Frown lines are facial wrinkles that appear between the eyes when a person frowns, or looks angry or concerned. Dr. Peter Adamson, of Adamson Associates, a cosmetic facial surgery clinic in Toronto, explains that frown lines are dynamic wrinkles caused by the action of the corrugator supercilii muscles. “If you want to look worried or concerned, we use the muscles to make that look,” he says.
As a person ages, years of making facial expressions combined with thinning skin lead to frown lines. “Over time it makes a permanent crease,” Dr. Adamson explains. An additional forehead muscle, the procerus, creates horizontal forehead wrinkles as well.
Botox: The Most Popular Non-surgical Treatment for Frown Lines
“There’s no doubt today the commonest treatment is Botox,” says Dr. Adamson. Injected into the corrugators and the procerus, Botox can either freeze or slow down the muscles’ movement, depending on the amount given. Dr. Adamson recommends a lower dose for first-time patients, and reassessing after three months.
“The Botox works by decreasing the muscle action,” explains Dr. Adamson. “Because the muscle doesn’t work as regularly, the skin effaces or smoothes out.” Botox treatment for frown lines and forehead wrinkles ranges from $300 - $600, usually repeated every three months.
Dr. Adamson says some patients become so accustomed to not using their forehead muscles that creases are minimized even further, allowing for smaller doses. “Some patients over time may feel they don’t need very much,” he says.
Hyaluronic Acids: Juvederm and Restylane for Frown Lines and Forehead Wrinkles
Hyaluronic acids such as Juvederm and Restylane are also called fillers. Although also injected, fillers are different from Botox. Instead of freezing the underlying muscle, treatments such as Juvederm and Restylane fill up a bothersome crease. “Fillers work nicely to plump up that wrinkle,” says Dr. Adamson.
Unlike Botox, which doesn’t take effect for several days, fillers work instantly. The results last for about nine to twelve months, and a syringe of filler costs about $600, depending on the product. Dr. Adamson says if only frown lines are being filled, a patient can expect to get two or three injections out of one syringe.
Combining Botox and Fillers to Get Rid of Wrinkles
Another option to eliminate frown lines and forehead wrinkles is to combine both Botox and fillers, says Dr. Adamson. “Studies show that if you put filler in and Botox in, the filler lasts longer,” he explains, adding that the results could last up to fifteen months.
Dr. Adamson advises that a patient with not too severe a wrinkle may want to choose Botox, while someone with fairly deep wrinkles may prefer fillers. Someone with deep creases and a lot of muscle action may want to opt for both Botox and fillers.
The Forehead Lift: a Surgical Treatment for Frown Lines and Forehead Wrinkles
“When we do a forehead lift we also do work on the forehead muscles,” explains Dr. Adamson. Making incisions at the hair line, surgeons can cut out part of the corrugators and/or cut the procerus as part of the procedure. The cost of a forehead lift, including surgical, nursing and facility fees, ranges from $6,000 - $12,000. After a forehead lift, “the probability is high that you won’t need Botox or fillers,” says Dr. Adamson.
How to Choose a Treatment Option for Frown Lines
Dr. Adamson finds many people choose to have their frown lines treated because of the expression it gives them. “People will see them and say, ‘What’s the matter?’” he says. “A lot of people want to have a more placid look, a more relaxed look, a more youthful look.”
Some people are leery of surgery and opt for injections, while others prefer surgery to having injections on a regular basis. Dr. Adamson says potential patients should look in the mirror and consider what realistic expectations and specific improvements will make their faces match how they feel inside. “That’s what our face is all about,” says Dr. Adamson. “It’s about reflecting us to the world.”
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