Frown Lines

The frown lines are genetically determined and affected by how much we frown. They often run in families. This means some people were born to have minimal frown lines, and others were born destined to have deep vertical crevices between their brows.

No.11 are facial wrinkles between the eyebrows when a person frowns. As the person ages, years of making facial expressions combined with thinning skin lead to the No.11. Worse still, with persistence and over time, the lines turn into a permanent crease.

This is one of the many reasons why Dr Bong is different from other practitioners. When frown lines are being assessed, an essential factor is whether the lines are etched in the skin at rest (i.e. when you are not actively frowning).

If the No.11 is etched in the skin at rest, then using Botox alone to relax the muscles will not be enough to eliminate those lines. Dr Bong’s unique protocol of combining soft tissue filler and Botox is very effective in softening these stubborn lines.

Botox – can help freeze or reduce the movement of frown muscles; hence the frown lines you see when you try to frown are softened. This treatment can also prevent the lines from becoming more profound when carried out regularly.

Soft tissue dermal filler – this can be injected to fill out or soften these static frown lines. If you can see these lines/creases when you are not actively frowning, soft tissue filler might be the solution, primarily when this is carried out in combination with Botox.

Unlike many practitioners, Dr Bong does not use a ‘one-size-fits-all’ polyfiller in this area. Polyfiller may be cheaper, but it can cause lumpiness and swelling in this area. The soft tissue filler Dr Bong uses in this area has been exclusively formulated to soften superficial lines and wrinkles. This filler does not cause puffiness or lumps because it has no volume or rigidity.

Dr Bong’s unique treatment protocol and choice of soft tissue filler mean both Botox and filler can be carried out in the same visit. We recommend that you repeat your Botox treatment once every 3-4 months to stop your frowning. Persistent frowning can adversely affect the effect and longevity of the soft tissue filler.

Soft tissue fillers are different from Botox. Instead of freezing the underlying muscle, soft tissue fillers fill up bothersome creases, i.e. they plump up the wrinkle.

Dr Bong’s Botox treatment is known to take effect within 24-48 hours. Soft tissue filler works instantly and can last about 9-12 months (provided that you are consistent with your Botox treatment as outlined above).

Dr Bong is known as ‘Dr Pain-Free Botox’ because his Botox injection is virtually pain-free. Dr Bong uses the world’s finest hypodermic needle to inject soft tissue filler in this area. Our patients describe the discomfort as equivalent to ‘squeezing a spot’.

If you wish, a topical numbing cream may be applied to the area before the treatment. Alternatively, local anaesthetics may be injected into the area. The soft tissue filler contains an anaesthetics agent, which takes effect within seconds of it being injected.

Many people mistakenly think that soft tissue fillers (commonly known as ‘dermal ‘fillers) are all the same and that it is only about ‘filling the lines’. However, effective and safe treatment requires skills and experience, as outlined below.

For effective treatment of the frown lines, the placement of the soft tissue filler (as well as Botox) has to be spot on. The soft tissue filler will not lift the crease if the injections are too deep. Conversely, if the injection is too superficial, the filler will leak through the pores while injecting. Therefore, the choice of soft tissue filler and instrument is paramount. In cases where this is proving difficult, we will have to inject from different angles and directions.

Another consideration is that our skin does not like to go from having a deep crease to immediately being smooth. Instead, it must be slowly opened over time, with partial improvements. Often this is the case if the frown lines are deep and have been etched in the skin for many years. This means achieving the desired result can take more than one session.

This depends on the severity of the frown lines and folds. In most cases, our patients require only one treatment session with soft tissue filler. Generally, men need more than one session. Understandably, this will incur additional costs.

As mentioned above, our skin does not like to go from having a deep crease to immediately being smooth. Instead, it must be slowly opened over time, with partial improvements. Often this is the case if the frown lines are deep and have been etched in the skin for many years. This means achieving the desired result can take more than one session. The precise number of sessions and costs for this treatment will be discussed in detail during your face-to-face consultation with Dr Bong.

There may be mild redness. The soft tissue filler Dr Bong uses in this area does not cause noticeable swelling. If you have a Botox injection in the frown lines simultaneously, there may be mild swelling that usually resolves completely within 30 minutes. If many injections are required, you may sometimes notice a few fine needle marks. This can easily be covered with cosmetic make-up.

Soft tissue or dermal filler in the frown line seems to behave differently than fillers in other face parts. The Botox injection for frown line results generally lasts around 4-6 months. However, provided you are consistent with your Botox injections (every 3-4 months), the effect of your soft tissue dermal filler can last up to one year.

The longevity of these treatments is variable, and each individual may obtain a different result. However, a plan for regular follow-up treatments to maintain the initial result can be formulated for you. Dr Bong’s unique and sought-after treatment protocol provides a long-lasting but not permanent result, leaving you the option of refining your treatment in tune with changing tastes and desires.

This is a unique treatment protocol formulated by Dr Bong, with his many years of expertise and experience carrying out treatment in this area. Unlike many practitioners, Dr Bong does not use a ‘one-size-fits-all’ polyfiller in this area. Polyfiller may be cheaper, but it can cause lumpiness and swelling in this area. In addition, too deep an injection depth makes the treatment ineffective. Precise injection depth requires skills and experience.

We usually charge £300 per session with a premium soft tissue filler. This does not include Botox to freeze the muscle. We charge £130 for Botox in this area (£180 if you are a man, due to the higher volume of Botox required). In most cases, our patients require only one treatment session with soft tissue filler. Generally, men need more than one session. Understandably, this will incur additional costs. The precise number of sessions and prices for this treatment will be discussed in detail during your face-to-face consultation with Dr Bong.

When we book an appointment for you, we commit that time and our resources to your treatment. This means that, if anyone else wants to come at the same time, we will be unable to see them and will have to offer them an alternative time. If you do not then attend that appointment and either do not tell us in advance or give insufficient notice, we are unable to allocate the time to someone else; however, we still have overheads and staff salaries to pay during the unproductive time.

We accept cash or the following major credit and debit cards. We do not accept personal cheques.

If you are a new patient, a booking fee will be taken at the point of making your appointment.  Please read our full terms and conditions here.

We respect that your time is valuable, and we appreciate that you understand ours is too. Unfortunately, if appointments are cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, or if you do not attend an appointment, we cannot allocate your appointment slot to someone else; however, we still have overheads and staff salaries to pay. Please read our full terms and conditions here.

Please note for all patients, a £50 fee will be charged if you cancel or reschedule ANY appointment (including appointments which do not require an upfront deposit, such as a ‘check-up’ or review appointment) less than 48 hours before the appointment time. Patients who have pre-purchased a course of treatment will forfeit one of the treatments instead of paying this fee.

Late arrival to your appointment may result in reduced treatment time or the forfeiting of the appointment. We will endeavour to ensure that your appointment runs on time. However, for reasons beyond our control, we may need to cancel or postpone your appointment at short notice. In this unlikely event, we will try to contact you in advance. We do not offer compensation if we cancel or postpone your appointment.

Please read our full terms and conditions here.

To help our patients minimise the chance of losing their deposit or pre-paid treatments, we issue text reminders a minimum of 48 hours ahead of appointments. Patients should be aware that there may be reasons beyond our control, meaning that the text message does not reach them. Patients should diarise themselves when making follow-up appointments and not rely solely on the text message from the clinic as a reminder.