Why do I have frown lines from screen work? Botox questions answered
It's Monday afternoon. You've been on your laptop since nine. Between calls the screen goes dark, and in the reflection you notice two short vertical lines between your eyebrows. You relax your face, and they're still faintly there.
At Skin Lab Medispa, a medically led clinic with sites in Marylebone, Old Street and the City of London, frown lines are the most common reason people book a first consultation for Botox. Here are the questions we're asked most, answered honestly.
What are the "11 lines" between my eyebrows?
They're frown lines, also called glabellar lines or "the elevens". They sit vertically between your brows and are made by three small muscles: two corrugators and the procerus. Those muscles pull your brows together and down whenever you concentrate, squint, or feel stressed.
Frown lines are dynamic lines. They're caused by movement, not by dry or damaged skin. That single fact explains almost everything about how to treat them.
Why does screen work make them worse?
Screen work keeps those muscles busy all day. Small fonts, screen glare, harsh office lighting, back to back video calls and late nights all trigger the same frown. Across a working week that can mean thousands of small contractions, every one folding the skin in exactly the same place.
When you're younger, skin springs straight back. From around your mid twenties, collagen production slows gradually each year and the skin's elastic support thins. The fold stops recovering fully. First the line shows only when you frown, then in photos, and eventually when your face is completely relaxed.
Why haven't my creams and serums worked?
Because the problem isn't in the skin's surface. Creams and serums work in the top layers of skin. Retinoids, peptides and hyaluronic acid can improve texture and hydration, and they're worth using. But the frown line is caused by a muscle underneath the skin, and no topical product reaches that muscle or changes how often it contracts.
You can hydrate a fold perfectly and it will still be folded.
What actually helps? Habits, then Botox
Small daily habits reduce how often you frown:
Increase your screen's text size and match its brightness to the room.
Have an eye test if you haven't had one in two years. Squinting is often a sign you need glasses or a new prescription.
Wear sunglasses outdoors and use SPF every day.
Anti-wrinkle injections, which most people know as Botox, treat the cause directly. A very small dose of a prescription medicine is placed precisely into the muscles that make the frown. It temporarily quietens the signal from nerve to muscle, the muscle relaxes, the skin stops being folded, and the line softens over the following days.
Because it's a prescription medicine, every treatment at Skin Lab Medispa starts with a free medical consultation. Our medically qualified injector, Ramin Mehraliyev, has more than 15 years in the NHS and over 8 years in medical aesthetics. He'll look at how your face moves, take your medical history, and tell you honestly whether you need treatment now, later, or not at all.
Is it the same as Botox?
Botox is the best known brand of the prescription medicine used for anti-wrinkle injections. There are a few licensed brands that work in a similar way. At your consultation we'll explain which one we recommend for you and why.
Will I still look like myself after Botox?
Yes. We dose so you keep natural expression. You'll still be able to frown when you mean to, just without the deep crease. The aim is that people notice you look rested, not that you've had something done.
What happens at the appointment?
Free consultation. We assess how your face moves and agree what will and won't change.
Treatment, 10 to 15 minutes. A few small injections with a very fine needle. Most people describe a quick pinch.
No downtime. You can go straight back to work. Skip the gym and alcohol until the next day.
Results. Softening from day three to five, with the full result at around two weeks.
Two-week review. If you'd like a small adjustment, we see you again.
How long does Botox last for frown lines?
Usually three to four months for frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. Many people find results last longer after a few regular treatments, as the muscle gets used to doing less.
How much is Botox in London?
Treatment | From |
One area (for example, frown lines) | £160 |
Two areas | £240 |
Three areas | £280 |
Your consultation is free, and your price is confirmed before anything is done. Clearpay lets you split any treatment into four interest-free payments.
Where can I get Botox in Marylebone, Old Street or Monument?
We treat patients at three London clinics, all at Light Centre:
Botox in Marylebone: 4 Baker Street, London W1H 6AZ. Near Baker Street, Bond Street and Marylebone stations. More about Botox in Marylebone.
Botox in Old Street and Shoreditch: 5 Singer Street, London EC2A 4BQ. Three minutes from Old Street station, serving Shoreditch, Hoxton and Clerkenwell. Open until 9pm on weekdays. About our Old Street clinic.
Botox in Monument and the City of London: 36 St Mary at Hill, City of London EC3R 8DU. Two minutes from Bank and Monument stations, easy to fit into a lunch break.
Same-week appointments are available at all three.
Ready to find out if it's right for you?
If you've caught those two lines in a dark screen this week, a free consultation will give you a straight answer.
Call 020 3457 2046
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