Botox for Upper Face Wrinkles

Hi doctor,

Welcome to this module on botulinum toxin for the upper face — one of the most common, high-impact treatments we perform in aesthetic medicine.

In this lesson, I’ll guide you through my exact clinical approach for treating the upper face with Botox. We’ll go over how I assess patients, where I inject, what dosages I typically use, and how I avoid complications — all based on experience with real patients and real results.

If you’re building your foundation in neurotoxin treatments, this is the must-master zone — the forehead, glabella, and crow’s feet are the most requested areas, and also the most visible.

🧠 Understanding the Upper Face

The upper face is home to some of the most expressive muscles in the body — and when these muscles contract over time, they create:

  • Horizontal forehead lines
  • Vertical glabellar lines (frown lines)
  • Lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet)

These are dynamic wrinkles — caused by muscle movement, not volume loss.

Our job with Botox isn’t to erase every line. It’s to relax the movement, smooth the skin, and restore a rested, youthful appearance — while keeping the patient’s personality intact.

🎯 The 3 Key Muscle Zones

Let’s break it down:

1. Frontalis (Forehead)

  • The only elevator of the upper face
  • Creates horizontal forehead lines when raising eyebrows
  • Thin and broad — requires superficial placement

2. Glabellar Complex (Frown Lines)

  • Includes corrugators, procerus, depressor supercilii
  • Pulls brows inward and downward
  • Target area for softening the “11s” or angry resting face

3. Orbicularis Oculi (Crow’s Feet)

  • Circular muscle around the eyes
  • Contracts during smiling or squinting
  • Treated to reduce fine lines and open the eye area

Every patient has a different strength and pattern — and I teach you how to spot that in my full training. But here, just remember: balance is everything.

💉 Injection Techniques & Tips

Here’s how I approach each area in practice:

Frontalis

  • Inject superficially in a linear or zigzag pattern
  • Stay at least 2 cm above the brow to avoid droop
  • Use small units per point to prevent heaviness or a frozen look
  • Tailor injections to the patient’s brow position and forehead height

Glabellar Complex

  • Usually 5 injection points:
    • 2 in the corrugators
    • 1 in the procerus
    • Optional: 2 additional points for strong muscles
  • Inject deeper here — the muscles lie under the frontalis
  • Always assess baseline brow movement before treating

Crow’s Feet (Lateral Canthus)

  • Inject superficially in 3 points per side
  • Stay 1–1.5 cm lateral to the orbital rim
  • Watch for zygomaticus involvement to avoid smile asymmetry

I always start with conservative units and adjust at the 2-week follow-up. Botox is customized medicine, not cookbook medicine.

✅ Dosing Philosophy

I don’t just memorize numbers — I assess based on:

  • Muscle strength
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Aesthetic goal (natural vs. smooth)

For example:

  • Men often need higher units due to muscle mass
  • Younger patients or “Baby Botox” users may prefer lighter doses
  • Asymmetric brows may require different doses on each side

The key is to treat the patient in front of you — not the protocol in a book.

🛑 Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common errors I see newer injectors make:

  • Injecting too low on the forehead → causes brow droop
  • Over-injecting the glabella → leads to “Spock brows”
  • Going too deep in crow’s feet → bruises or ineffective treatment
  • Not checking brow asymmetry before injecting
  • Using the same dose on every patient

Botox is not forgiving when misused — but when done right, it’s one of the safest and most satisfying treatments in your practice.

📋 Patient Education & Expectations

Here’s what I tell every patient before upper face Botox:

  • The result appears in 3–5 days, with full effect in 10–14 days
  • It typically lasts 3–4 months
  • Some mild tightness or eyebrow heaviness may occur the first few days
  • They should avoid lying down or exercising for at least 4 hours after treatment
  • Avoid rubbing or touching the area for the rest of the day

I also manage expectations by saying:

“We’re softening the muscle pull — not freezing your face. You’ll still be you, just smoother.”

👨‍⚕️ Final Thoughts

The upper face is where Botox began, and it’s still the most powerful way to restore a refreshed, youthful appearance. But technique matters.

You have to respect the muscle anatomy, understand movement patterns, and treat with intention.

A great injector doesn’t chase lines — they correct expression patterns.

When you master that, you’re not just injecting. You’re sculpting expressions that match how your patients feel inside.

🎓 Ready to See the Full Injection Process?

In my complete video course, I teach you:

  • How to mark each zone with precision
  • Real injection demos with live patients
  • Dosage breakdowns and safety strategies
  • Tips for asymmetry, eyebrow lifts, and challenging cases
  • What I do at follow-up visits and how I evaluate success

100% online. No hands-on needed. You can access it anytime, from anywhere.

👉 Click here to enroll:

🔗 Join the Upper Face Botox Training (Insert your Kajabi course link)

Let’s build your skillset with clinical clarity, confidence, and patient-focused results.

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