Skin & Aesthetics · Harley Street
Forehead Lines
The horizontal lines that appear across the forehead when you raise your eyebrows, and gradually settle in permanently.
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Forehead lines run horizontally and are created by the frontalis, the broad flat muscle that lifts your eyebrows. Every time you raise your brows, in surprise, in conversation, or simply out of habit, the skin above folds. Over decades that folding leaves a permanent crease.
They are among the most requested areas to treat, and also among the easiest to over-treat. The frontalis is the only muscle lifting your brows, so reducing it too much causes the brow to drop and the upper lid to feel heavy.
What causes forehead lines?
Repeated eyebrow raising is the primary cause. Some people raise their brows constantly as part of how they speak, and others do it to compensate for heavy upper lids, which is worth identifying before any treatment.
Sun exposure, smoking, genetics and the natural decline in collagen determine how quickly those folds become permanent.
How are forehead lines treated?
Dynamic lines, visible when you raise your brows, are treated by reducing the muscle activity that creates them, conservatively so the brow still moves. Static lines etched in at rest need the skin addressed as well, through skin boosters, polynucleotides or rejuvenation, and occasionally support where volume has been lost.
Assessment matters here more than most areas. If your brows are doing the work of a heavy upper lid, reducing that muscle will make the heaviness worse, and we would tell you so rather than treat it.
Why can forehead treatment go wrong?
Because the forehead is the only brow lifter, over-treatment produces a dropped brow, a heavy or hooded look, or an unnaturally flat forehead with a surprised-looking outer brow. Done conservatively by someone who assesses your brow position first, none of that should happen.
A degree of movement is deliberately preserved. A forehead that cannot move at all does not look younger, it looks treated.
Find your treatment
Which skin treatment is right for you?
Tell us your main concern for a starting point, then confirm the right plan at a free consultation.
What is your main concern?
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have forehead lines so young?
Usually because you are expressive and raise your brows frequently, sometimes unconsciously or to compensate for heavy upper lids. Genetics and sun exposure also matter. Lines appearing in your twenties are common and not a sign of anything wrong.
Can forehead lines be removed permanently?
No. Deep static lines can be softened but not erased, and any treatment that reduces muscle movement is temporary and wears off. Ongoing skin care and sun protection influence how quickly they return.
Will treating my forehead drop my eyebrows?
It can if it is over-treated, because the forehead muscle is the only one lifting the brow. Assessing your brow position and treating conservatively is how that is avoided, and in some cases the honest advice is not to treat the forehead at all.
What helps forehead lines at home?
Daily SPF, not smoking, and a routine including a retinoid and good moisturiser will slow their progression and improve surface texture. They will not remove an established crease.
Speak to our team
Every treatment begins with a free, no-obligation consultation at 19 Harley Street. We assess you in person and give honest advice on what suits you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sumeyye Yuksel, MBBS · 5 September 2026