Alternatives to Botox for Forehead Wrinkles

Botox is one of the safest and most effective methods in treating forehead lines and other areas of the face and body for anti-aging purposes. The toxin is injected into the muscle to reduce contractions and tension around the muscle, smoothing the creases in the injected area in the process. 

As effective as it is in combating signs of aging, there are some clients who may prefer trying alternative treatments first due to medical conditions or personal preferences.

So what are the alternatives to Botox for forehead wrinkles? There are many non-invasive topical treatments on the market to treat wrinkles. These include facial creams, serums, vitamins, chemical peels, radio frequency, and facial exercises. 

If you or your provider prefer to consider alternatives to treat your forehead wrinkles without resorting to Botox injections, here are some of the options you have to choose from.

Alternative Treatments for Forehead Wrinkles

Maybe you have a medical condition that makes Botox injections unsafe or maybe you’re not ready to commit to getting Botox injections on a regular basis. 

Here are some other ways to deal with wrinkles on your forehead and other parts of your face, without Botox injections:

1. Other Injectables

The Botox cosmetic injectable is not the only type of forehead treatment available in boutique med spas. Depending on the area of the face and the type of wrinkle you’re dealing with, dermal fillers, which use hyaluronic acid to plump areas of the face, may be a preferable solution to treat your wrinkles. 

Unlike Botox, which relaxes the muscles that create the wrinkles, dermal fillers temporarily fill the area out by plumping up the skin. Fillers can be injected directly into the crease of the wrinkle to fill that area out. They can also be strategically placed into other areas of the face to subtly lift and shape the desired area, improving the appearance of wrinkles! 

2. Skincare Products Such As Facial Creams (Non Invasive Treatment Options)

This is probably the most convenient way to address your facial wrinkles. Skincare products such as serums, creams, retinols and SPF can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.  

With so many of these creams and serums flooding the market, it can get daunting to choose which ones really work best for your skin. To make the process easier for you, consult your provider and have him or her recommend the appropriate product for your individual skin conditions or concerns.

3. Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are effective in targeting signs of aging including fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels are generally safe and effective when performed by skincare professionals. Compared to skincare products, chemical peels have a bit of a downtime, ranging from 24 hours to up to two weeks, depending on the depth of the peel. 

While it is possible to see results within the day, with chemical peels,it normally takes a full skin renewal cycle of about 2-3 weeks before clients see noticeable results.  It may take multiple peels to achieve desired results, or you may need a stronger grade to address different areas of concern. 

Keep in mind that chemical peels do have some side effects including itching, peeling, and irritation. Not all skin conditions or skin types are compatible with peels so it’s best to consult with a reputable skin care professional before booking an appointment. 

4. Vitamins

Skincare is more holistic than most people believe. Supplying the body with nutrients, antioxidants, and replenishing moisture from within can have drastic effects on your fine lines. There are non-topical supplements that can aid collagen production. There are also products that have antioxidants that help prevent damage from UV rays and free radicals.  Vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids are just some of these skin-loving vitamins. 

Just like facial creams, vitamins are very accessible and affordable for most people. Before adding supplements to your diet, we recommend consulting with an aesthetic professional to understand the full effect these vitamins have on your skin and body. 

5. Microneedling

Microneedling is a type of collagen induction therapy that works for a multitude of skin conditions including wrinkles and fine lines. It’s a minimally invasive treatment that mostly doesn’t require a lengthy downtime. It’s considered a good alternative to Botox forehead injections. 

During a microneedling treatment, the device is applied to the skin to create micro injuries and trigger the body’s healing process. This stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, the two important proteins that keep the skin tight, firm, and healthy. Microneedling also improves the absorption of skincare products thanks to the microchannels created on the skin. Aesthetic providers often recommend applying serums to the treated areas to hydrate the skin and achieve optimal anti-aging results.

Aside from hydrating serums, patients may also choose to pair PRP Therapy with microneedling to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) drawn from the patient’s own blood sample contains growth factors that boost the body’s production of collagen for smoother, firmer, and younger-looking skin.

But like other cosmetic treatments, microneedling also comes with possible side-effects like bleeding, bruising, peeling, and infection. Patients who are pregnant or those with open wounds, skin diseases, and a history of scarring are typically advised to skip this treatment.

Patients who want greater results with microneedling can also try:

• Microneedling with PRP: Microneedling results can be enhanced by pairing it with PRP. PRP uses the client’s own blood to create PRP, or platelet-rich plasma. PRP has a higher concentration of platelets than other parts of the blood, and these platelets contain proteins like cytokines and other growth factors that help the skin repair itself.
• Morpheus8: Morpheus8 is a unique microneedling experience that combines microneedling with radiofrequency or RF energy to contour the face. It penetrates deeper into the skin layers to achieve better results, and it also molds the fat underneath the skin, leading to contoured and refined skin.

Who Should Consider Alternatives to Botox for Forehead Wrinkles

While cosmetic Botox treatment is safe for general use and is effective in addressing forehead creases and other varieties of skin problems, there are clients who may be better suited to other alternatives. 

You should look into alternatives for Botox for wrinkle reduction if you are:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding – most providers would recommend against Botox injections due to the health risks that it can pose for a fetus. Forgoing Botox is the safest way to avoid complications during pregnancy and avoid risking the health of both the client and the fetus. Botox is technically a toxin so it’s wise not to inject pregnant and breastfeeding women with it, much like smoking and alcohol consumption should be generally avoided at this stage. Once a woman stops breastfeeding, then it’s safer to consider Botox injections.
• Someone with neuromuscular disorder – if you are suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Lambert-Eaton syndrome, or myasthenia gravis, you might be advised to avoid Botox injections. Providers are typically wary of administering Botox to patients with pre-existing facial muscle weakness since the drug may aggravate these conditions. Your provider might not want to risk triggering respiratory issues such as difficulty breathing, dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. Similarly, patients with breathing conditions such as asthma or emphysema  are also advised not to use Botox.
• Allergic to Botox – allergy to Botox is extremely rare but possible. Hypersensitivity to Botox can result in hives, itching, wheezing, swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and feeling faint. It may also trigger side effects and complications such as pain, swelling, or bruising at the injected area. Headache or flu-like symptoms, numbness, droopy eyelids, and eye dryness or excessive tearing are other signs of allergy to Botox. 

Rediscover Skin Care and Discover Botox Alternatives with Evolve Med Spa 

Botox isn’t the end all and be all of forehead treatments. There are other ways to address fine lines, sagging skin, brown spots, smile lines, frown lines, and glabellar lines. At Evolve Med Spa, we recommend microneedling and Morpheus8 treatments as alternatives to Botox, along with the right skincare products in between treatments. Both of these exceptional anti-aging options address facial lines such as dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. 

Evolve Med Spa combines the most innovative skin and medical spa technologies with compassionate, client-centered care to give you a truly unique experience. Schedule an appointment today and get the wrinkle-free skin you have always dreamed of.