qd glabella botox
Glabella Botox targets the vertical frown lines between the brows — often called the “11” lines — by relaxing the corrugator and procerus muscles that pull the brows together. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess how you frown first, then decide the injection points and dose. A session usually takes about 10–15 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- Vertical “11” lines between the brows that deepen when you frown
- A tired or stern look from habitual frowning
- Dynamic lines rather than fixed, resting creases
- Anyone who prefers a non-surgical option with minimal downtime
Deep lines that remain at rest may be combined with other options such as filler, decided at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
The strength of the glabellar muscles and the frown lines they leave
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
Rather than adding more volume, we decide where to fill and where to leave alone, and the line at which expression stays natural.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare what filler, Botox and skin boosters each change and what they cannot change, with the alternatives alongside them.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
Beforehand we check blood thinners, immune conditions and allergies, past injectables, possible pregnancy and the dates that matter.
the
principle
We check muscle strength and function and the balance of your expression, then plan the smallest effective range, only where it is needed.
Botulinum toxin type A temporarily reduces the pull of the corrugator and procerus muscles that draw the brows inward and downward when you frown. With less muscle activity, the skin between the brows creases less and the frown softens. The effect is temporary and gradually wears off as nerve signalling returns.
How it works
01
Blocks the nerve-to-muscle signal
Botulinum toxin type A binds at the neuromuscular junction and blocks the release of acetylcholine — the chemical a nerve uses to tell a muscle to contract. The treated muscle then relaxes and pulls on the skin less.
02
Eases the inward-and-downward pull
These frown muscles pull the brows in and down. With their pull reduced, the skin between the brows creases less and the frown softens.
03
Builds up over a few days
The block takes effect gradually on the treated nerve endings, which is why lines soften over several days rather than immediately.
04
Wears off as nerves recover
The body forms new nerve-terminal connections over time, so signalling returns, movement comes back and the effect fades — which is why the treatment is repeated.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Glabella Botox targets the vertical frown lines between the brows — often called the “11” lines — by relaxing the corrugator and procerus muscles that pull the brows together. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess how you frown first, then decide the injection points and dose. A session usually takes about 10–15 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
Ingredients and authenticity
We check the product name, the maker, the ingredients, the expiry date and the use approved for that purpose.
Anatomy and expression
We look at where vessels are at risk, at muscle movement, skin thickness and the proportions of the whole face, then set the injection points.
Small amounts, one stage at a time
Allowing for swelling and the early response, we avoid overcorrection and top it up later if that is needed.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation and assessment of how you frown
- Cleansing and marking of injection points
- Fine-needle injections into the corrugator and procerus
- Brief pressure and aftercare guidance
Time: A session usually takes about 10–15 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, small bumps or mild bruising may occur.
- Avoid rubbing the area, lying down flat or intense exercise for a few hours, and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness, small bumps or mild bruising at the injection points
- A short-lived headache or a feeling of tightness between the brows in the first days
- Slight asymmetry or an unusual brow position that eases as the effect settles or wears off
- Rarely, temporary drooping of a brow or upper eyelid if the toxin spreads to nearby muscle
When to take extra care
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — let us know at consultation
- Neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert–Eaton syndrome
- Certain medications, including aminoglycoside antibiotics or muscle relaxants — tell your doctor
- A known allergy to botulinum toxin or any ingredient in the product
- Active skin infection or inflammation at the injection site
what to expect
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0
Injection day
Fine-needle injections into the corrugator and procerus take about 10–15 minutes. Brief redness, small bumps or mild bruising may occur and usually settle within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 2-4
Onset begins
Many people notice the frown feeling softer as movement eases. Timing varies from person to person.
~2 WEEKS
Full effect settles
The effect reaches its full extent and is best assessed around this point. Any minor adjustment is reviewed now. (Results vary by individual.)
3-4 MONTHS
Gradual return
Muscle activity returns gradually and the frown lines slowly reappear. Duration differs with dose, muscle strength and metabolism. (Results vary by individual.)
REPEAT
Maintenance
A repeat session is timed at consultation once movement returns, rather than on a fixed date.
Sessions & results
Effects usually begin within a few days and settle by about two weeks, then last roughly 3–4 months as muscle activity gradually returns. Repeat sessions are timed at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
How it compares
These approaches target the frown area differently, so the right choice depends on whether the “11” lines appear with movement or stay at rest.
| Glabella Botox | Hyaluronic-acid filler | Skin boosters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Botulinum toxin type A relaxes the corrugator and procerus | Hyaluronic acid supports a deep, fixed crease | Injectable hydration for surface quality |
| Targets | Dynamic “11” lines that deepen when frowning | Lines that remain visible at rest | Fine surface texture between the brows |
| Onset | Over a few days | Immediate, settling over days | Gradual over weeks |
| Duration | About 3–4 months | Varies by product and area | Varies; a series is common |
| Downtime | Little to none | Little to none; bruising possible | Little to none |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
Lines that gather at the moment you frown fade noticeably once the pull of the muscle is reduced. Older creases that stay etched as a groove even when your face is at rest, however, do not smooth out completely with toxin alone, so we consider filler or another approach alongside it. To see which kind yours are, we ask you to make a few expressions and check together.
The concern about blood vessels belongs to filler; toxin behaves differently. That said, if the product placed between the brows spreads sideways it can cause a drooping eyelid, so we keep strictly to the correct injection points and dose. That is also why you should not rub the area after treatment.
It is uncommon, but the eyelid can feel heavy and sit lower. In most cases it recovers within a few weeks as the effect wears off, and if needed we will talk you through measures that help. If you notice anything like this, please don't wait — get in touch and we will follow the course of it together.
When the brows are drawn together often, you can look angry or on edge regardless of what you actually intend. Once that tension eases, patients tell us their face looks more relaxed when they are not making any expression at all. The point is not to stop you making expressions, but to lower the force that goes in without you noticing.
Toxin treatment for chronic migraine is a separate field of medicine, and its dose and technique differ from a cosmetic treatment between the brows. We do not promise any headache benefit from a cosmetic procedure. If you are being treated for headaches, the right person to discuss it with is your neurologist.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now