Forehead Lines
Definition and causes:
Forehead lines are horizontal lines across the forehead which appear mainly as a result of the frontalis muscle elevating the eyebrows and causing wrinkling of the forehead.
Treatment:
Botox* (Botulinum toxin) injections is
one of the most effective treatments used to eliminate, reduce or soften
forehead lines, depending on their severity and cause. Botox injections relax the muscles they are injected into. As the muscles relax, lines and wrinkles in the injected area disappear or become softer in appearance depending on their pre-treatment severity. Treatment
of forehead lines with Botox injections on their own is not recommended due
to the risk of creating heavy brows/ drooping eyelids. Treatment of frown
(glabellar) lines at the same time balances this risk.
*Botox is a prescription only medication and
requires a consultation first to ensure the treatment is suitable and
safe for you, you understand the effects, possible side effects and
alternative options.
Alternative treatments for upper face wrinkles include chemical peels, microneeedling, dermal fillers
and laser skin resurfacing treatments. Some may be used in addition to Botox injections
No treatment is always an option too, based on personal choice and treatment suitability.
Frown (glabellar) lines
Definition and causes:
These are vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows and can become prominent as a result of movement of glabellar complex muscles. Other causes include inherited predisposition, sun damage, life style choices such as smoking, and age-related degenerative changes in the connective tissue of the skin including breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Treatment:
Relaxation of the glabellar complex muscles with Botox injections can be a very effective therapy for these lines.
Crow’s feet ( eye corner) lines
Definition and causes:
These are horizontal lines which appear at the outer corners of your eyes. One of the major causes of crow’s feet lines is the activity of orbicularis oculi muscles (the muscle surrounding the eye). Other causes include inherited predisposition, sun damage, life style choices such as smoking, and age-related degenerative changes in the connective tissue of the skin, including breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Treatment:
Relaxation of the outer part of the orbicularis oculi muscle with Botox injections is an effective therapy for these lines.
Brow (chemical brow) lift
Definition and causes:
This treatment is indicated for ‘heavy’, over-hanging looking brows. One of the causes is increased activity of the upper outer part of the orbicularis oculi (the muscle around your eye). Heavy
looking brows may also be due to inherited traits, skin laxity or weakness in
the forehead (elevator) muscles.
Treatment:
Relaxation of the upper outer part of the orbicularis oculi muscle with Botox injections can be an effective therapy for over-hang brows.
Alternative treatment include chemical peels, microneedling, dermal fillers, blepharoplasty (eye lid surgery) and laser skin resurfacing.
Bunny lines (nose wrinkles)
Definition and causes:
These are straight, slightly diagonal lines which becomes visible on scrunching the nose. Bunny lines develop due to activity of the nasalis muscles. They can also be due to compensatory over-activity of nasalis muscles as a result of treating the frown (glabella) muscles with wrinkle relaxing injection over a period of time.
Treatment:
Relaxation of the nasalis muscle with Botox injections can be an effective therapy for bunny lines.
Perioral (smoker's) lines
Definition and causes:
These are vertical lines which form on the top of the upper lip.
Although
they are commonly known as smoker’s lines often they have nothing to do
with smoking. One of the causes is the activity of orbicularis oris
muscle, which is the muscle surrounding the mouth. Other causes include
inherited predisposition, life style choices such as smoking, and
age-related degenerative changes in the skin,
including breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Treatment:
Early
smoker’s lines can be treated with Botox injections placed
into the orbicularis oris muscles above the top lip.
Deeper and more pronounced smoker’s line can be treated with combination of dermal fillers and Botox injections.
Alternative
treatments, either alone or in combination with Botox, include dermal filler, chemical peels, microneedling and laser skin
resurfacing.
Chin dimpling
Chin dimpling
Definition and causes:
These
are visible dimples formed on the chin which are accentuated on facial
expressions such as pouting. Chin dimpling is commonly caused by over
activity of the mentalis (chin) muscles. Overactive mentalis can also
cause the chin to appear narrow or bulbous
Treatment:
Treatment
with Botox injections to reduce contraction of the chin
muscle can be an effective treatment for chin dimpling.
Other treatment options include dermal filler injections.