Where to Inject Botox® to Treat Frown Lines

How many units of Botox® are used to treat frown lines?

The standard on-label dose is 20 Units total, using the 5-point glabellar map: 4 U into the procerus and 4 U into each of two corrugator points per side. Most patients do well with 16–24 U depending on muscle strength, sex, and line severity.

Where exactly are the 5 injection points located?

One point at the procerus (midline, over the nasal bridge) and two points per side in the corrugator supercilii — a medial point near the medial canthus and a lateral point along the muscle as it runs toward the mid-brow. All points should be at least 1–1.5 cm above the superior orbital rim.

How do I avoid causing eyelid ptosis?

Ptosis is usually caused by injecting too low or too lateral. Stay at least 1–1.5 cm above the orbital rim, avoid injecting below the brow, and keep lateral corrugator points conservative.

How deep should each injection go?

The medial corrugator point is injected deep (to bone, then slightly withdrawn) since the muscle originates deep. The lateral corrugator point is more superficial, as fibers insert closer to the dermis. The procerus point is intramuscular at the midline.

When will results appear, and how long do they last?

Onset is typically 3–5 days, peaking around 14 days. Results generally last 3–4 months, though patients with stronger muscles may see effects wear off sooner.

Should the glabella be treated alone or with the forehead?

Treating the glabella alone often creates a subtle medial brow lift and can improve aesthetics on its own. If combining with the forehead, use conservative dosing placed high in the frontalis to preserve brow position.

Is a follow-up appointment necessary?

Yes — a 2-week review is recommended. Small touch-ups (often 1–2 U) can be added to under-treated points, but if any heaviness is present, it’s best to let it partially wear off before adjusting further.

Who shouldn’t receive Botox® for frown lines?

Contraindications include pregnancy or breastfeeding, active skin infection at the injection site, known hypersensitivity to Botox® components, and neuromuscular junction disorders such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

Can Botox® fully remove deeply etched frown lines?

Static, etched-in lines respond best to standard dosing combined with skin therapies like resurfacing or microneedling — adding more toxin alone won’t resolve lines that are already permanently set into the skin.