The “11 lines” (glabellar lines) are the two vertical creases between the eyebrows. They appear when you frown, squint in the sun or concentrate, and with time they stay there even at rest. Patients in Alexandria ask us the same question almost every day: do I need Botox, filler, or both?
Why Botox comes first
The 11s are made by two small muscles (the corrugators and the procerus) that pull the brows together. Botulinum toxin relaxes those muscles, so the skin stops being folded hundreds of times a day. In most people under 45 this alone softens the lines within two weeks, and with regular sessions the creases fade because the skin finally gets a rest.
When filler is added
If a groove is still visible when your face is completely relaxed, the crease has become etched into the skin. A tiny amount of soft filler, or a skin booster, can lift it. Filler is never the first step here, and the glabella is one of the riskier zones for filler, so it needs an experienced injector and a very small volume.
What Dr. Sara does
She relaxes the muscle first and asks you to come back after two weeks. Only then does she judge whether anything is left to treat in the skin itself. Most patients need nothing more.
Quick answers
How long does Botox for the 11s last?
Three to four months for most people, sometimes longer after several regular sessions.
Will my face look frozen?
No. The dose is adjusted so you can still raise your brows and look natural; only the frown muscles are quieter.
Can I have filler in the 11s without Botox?
Rarely a good idea. Filler alone keeps being squeezed by the muscle and can look lumpy. The muscle is treated first.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; your treatment is decided at your consultation with Dr. Sara El Hamawy.