Frown Lines (11s)

About frown lines (11s) at HoneMD

Frown lines — the vertical creases between the eyebrows, also called 11s, elevens, or glabella lines — are one of the most emotionally impactful areas on the face. They're created by two muscles that pull the brows together: the corrugator supercilii and the procerus. Every frown, squint, and concentrated expression activates these muscles, and over time the lines they create become etched into the skin even at rest.

The reason frown lines bother people isn't purely cosmetic — it's expressive. Deep 11s make you look angry, stressed, or tired when you're none of those things. Colleagues, friends, and strangers read your face before they hear your words, and prominent frown lines send the wrong signal. This is the most common reason clients seek treatment for the glabella: not vanity, but accuracy — they want their face to reflect how they actually feel.

At HoneMD — serving Torrance and Huntington Beach — we treat frown lines with precisely placed neurotoxin to relax the corrugator and procerus muscles, smoothing the vertical lines between your brows while preserving natural expression. You'll still be able to frown if you want to. You just won't look like you're frowning when you're not.

Who this treatment is for

• You see vertical lines between your eyebrows even when your face is relaxed
• People ask if you're upset or tired when you feel perfectly fine
• You notice a deep crease or two "11" lines forming between your brows that won't go away
• You want to prevent frown lines from deepening before they become etched into the skin
• You're already getting forehead or crow's feet treatment and want to complete the upper face

Frown lines treatment is the second-most-requested neurotoxin procedure at HoneMD (after forehead lines) — and for most clients, the two are treated together in the same visit. The corrugator and frontalis muscles interact closely, and treating one without the other can create imbalance.

Why the glabella requires expert placement

The space between your eyebrows is one of the most anatomically dense areas for neurotoxin injection. The corrugator sits directly over the supraorbital nerve, and the procerus anchors to the bridge of the nose. Over-treating the corrugator can flatten the medial brow (making the inner brow drop). Under-treating leaves the lines visible. Placing product too laterally affects the frontalis and can cause the outer brow to over-elevate — the "Spock brow," one of the most recognizable signs of bad tox.

Our nurse-practitioner injectors treat the glabella multiple times every day and understand the anatomy at a level that prevents these outcomes. We assess corrugator strength (some clients have extremely strong frown muscles that need higher doses), the position of your brows at rest, and how the glabella interacts with the forehead above and the nose below — before placing a single unit.

The HoneMD approach

5 injection points: 2 corrugator, 1 procerus, with adjustments for asymmetry or unusual muscle activation. We start at the FDA-cleared 20-unit dose for most first-time clients, with bracket adjustments up or down based on muscle bulk and patient goal. For deeply etched static lines that remain visible even after the corrugator is fully relaxed, we layer a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler directly into the crease at follow-up — tox addresses the cause; filler addresses the residue.

Pricing

From $199 for new clients. Most clients need 15–25 units for the glabella; the FDA-cleared dose is 20 units. Combined forehead + frown lines typically uses 25–45 units total. We confirm units and price before treatment begins. Know the plan. Know the price.

What to expect

Consultation (10–15 min): corrugator strength assessment in repose and at activation, brow position photography, and dose planning.

Treatment (10 min): 5 strategic injection points. Fine needle, no numbing required. Brief pinches.

3–7 days: onset. Frown movement softens.

2 weeks: peak effect. Lines smooth. Complimentary 2-week follow-up for first-time clients to add a few units if needed.

Maintenance: 3–4 months. With consistent treatment intervals often extend to 4–5 months after a year.

FAQ

What are 11 lines (frown lines)?
11 lines — also called frown lines, glabella lines, or elevens — are the vertical wrinkles between your eyebrows, caused by the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles contracting when you frown, squint, or concentrate. Over time these lines can become visible even when your face is relaxed.

How many units do frown lines need?
Most clients need 15–25 units. The FDA-cleared dose is 20 units. Very strong corrugators may need more; subtle softening may need less.

Why do my frown lines make me look angry?
The corrugator is the primary "anger" muscle on the face. When it contracts, it pulls the brows together and creates a furrowed, tense expression. If your corrugator has been overactive for years, the resulting 11 lines become etched at rest — your face shows a frown even when you're relaxed.

Should I treat frown lines alone or with other areas?
We recommend treating frown lines alongside forehead lines at minimum. The corrugator (frown muscle) and frontalis (forehead muscle) work in opposition. Treating only frown lines can cause the frontalis to over-compensate, deepening forehead lines. Treating both maintains upper-face balance.

Can frown lines be treated with filler instead of tox?
Neurotoxin is first-line because frown lines are caused by muscle movement — tox addresses the cause. For deeply etched static lines that remain visible even after the corrugator is fully relaxed, a small amount of HA filler placed directly into the crease can smooth the line. Tox + filler combo when needed.

How long do frown lines results last?
3–4 months. The glabella is often where clients see the longest-lasting results because the corrugator is relatively small. With consistent treatment intervals frequently extend to 4–5 months.

Will treating frown lines affect my eyebrows?
Minimal. You may notice a subtle medial-brow lift as the corrugator relaxes — most clients find this beneficial (it opens the eye area slightly). The risk of unwanted brow changes comes from improper placement or dosing, which is why injector experience matters.

Related treatments

Pairs well with: Forehead Tox · Crow's Feet · Bunny Lines · Brow Lift · Masseter Tox

Visit our Torrance med spa to plan your treatment.

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Individual results may vary. When discounted pricing is displayed, it reflects new client promotional rates. Actual costs depend on anatomy, goals, and provider recommendations.