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. 

Beyond Skin Clinic

5 out of 5

From 5 Review(s)

Skincare Is Our Passion Our Clinic Team are experts in their field, maintaining the highest standards of care. We are obsessed with education and are on a mission to share our passion with you.[READ MORE]


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Beyond Skin Clinic, 14 College Street, Belfast, BT1 6BT

Look Lovely London

5 out of 5

From 5 Review(s)

Look Lovely London is a Dr led advanced aesthetic & skin clinic in the heart of St John’s Wood, not far from Regents Park. Established over 13 years ago, we deliver safe & effective treatments.[READ MORE]


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Bell Medics Limited TA Look Lovely London, 4 Wellington Road, NW8 9SP

Brewood Skin Clinic

5 out of 5

From 11 Review(s)

Award winning Brewood Skin & Functional Health is led by Sarah, an Indepent Nurse Prescriber with over 23 years experience offering Advanced Skin Solutions and Medical Aesthetic treatments.[READ MORE]


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7 Church Road, Staffordshire, Brewood, ST19 9BT

Melior Clinics Harley Street

5 out of 5

From 5 Review(s)

Our medical team can help you achieve your aesthetic and wellbeing goals. We offer botox, fillers, microneedling, skin boosters, peels and laser treatments. [READ MORE]


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39 Harley Street, London, W1G 8QH

Freyja Medical

5 out of 5

From 56 Review(s)

Freyja Medical, the home of Professional Medical Aesthetics. Run by fully qualified Skin Doctors and aesthetic nurses based in Wrexham and Nantwich.[READ MORE]


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Freyja Medical Nantwich Branch,, The Yard, Villa Farm, Wrexham Road, Burland,, Nantwich, CW5 8LR

rtwskin

4 out of 5

From 6 Review(s)

rtwskin is a doctor led Independent Healthcare Provider regulated by the Care Quality Commission and SAVE FACE. We provide dermatology, aesthetic medical skin care and beauty treatments from non-sur...[READ MORE]


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Cobden House Medical Centre, 25 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1DA

Stratford Dermatherapy Clinic

Dr Hugo & James Kitchen's clinic has a well-deserved reputation as the leading provider of cosmetic and aesthetic treatments in Warwickshire. Founded in 1988 Stratford Dermatherapy Clinic is based...[READ MORE]


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6 Mansell Street, Stratford-upon-avon, CV37 6NR

Nichola Maasdorp at Number 4

Nichola really understands how ageing can affect a person. All of us see and experience those changes but may not know how to manage them. Nichola feels that managing those changes correctly can k...[READ MORE]


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4 Mayne Road, Elgin, IV30 1NY

Thames Aesthetics

5 out of 5

From 2 Review(s)

A Consultant Doctor Led Cosmetic clinic. We bring London Consultant expertise to locations across the Berkshire and Thames Valley area. Our mission is to deliver advanced, innovative, and up-to da...[READ MORE]


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1 Snowdrop Gardens, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4FB