Where is the Botox injection site for frown lines and how can I lift eyebrows?

Question

The nurse practitioner I go to said if they do in between my eyebrows by my frown lines - I will trade off dropping my eyebrows - is this accurate? Also if I want to lift my eyebrow (they are uneven) can they do that from injecting lifting from the top of my forehead?

Steven H. Williams, MD · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

Botox can be confusing in how it works. It's function is to relax the muscle so depending on whether the muscle's action is as a brow depressor or elevator, will determine whether botox will cause the brows to lift or fall.
Botox in the glabella (depressor) will result in elevation of the medial brow when the depressor action is relaxed.
Botox in the frontalis (elevator) will result in a lowering of the brows due to reduced ability to lift.

Hope that makes sense. Make sure to see an experienced, board certified provider.

Erin Smith, MD · Answer

Hi! Great question. Placing botox in the muscles that contribute to your frown lines (your corrugators or procerus muscles) will not drop your eyebrows. These muscles actually pull the brow down and medial, and so weakening these muscles with botox will allow your brow to slightly elevate. To achieve more elevation, your doctor can place botox into your orbicularis oculists muscle on the side of your eyebrow and next to your eye. If you weaken this muscle with botox, it will raise your brow to give you a "chemical browlift". Your doctor can also titrate your botox dose to even out any asymmetries. The area that you should be aware of that can drop your brow is your forehead. Placing botox into the muscle of your forehead can result in brow drop if it is placed too close to the brow.

Marc Polacco, MD · Answer

To understand what effect botox will have, just remember the drug works to paralyze muscles. So whatever muscle it's used on will move less or maybe not at all. So if your frown line area (glabella) is treated, your frown will be weakened, and yes, you would not be able to drop your brows as easily. Lifting the brow is more difficult and requires treating muscles that pull down on the brow. For unevenness, the easiest route may be to treat the brow that is slightly higher conservatively so that it aligns with the lower brow. Hope that helps!

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. Frown line injections are done between the brows and just above the inner aspect of each brow.  A lift can be obtained with treatment of the crow's feet region as well as the apex of the brow that needs to be higher.  Hope this helps.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

The very first aesthetic use for Botox was for treating the frown lines (i.e. the "eleven" lines) between the eyebrow. I have personally been treating this region with Botox since 1991.  Properly injected into specific muscles in the region, in experienced hands, Botox works well for quieting the overactivity of the muscles in the region responsible for the frown lines and smoothing the area. It should NOT result in drooping eyebrows. Additionally, a few droplets of Botox placed appropriately in the outer third of the eyebrows has been used for years to achieve a "nonsurgical browlift," i.e. elevation of the outer third of the eyebrows in order to restore the upward and outward flare that is characteristic of the ideal, youthful feminine eyebrow. You would be wise to seek consultation with a board certified aesthetic physician. Best of luck.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

That method is my patented Microdroplet Lift®. Using very precisely placed botulinum toxin along the eyebrow, the service treats the muscles that pull the eyebrows down and pinch the eyebrows. The service leaves the forehead untreated. By doing this, the forehead does not need to work as hard to lines are reduced without freezing the forehead. See a Microdroplet Lift® injector for this type of service.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The questions you bring up demonstrate why it is so important to visit with an expert injector for treatment.  When done properly it is possible to treat the frown lines, commonly referred to as "the 11's" as well as give a conservative brow lift. You don't have to pick one or the other.

Alexander Blandford, MD · Answer

Great question. An in person exam is necessary to best advise you. Botulinum toxin (botox, dysport, xeomin, and jeaveau) is a safe treatment but does require an experienced injector. For frown lines between the eyebrows there are typically several injections (usually 5 in my practice) that target brow depressor muscles. To elevate the brow, typically targeting a lateral brow depressor (orbicularis oculi) can help lift the tail of the brow. Weakened the forehead muscle can soften the forehead lines, but can also lower the brows if not done conservatively. Regardless, important to see an experienced injector that can listen to your goals and create a safe and effective treatment plan.
Hope this helps!
Alex Blandford, MDOculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryVero Beach, FL

Michael J. Yaremchuk, MD (license resigned) · Answer

I assume by frown lines, you mean vertical glabellar lines. The muscles that control this are the bilateral corrugators and the midline procerus muscle. These are thus the Botox targets. This should not lower your eyebrows as you have stated. There is a risk of causing drooping of the eyelid with this injection if not done accurately. To raise the eyebrow, injectors should actually inject under the brow at the orbicularis muscles. This will allow for a slight brow elevation as the orbicularis is responsible for lowering the brow

Vibha Gambhir, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The more botox that is placed in between your brows, below your brows, and around your eyes will help lift where as the more botox that goes in your forehead above the brows can cause your eyebrows to drop or feel heavy. Placing botox below the eyebrow that is lower will help lift and create some more symmetry. Hope this helps!

Where is the Botox injection site for frown lines and how can I lift eyebrows?

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