Botulinum toxin injection is a procedure used for over 20 years, notably to treat eyelid or hand spasms. In aesthetic medicine, Botox has found application in the treatment of wrinkles for over a decade. It is particularly effective for removing forehead wrinkles (especially frown lines) while correcting sagging in the upper part of the face.
In summary:
- Treatment: Removing forehead wrinkles with botulinum toxin injections.
- Principle: Botox reduces signs of aging by blocking muscle contraction. When facial muscles are overused, expression lines appear.
- Result: Gradually visible after 7 to 15 days.
- Duration of result: Between 4 and 6 months
- Pain: Between 1 and 2/10.
- Location: Medical practice.
- Recovery: Immediate.
- Return to sport: The following day
- Duration of the procedure: About 15 minutes
Principle of a Botox injection in the forehead
Botulinum toxin is used as a local injection to cause targeted muscle paralysis in order to reduce expression lines.
As part of forehead rejuvenation, a Botox injection treats wrinkles caused by the action of the frontalis muscle (horizontal forehead wrinkles) and the glabellar muscles (vertical forehead wrinkles, commonly called "frown lines"), reducing or even removing them.
Instead of a Botox injection, a forehead lift will be more suitable for patients with forehead skin laxity (ptosis), and a filler injection (hyaluronic acid) will be more effective for treating fine lines causing pronounced grooves in the skin.
Depending on the indication, botulinum toxin injections (Botox®, Vistabel®, Dysport®, Azzalure®, Bocouture®, etc.) may be performed in the relevant areas. No anesthesia is necessary; Dr. Kron uses extremely fine, only slightly painful needles.
Recovery after a Botox injection
Slight redness or mild edema may appear for a few minutes, rarely more than half an hour, in the treated areas.
A return to daily activities is possible immediately after the procedure, aside from any intense physical exertion.
Return to sport can occur within days following the procedure.
Results of treatment on forehead wrinkles
The result of the injection on removing forehead wrinkles (frown lines and horizontal wrinkles) is visible between day 3 and day 5.
The result is considered complete 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure.
Duration of the result
As with any aesthetic medicine procedure, the result in terms of forehead wrinkle removal is not permanent. Further injections are needed to sustain the wrinkle removal:
- First year: complete removal of forehead wrinkles lasts between 3 and 5 months (up to 3 injections per year)
- Second year: the result lasts about 6 months (an average of 2 injections per year)
- From the third year onward: one to two annual maintenance injections maintain the result achieved.
Contraindications to the use of Botox:
Botulinum toxin (Botox) is not dangerous, but its use is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Confirmed hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin
- Recent use (within the 10 days preceding the procedure) of aspirin or corticosteroids
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Inflammatory skin conditions, which must be treated before the treatment.
Why have a Botox injection performed by a plastic surgeon?
Since a botulinum toxin injection is an aesthetic medicine procedure and not a cosmetic surgery procedure, it can be performed by other practitioners.
However, plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is the only medical specialty in France that trains practitioners in the full range of possible medical and surgical aesthetic treatments. A plastic surgeon is therefore better placed to offer patients a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
The knowledge of facial anatomy acquired during their training, along with the experience gained through their procedures, gives them a three-dimensional mastery of facial anatomy. They therefore know exactly in which part of the face to perform Botox injections, based on the patient's wishes and anatomy.
A tailored approach to facial aging
As a cosmetic surgeon, they will be able to explain and offer patients the therapeutic alternatives to botulinum toxin injections. During the consultation, they can recommend the treatment best suited to a patient's anatomy for removing forehead wrinkles and fighting facial aging:
- Different types of facelifts, which involve "lifting" lax wrinkles.
- Laser, peel or dermabrasion to "smooth" wrinkles.
- Lipofilling, which fills volumes with fat.
- The use of a filler such as hyaluronic acid
Since each procedure has its advantages and drawbacks, a cosmetic surgeon can offer a response to the patient's wishes by optimizing the benefit/risk ratio.
> SOFCPRE factsheet on Botox injections
Face Diagnostic Consultation
To support you in treating the signs of facial aging and help determine whether a Botox injection treatment matches your needs and your expectations, the practice offers a face diagnostic consultation.
During this diagnostic, an in-depth assessment of your facial skin will help develop a tailored treatment protocol.
Before - After
Result after an injection session (Day + 3 weeks):
Three weeks after the injection session, horizontal forehead wrinkles and frown lines are noticeably less visible, both at rest and during eyebrow-raising or frowning movements.
Result on a 60-year-old man:
This before-after photograph shows the result achieved with Botox injections every 6 months over two years. While the result is visible from the first injection, this regular treatment allowed the skin to recover significantly and the wrinkles to regress even at rest.
> SOFCPRE factsheet "Botox injections for aesthetic purposes"
