Cookie cutters are for cookies.
Watching people talk is essential to mapping their face.
Watch the original reelOriginally shared 2026-05-06. The reel is about watching movement before mapping treatment.
PETRO
ExpressionIssue 02
The Mirror Moment
wrinkles between my brows.
02 / The part you might not say out loud
The Fear Is Real
Will I look surprised, or lose my expression?
That concern belongs in the assessment. Unwanted changes in brow position or movement, including drooping, can happen. The starting brow position, muscle pattern and proposed dose all matter; no pattern is right for everyone.
03 / Melanie Petro, MD
The Surgeon’s POV
Cookie cutters are for cookies. 🍪
Watching people talk is essential to mapping their face.
Not just the line. The expression.
I treat my forehead lines to make them “frosted” not frozen so that I look relaxed but can still move.
Some prefer frozen- on some people that works- on very expressive people it doesn’t because they no longer look like themselves.
Melanie Petro, MD · From my Instagram, 2026-05-06
“Tiny tox,” my original writing, June 2022.
Why those lines show up
The muscles between the brows pull inward and down. A treatment plan starts with how those muscles work together and where the brows sit naturally. The same number of units on two faces does not create the same result.
A line that remains when the face is relaxed may not disappear when movement softens. It is worth discussing that distinction before choosing treatment.
See the muscles behind the expression04 / The practical part
The Petro Rx
- The Game Plan:
Botox® · Dysport® · Xeomin® · Jeuveau®
A plan for your frown, natural brow position and the movement you want to keep. The medicines have different approved uses, and their units are not interchangeable.
- The Recovery Reality:
You can feel the injections. Tenderness, temporary bumps and bruising can happen. Your aftercare, plans and follow-up belong in the conversation before treatment.
- The Timeline:
The change develops over days and may last about three to four months. The product, area, dose and your response affect timing.
- The Bottom Line:
- Large area
- $250–$350
- Small area
- $75–$150
Large areas include the forehead, between the brows, crow’s feet and neck. These are per-area ranges; the complete cost is discussed before treatment.
05 / Real life, in my own words
Real & Raw
A few questions.
The things people ask.
Will I look surprised, or like Spock?
Unwanted changes in brow position, including drooping or asymmetry, can happen. The assessment includes your starting brow position and muscle pattern; there is no treatment map that fits everyone.
Can Botox lift my brows?
Relaxing selected muscles can change brow position in some people. It does not remove excess skin or replace every surgical option. The benefit and risk depend on your anatomy.
My lines are there even when I am not frowning. Will it still work?
Softening movement may not remove a line that remains at rest. Discuss what improvement is realistic and when to reassess.
Botox, Dysport, Xeomin or Jeuveau — which is best?
They are different botulinum toxin type A products with different approved uses and non-interchangeable units. The choice depends on the treatment plan, health history and previous response.
How long does it last?
The effect develops over days and may last about three to four months. The product, dose, area and your response affect timing.
Does it hurt?
You can feel the injections. Temporary bumps, tenderness and bruising can happen. Discuss aftercare and plans before treatment; no one can guarantee that there will be no visible marks.
Why is it not $3 a unit?
Large-area tox is $250–$350 per area; small-area tox is $75–$150. Ask which product is proposed and the total cost of your plan. Different products do not have interchangeable units.
Keep reading.
Or press play.
2017 → 2025:Instagram · archive ↗Cookie cutters are for cookies. 🍪Instagram · archive ↗I canNOT be calmed down by a human.Instagram · archive ↗Victoria and I are going to a Willie Nelson concert tonight so a Botox + lip appointment this afternoon — priorities 🤠Instagram · archive ↗Part 2: How to not get botched 💉Instagram · archive ↗Frosted, Not FrozenInsist on the Fairytale · a chapter of the book ↗
Keep exploring.
Also on your mind?
From the Expression series
Your next chapter.
Explore the options
I’ll help you connect what you see with the choices that make sense for you.
At home, too
I want between-visit skin care to fit your skin, too. Bring your routine; we’ll look at it together.
