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Medically Reviewed by:

Robert Applebaum M.D.

Forehead Wrinkles: How to Get Rid of Them

Looking in the mirror and seeing deep and unsightly forehead wrinkles staring back at you can be very unsettling. Sometimes it seems that no matter how many anti-aging products you use, you can’t seem to get rid of those pesky forehead wrinkles! 

So before you test out yet another retinol product or an acid face peel, consider more effective cosmetic treatments instead. Plastic surgeons like Dr. Robert Abblebaum offer a variety of solutions for forehead wrinkles — schedule a consultation to determine which solution is best for you. 

What Causes Forehead Wrinkles?

Before we discuss how to get rid of forehead wrinkles, it’s important to understand why they appear in the first place. Wrinkles occur naturally with age as your skin becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic. You lose a lot of the moisture and collagen within your skin that contributes to a smooth, supple, and youthful appearance. 

While everyone ages, some people age better than others. For example, genetic factors that you have no control over influence how well you age. Additionally, common facial expressions like smiling, frowning, and squinting can also contribute to the appearance of forehead wrinkles. The good news is that although you cannot completely control the causes of forehead wrinkles, you can take some action in terms of treatment. 

Laser Skin Resurfacing

One treatment for forehead wrinkles involves laser skin resurfacing. This procedure uses a laser that removes outer layers of skin to reveal fresh new skin with a younger and healthier appearance. This is a great procedure if you’re also looking to treat other skin issues such as scarring, discoloration, and fine lines in other areas. 

This procedure can be done in Dr. Applebaum’s office while you are awake, thanks to the use of a topical gel anesthetic and a gentle laser called the Dot CO2. This specific laser can give you amazing results with less swelling, redness, and overall recovery time. In fact, laser skin resurfacing allows you to completely avoid unsightly dressings and painful open skin wounds. 

Instead of struggling through a rough recovery that comes with more intense procedures, you will only experience five to seven days of slight redness after laser skin resurfacing treatment. Skin protection during recovery is paramount and will involve avoiding unnecessary sun exposure for two weeks and committing to the regular use of broad-spectrum SPF after that two-week period. 

Neurotoxin Injections

Another treatment for forehead wrinkles involves neurotoxin injections. Neurotoxin injections are used to block the nerves in your forehead muscles. But why? As mentioned above, forehead wrinkles can be caused by facial expressions like raising or furrowing your eyebrows. Neurotoxin injections temporarily prevent you from making these expressions. 

When you are no longer able to make these facial expressions, your skin in the targeted areas can better rejuvenate itself and work to fill in the fine lines and wrinkles that have appeared. The effects of these injections are temporary and can last between three to six months. 

Neurotoxins like Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are injected through a tiny needle — a process that may be a bit painful. If you don’t do well with needles, many doctors use a topical anesthetic to numb the area before treatment to make it more tolerable. In any case, recovery is quick and easy — allowing you to get back to your busy life without skipping a beat! 

Forehead Rejuvenation Surgery

If you’re really looking for a dramatic transformation to address deep forehead wrinkles, you may want to consider forehead rejuvenation surgery. Rather than using methods like lasers and injections, this procedure involves actual incisions being made in the forehead area to lift sagging and wrinkled skin. 

Even though this is a surgical procedure, it’s not very invasive, thanks to endoscopic techniques that utilize small and accurate incisions. This procedure is commonly performed under IV sedation or twilight anesthesia. The recovery time is between 10 and 14 days, during which you may experience facial swelling and bruising. 

This procedure is also able to lift your eyebrows and can even be combined with procedures that target the upper and lower eyelids. As a result of this rejuvenation surgery, you can take decades off your face in less than two hours! Perhaps the main benefit of this procedure is that it is long-lasting and requires little maintenance. 

How to Prevent Forehead Wrinkles?

While you may not be able to completely prevent forehead wrinkles as they are a normal part of the aging process, there are steps you can take to keep them at bay for as long as possible:

  • Protect your skin from the sun’s rays. Long-term sun exposure zaps the moisture from your skin and can lead to dry skin, deep wrinkles, sun spots, and even skin cancer. You can easily avoid this by wearing an SPF product every day — no matter how cloudy it is outside! 
  • Learn how to relax. When you’re stressed, you often make facial expressions that can lead to wrinkles. Think brow furrowing. Managing your stress levels through things like meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, and exercise helps your body inside and out. 
  • Drink enough water. Hydrating your body and your skin can help improve the appearance of wrinkles. Doctors recommend that you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. 
  • Eat a healthy diet. Providing your body with the right fuel can also help combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables while avoiding food items high in fat and carbs. 

Conclusion

If you’ve noticed unsightly wrinkles on your forehead, there’s no need to freak out! There are several different treatments you can use to get rid of them. But you shouldn’t just treat the problem. You should also prevent it by implementing lifestyle changes that help you look better on the outside while also feeling better on the inside. 

 

Medically reviewed by Dr. Robert Applebaum

Dr. Robert Applebaum is a world renowned and highly respected Plastic Surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In his nearly 30 years as a practicing physician, Dr. Applebaum has become known as an innovator in the field of laser technology techniques for plastic surgery procedures. He has published numerous articles and scientific papers about the use of laser technology and educates physicians worldwide on the applications of laser technology for plastic surgery. Dr. Applebaum primarily practices out of his private outpatient surgery center, Four Thirty Six Aesthetic Surgery Center, which is located in Beverly Hills.

Sources:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/botox/about/pac-20384658
  2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/sun-damaged-skin-a-to-z
  3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-foods-to-look-younger

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