Frown line treatments, Marylebone, London

Frown lines, also known as ‘eleven’ lines, are those vertical creases that appear between your eyebrows. These vertical creases are created when we furrow our brows while frowning, and over time, our skin’s elasticity decreases, causing the lines to become more permanent, especially if frowning has become a habitual behaviour that we are not even aware of. If you want to soften these lines, fortunately there’s a lot that can be done – both with skincare and with tweakments.

Why do I have frown lines?

The forehead is a highly expressive part of the face that can convey a wide range of emotions, including frowns, raised eyebrows, sympathetic looks, and expressions of delight and surprise. These lines caused by movements of the facial muscles are called “dynamic” wrinkles because they cause the skin to move and form wrinkles where the skin folds to accommodate these movements. When the eyebrows are frequently pulled together during frowning, it can create vertical lines between them, known as “eleven” lines, which can become more engrained over time.

As we age, our skin gradually loses its firmness and elasticity due to a decline in collagen and elastin, proteins that help keep the skin firm and springy. When the skin is repeatedly creased in the same way, such as with frown lines, it loses its ability to bounce back, causing the wrinkles to become entrenched.

How do I get rid of frown lines between my eyebrows?

Start with skincare

Firstly, it’s absolutely essential to apply a moisturising sunscreen daily to protect against ultraviolet light, which can accelerate the ageing process and increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

Another important aspect of skincare is to keep the skin well-hydrated, as dry skin is more prone to wrinkles. Consider incorporating a moisturising serum with hyaluronic acid into your routine, as this ingredient is incredibly hydrating and can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water, plumping up the skin. It’s gentle and safe for use on the skin and can be applied under moisturiser, sunscreen, or makeup.

For further skin regeneration, it may be beneficial to add a vitamin A cream, such as retinol, to your routine. Retinol helps to stimulate collagen production, reduce the breakdown of collagen, and speed up the rate at which ageing skin cells renew themselves. This can lead to a clearer and less wrinkled appearance, and it also reduces excess pigment production.

Botox injections

The primary method for reducing lines on the forehead is through Botox injections which are highly effective in softening frown lines.

Botox is made from a diluted form of nerve toxin and work by interfering with nerve signals that instruct the facial muscles to contract, preventing them from folding the skin and causing wrinkles. This allows the skin to renew itself, reducing the appearance of wrinkles or lines. The treatment is fast and efficient, and the results can last for several months. Once the effects of the toxin have worn off, typically after a few months, the muscles will regain full function.

Fillers

Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can be injected to plump up and fill the static frown lines. If the frown lines are present even when you’re not frowning, Dermal filler may be the best solution.

Microneedling

This treatment uses tiny, super-sharp needles to create multiple punctures in the surface of the skin (a bit brutal, but effective) and these minute wounds stimulate the wound-healing response that floods the skin with growth factors and creates new collagen and elastin, creating — over the next few weeks – a fresher, smoother and firmer surface.

Skin peels

These are exfoliating treatments using alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic or lactic acid. They work by painting the peel onto the face, where it helps to loosen the chemical bonds that hold the dead skin cells onto the surface of your face, so those old cells can be swept away, resurfacing your complexion, and revealing the fresher, smoother skin beneath.

Sofwave

Sofwave, a next-generation ultrasound device, is emerging as a clear leader among available energy-based wrinkle-reversing technologies. Sofwave delivers a unique form of ultrasound waves to boost the supply of collagen and elastin under your skin’s surface. The wrinkle-reducing results can be seen after a single treatment.

If you’d like to learn more about the various treatment options, click here to enquire or to book a consultation.