Botox for Your Frown or Glabella Lines

Anna Kremerov
Checked By Anna Kremerov

If you've got frown lines that appear when you furrow your brow (known medically as glabellar lines) Botox (botulinum toxin) injections can definitely help to reduce the appearance of facial lines and achieve a more relaxed and smooth facial appearance.

Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin type A. Other brands available in the UK include Bocouture, Azzalure, Letybo and Nuceiva.

What are frown lines?

What Are Frown Lines?

Frown lines are a common concern for men and women of all ages as we all develop lower forehead wrinkles due to our everyday facial expressions. They are the two parallel lines that form in between the eyebrows due to repetitive movement of your facial muscles, in the area known as the glabella complex.

People often say that these wrinkles make them look older or angry because frowning is normally associated with negative expression or stress.

What Causes Frown Lines?

Frown lines (glabellar lines) can be caused by repeated muscle movement of two muscles- the procerus muscle and corrugator supercilii when you frown or smile often (or both). The procerus muscle contractions will cause bunching of the skin and the appearance of horizontal lines across your nose bridge. The corrugator supercilli muscle contractions will draw the eyebrows together thus creating a few vertical lines between your eyes. When this happens repeatedly over time, the lines may become ingrained or etched in.

Other factors that can contribute to frown line development are sun damage, smoking, and loss of skin elasticity as we get older (these factors also contribute to crow's feet, horizontal forehead lines, and horizontal creases). 

Can I Get Rid of Frown Lines?

Yes, and it's one of the most popular and effective treatments worldwide. Botulinum toxin treatment with Botox or other licensed brands such as Bocouture, Azzalure, Letybo and Nuceiva is the most effective way to relax the muscles and help to improve frown lines. It works in the majority of cases and can be repeated to maintain results. 

Botulinum toxin injections are also a good alternative to cosmetic surgery, as risks aren't as high or severe. Treatment with botulinum toxin isn't a permanent solution; however, you can repeat injections every three to six months.

Can I get rid of frown lines?
What can I expect from frown line treatment?

What Can I Expect From Frown Line Treatment?

Your practitioner can numb your skin prior to injection, so you only feel a 'sharp scratch' as the needle goes in.

Immediately after the procedure, you may notice some redness and swelling, but this should die down after a few hours.

Results will be noticeable after two weeks and should last three to six months.

How Much Does It Cost to Treat Frown Lines With Botox?

Prices will vary depending on the level of experience of your practitioner, and the location in which they're offering treatment. For example, the cost of Botox treatments in London will be a lot more than in South Wales!

On average, you can expect to pay between £200-£400.

Don't be swayed by cost though – your safety should always come first, so be prepared to pay more for an appropriately qualified and experienced practitioner.

Are There Side Effects to Treating Frown Lines With Botox Injections?

Side effects to Botox and other brands of botulinum toxin are rare, but can include:

  • Headaches

  • Swelling

  • Allergic reaction

  • Droopy eyelids

  • Dry eyes or mouth

The most dangerous complications are double vision and difficulty breathing, but these are thankfully extremely rare.

If you experience any side effects or complications, contact your practitioner immediately.

Who Is Best Injector to Treat Your Frown Lines?

We highly recommend that you only undergo treatment with a medically-qualified professional, who will have undergone training in anatomy and physiology, as well as be accountable to a regulatory body such as the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or General Dental Council (GDC).

They should also be able to advise you of the risks of injectable treatment and be confident in handling complications in the glabellar area if they arise.

Check out our handy guide for finding a practitioner you can trust.

Booking a Botox Consultation for Your Glabellar Lines

As you will have learnt, botulinum toxin (Botox, Bocouture, Azzalure, Letybo and Nuceiva) is a great tool to help you look younger and fresher. It’s important that you get treated by an experienced, medically trained, and qualified practitioner who will inject you safely.

As always, if you have any questions you can use our Botox Q&A where you can ask for more advice direct from a trusted, experienced medical practitioner.

Not sure Botox treatment is right for you? We have lots of Botox FAQs, Botox videos, Botox reviews, and Botox before and after images for you to do more research if you are not ready to speak to a medically trained Botox injector yet.
 
If you want to look for your nearest accredited and verified Botox clinic, your local Botox clinics are listed below. 

Medicetics Connaught Street

5 out of 5

From 5 Review(s)

Medicetics Skin Clinic is based in Hyde Park, London and is run by Mr Geoffrey Mullan and Dr Vicky Dondos. The Medicetics Cinic is ideally situated to serve the areas of central and West London. They ...[READ MORE]


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37 Connaught Street, Hyde Park, London, W2 2AZ

Maison Aesthetique

Maison Aesthetique is located in Totnes, Devon. Dr Rupal Fatania has been providing a variety on non-surgical aesthetic treatments for over ten years. The small and personable team pride themselves...[READ MORE]


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1 Castle Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NU

Libbie Wallace

5 out of 5

From 5 Review(s)

Libbie Wallace is an Independent Nurse Prescriber with her own clinic in Harley Street London. Libbie qualified as a registered general nurse from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia...[READ MORE]


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10 Harley Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 9PF

Premier Laser & Skin Clinic Soho

5 out of 5

From 10 Review(s)

If you are looking for laser hair removal in Soho then come and visit Premier Laser. Being a leading laser clinic in London all of our laser hair removal treatments are performed by highly train...[READ MORE]


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177 Wardour St, London, W1F 8WX

Emma Chan

Led by our founder Emma Chan, we are an exclusive medical aesthetics company offering a revolutionary approach to skin perfection. We believe it is really important that people feel good about thems...[READ MORE]


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10 Matrix Point, Matrix Way, Buckshaw Village, PR7 7ND

Elixir Treatments

5 out of 5

From 7 Review(s)

Kate has 35 years of experience working as a registered nurse and has been working in the field of aesthetic treatments since 2006. She is fully qualified and indemnified to carry out aesthetic pr...[READ MORE]


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Full Address Upon Request, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20

BrightNewMe by Dr Sarah Norman

5 out of 5

From 10 Review(s)

BrightNewMe is a specialist skin clinic, led by Dr Sarah Norman, offering a range of treatments, all with a focus on maintaining a very natural look. We are great advocates of the benefit of prescript...[READ MORE]


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28 High Street, Altrincham, WA14 1QP

Hardwick Clinic

We are a bespoke, patient centred cosmetic, aesthetic medicine and weight-loss centre. Our clinic is discretely and conveniently located close to Cambridge and also Cambourne. We will discuss you...[READ MORE]


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227 St Neots Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7QJ

Medical Aesthetics Knutsford

Medical Aesthetics Knutsford delivers a vast range of non surgical medical aesthetic procedures and treatments all delivered by registered healthcare practitioners. Efficiently based in the heart ...[READ MORE]


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Windsor Court, 103 Kings Street, Knutsford Cheshire, WA16 6EQ