BOTOX® vs. Brow Lift: Solutions for La Jolla Patients to Smooth Frown Lines
When it comes to reducing frown lines, a brow lift and BOTOX® Cosmetic offer two distinct approaches to soften wrinkles. Each treatment comes with different limitations, benefits, and potential results. While a personal consultation is necessary to confirm the best technique for your needs, board-certified La Jolla plastic surgeon Scott Miller, MD, FACS offers information below to provide a cursory understanding of what treatment can effectively achieve the results you envision.
A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, is a surgical procedure that restores a relaxed natural appearance of the brow area. A brow lift addresses frown lines at their root cause: skin laxity and muscle overaction. During the procedure, Dr. Miller lifts sagging brows and modifies the underlying muscles that contribute to furrowing between the brows and at the root of the nose, thereby providing a more enduring solution than neurotoxins like Botox®. The results are long-lasting — often 10 years or more — and offer comprehensive rejuvenation for the upper face and a more refreshed appearance overall. All this is done endoscopically through a few ½ inch incisions behind the hair line.
In contrast, BOTOX® Cosmetic is a non-surgical injectable that temporarily relaxes the muscles responsible for creating frown lines. The botulinum toxin works by blocking nerve signals to specific facial muscles, typically the corrugator and procerus muscles, that contract when frowning. By preventing these muscle contractions, BOTOX® Cosmetic smooths out dynamic wrinkles (those formed by repeated facial expressions), making the frown lines appear softer or disappear entirely. Results are visible within days and last approximately 3 to 4 months, after which repeat injections are necessary to maintain the effects. BOTOX® Cosmetic is a fast, minimally invasive option ideal for those who are not ready for surgery or who want to regain a more youthful look before considering a surgical procedure.
Other Effective Frown Line Treatments
There are many different non-surgical treatments designed to address frown lines and wrinkles caused by repetitive facial contractions. In some cases, patients may benefit more from other solutions, such as:
- DAXXIFY®: DAXXIFY® is an FDA-approved injectable designed specifically to smooth frown lines. Daxxify, like Botox ®, is a neurotoxin. However, it is a newer treatment that has been shown to have a longer duration of action than some of the other neurotoxins on the market. It is also unique in that it utilizes a novel peptide exchange technology. This technology is used as a stabilizer for the botulinum toxin, the active ingredient in Daxxify, and is believed to contribute to the longer-lasting effects and faster onset of action that distinguish Daxxify from other neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport. Additionally, Daxxify does not contain any animal or human products, making it a suitable option for vegans.
- Aesthetic Lasers: Aesthetic lasers can smooth frown lines by using focused light energy to stimulate collagen production and resurface the skin, improving its texture and elasticity. Depending on the type — ablative or non-ablative — laser treatments can reduce the depth and visibility of frown lines by encouraging natural skin renewal and tightening over time.
- Microneedling and RF Microneedling: Microneedling involves creating tiny, controlled punctures in the skin, this action triggers the body’s natural healing response. The healing process includes an increase in collagen and elastin production, leading to improved skin texture, firmness, elasticity and tone, therefore improving the appearance of wrinkles. When RF (radiofrequency) is added, the RF energy further enhances collagen production by reaching deeper skin layers.
Dr. Miller and our entire team can help you identify an effective frown line treatment to smooth deep creases in the upper face, such as frown lines and brow creases. We encourage you to contact Miller Cosmetic Surgery at our La Jolla practice to receive a customized treatment plan tailored to your preferences, needs, and goals.