Forehead wrinkles are horizontal lines located on the forehead.
Initially, they are only dynamic expression lines, as they appear only when the eyebrows are raised.
Over time, the skin creases and these wrinkles become static, meaning they are visible even when the face is completely at rest.
Forehead wrinkles often give the face a tired or worried expression, contributing to a prematurely aged appearance. They can also influence the image one projects to others, particularly in professional settings, where a concerned or tense look may be perceived negatively.
Forehead wrinkles — how to reduce them effectively ? To soften these lines, several solutions are available. However, botulinum toxin injections remain the gold standard. They smooth the forehead while preserving facial expression, provided they are performed with precision and expertise. The result indeed depends on the experience of the
doctor, who must precisely dose the toxin to preserve the natural mobility of the face and avoid any frozen effect.
Hyaluronic acid injections to fill forehead wrinkles are rarely recommended, as their effectiveness in this area is limited and their use remains exceptional.
As a complement, topical treatments can help maintain skin quality. Anti-wrinkle creams containing hyaluronic acid, vitamin C or other antioxidants promote skin hydration, stimulate collagen production and help slow down the skin’s aging process.
Forehead wrinkles appear due to the action of the frontal muscle.
In the face, the muscles are attached directly to the skin. With repeated facial expressions, the muscles (the right and left frontal muscles) become increasingly powerful and pull on the skin as the eyebrows lift. These are known as expression lines.
The skin, stressed by these movements and weakened by the decrease in hyaluronic acid and collagen levels (which inevitably occurs over time), becomes damaged, and static wrinkles (those visible at rest) appear — these are called resting wrinkles.
The age at which these wrinkles appear varies from person to person. It depends mainly on the initial muscle tone, partly determined by genetics, and on the degree of facial expressiveness. This is why these wrinkles can sometimes appear very early, even before the age of 18.
Forehead wrinkles progress in stages, evolving from fine superficial lines to more visible and deeper wrinkles.
Personalized and early treatment helps slow down this process and maintain a smooth and youthful appearance of the forehead for longer.
Stage 1 : fine and superficial lines
Description
At this stage, forehead wrinkles are light and shallow. They are visible only when the face is in motion, such as during expressions of surprise or concentration. They disappear at rest.
Recommended treatment
Preventive care such as moisturizing creams, retinol-based serums, as well as light aesthetic treatments like gentle chemical peels or microdermabrasion.
Stage 2 : moderate wrinkles
Description
The wrinkles become more visible and start to appear even when the face is at rest, indicating a loss of skin elasticity. They are deeper than those observed in the first stage.
Recommended treatment
Botulinum toxin injections are recommended and effectively treat the wrinkles.
Stage 3 : pronounced wrinkles
Description
Forehead wrinkles are now deep and cover a larger area of the forehead. The skin may appear permanently creased and wrinkled.
The skin has lost a significant part of its elasticity and thickness.
Recommended treatment
Combined treatments, including botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid injections, may be necessary to achieve optimal results.
Stage 4 : very deep wrinkles and folds
Description
At this advanced stage, the wrinkles are extremely deep and may be accompanied by pronounced skin folds, giving the forehead a severely wrinkled appearance. The skin has lost its elasticity, and collagen levels are significantly reduced.
Recommended treatment
Combined procedures, including botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid injections, as well as ablative laser sessions, should be performed if the goal is to eliminate the wrinkles.
More and more women are turning to facial exercises in the hope of reducing forehead wrinkles and slowing their progression. A frequently recommended exercise involves placing three fingers on the eyebrows, gently pulling them downward while trying to lift the eyebrows. This exercise should be repeated ten times a day for five seconds.
While facial gymnastics can help tone certain muscles and improve awareness of facial expressions, its effectiveness on established wrinkles remains limited. It is more of a natural maintenance method than a true anti-wrinkle treatment. Moreover, creams do not erase wrinkles : their main role is to maintain good skin hydration and support overall skin quality.
The injection of botulinum toxin works by blocking the activity of the frontal muscle. This muscle extends from the base of the skull to the eyebrow arches, but in the treatment of forehead wrinkles, only its anterior portion — between the hairline and the eyebrows — is targeted.
The precision of the technique and the doctor’s experience are crucial to achieving a natural and harmonious result. The number of injection points, the dose injected at each point, and their exact placement make all the difference. The goal is to avoid a frozen forehead and any risk of eyebrow drooping, while preserving a lively expression and opening up the gaze. Of course, if the patient wishes, a more complete blockage of the muscle can be performed.
The injection is quick, lasting about one minute, and causes only a slight tingling or warming sensation. To optimize the result and achieve a harmonious eye-opening effect, it is recommended to combine the treatment of forehead wrinkles with that of the frown lines and crow’s feet — a global approach that provides a more balanced outcome.
The effect appears gradually : the first improvements can be noticed from the second day, and the final result is reached after about one week. A follow-up consultation is scheduled between one and three weeks after the injection, allowing for a free touch-up if needed. The effects last on average five to six months.
The treatment of forehead wrinkles should always be combined with the treatment of the frown lines and the crow’s feet wrinkles.
In fact, at the eyebrow level, there exists a muscular balance :
Botulinum toxin works by reducing or blocking muscle activity. However, in the forehead area, the frontal muscle is the only one that lifts the eyebrow. If only this muscle is treated without neutralizing the two lowering muscles, the effect becomes unbalanced : the eyebrow will inevitably droop.
It is essential to consult an experienced doctor, as this ensures safe, natural and long-lasting results.
An experienced doctor has an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy and masters injection techniques. This ensures that the injections are performed precisely in the correct muscles, maximizing the effectiveness of the treatment and minimizing the risk of complications.
Each face is unique, and an experienced doctor knows how to adapt the dosage and technique according to the specific needs of each patient. This personalization allows for natural and harmonious results, avoiding frozen or artificial expressions.
An experienced doctor identifies contraindications and determines whether a patient is a good candidate for the injection.
Although botulinum toxin injections are generally safe, they carry risks like any medical procedure. An experienced doctor is trained to minimize these risks and to manage possible complications, such as bruising or asymmetry.
Experience allows the doctor to perform injections that preserve and enhance the natural aesthetics of the face. An experienced doctor knows how to improve proportions and create results that are subtle yet noticeable.
Thanks to a well-mastered injection technique and a thorough knowledge of the products, an experienced doctor can achieve longer-lasting results. The patient thus benefits from longer intervals between sessions and a higher level of satisfaction.
The result of botulinum toxin injection appears gradually : it becomes noticeable from the second day and stabilizes definitively around the seventh day. The forehead then visibly smooths out.
A follow-up appointment is systematically scheduled between seven and ten days after the session to perform, if necessary, a free touch-up. The desired result should remain natural, unless the patient prefers otherwise ; the mobility of the forehead must be preserved to allow the eyebrows to lift and to avoid any frozen expression. It is essential to prevent eyebrow drooping and, on the contrary, to promote an opening of the gaze, which brings brightness and freshness to the face. Sometimes, the outer part of the eyebrow may lift more prominently, creating a triangular shape known as the “Mephisto” effect. This phenomenon is related to individual hyperactivity of the lateral portion of the frontal muscle ; it cannot always be anticipated during the first injection but can be easily corrected during the touch-up. The duration of the treatment generally varies between four and six months.
The injected area may appear red and slightly swollen for about twenty minutes. Headaches are a common side effect, usually lasting no more than two days.
On the same day, it is not recommended to touch the treated area. Sports and intense heat should be avoided for two days. Shampooing and eyebrow care are allowed from the following day.
In certain cases, hyaluronic acid injections can improve the appearance of forehead wrinkles. Two techniques make it possible to treat this aesthetic concern :
The results of hyaluronic acid injections are visible immediately. A slight temporary swelling may appear. For filling hollows or restoring forehead curvature, the effect lasts about two years, while direct wrinkle treatment offers a shorter-lasting result, usually a few months.
A personalized treatment plan is established during the first consultation to adapt the injected quantities to the patient’s anatomy, age, facial mobility and aesthetic expectations.
The goal is to achieve a relaxed, rested forehead — but never a frozen one — with natural and harmonious results.
All injected products are certified and comply with Swiss standards.
The cost of the treatment depends on the number of areas to be treated.
Generally, three injection zones are distinguished for the upper face : the frown line (between the eyebrows), the forehead wrinkles (horizontal), and the crow’s feet (at the corners of the eyes). The price is also adjusted according to gender, as men have stronger muscles requiring a higher dose than women.
For women
For men
In certain cases, when the wrinkles are too deep to disappear with botulinum toxin alone, an additional hyaluronic acid injection may be proposed to perfect the result. The price of this procedure is 600 CHF per syringe.
Forehead wrinkles can start to appear as early as the late twenties, but they are generally more visible from the thirties onwards. Genetic factors, lifestyle habits and skin care play an important role in determining the age at which they appear.
The application of creams does not replace injections and is of little benefit. It is advisable to use creams containing effective active ingredients.
Retinol : Retinol stimulates collagen production and accelerates cell renewal.
Hyaluronic acid : creams containing hyaluronic acid intensely moisturise the skin.
Vitamin C : Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that brightens the skin and stimulates collagen production.
Peptides : Peptides help to strengthen the skin's structure and improve its elasticity.
Applying sun protection is important to protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays and to prevent wrinkles.
Forehead wrinkles in men are as common as in women and can be treated in the same way.
Men can benefit from the same treatments as women : botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid and chemical peels.
To prevent forehead wrinkles, it is essential to protect the skin from the sun by using sunscreen, moisturise regularly, eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, avoid smoking and manage stress. Facial gymnastics can also help strengthen facial muscles.
The duration of results depends on the treatment performed. Botulinum toxin injections generally last six months. Laser treatments and chemical peels can have long-lasting effects, but maintenance sessions are necessary to preserve the results.
Although results vary from person to person, facial exercises are a natural method that complements medical treatments.
These exercises involve performing specific movements that tone the muscles and stimulate collagen production.
Some patients prefer to avoid botulinum toxin injections. Even though alternatives exist, the reference treatment remains botulinum toxin.
The age of onset depends on a number of individual factors. It is advisable to start preventive treatments as soon as the first static wrinkles appear.
The choice between botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid depends on the severity stage and the patient’s expectations.
Botulinum toxin : botulinum toxin injections are the reference treatment. The result lasts about six months.
Hyaluronic acid : hyaluronic acid cannot be used to fill in forehead wrinkles. The only indication is the presence of a hollow in the forehead. Injecting it stretches wrinkles.
Combination of both : in some patients, the combination of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid offers the best results, treating both dynamic and static wrinkles.
To choose the right doctor, it's important to look for a qualified and experienced professional who specialises in aesthetic treatments. A preliminary consultation allows you to discuss your expectations and ask any questions you may have before starting treatment.
Yes, botulinum toxin injections are safe when performed by an experienced doctor. It is a non-invasive procedure that temporarily relaxes the muscles responsible for wrinkles, providing natural results. Side effects are generally mild and temporary : bruising or slight sensitivity at the injection site.
The treatments are not very painful. It is not really necessary to apply an anaesthetic cream before the injections.
To prevent forehead wrinkles, we recommend using products containing moisturisers, antioxidants and retinol. Daily application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential to protect the skin from UV rays.
Forehead wrinkles are a sign of skin aging. There are several methods to treat and prevent them.
Forehead wrinkles can appear even in young people, as they are caused by the repeated movements of the forehead muscles and other factors such as sun exposure, stress, insufficient hydration and genetic predisposition.
It’s not possible to have a perfectly smooth forehead naturally, but certain habits are beneficial.
Yes, skin rejuvenation treatments can be effective in reducing forehead wrinkles, provided it is the right indication.
