Since we reopened our offices in May, many of our clients and patients have noted how much scrutiny their upper faces are getting due to their wearing masks on a regular basis. We had previously addressed scowl lines between the eyes as a focus of attention, and we will now discuss another prominent complaint regarding the upper face: forehead lines.
The muscle that elevates the eyebrows is called the frontalis muscle. Its fibers are vertically oriented, which results in folding of the skin horizontally and the eventual development of forehead lines.
A quick survey of other people's forehead will show you that there is a considerable variability in the range of forehead size and the number of lines that develop. Some people will have a narrow forehead and only a few fine lines, while others will have a wide forehead and many deep creases.
As a result of these anatomical differences, Botox, which relaxes this muscle, may need to be injected in different locations on the forehead and in slightly different amounts. In general, complete relaxing of the frontalis muscle is not a good look and in fact, makes the upper face look frozen.
This frozen look can be prevented by an expert injector who can assess the muscle strength and the lines to be smoothed. This expert can then adjust the dosage and location of Botox injections for that individual who is being treated.
Depending on the size of forehead and the relative strength of the frontalis muscle, the amount of Botox used is between 10 and 20 units, with 10 units being the most common dosage. Return visits for slight adjustments are sometimes needed but less common.
Our primary objective is to soften the forehead lines while allowing for some smaller amount of muscle motion to achieve a relaxed but natural-looking result. We at Maine Laser Skin Care are experts at analyzing people's faces and their Botox requirements after we have discussed the person's goals. In general, we would much rather have someone come back to the office requesting more Botox for their forehead or other area of concern than to have them come complaining of looking "frozen".
So, in this unprecedented time of stress where your upper face is getting more attention, wipe your furrowed brow away with Botox at the hands of the expert injectors here at Maine Laser Skin Care. Call us soon for a free consultation or appointment either in Scarborough at (207) 303-0125 or in Augusta at (207) 873-2158.