Which wrinkles can botox treat?

21st August 2018
Botox

We all know that Botox is a great anti-aging solution, smoothing out your fine lines and wrinkles.

But perhaps less well known is which parts of the face Botox can treat.

Read on to find out which wrinkles Botox can fix, and which will require a different approach.

How does Botox work?

Botox (the Botulinum toxin) is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium Botulinum bacterium. Botox works by reducing the activity of the muscle it’s injected into, so that it remains in a relaxed state. Botox does this by preventing the muscles acting on the nerve signals from the brain which are instructing them to contract.

This effect reduces fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles which are used in frequent expressions, for example the lines between your eyebrows which are caused by frowning.

Why can’t you use Botox on every wrinkle?

Only certain wrinkles on your face are created by muscle activity. If the underlying cause of the wrinkle isn’t muscular, then Botox will have no effect.

Which parts of the face you can treat with Botox?

There are three main areas which Botox can be used to treat:

Forehead (surprise lines)

This patient came to Tee for 3 areas of botox/antiwrinkle treatment: forehead lines (frontalis), frown lines (glabella) and crow’s feet (orbicularis oculi). Four weeks after treatment her dynamic lines (which show when you make an expression) have smoothed, yet the results retain a natural look.

More botox before and after pictures.

Whenever you raise your eyebrows you’re creating a pattern of horizontal lines across your forehead, sometimes known as surprise lines. As you age the reduction in your skin’s elasticity means that the lines can become set in and don’t disappear when you lower your eyebrows.

These lines can be very obvious and prematurely age your features.

…Dr Tim is an expert in the field […]. He is experienced and interesting to talk to about creative uses of botox – such as for migraine – and completely trustworthy for the traditional forehead lines and wrinkles too. I feel total confidence and I’m looking forward to visiting again.
– ST in Kent

Between your eyebrows (frown lines)

This patient visited Tee for botox treatment to relax her hypertonic (overactive) frown muscles. In the after-treatment photo it’s clear to see how Tee’s careful use of botox has reduced the appearance of glabellar lines between her eyebrows, often known as “11s”.

When you squint in bright light or frown you naturally create two vertical creases between your eyebrows, which are known as frown lines, glabellar/glabella lines or the “11s”. Over time these can become deep and permanent wrinkles.

As well as aging you, these lines can make you look tired or unhappy – regardless of how you’re actually feeling.

If the lines are particularly deep then we may recommend that Botox is used in conjunction with dermal fillers to provide a more effective treatment.

…just wanted to say I’m chuffed to bits with my Botox and filler results. So happy with how much my frown line has disappeared and how quickly the Botox worked. By day 3 my lines had disappeared. So thank you.
– DF in Cambs

Outer corners of your eyes (crow’s feet)

Botox is effective in dealing with crow’s feet, also known as laughter lines, as these are formed by the muscles involved in smiling and laughing. Eventually these lines will become permanent so they’re visible even when you’re not smiling.

This is an area where Botox treatments are very successful and can give fantastic results.

The Botox has taken its shape and the result is fab! Thank you.
– MS in London

Other parts of the face

In some circumstances Botox may also be used in other parts of the face. For example, if you have deep oral commissures (lines at the corners of your mouth which can give you a downturned expression) these are often treated with a combination of Botox and dermal fillers.

Dr Tim administers anti-wrinkle botox treatment to this patient’s upper and lower face, and to her neck to reduce the appearance of platysmal bands.

Our ethos is to start with what you want to achieve and then advise on the best treatments to suit your situation, rather than having a one-size-fits-all policy. We offer all patients a free, no obligation, consultation appointment where one of our experts will assess you and discuss the results you desire, then recommend the best approach.

How to deal with other facial lines and wrinkles

Where Botox won’t be effective (because the lines aren’t caused by muscle contractions) dermal fillers can generally be used to plump and smooth out the skin instead. In fact many of our patients will come to us for a combination of Botox and dermal filler treatments in order to achieve the optimal rejuvenating effect.

Tim treated this patient over a period of eight months, using combined treatments to achieve this striking rejuvenation. Over the course of six short appointments, Tim used botox to smooth her lines, filler to restore volume across her midface and reduce her jowls, plus Profhilo to give her skin a boost of hydration and a healthy glow. The results delighted our patient and have given her renewed confidence.

We also offer a range of other non-invasive treatments which can be impressive in managing facial lines and wrinkles including CACI and fractional mesotherapy.

I would like to thank to Dr Tim for the excellent care as he provided me for dermal fillers. Looks amazing. A big thank you.
GK in London

Ready to find out more?

We offer Botox from our London Harley Street, Richmond, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Sevenoaks and Reading clinics, and a free consultation is always provided before any treatment starts.

Call us now on 0330 024 1300 or contact us online to book yourself in to chat with one of our expert team members about how Botox can help you look and feel great.