Frown line (glabella) botulinum toxin
Glabella treatment delivers 10–25 units of botulinum toxin into the corrugator and procerus muscles, which pull the brows inward and down, to reduce the movement that creates the vertical lines between them.
- Procedure time
- 10–15 minutes
- Anaesthesia
- Usually not needed; topical anaesthetic cream on request
- Recovery
- Back to normal the same day
- Sessions
- One session · review at week 2
- How long it lasts
- 4–6 months
The target group: corrugator and procerus
The vertical lines between the brows come not from one muscle but from a group working together. Corrugator supercilii pulls the brow inwards and down, depressor supercilii pulls the inner end of the brow down, and procerus produces a horizontal line at the root of the nose.
This group works hard through the day: it contracts while you concentrate, while you look into the sun, while you sit close to a screen. That is why it is the area that reads most tired and most severe on a face.
The injection points are marked while you frown. The classic distribution is five points; the thick body of corrugator gets more units, its extending tail gets fewer.
How the dose is calculated
The typical range for the glabella is 10–25 units. This area carries the thickest expression muscles on the face, so it is normal for it to need more than the forehead.
The exact dose is set at examination. How big the bulge is when you frown, the distance between your brows and the depth of the line show where in the range to sit.
- Muscle volume — a clear bulge on frowning moves the dose towards the upper limit
- Sex — corrugator mass tends to be greater in men, so the dose shifts upward
- Number of lines — one vertical line and two separate lines need different point distributions
- Response to the previous treatment — if it fell short, the dose is adjusted upward next time
The day of treatment
The skin is cleaned and you are asked to frown so the body of the muscle can be marked. Injections are given at 3–5 points and the whole thing takes no more than 10–15 minutes.
Most patients need no anaesthetic. The point at the root of the nose is felt slightly more than the others; the sensation passes in a few seconds.
For the first four hours, do not bend forward, lie down or massage the area. A short, mild headache can occur with this area and passes within a few days.
The timeline of the effect
The effect starts at days 3–7 and settles fully at days 10–14. In the glabella the first thing most people notice is not the line disappearing but the habit of frowning through the day quietly reducing.
It lasts 4–6 months on average. In patients who repeat regularly, corrugator thins over time and the number of units needed for the same result can come down a little.
At the week-two review, a small touch is added if there is asymmetry or an area left open. If you have flown home by then, that review is done by photograph and message.
What decides the result
In this area the result is decided by the depth of the injection and its distance from the brow margin. An injection placed too close to the outer end of corrugator can affect the muscle that lifts the eyelid and cause temporary lid droop.
The glabella dose is never considered in isolation from the forehead dose. If the depressor muscles are weakened while frontalis is left free, the outer end of the brow can lift more than intended; the two areas are planned together.
If there is a deep line between your brows that is visible when your face is still, that is a static line. Botulinum toxin slows it from deepening further but does not release an established groove on its own.
Who this is not for, and what not to expect
Botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine. If you have a neuromuscular condition, if there is any possibility of pregnancy, or if you are taking antibiotics, you need to say so at examination.
The known and uncommon side effect of this area is temporary drooping of the upper eyelid. It is not permanent; as the toxin wears off it resolves, usually within 3–6 weeks. If it happens after you have flown home, message us with a photograph rather than seeking urgent care — it needs reassurance and time, not intervention.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — not treated
- Neuromuscular disease (myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, motor neurone disease) — not treated
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics — they can amplify the effect of the toxin; not treated until the course is finished
- Active infection or inflammatory skin disease between the brows — not treated until it clears
- Known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin — not treated
- Bleeding disorder or anticoagulant use — bruising is more likely; a doctor’s assessment is required
- A deep static glabellar groove will not be released by botulinum toxin alone; brow ptosis will not be corrected by it
This page is general information and does not replace a clinical examination. The method, dose and timescale that apply to you are decided by a doctor after examining you.
Frequently asked questions
How many units does the glabella need?
Will my eyelid droop?
Should it be done together with the forehead?
When does it start and how long does it last?
Pre-assessment
Describe your situation and we will answer with a measurement
Send a photograph or an X-ray. A doctor in the relevant speciality will reply with a graft range, a number of teeth or a dose range in units. If you are not suitable, we say so plainly.