Frown Lines – Meaning, Causes and Botox® or Filler Treatment – Auckland NZ

Frown lines between the eyes and frown lines around the mouth are caused by the natural use of facial muscles over time and can make a face appear worried or unhappy as well as aged.

Over time skin becomes less forgiving and less elastic, leading to static lines, which are lines that remain even when we’re not frowning.

People with lighter skin colour (think blonde hair and blue eyes) are more prone to static frown lines. This is because they have lower levels of melanin in their skin, which in turn means less protection against the damaging UV rays from the sun – one of the key frown lines causes.

By contrast, skin with higher levels of melanin – such as in people of African, Asian, Maori and Pacific Island descent – has more protection against UV rays and is less prone to lining as it ages.

Regardless of skin type, frown lines causes include sun exposure, smoking and other environmental stressors we expose ourselves to.

Our clients often ask us how to get rid of frown lines and forehead wrinkles, our approach is outlined below.

Clinical trials show that Botox® injection is a safe and effective frown lines treatment.

Botox® (botulinum toxin) works by blocking the message from the nerve to the muscles that are involved in frowning. When the treatment is done by experts it can achieve a natural looking softening of frown lines without giving a ‘frozen’ look.

The effect of Botox® injection should always be a softened, refreshed look rather than a stunned, unnatural appearance devoid of facial expression. It’s all about the right dose in the right hands. At Palm Clinic, Auckland, NZ we are renowned for making results look natural.

Botox® is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the USA) for cosmetic purposes for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet and for medical conditions such as excessive sweating.

n most cases, Botox® (botulinum toxin) will soften or eradicate frown lines sufficiently. When this is not the case, a complementary treatment to consider is dermal fillers (hyaluronic acid).

Dermal filler is a clear gel made of hyaluronic acid that we inject with fine needles under the skin to lift up lines. They are safe and effective when administered by an expert and can also be applied to treating ‘mouth frown’ or marionette lines as well as other areas.

Although Botox® treatment and hyaluronic acid filler are safe and effective, some of our clients prefer to look to other options to treat their frown lines. These can be used instead of, or in addition to Botox® treatment and hyaluronic acid dermal filler.

A visit to our skin therapist will help you optimise the condition of your skin with medical grade skincare products that you can use at home, as well as medi-facials / chemical peels as prescribed by our skin therapist in the clinic.

Improving skin condition through microneedling (Dermapen) and / or ResurFX laser resurfacing is an additional way to help treat and prevent frown lines and sun damage.

The best way to navigate all of these options is to visit one of our cosmetic medicine doctors or nurses for a consultation. They will listen to your concerns, consider your skin type and medical background and suggest appropriate treatment options for you to consider. They will also cover expected outcomes as well as any potential side effects so you can make a fully informed decision.

To book your consultation please email us or call 0800 4 PALM CLINIC or 09 522 8128.

Here’s a before and after picture of our lovely receptionist Lorraine, showing her in March 2012 and November 2013. Her longstanding frown line has never been improved much by Botox® treatment, probably due to bone and soft tissue loss (“volume loss”). 

Lorraine kindly agreed to treatment with Juvederm Ultraplus under the frown and brow area to advance the whole area forwards. Treatment was performed with a special rounded needle called a cannula. We also placed some Juvederm Ultraplus at the corners of her mouth to reduce shadowing, and lift the corners of her mouth.

The final touch was Juvederm Voluma placed in her lateral cheek to restore a more youthful oval shape to her face, reducing the appearance of the jowls. 

For more pictures of before and after treatment at Palm Clinic, view our galleries here and here.