Forehead botox reduces the activity of the frontalis muscle, which creates the horizontal lines across the forehead, and softens the appearance of lines formed by movement.2 At my clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, I plan this treatment individually after measuring your brow position and the strength of your forehead muscle.
Why forehead lines form
The frontalis is the only muscle that lifts the forehead. It is what works when you raise your eyebrows, look surprised or glance upwards. Each contraction folds the forehead skin horizontally. As this repeats over the years and skin elasticity decreases, the lines can remain visible even when you are not making an expression. Botulinum toxin has an approved indication for softening the appearance of expression lines and has been in use for many years.
There are two distinct situations here. If the line only appears when you raise your brows, it is a dynamic line — this is where botox gives its best result. If it is there when your face is still, it is a static line; botox will slow its deepening and soften its appearance, but may not fully open it on its own.
The real skill in forehead treatment: brow balance
This is the part I want to spend most time on. Because the frontalis is the only muscle lifting the forehead, relaxing it completely removes the force holding your brows up. Over-relaxing the forehead opens the line but can leave the brows feeling heavy.
In my practice I almost never assess the forehead in isolation. There is a constant balance between the muscles that pull the brow down (the frown line area and the ring muscle around the eye) and the frontalis, which lifts it. Balancing those downward pullers while relaxing the forehead is what keeps both the line open and the eyes bright. For most patients who come with forehead lines, I plan the two areas together.
Forehead height, natural brow position and eyelid structure vary considerably from person to person. This is why I do not use a fixed injection template on the forehead — points and doses are decided from the muscle strength I measure at the examination.
The procedure
At the examination I ask you to raise your brows so I can assess muscle strength, forehead height and any asymmetry. Injection points are chosen at a safe distance from the brow line and given with very fine needles. The treatment takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Topical numbing cream is available; most people feel a brief sting at most.
The effect begins within 3 to 4 days and settles fully by day 10 to 14. Duration averages 4 to 6 months depending on muscle strength and dose. I recommend leaving at least 3 months before repeating.
Visiting Istanbul or living here?
A large part of my patients are people living in Istanbul as foreign residents or visiting the city, so the practical questions come up often.
Same-day, no stay required. This is a walk-in treatment. There is no recovery period and you do not need to extend your trip for it.
Flying is not a problem. Cabin pressure does not affect the result. You can travel the same day.
Aftercare
For the best result, a few simple points on the first day are enough:
- Stay upright for the first 4 hours. Do not lie face down or keep your head bent forward.
- Do not massage or rub the treated area.
- Avoid very hot showers for 24 hours, and saunas and steam rooms for the first week.
- Avoid heavy exercise and intense cardio for the first week.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of treatment.
Mild redness or a small bruise may appear at the injection points and settles within a few days. Allergic reactions are rare, which is why treatments are carried out under medical supervision.
What we review together at your consultation
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- An active skin infection at the treatment site
- Neuromuscular junction disorders
- Known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin components
- Your current medication and general health
If any of these applies to you, we plan a more suitable alternative rather than proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
Will my eyebrows drop?
This is the most common question about forehead treatment, and a fair one. Brow heaviness is linked to the forehead muscle being relaxed at a higher dose than needed, or from points placed too close to the brow line. The brow balance planning described above exists precisely to prevent it: adjusting the dose to your muscle strength and keeping a safe distance from the brow line. Following the aftercare also helps keep the product where it was placed. If it does occur, the effect is temporary and resolves on its own.
My forehead lines are there even when my face is still. Will they fully disappear?
In lines that have become static, botox stops them deepening and softens their appearance, but may not open them completely on its own. In that case a combined plan with treatments that support skin quality gives a better result. We decide which combination suits you at the examination.
Can I have only my forehead treated?
You can, but because of brow balance, planning the forehead together with the frown area gives a better result in most people. If your muscle structure allows it, the forehead alone can be treated — I can tell you that only after measuring.
My forehead is wide and my lines are deep. Do I need a higher dose?
Dose depends far more on muscle strength than on forehead width. A strong frontalis may need a higher dose, while the same dose in a finer muscle could cause brow heaviness. This is why I decide the number of units after the examination.
Will my forehead not move at all?
The aim is not a motionless forehead. At the right dose you can still raise your brows to a degree; only the excessive contraction that creates lines is limited. If you want movement preserved further, the micro-dose baby botox technique is an option.
Can I combine it with other treatments?
Yes. Forehead treatment is often planned together with the frown area for upper-face harmony, and can be combined with treatments that support skin quality in the mid and lower face.
Can you tell me the price?
Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.
Sources
- Carruthers JA, Lowe NJ, Menter MA, et al. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of glabellar lines. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;46(6):840-849.
- De Boulle K, Werschler WP, Gold MH, et al. Phase 3 Study of OnabotulinumtoxinA Distributed Between Frontalis, Glabellar Complex, and Lateral Canthal Areas for Treatment of Upper Facial Lines. Dermatol Surg. 2018;44(11):1437-1448.