Glabellar treatment: Turning back time for on forehead lines

Glabellar lines, more commonly known as ‘Frown lines’, are just another one of those ways that time asserts itself on our faces. Appearing in the glabellar area between the eyebrows, they can make one look more stern, serious, or even downright depressed, but thankfully they are quite treatable these days.

Today we’re going to talk about glabellar lines and the treatment options available so that you can know the perks and pitfalls about them, as well as which ones are invasive, and how long the results can last. The good news is that you can indeed get excellent results without an invasive treatment, but you want to choose your options carefully and we’ll tell you why!

Glabellar lines:  Understanding the ’11’s’

Glabellar lines aren’t just known as frown lines, but they are also called ‘The 11’s’ because of the way they manifest on the face. Appearing between the eyebrows, the most commonly noticed glabellar lines tend to form as one stern line on each side, which rather looks like the number 11.

They’re perfectly natural, in most cases, and simply a result of the muscles in the forehead pressing together and moving to create natural expressions, which takes its toll over the years. As they occur on your face, however, there’s no way to hide them without an impressive caking of makeup or the assistance of a physician, so let’s peek at the latter so you can see how to get rid of those pesky frown lines!

What treatments are available for glabellar lines?

There are actually quite a few options when it comes to reducing the severity of glabellar lines in order to achieve a more youthful, less ‘stern’ appearance. Let’s take a look at the most popular options so that you can better understand the perks and the caveats for each.

Botox

Botox is a popular option for frown lines these days, as it basically consists of a 10-minute session, injections to the forehead, and no downtime in the bargain. The injections relax the musculature in the brow, which can help to prevent glabellar lines from worsening and can definitely smooth out some of the existing lines.

While it’s extremely non-invasive, however, it has its own caveats like anything else. With Botox, you are having a botulinum toxin injected between the eyebrows where there are a lot of nerves and a fairly complex musculature, so the injections need to be perfect or expression might be negatively impacted or simply ‘frozen’ for the duration of the toxin’s effects. The results are also fairly short – just 3-4 months – so this is a consideration as well.

Dysport

Dysport is another popular option that also employs the botulinum toxin, but the ultimate differences ill require more study to be fully quantified. Like Botox, it is designed to be used with the procerus muscle, as well as the corrugator and depressor supercilii muscles, in order to relax them for preventing further lining and to help smooth out existing glabellar lines.

Results should be fully visible within 2 days up to 2 weeks of receiving Dysport injections and the whole process takes about 10 minutes of your time. Like Botox, very careful placement of the injection is key for the procedure to be efficacious and results will last for 3 to 4 months. 

Juvederm

With more severe cases of glabellar lines, Juvederm provides an effective treatment in the form of a filler material consisting of hyaluronic acid. The added volume is quite useful, but this sort of treatment is generally going to be employed in addition to Botox or Dysport, as while it can create volume it doesn’t affect the actual movement of muscles. Thus, in order to create a natural-looking aesthetic while also preventing worsening of glabellar lines, the muscles must be relaxed with the botulinum toxin in order for Juvederm to be both effective and practical.

While it’s a very effective treatment, if you decide to try Juvederm then you will want to make sure that you use a very experienced physician. This is vital, as you’ll be having filler injected into the glabellar area and there are many arteries and nerves there. If the filler is poorly-placed, then skin loss or infection may occur and there is no more visible place than your face!

That said, when used properly, Juvederm can achieve excellent results that may last up to 18 months, which definitely counts as points in it’s favor.

Coronal Incisions and Endoscopic Brow Lifts

For those looking for permanent results, there are certainly surgical options available, with Coronal Incisions and Endoscopic brow lifts being popular choices for doing this. With a Coronal incision, a cut is made to access the upper orbits, as well as the glabella by means of an entry point above the hairline. This method provides excellent access to glabellar muscles for repairing severe glabellar lines while lifting up the brow. Not everyone is a fan of this, however, as a numbed scalp or the possibility of a distorted hairline are rare, but still possible.

The Endoscopic Brow lift has gained in popularity over Coronal Incisions for this, but it is more fitting for minor glabellar line treatment, as it does not offer the same level of access as the Coronal procedure does.

Even now, new procedures are being developed, such as one approach that involves accessing the glabella by means of an eyelid incision, and this is often performed in conjunction with blepharoplasty procedures.

With each of these options you are still looking at a serious surgery and weeks of recovery time, so they might not be ideal for many who would prefer a less invasive approach.

Thread lifts employing PDO Threads for Glabellar lines

The final option we’re listing today is using PDO threads for forehead lines and this offers a non-invasive treatment that actually lasts for a very long time – up to 18 months, actually, with a skilled physician and quality PDO threads such as Vsoft Lift. With a touch-up procedure done around the 6 – 9 month mark, results can even last for as long as 3 years!

The way that a PDO Glabellar lift is performed is your physician will first numb the area and then carefully place 10 or more threads so that they are divided evenly on each side between the brows, smoothening the glabellar lines neatly and effectively.

While the threads themselves will dissolve within 6-months time, the results last longer, and if quality threads such as Vsoft Lift threads are employed then they will also stimulate neocollagenesis so that collagen refreshes the skin throughout the whole process.

As this process is only takes about 20 minutes longer than a Botox or Dysport session and produces significantly longer-lasting results, it’s definitely one of the most popular options, and with severe cases of glabellar lines it may even be used in conjunction with one of more of the listed options!

Vsoft Smooth threads for durability and long-lasting results

For those of you considering PDO threads for glabellar lines, either for your own procedure or practice, Vsoft offers the best on the market and they use the largest producer of these threads worldwide for their distinctive brand.

When using PDO threads for glabellar lifts, the typical choice would be Vsoft Lift Smooth and Twisted 29G x 40mm. They are perfect for the task, but also an excellent choice for other uses on the face, body, and the neck. For example, they are great for necklace lines and acne scars!

Each thread is excellent for skin tightening, rejuvenation, solid structuring, and for neocollagenesis to stimulate the long term production of collagen.

Other Vsoft threads from this line include the following:

·        29g x 30mm – The most versatile of these PDO threads, the 29g x 30mm may be used on the face, lips, body, and the neck, and are a good choice for remediating acne scars, necklace lines, and more!

·        31g x 30mm – The heaviest 30 mm, these PDO threads provide robust durability and versatility, with usage options including the vermillion border, eyebrow lifts, necklace lines, acne scars, and other lift procedures for the face, neck, and body.

·        27g x 50mm – If you need a thicker thread, the 50mm is ideal for lift work on the face, body, and neck, while the thickness also helps for an enhanced neocollagenesis and rejuvenation effect.

·        29g x 50mm – This is a heavier version of the 50mm thread for additional durability for lift procedures on the face, neck, and the body.

You can find out more about these threads by visiting Vsoft with this link to view them directly.

Some closing comments on Glabellar Treatment and Vsoft Lift  

Now that you know all of the options, it’s easy to see why more and more people are choosing glabellar lift treatment with PDO threads such as Vsoft Lift’s line. It’s a perfect medium, really. While Botox and Dysport are quick and easy, coming back every 3 to 4 months is certainly not ideal, and while surgical options are permanent, not everyone is onboard with the idea of someone making incisions in their facial muscles!

By employing PDO threads, forehead lines are easily softened, smoothed, or even erased and as the procedure only takes about 20 minutes longer than a Botox or Dysport treatment, but doesn’t reuire quarterly touch-up visits to the doctor, it’s easy to understand the appeal.

If you would like to learn more about PDO lift treatments, Vsoft offers a free informative PDF pamphlet for physicians that prospective patients can take advantage of as well. You can view or download this injector’s brochure by clicking here and if you want to see the actual procedure, then you can see it on YouTube by clicking this link.   

Physicians who are reading this are also encouraged to visit Vsoft directly – aside from providing FDA-approved PDO threads, Vsoft provides training in conjunction with the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, so be sure to check that out if your interest is piqued.

Glabellar lines are certainly vexing but they don’t have to be – so be sure to consider your options and cpnsider scheduling your own treatment to put those frown lines into the past when it comes to your face.

You don’t have to live with them, after all, so why should you?!

References

Healthline; “About Sysport and Botox”

https://www.healthline.com/health/dysport-botox#procedures

Oregon Medicla Research Center; “Frown Lines (Glabellar Lines)”

https://oregonmedicalresearch.com/patients/conditions-we-study/frown-lines

Z Center for Cosmetic Health; “e Top Treatments for Glabellar Lines”

https://www.zcosmetichealth.com/the-top-treatments-for-glabellar-lines/

Oxford Academic; Aesthetic Surgery Journal; “Glabella Rejuvenation via Corrugator Excision and Volume Replacement “

https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/27/5/563/257354