Facial Ageing
Vertical lines between the eyebrows that form from repeated frowning and concentration.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Frown & Glabellar Lines
Has someone asked if you're upset when you were just thinking? Or have you caught your reflection and noticed the two little lines between your brows look like they're frowning on their own? Frown lines, sometimes called the eleven lines, sit right in the centre of the face, so they can make you look tense or tired even when you feel relaxed.
They come from two small muscles, the corrugator and procerus, that pull the brows together when you frown, squint or concentrate. Over time, that repeated folding leaves a crease that stays at rest. Squinting from bright light or vision that needs correcting can work the same muscles, so sunglasses or an eye check can help too. With the right care, these lines soften nicely and your expression looks calmer and more open.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Glabellar lines form mainly from repeated contraction of the corrugator and procerus muscles, which pull the eyebrows inward and downward during frowning, squinting and concentration. This repeated folding of the skin between the brows gradually etches vertical lines. Natural loss of collagen and elastin, sun exposure and reduced skin elasticity make the lines deeper and more persistent. Squinting due to bright light or uncorrected vision can increase the muscle activity that drives them.
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
Injectable treatments at our clinic are performed by our experienced physicians, and our cosmetic consultants may help with your initial assessment and planning. We watch the area at rest and while you frown, to see which muscles are doing the work, how strongly, and how your brows move overall. We also look at how deep any resting line is and the quality of your skin, then shape a plan around the look you're after, your timing and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Sunglasses on bright days cut down on squinting, and daily sunscreen protects the collagen between your brows. A retinoid and a good moisturizer keep the skin smooth and supple, which helps any resting crease look softer and supports your in-clinic results.
Our team can suggest a routine for your skin, and professional skincare is available in our online shop.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
Frown lines are mostly driven by movement, so Wrinkle Softening & Neuromodulators are the usual first choice. Our experienced physicians place small doses of a neuromodulator to relax the frown muscles while keeping natural brow movement. The effect is temporary, so treatment is repeated to maintain it, and deeper lines that stay at rest often soften gradually over several treatments.
Emface, a needle-free muscle-toning treatment, may also be part of a wider plan, performed by our senior laser technicians under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Frown lines do not require medical assessment. Seek medical review for sudden one-sided facial weakness, new or changing skin lesions in the area, persistent headaches associated with squinting, or unexplained changes in vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When two vertical lines form between the eyebrows, they can resemble the number eleven. Some people have a single line and others have several, depending on their muscle anatomy and expression habits.
Yes. Treatment targets the small muscles that pull the brows together, so you can still raise your brows and show expression. Your physician adjusts the approach to how strongly you frown and how much movement you'd like to keep.
They can. Repeated muscle activity combined with the natural decline in collagen and elasticity tends to make the lines deeper and more likely to stay visible at rest. Treating them while they're mainly dynamic often gives the smoothest result.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
