is where most people start, and it accounts for the bulk of a full face treatment.
- Frown lines (between the brows): 50 units is the FDA-approved dose for this area, split across five injection points. This is the only facial zone where Dysport has formal FDA approval for cosmetic use, so it has the most standardized dosing.
- Forehead lines: Most providers use 20 to 60 units across the forehead, depending on how deep your lines are and how much movement you want to keep. Undertreating the forehead is common on purpose, since too much can create a heavy or flat look.
- Crow’s feet: The typical range is 30 to 60 units total for both sides. Stronger muscles around the eyes or deeper lines push the number higher.
For the upper face alone, most people land somewhere between 100 and 170 units.
Units by Area: Lower Face and Neck
Lower face treatments use smaller doses in more precise locations. The muscles here control expressions like smiling and speaking, so providers inject conservatively to avoid affecting natural movement.
- Lip lines and lip flip: 6 to 15 units placed along the upper lip can soften vertical lines and create a subtle flip that shows slightly more of the upper lip.
- Downturned mouth corners: The muscles that pull your mouth corners downward typically need 6 to 12 units per side. (For reference, the equivalent Botox dose is about 2 to 4 units per side, which aligns with the 3:1 conversion.)
- Chin dimpling: That “orange peel” texture on the chin responds to roughly 15 to 30 units placed into the chin muscle.
- Jawline slimming (masseter): This is the biggest single dose in the lower face. Reducing a wide or square jaw from overactive chewing muscles requires 60 to 120 units per side, making it 120 to 240 units for both sides. Not everyone includes this in a “full face” treatment, but it dramatically changes the total when they do.
- Neck bands: Vertical bands that show when you tense your neck take about 30 to 60 units spread across the prominent bands.
Typical Totals for Common Combinations
In practice, most people requesting a “full face” treatment are combining the three upper face zones with one or two lower face areas. Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:
- Upper face only (frown lines, forehead, crow’s feet): 100 to 170 units
- Upper face plus lower face touch-ups (adding chin, lip lines, mouth corners): 130 to 230 units
- Full face including jaw slimming: 250 to 400+ units
Jaw slimming is the wildcard. If you’re not including it, a comprehensive full face treatment rarely exceeds 250 units. With masseter treatment on both sides, totals can climb significantly.
What Affects Your Personal Dose
Two people asking for the same treatment can need very different amounts. Men generally require higher doses because facial muscles tend to be thicker and stronger. Someone who’s never had neurotoxin injections before may need a slightly higher initial dose than a person who’s been getting treatments regularly, since repeated sessions can train muscles to stay relaxed with less product over time.
Your provider will also factor in your facial anatomy and goals. If you want some natural movement in your forehead rather than a completely smooth look, they’ll use fewer units there. If your crow’s feet are deep at rest, you’ll need more than someone whose lines only show when smiling.
How Long Results Last
Dysport tends to kick in faster than other neurotoxins. A systematic review in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found a median onset of 2 to 3 days, with some patients noticing changes within 24 hours. Full results develop over the first week or two.
Duration varies by area and individual metabolism, but most studies report results lasting about four months. Some evidence shows effects holding at five or even six months, though the muscles gradually regain full movement over that time. The FDA label recommends waiting at least three months between treatments, and most providers suggest spacing sessions 3 to 4 months apart to maintain consistent results without overdoing it.
Cost Expectations
Dysport is typically priced per unit, with most clinics charging between $3 and $6 per unit depending on your location and the provider. That puts a standard upper face treatment in the $300 to $850 range and a more comprehensive full face session between $400 and $1,400 or more. Jaw slimming adds substantially to the bill because of the high unit count. Some clinics offer package pricing for full face treatments that brings the per-unit cost down, so it’s worth asking about bundled rates if you’re treating multiple areas.
Why Doses Vary Between Providers
It’s worth noting that the only FDA-approved cosmetic use for Dysport is the frown lines between the brows, at a fixed 50-unit dose. Every other facial area is considered off-label use. That doesn’t mean it’s unsafe or uncommon. Off-label injection of neurotoxins across the face is standard practice in cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery. But it does mean there’s no official dosing guide for areas like the forehead, crow’s feet, or jaw, which is why you’ll see ranges rather than fixed numbers and why two skilled injectors might recommend different totals for the same face.