Have you recently looked in the mirror and heard a little voice say, “Is it time to Botox your frown lines?” Well, guess what? It’s easier and safer than ever to have your frown lines smoothed out and to get back that seamless surface between your brows that you had in your 20s. Come on, who had frown lines in their 20s, right? So if you didn’t have frown lines then, why do you have them now?
How Do Frown Lines Form?
The answer to this question is the same as the answer to many of the questions you have about your face and body as you get older: Frown lines are one of the dubious gifts of age!
Frown lines also go under the name of glabellar lines or, more informally, the “elevens.” These two vertical lines appear because of the contraction and movement of your Procerus and Corrugator muscles.
These muscles are on your upper nose and lower forehead and produce a variety of facial expressions.
When you were young, these lines would disappear after you stopped frowning, yawning, or squinting. Now you’re older, however, frown lines are deeper – and visible even when you’re not frowning.
The two primary reasons this might happen in younger people, however, are overactive facial expressions and premature aging.
Over time, the fabric of your skin changes from being springy and smooth to thinner and crinklier. This is because the production of collagen and elastin undergoes a change. These two substances keep your skin youthful and healthy but slowly decrease over time, causing the skin to lose its elasticity. This means that those big repetitive expressions start to etch themselves into your skin for good.
Now, You’re Probably Wondering, “Can Frown Lines Go Away?”
Drum roll, please… and the answer is… “No!” Frown lines are not going to go away on their own. So that little voice that’s telling you it’s time to Botox your frown lines is giving you some good advice.
Still doubting that little voice and asking yourself, “Can frown lines be removed?” The answer to that question is “Yes, sort of!” Frown lines can be reduced, but in some cases, no one can remove them permanently. However, depending on the deepness of the lines, your practitioner can reduce the frown lines dramatically. The question is therefore not “can they be removed?” but “do you really want to go through the process of having them removed?”
There are two options.
1 Brow lift surgery is a permanent solution that lifts your brows to a higher and more aesthetically pleasing location on your face. It can also correct frown lines. However, brow lifts are more invasive than Botox or dermal fillers. The process is uncomfortable, causes swelling on the face, and requires you to take about one week off work to recover.
2 Botox, on the other hand, has far fewer side effects and complications, is non-invasive, and requires no recovery time. It can be performed during your lunch break, and it has proven results.
Botox received FDA approval in 2002. Since then, more than 11 million men and women in the United States have turned to it for a variety of treatments to erase wrinkles and reduce creases, as well as for excessive sweating.
How does Botox work? Botox is derived from a neurotoxin that temporarily cuts off communication between your nerves and muscles, making the muscles relax. If an experienced practitioner administers it, Botox can provide you with natural-looking results. You can expect to notice these in as little as 24-48 hours, and they can last up to four months.
Botox and Your Frown Lines
To remove frown lines, Botox is injected into the five muscles that affect them. The muscle between the brows (Procerus) pulls the brows inward and down. The two Corrugator muscles on each side pull your skin inward and direct your brows and forehead down.
Your anatomy will determine dosing and injection placement, so it’s important to have an injector who carefully examines the area and muscle action.
Here’s What You Can Expect From Your Botox Provider
Prior to any Botox treatment, it’s crucial that you have an exam from a trained and experienced provider. They will evaluate your anatomy, as we said, as well as your facial movement when relaxed and making facial expressions. They will have you make expressions like frowning, raising your brows, and smiling to determine the proper location and dose for the injections.
During your treatment, your provider will administer 5-7 injections to the area between your brows and over the inner portion of your brows. You may also benefit from additional injections along the sides of your upper nose, where additional muscles can contribute to creasing in the center of the brow.
Injections are not painful. Many patients say that they feel like a tiny pinch and each injection only takes up to a minute to perform.
As we said before, there’s no recovery time when you Botox your frown lines.
- You may see some tiny red bumps at the injection sights that look like mosquito bites. But these generally go away within minutes.
- Occasionally a small bruise may occur, but bruising rarely happens. (To help reduce bruising, you can take Arnica or Bromelain prior to your appointment.)
It’s best to avoid lying down, exercising, or touching the treated area for 4 hours after your appointment.
The results are not immediate. They come on gradually with the maximum effect in 7-14 days. This is good because no one will notice that you’ve had “something done,” but they will begin to notice that you no longer look angry all the time!
Frown Lines Without Botox, How’s That Going For You?
Trying to remove frown lines without Botox can be a frustrating and reward-less journey. If you’ve been trying all of the over-the-counter suggestions, the natural ways to get rid of your frown lines, and “miracle cures” on the internet, then you know what we mean. And you know it’s time to listen to that little voice.
It’s Time to Botox Your Frown Lines!
When a professional administers it, Botox can be transformative and give you a beautiful, youthful look!
At Evexias Denver, we’ve years of experience providing aesthetic treatments designed to make you look and feel younger, including Botox injections. Our highly experienced staff will make sure they administer your treatments correctly to give you a naturally beautiful look. Contact us for a consultation today!