DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Glabellar wrinkles, formed by the dynamic action of facial muscles such as the corrugator supercilii and procerus, vary widely among individuals and populations. Classification of these wrinkle patterns is essential for personalized aesthetic treatment, especially with the use of botulinum toxin. However, data on glabellar wrinkle patterns in the Pakistani population are limited.
Objective: To identify and classify the prevalent glabellar wrinkle patterns in Pakistani adults to guide population-specific aesthetic interventions.
Methods: This observational case series was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, over a six-month period from January 2025 to June 2025. A total of 100 patients aged 30–60 years were enrolled using convenience sampling. Participants were evaluated clinically and photographed while performing glabellar muscle contraction. Wrinkle patterns were categorized into five types—‘11’, ‘U’, ‘X’, ‘Pi’, and ‘I’—based on morphological classification described in previous literature.
Results: The mean age of participants was 42.26 ± 6.56 years, with 65 females and 35 males. The most common wrinkle pattern was the ‘11’ type (75%), followed by ‘X’ (10%), ‘Pi’ (8%), ‘U’ (4%), and ‘I’ (3%). No significant gender-based differences were observed. Some hybrid patterns were noted but not categorized separately.
Conclusion: The ‘11’ glabellar wrinkle pattern is the most prevalent among Pakistani adults, while the ‘I’ and ‘U’ patterns are relatively rare. These findings emphasize the importance of regional classification in achieving optimal outcomes with botulinum toxin injections and support the need for culturally and anatomically tailored aesthetic approaches.