Upper-Face Botox: Forehead, Glabella and Crow’s Feet — Region-by-Region Guide

Why the upper face is planned as one system

Three upper-face zones are linked in expression:

• Frontalis (forehead): the only muscle that raises the brow.
• Glabella complex (corrugator + procerus): pulls the brow down and in.
• Orbicularis oculi (crow’s feet): creates lateral eye lines on smiling and pulls the outer brow down.

Treating the forehead alone reduces the brow-lifting force while glabella and orbicularis keep pulling — producing brow ptosis. An experienced physician evaluates all three together; not every patient needs all three treated, but dosing must respect the balance.

Region by region: muscle, target and typical dose

Units below are Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) equivalents. Dysport typically converts at 1:2.5–3. Dose is always individualised by muscle mass and sex — the table is a starting reference, not a prescription.

Forehead: the most common mistake

Over-dosing the forehead is the classic error. Fully blocking frontalis flattens the forehead but drops the brow and heavies the lid. Correct technique keeps the dose low, places points well above the brow line, preserves the patient’s brow-raising capacity, and always plans alongside the glabella.

Glabella: the classic “11 lines”

The vertical lines between the brows give the most durable satisfaction and are also strategic for a chemical brow lift: weakening glabella and lateral orbicularis lets frontalis dominate, lifting the outer brow slightly.

Crow’s feet: without freezing the smile

The goal is softening the lateral lines without freezing the smile. Injections are superficial and kept away from the lower/medial points, which could affect the cheek smile or risk diplopia/asymmetry.

Who is not suitable / cautions

• Marked dermatochalasis (lid hooding): forehead Botox can unmask it — assess first.
• Not performed in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Neuromuscular disease (e.g. myasthenia gravis) is a relative contraindication.
• Prior brow ptosis warrants a revised dose/point plan.

Onset and duration

Effect begins in 3–7 days and settles fully by 10–14 days. A review at day 14 covers any touch-up. Duration is typically 3–4 months; with regular treatment the muscle thins and intervals lengthen.

FAQ

“Can I treat only the forehead?” Possible, but we evaluate the balance first — isolated forehead is safe in some, high brow-ptosis risk in others.

“Will it look natural?” At the right dose, yes. A “frozen” look is the result of over-dosing.

“First time — will it be obvious?” We start conservatively and add at the day-14 review if needed. Adding is always safer than over-treating.