Forehead neurotoxin injections can be a game-changer if done correctly. “Neurotoxin for forehead lines can be very beneficial to decrease horizontal lines,” says Fresno, CA dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD. However, the forehead is one of the trickier areas to inject, and if things go wrong, it’s often really noticeable. We asked the experts to pinpoint some of the biggest dos and don’ts of forehead injections, so you know what to look for next time you’re in the chair.
Featured experts
- Kathleen Behr, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Fresno, CA
- Kally Papantoniou, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Melville, NY
Don’t start with heavy doses
“A well-treated forehead looks refreshed, not frozen,” says Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD. Dr. Behr agrees, and recommends "starting withconservative doses, lower females than males, and keep most of the injections above the middle of the brow.” You can always add more, but it’s much harder to counteract the look of getting too much injected.
Do go to a professional
A board-certified dermatologist is familiar with the facial anatomy, which is key to getting the best results. When it comes to forehead injections, Dr. Behr notes that “the frontal muscle, the main elevator muscle that lifts the forehead, needs to be treated with care to avoid brow drooping (ptosis) or Spock brow (artificial elevation of the lateral brow).”
Don’t assume one size fits all
Dr. Papantoniou advises against treating each face the same. She explains that the injector must “pay attention to natural anatomy and each person’s facial expressions” as muscle dominance and other factors can vary. “Getting individualized injections by an expert injector with advanced anatomy knowledge is critical to avoid undesired effects,” adds Dr. Behr.
Do get a customized treatment
According to Dr. Papantoniou, your injector should ask important questions like: what your concern is, if you notice one side is stronger or if you've had bad experiences in the past with neurotoxins to develop a deeper understanding. Additionally, “the anatomy of the frontalis muscle can vary from patient to patient and needs to be properly evaluated in each individual," says Dr. Behr. Once there is a thorough consultation, the injector should have enough knowledge to customize your treatment for the safest and most effective outcome.
Don’t over-inject on mature skin
Dr. Behr says it’s imperative to be more conservative or avoid forehead toxin injections altogether as a patient ages. “I perform a careful examination to make sure my more mature female patients do not rely on their frontalis muscle to keep their eyebrows lifted. If they do, then they are not a good candidate for forehead toxin, and I stick only to glabellar toxin in the forehead,” she explains.
