Why doesn’t Botox seem to work on my stubborn “11” lines?

Dr. Irwin
March 24, 2013
I recently had botox for the first time (22units) on the ll lines between my brows. (I am a female who is 55 years old) After 1 week, no improvement. I was told to come back and they injected another 20 units in the same area. After another week, not much improvement, very slight. I was told I have a very strong muscle between my brows. I was told to come back in another week if I didn't see any more improvement. Should I return for more injections or wait the 3 months and see if another treatment would help my stubborn muscle?? I am very disappointed with all this. Does it take several treatments to relax a stubborn muscle or should I try something else??? Thank you

I’m glad you asked this because you’ve had more than enough Botox injected there.  The average female will use between 20 and 30 units to relax the corrugator muscle.   Remember though……..there is a difference between the muscle and the line and therein lies the confusion for most people.    I’m guessing that you can’t frown actively but the line is still there and the line will generally get better and better over that first year if you are treating it 3 times or so that first year.  

The line itself represents a groove worn in the skin by the action of the muscle over many years and that won’t correct immediately, even if you quiet the muscle.   Some expert injectors will use a little filler like Juvederm to "pop" the line out to make it look better while retraining the muscle to relax.   Fun questions from other readers on Botox issues. 

Hope this helps,  Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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