The short answerBotox for frown lines relaxes the small muscles between your brows that pull them together and down, so the vertical “11” lines soften. It’s the one area both of our Botox brands, Jeuveau and Xeomin, are FDA-approved to treat, and both labels list 20 units, placed as 4 units in each of five spots. Results start to show in 3 to 7 days and usually last about 3 to 4 months.
Those vertical creases between your brows go by a few names: frown lines, glabellar lines, or simply the 11s. This guide covers how Botox for frown lines works, where the injections go, what the FDA label trials actually found, and when a deep line needs more than a muscle relaxer. At MeliOra, Botox means Botox with Jeuveau or Xeomin, and Dr. Melanie Espinet places every injection herself.
What are frown lines (glabellar lines, or the 11s)?
The glabella is the smooth patch of skin between your eyebrows, which is why doctors call frown lines glabellar lines. Several small muscles meet there. According to the Jeuveau label, the corrugator muscles and the orbicularis oculi, the ring-shaped muscle around the eye, draw the brows toward each other, while the procerus and the depressor supercilii pull them down. Together they make a frown, or a “furrowed brow.”
The label also explains that lines from facial expression form at right angles to the muscle pulling on the skin. The corrugators pull sideways, so the creases run up and down: the 11s. The location, size, and use of these muscles vary a lot from person to person, so no two frowns look quite the same. Some people see their 11s only when they frown. Others see them at rest too, and that difference matters for what Botox can do.
How does Botox for frown lines work?
Botox is a muscle relaxer given by injection. MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s drug guide, says Jeuveau works by blocking the nerve signals that make muscles tighten. When the corrugator and procerus muscles can’t pull as hard, the skin over them stops folding as deeply, and the 11s soften. Botox doesn’t fill the crease or change the skin itself. It works on the muscle that creates the crease.
Botox between the eyebrows: where the injections go
Both labels use the same pattern for Botox between the eyebrows: five small injections of 4 units each, two into each corrugator muscle and one into the procerus in the middle, for 20 units in total. To lower the chance of a drooping eyelid, both labels say to keep the outer corrugator injections at least 1 centimeter above the bony ridge over the eye and away from the muscle that lifts the eyelid. The Jeuveau label adds that injections shouldn’t go closer than 1 centimeter above the center of the eyebrow. Placement, not just the dose, shapes your result.
Jeuveau or Xeomin for frown lines: the label facts
Frown lines are the one area where both of our Botox brands carry FDA approval, so either one is an on-label choice. Here’s how they line up for this area.
| Label fact | Jeuveau and Xeomin |
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| Approved for frown lines? | Yes, both, for moderate to severe lines in adults |
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| Dose for frown lines | 20 units for both: 4 units into each of 5 spots |
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| Other approved cosmetic areas | Jeuveau: none. Xeomin: forehead lines and crow’s feet |
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| How often you can retreat | No more often than every 3 months, per both labels |
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| Units interchangeable with other brands? | No. Each label says its units can’t be compared to or converted into another product’s units |
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| Price at MeliOra | $12/unit for either brand, so 20 units is $240 |
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Dr. Espinet recommends one brand or the other based on your history and goals, and the price is the same either way. For more on the second of our two brands, see Xeomin in Lutz.
How many units of Botox for 11 lines?
Both labels list 20 units for frown lines. MeliOra’s typical range for the 11s is 15 to 25 units, which comes to $180 to $300 at $12/unit. Stronger frowns may need the higher end, and a softer plan that keeps some movement may use less. Your number is set at your visit, after Dr. Espinet watches you frown. For every area side by side, see how many units of Botox you need, and for budgeting, what Botox costs in Lutz.
Does Botox work on frown lines? What the trials found
The FDA approved both brands for frown lines based on placebo-controlled trials. Adults with at least moderate frown lines got a single 20-unit treatment or a placebo. Success was judged at day 30, during a full frown, and meant at least a two-grade improvement on a four-point scale, rated by both the doctor and the patient.
| Trials (from each FDA label) | People with a 2-grade improvement at day 30 |
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| Jeuveau: two trials, 654 adults | 68% and 70% with Jeuveau, compared with 1% with placebo |
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| Xeomin: two trials, 547 adults | 60% and 48% with Xeomin, compared with 0% with placebo |
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Two cautions. These were separate trials with different people, so the numbers can’t be compared head to head. And they measured lines during a hard frown, not at rest. They show that a 20-unit dose softens the frown for many people, far more often than placebo. They don’t promise how smooth the skin will look when your face is relaxed.
Can Botox fix deep 11 lines that show at rest?
Sometimes, partly. Botox treats the muscle, so it works best when muscle pull is the main cause of the line. The Global Aesthetics Consensus Group, an international panel of plastic surgeons and dermatologists, recommends choosing botulinum toxin as the main treatment only when that’s true. The panel also notes that in older patients, a greater share of lines may come from skin that has lost elasticity. Those lines can improve with several approaches, including toxin, but probably not with toxin alone.
The FDA trials offer a practical clue. They left out people whose frown lines didn’t soften even when the skin was spread apart, and the Xeomin label advises caution in that situation, as well as with deep scarring or thick, oily skin. If your 11s stay put when you gently stretch them apart with two fingers, Botox may do less for them. Lines that fade with the stretch, or show mostly when you frown, match the people the trials studied.
For more on the difference between lines from movement and lines at rest, see Botox vs fillers. MeliOra’s menu for lines is Botox only, so if a crease needs something else, Dr. Espinet will tell you plainly.
Frown line treatment timeline: results and how long they last
Most people see results within 3 to 7 days, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and go back to most everyday activities right away. Give it about two weeks before you judge your result. The AAD says results last about 3 to 4 months, and sometimes longer. Both labels say not to retreat more often than every 3 months.
| When | What to expect |
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| Right after | Possible redness, swelling, or a small bruise where the needle went in |
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| Days 3 to 7 | The frown starts to weaken and the 11s look softer |
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| About 2 weeks | A good time to judge your result and check in with Dr. Espinet |
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| About 3 to 4 months | Movement returns gradually, so you can plan your next visit |
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Timing varies with your muscles and your dose. For what speeds up or shortens that window, read how long Botox lasts.
Side effects of Botox between the brows
Most side effects are mild and short-lived. MedlinePlus lists headache, cold-like symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, and pain, swelling, redness, or bruising where the medicine was injected. In the Jeuveau frown-line trials, headache was the most common reaction, at 12%, though it was about as common with placebo, at 13%.
The side effect people worry about most is a droopy eyelid. In those same trials it happened in 2% of people treated and in none on placebo. It usually passes as the medicine wears off, though the Jeuveau label notes that side effects can sometimes last several months. Careful placement is how the labels say to lower the risk. If it happens to you, read about a droopy eyelid after Botox, and call Dr. Espinet.
In some cases, the labels warn, the effect can spread beyond the treated area. Get medical care right away for trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing, weakness all over the body, or double or blurred vision, which MedlinePlus says can appear hours to weeks after treatment. Tell Dr. Espinet beforehand if you have drooping eyelids, trouble raising your eyebrows, or a nerve or muscle condition. MedlinePlus notes that Jeuveau may not smooth wrinkles, or may cause other problems, in people with drooping eyelids or weak forehead muscles.
Getting Botox for frown lines at MeliOra
Dr. Melanie Espinet, a board-certified family physician, does every treatment herself. She comes to your home or office anywhere in our Tampa Bay service area with no travel fee, or you can book a select appointment at the Lutz office. She reviews your health history, asks you to frown, raise your brows, and smile, and plans your units and placement with you. You agree on the brand, the units, and the total before anything starts. Botox with Jeuveau or Xeomin is $12/unit either way.
Many people treat the 11s alongside nearby areas. The Xeomin label treats forehead lines together with frown lines to lower the chance of a heavy brow, so if your forehead bothers you too, read about forehead Botox first. If you want a slightly lifted brow more than smoother lines, a Botox brow lift works on some of the same muscles. When you’re ready, book a visit with Dr. Espinet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Botox good for frown lines?
Yes, for most people whose 11s come from frowning. Frown lines are the one area both of our Botox brands, Jeuveau and Xeomin, are FDA-approved to treat, and in their label trials a 20-unit dose softened the frown far more often than placebo. Deep lines that show even at rest may improve, but probably not with Botox alone.
How many units of Botox do you need for 11 lines?
Both FDA labels list 20 units for frown lines, given as 4 units in each of five spots. MeliOra’s typical range is 15 to 25 units, depending on how strong your frown is. Dr. Espinet sets your exact dose at your visit.
How much does Botox for frown lines cost?
At MeliOra, Botox for frown lines is $12/unit with Jeuveau or Xeomin, so the label dose of 20 units is $240. The typical range of 15 to 25 units runs $180 to $300, and house calls carry no travel fee.
How long does Botox last on frown lines?
Usually about 3 to 4 months, and sometimes longer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The frown returns gradually as the muscles recover. Both labels say not to retreat more often than every 3 months.
What are glabellar lines?
Glabellar lines are the medical name for frown lines, the vertical creases between your eyebrows often called the 11s. The glabella is the smooth skin between the brows. The lines come from the muscles that pull your brows together and down when you frown.
Can Botox get rid of deep frown lines?
Not always. Botox relaxes the muscle, so lines caused mainly by frowning respond best, while creases that stay even when the skin is stretched apart may respond less. The label trials left out people whose lines didn’t lessen when spread apart.
Can Botox between the eyebrows cause a droopy eyelid?
It can, but it’s uncommon. In the Jeuveau frown-line trials, a droopy eyelid occurred in 2% of people treated. It usually passes as the medicine wears off, and keeping the outer injections at least 1 centimeter above the bony ridge over the eye, as both labels direct, helps lower the risk.
When will I see results from Botox for frown lines?
Most people see results within 3 to 7 days, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Give it about two weeks before judging your result, and check in with Dr. Espinet if anything looks uneven then.
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