Glabella — the frown lines
Usually the first area treated, typically 20–30 units across five injection points. It is the area with the most reliable result and also the one where a misplaced dose can cause an eyelid droop.
Aesthetic medicine
Face Botox in Istanbul
Botulinum toxin blocks the signal that tells a muscle to contract. Injected in small, measured doses into the upper face, it softens the lines that movement has carved — and the effect fades, which is the point.
- Appointment
- 15–30 min
- Full effect
- 10–14 days
- Duration
- 3–4 months
Who it suits, and who it does not
A toxin treats lines made by movement. It does nothing for volume that has been lost or skin that has sagged — those need filler or surgery, and suggesting a toxin for them is how patients end up disappointed.
- Frown lines between the brows, horizontal forehead lines, and crow's feet that are visible in movement
- Lines that are still dynamic — they appear when you frown or smile — rather than etched at rest
- Good general health, with no reason to avoid a prescription medicine
- Realistic expectations: the face looks less tense, not younger, and the effect is temporary
Botulinum toxin is not given in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or to anyone with a neuromuscular disorder such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert–Eaton syndrome or motor neurone disease, or with a known allergy to the product or its albumin carrier. Active infection at the injection site, and pre-existing eyelid droop, are relative reasons to wait or to treat differently.
Where it goes, and how much
Doses are in units that are specific to each brand and cannot be compared between them. What matters is the pattern of injection, chosen from how your muscles actually move.
Forehead
Typically 10–20 units, placed to soften horizontal lines without flattening the brow entirely. Treating the forehead alone, without the glabella, often makes the inner brow lift and look strange — the areas are planned together.
Crow's feet
Typically 6–12 units per side, three points around the outer eye. Superficial and close to the orbital rim, so bruising is common and the dose is kept low to avoid a heavy, closed look.
From consultation to review
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Consultation
The face is observed at rest and in movement — frown, raise, squint — because the dose is chosen from the muscle, not the wrinkle. Medical history, medicines and previous toxin treatment are reviewed, and photographs are taken.
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The appointment
Fifteen to thirty minutes. No anaesthetic is needed; ice is used if you want it. A fine needle, several small injections, a few seconds each. You can return to work immediately.
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The first 24 hours
No rubbing or massaging the area for four hours, no lying flat for four hours, and no gym, sauna or alcohol for 24 hours. A mild headache and small bruises are common; make-up can be applied the same day if the skin is not broken.
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Days 3 to 14
Onset is around day two to three and the full effect is reached at 10–14 days. Judging the result earlier than that leads to unnecessary top-ups — the review is booked for day 14.
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The review, then maintenance
At two weeks the pattern is checked and a small correction made if needed. Effect lasts three to four months, sometimes less in people who metabolise it quickly. Treatment every three to four months keeps the result steady without escalating doses.
What can go wrong
This is a prescription medicine, and the risks are those of the toxin itself rather than of the needle.
- Bruising, swelling and a mild headache for a day or two, most common around the eyes
- Eyelid or brow droop (ptosis) in roughly 1–2% of glabella treatments — temporary, settling over two to four weeks, sometimes helped with eye drops
- Asymmetry, or a brow that sits higher on one side, usually correctable at the two-week review
- An unnatural expression — a flattened forehead or a "spock brow" — from a dose or pattern that does not match the muscles
- Dry eye, eyelid puffiness or difficulty raising the brow, and, rarely, generalised weakness or a flu-like reaction
Tell the practitioner about every medicine and supplement, about previous toxin treatments and how long they lasted, and about any family history of neuromuscular disease. Toxin does not treat sagging skin or lost volume, and it is not a substitute for a surgical opinion when that is what the face actually needs.
Questions patients ask
Will my face look frozen?
Not at a measured dose. The aim is to soften movement, not to stop it. A frozen look comes from treating every area at full dose — and it is reversible, which is the advantage over surgery.
How soon will I see a result?
Movement starts to soften around day two or three, and the full effect is present at 10–14 days. Anything that looks uneven before then is usually still developing.
What happens if I stop?
The muscle returns to its previous activity over a few months and the lines return to where they were. There is no rebound worsening, though lines that were suppressed for years can look more established at first.
Can it be combined with filler?
Often, yes — toxin for movement, filler for volume — and they are frequently done in the same visit. The order and the timing are decided by the practitioner, since both change how the face is assessed.
Ask a doctor whether toxin is the right answer
Send two photographs — frowning and at rest — and a doctor reviews them. You get an honest answer on whether the lines are muscular, and what else would be needed if they are not.
General information, not medical advice. Botulinum toxin is a prescription medicine, given only after a consultation with a qualified practitioner; suitability and dose differ from patient to patient.
