Botox for Frown Lines, Forehead Lines and Crow's Feet

Frown Lines Between the Brows

The lines between the eyebrows come from a small group of muscles that work together whenever you frown, focus or react to bright light. Two corrugator muscles sit deep under the inner ends of the eyebrows. When they contract, they draw the brows down and toward each other, and that inward pull creases the skin between them into folds.

A third muscle, the procerus, sits lower, over the top of the nose between the eyes. It pulls the inner brow downward and can form a short crease across the bridge of the nose. Together, the corrugators and the procerus create the scowl that can make a face look tired, stern or upset even at a relaxed moment.

Because these muscles are compact and sit close to the midline of the face, injection points for frown lines are placed in a tight cluster. The injector feels the muscle bulk as you frown and notes how strongly each side pulls. Some people have a strong procerus and lighter corrugators, and others show the reverse. That balance shapes where the product goes and how the plan is drawn for this area. The corrugators sit deeper than the procerus, so the injector judges depth as well as position in this area.

The corrugators also vary in length. In some faces they stay close to the inner brow, and in others they reach out toward the middle of the eyebrow. The injector traces the length of each muscle during a frown, so the points follow the muscle that creates the crease and leave the outer brow to move on its own.

Forehead Lines Above the Brows

The forehead has one large, flat muscle running from the hairline down to the brows: the frontalis. It lifts the eyebrows and raises the forehead skin whenever you look surprised, open your eyes wide or try to see over something. Each lift folds the forehead skin into creases between the brows and the hairline.

The frontalis is broad and thin, and it behaves differently from the compact frown muscles. Its fibers run vertically, and the muscle can pull hardest in the center for one person and at the sides for another. Some people show a single deep crease, while others show several fine ones. The injector watches how far the brows travel during a lift and where the creases form before planning this area. At its upper end the frontalis blends into the tissue of the scalp, so its pull lifts the whole sheet of forehead skin.

Forehead height plays a part too. A tall forehead gives the frontalis a long stretch between the brows and the hairline, while a short one keeps the muscle compact. The shape of the hairline, the spacing of the creases and the height of the brows at rest all help the injector judge where the lines sit within the muscle.

Placement on the forehead spreads across a wider zone than the frown area, with points arranged to match the shape and strength of the muscle.

Crow's Feet at the Outer Eyes

Crow's feet form at the outer edges of the eyes, where a ring-shaped muscle called the orbicularis oculi surrounds each eye socket. This muscle closes the eyelids, from a gentle blink to a hard squeeze. When its outer section contracts, it gathers the thin skin at the side of the eye into creases.

The skin in this zone is thin and moves with every blink and expression through the day. The orbicularis oculi also works close to the muscles of the upper cheek, so placement for crow's feet sits on the outer part of the muscle, away from the eye itself.

The injector plans this area with the eye in mind at every step. Points are kept on the outer side of the bony rim around the eye and placed shallow under the thin skin. The provider also watches the cheek during an expression, since the lower edge of the muscle blends into the upper cheek. Placement aims to soften the lines at the outer eye while leaving the eye able to blink, close and open.

How the Map Changes Area by Area

Every Botox visit is built around a treatment map, which is the injector's plan for where each point goes. The map is drawn from two things: the strength of each muscle and the movement you want to keep. Because each area has its own muscle, the map looks different from one zone to the next.

For frown lines, the map follows the corrugators and procerus. Points sit in a compact pattern between and just above the inner brows, matched to the muscle bulk the injector feels while you frown. A person with a heavy scowl and a person with a light one can have maps of a different shape for the same area.

For forehead lines, the map spreads across the frontalis. The injector marks where the creases fold during a brow lift and where the muscle pulls hardest. The injector also notes how much lift the person wants to keep when they raise their eyebrows.

For crow's feet, the map follows the outer arc of the orbicularis oculi on each side. Points sit on the outer section of the muscle, set away from the eye, and the injector checks both sides for differences in strength. One eye can crease differently from the other, and the map reflects that.

Across all three areas, the movement you want to keep shapes the plan as much as the lines themselves. Some people want to keep a full range of expression with softened lines, and others prefer a calmer look. The injector talks through that goal before marking any points, since the same muscle can be planned for a lighter or a fuller effect.

The three maps also stay separate on paper. Each area has its own muscle, its own points and its own goal for movement, so a plan for crow's feet carries no assumptions from the forehead, and a plan for the frown area stands on its own.

Approved Products for Each Area

Frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet are three of Botox Cosmetic's approved cosmetic areas. Daxxify is approved for frown lines only, so a plan that includes the forehead or the outer eyes uses Botox, and a forehead plan includes the frown lines as well. The provider explains which product fits each zone at the consultation.

Approval matters because it defines the areas a product has been studied and approved to treat. A plan stays within those areas, and the injector matches each product to the zone it is approved for. Questions about lines in other parts of the face are raised with the provider, who can explain which treatments hold an approval for those areas.

Frequently Asked Questions