Can I Botox ONLY the elevens between my brows without it affecting the brows or forehead?

Question

My only wish with Botox at this point is to address the elevens between my brows. I use to do all around my eyes and forehead. I started experiencing collapsed eyelids every time. Only use the best doctors so I know it’s not them. The last time I tried it I asked for it only between brows, I was told doing that would end up raising the inner part of the brow, so they would need to add a baby drop to the outside of my eyebrow to make sure I was even. I still ended up w hooded lids/collapse

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Botox is a muscle relaxer, not a wrinkle filler so the effect on the "11" wrinkles between the eyebrows is due to relaxation of muscles called the corrugators. These muscles pull toward the middle to cause the "11" but they also angle downward a little bit so they also tend to raise the central eyebrow when relaxed. If you only inject the central part you won't get a good effect on the wrinkles, so you have to go over the brow. I think the key is to not place it too deep over that part because the muscle is more superficial there.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

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

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

This is a great question. There are many reasons you may be experiencing collapsing eyelids with Botox, but a face-to-face consultation is needed to pinpoint the underlying cause. If you only inject the medication into the center of the wrinkle, it likely won’t have the smoothing effect you’re looking for. This procedure requires a tremendous amount of precision, skill, and technique to target the correct muscle without affecting other areas of the face. I recommend looking for an injector that has the experience and expertise to perform this procedure well.

Dmitriy Schwarzburg, MD · Answer

If the corrugators are properly injected you shouldn't have a problem you are describing, unless you have a variant anatomy. Always do procedures with board certified physicians.

Sheryl D. Clark, MD, FAAD · Answer

Hello Maine1944:

There are several reasons one might see hooded eyelids after Botox or Jeuveau to the frown lines only.
1) The injector might be using a less concentrated solution of Botox, requiring a larger volume for the same number of units. The greater the volume, the more the diffusion and the greater the possibility of spreading to the frontalis muscle, releasing the upward lift of this muscle on the brows.
2) the injector might be injecting too high, thus relaxing the frontalis muscle as well as the glabellar complex.
3) the injector may be injecting too deeply, thus relaxing the frontalis muscle instead of the corrugators.
4) Using a less concentrated dilution of Botox or injecting close to the mid pupillary line, over the supraorbital foremen, can allow Botox to spread to the Mueller’s muscle which is needed to be able to elevate the eyelid.

The best advice I can offer is to seek treatment from an advanced injector with decades of experience who uses a more concentrated dilution of the neuromodulators like Botox and Jeuveau.

Feel free to reach out with any additional questions!

Sheryl Clark MD FAAD

Can I Botox ONLY the elevens between my brows without it affecting the brows or forehead?

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Can I Botox ONLY the elevens between my brows without it affecting the brows or forehead?

Answers (7)

Answer: Botox and droopy eyelids

Answer: Botox and droopy eyelids

Answer: Hooded eyelids after Botox

Answer: Hooded eyelids after Botox

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.