Will botox get rid of my frown line? Should I consider combining it with CO2 Laser treatment? (photo)

Thank you for your question and photo. Botox is an ideal solution for treating the overactive muscle that is causing the line you’re referring to. Lines, wrinkles, and creases can be the result of repetitive muscle movements that can deepen over time. Botox injections can target the muscle causing this line, reducing muscle activity to minimize the appearance of the wrinkle. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with an experienced, board-certified injector who can suggest the best option for you.

"​For glabellar lines (or frown lines / ""11"" lines), we inject Botox, Xeomin, or Dysport into the muscle, causing the muscle to weaken and improving the appearance of the lines. These work by binding to receptors that send nerve signals for muscles to contract. Since your body makes new receptors and neurotransmitters all the time, it needs to be maintained otherwise the wrinkles will slowly return as the muscle regains function over time. Neurotoxins take 2 to 4 weeks to start working and lasts for up to 6 months.

For deeper glabella lines or strong 11s, I use a combination of Botox with fillers, lasers and microneedling with PRP. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with an experienced cosmetic dermatologist and expert in lasers and fillers. Best, Dr. Emer
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Botox normally will help with the appearance of frown lines in between the eyebrows. The addition of a filler can sometimes also create more improvement. Since you mentioned you didn't want any fillers, the Botox alone should still provide some benefit. I do not think a CO2 laser would have any significant effect on a deep frown line.

Botox it is a wonderful option for improving wrinkles of the forehead/eyes and it can be very addictive because people love what they see. When given in certain spots, your surgeon can achieve a “chemical Brow lift” with Botox alone. There are also many other options such as laser and chemical peels that can further improve the skin itself. Botox works by relaxing the muscles and usually needs to be repeated every 3 to 6 months.

 Surgery is another option but obviously more invasive and has scars. 

I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of brow lifts but also offers all the nonsurgical options such as Botox injectables and laser treatments. Go over your concerns with them and make sure you walk out of there with several options. I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right. 
Warm regards,

If your forehead lines are created/changed when you make facial expressions then they will be improved with Botox. We call these dynamic lines. If the line is there regardless of muscle activity then it may be softened with Botox but will likely need additional treatments, such as Morpheus8, to improve it further.

Thank you for your question about neuromodulators (relaxers such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Juveau), fillers and lasers. Kids frown as well as adults. In youth we have a robust amount of collagen, hyaluronic acids and elastin in our skin which work to help it be resilient and flexible. As we age, small wrinkles start to form but are not seen in relaxation and so don’t bug us much. For that matter even deeper lines and grooves don’t bother us that much as long as we don’t see them when our muscles are relaxed. It is when those grooves and lines and creases stare back at us that so many people decide it is time for an intervention.Years ago we only had fillers and so every depression received a filler. Then we got lasers and we were able to treat the color changes of aging skin such as brown spots and redness and we were able to stimulate some collagen which helped to firm up the skin providing for some improvement in fine wrinkles, not folds or grooves. The we got relaxers and started trying to improve every wrinkle with a relaxer. Relaxers are wonderful at decreasing muscle movement. And, if reducing movement could over time help a groove or dynamic wrinkle be less deep, then that was very nice. Now back to your line. Yes, putting some relaxer such as Botox or the others mentioned above, in the muscles that are creating your groove can minimize it’s depth over time. They do not fix anything nor make anything go away for good. They will improve the glabellar line area, need regular upkeep - typically every 3-4 months depending on the dosage of material used and the strength of your muscles and your metabolism. Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to last 9-12 or so months, or maybe much longer, depending on the person and where they are being put. You will want to be treated by someone who knows the anatomy as there are, for example blood vessels and nerves below the bottom of your glabellar line. When I place fillers, I do not put needles down in the bottom of that line. I prefer to make bridges of material across the lines. Long story… See someone who has been doing treatments for a long, long time. As to the CO2 laser. I first started using that laser in 1995. It is likely a great lasers for you skin type (blue eyes…), subject to whatever your actual provider thinks, and can help with fine wrinkles, skin texture, tone… It will, in my experience and thus opinion, not be of help with your glabellar line.In summary, you could certainly consider getting the area relaxed a bit, not paralyzed. You would want to keep some freedom of expression. And I would recommend that a little filler in the area could be very nice, would help further improve the result and it does not usually need to be repeated for a very long time. By the way, your skin has lots of hyaluronic acid in it already. If that is the type filler you doctor might use that will simply be “topping up” what your body can’t keep adequately replaced. I hope that that helps. Best of luck!

Deep frown lines can be easily corrected with botulinum treatment and possibly filler with a cannula technique. Any kind of skin tightening treatment on top like IPL, lasers or Morpheus is certainly a plus.

I feel that Botox alone will soften or completely remove the vertical frown line you have presented. While I understand you do not desire fillers, the filler would certainly remove any residual line that remains post Botox treatment.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

The best way is Botox and then a filler. You must keep on your Botox treatments and that should take care of it. C02 would not be the answer as that is caused by muscle movement.

Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for your question. It is always best to see you face to face for a consult and examination however in this case botox would certainly soften the area although it's unlikely the line will go completely. Usually to give botox a go you need 3 treatments at 3 month intervals to see how reduced the line could get. Following that as you describe resurfacing or micro-needling can help for these static lines. I hope that helps answer your question. Always seek an experienced and qualified medical professional for these treatments. Very best wishes