Has a friend or family member recently told you that you look stressed or worried? Maybe you’ve even been called unapproachable or grumpy – when you feel anything but. If you’ve had either of these experiences, it’s time to look in the mirror. In particular, focus on the area between your eyebrows.
You just might notice two vertical lines running from your forehead to the bridge of your nose.
People call them a furrowed brow, frown lines, or even 11 lines. By any name, these deep wrinkles can be quite an annoyance. Not only can they make you look grouchy, but they also serve as an unwelcome sign of aging.
So, what’s the best way to smooth a furrowed brow?
At Balance MedSpa, we generally recommend a combination of professional treatments, plus some changes to your lifestyle and routine. To understand why both elements are so important, let’s take a closer look at what causes furrowed brows in the first place.
How Furrowed Brows Develop
Most people, when they are frustrated, concerned, or even deeply focused, make a facial expression that involves scrunching their forehead. When you make this expression, your brow furrows. Initially, when you’re young and your skin is still very elastic, the furrows go away as soon as your expression changes. But as you age and your skin loses elasticity, the furrows tend to linger.
Over time, as you repeatedly make that “scrunched-up” expression, frown lines essentially become embedded in the skin between your eyebrows. And if you’re anything like us, you scrunch your brow a lot. It’s likely a go-to when scrolling on your phone or reading emails from your boss. You probably do it when you’re stressed or worried, too!
The Stages of a Furrowed Brow
At first, 11 lines or brow furrows are considered dynamic wrinkles. In other words, they appear due to facial movements. Eventually, however, they become static wrinkles – ones that remain even when you neutralize your expression.
It’s common for women to seek treatment for a furrowed brow once the wrinkles become static, and once others start commenting on their facial expressions or apparent mood. But we’d actually suggest you start managing a furrowed brow much earlier, at the first sign of shallower, dynamic wrinkles. This way, you not only smooth the furrowed brows, but also help stop them from worsening.
Professional Treatment for Furrowed Brows
The best treatment for furrowed brows, in many cases, is an injectable neurotoxin like Botox®. These anti-aging injectables work by temporarily paralyzing the muscles beneath your skin. So, when you’re puzzled, concentrating, or stressed, you won’t be able to scrunch your forehead anymore. This will make mild to moderate furrowed brows all but disappear.
If you have deeper, more static brow furrows, we may also suggest using some dermal filler. These products are designed to add volume to the skin. A filler will correct the “part” of the wrinkle that’s visible all the time, and a little Botox® will manage the dynamic furrows that appear when you make facial expressions. The natural Botox® Orlando residents love won’t make you look stiff or plastic – just smooth.
For some clients, we also suggest a series of microneedling treatments. Microneedling creates tiny punctures in the skin, stimulating collagen production. The end result is skin that is more supple, elastic, and youthful. And supple, youthful skin is far less prone to frown lines.
Lifestyle Modifications for Furrowed Brows
While professional frown line treatment can go a long way, we generally see the best results in clients who also commit to some lifestyle changes.
Think about the times when you’re most likely to furrow your brow. Maybe it’s when you’re doom-scrolling, or perhaps it’s when you’re struggling with work-related stress. If you can find a way to engage in those behaviors less often, you can slow the development of frown lines.
This might mean adopting a new, healthier stress-relief practice like meditation or yoga. Or, it might mean replacing your evening doom-scroll with a few chapters of a new book.
Neurotoxin injections can help you re-frame your facial habits, too. Remember, these treatments work by preventing specific muscles from contracting. Over time, your muscles will learn new patterns, expressing emotion without over-crinkling your brow. Eventually, you’ll make softer, less wrinkle-inducing expressions without thinking about it … even when you’re stressed!
Of course, taking care of your skin from the outside is important, too. The experts at Balance MedSpa can suggest skincare products that help nourish and moisturize aging skin, which helps prevent frown lines and other wrinkles over time.
If you’re struggling with furrowed brows, please contact us to schedule a consultation. Balance MedSpa is proud to be your go-to for 11 lines Botox® Orlando residents can’t stop raving about.