Crow’s feet are the lines that fan out from the outer corners of the eyes when you smile or squint. Their clinical name is lateral canthal lines, and BOTOX® Cosmetic has been FDA-approved to treat them since 2013. At Shield Dental Care in Burke, VA, crow’s feet are one of the areas covered by our Botox service.
What causes crow’s feet
A ring-shaped muscle called the orbicularis oculi surrounds each eye. Its outer part tightens every time you smile, laugh or squint into the sun, and the thin skin at the corner of the eye creases along with it. Sun exposure and the natural loss of skin elasticity with age make those creases deeper and longer lasting.
How Botox helps
Small amounts of Botox placed in the outer part of that muscle reduce how strongly it pulls, so the skin creases less when you smile. The approved dose of BOTOX Cosmetic for crow’s feet is 24 units, 12 on each side, spread across three points per eye. Your own dose may be different.
BOTOX Cosmetic is FDA-approved for moderate to severe crow’s feet in adults. Dysport and Daxxify are approved for the frown lines between the brows only, so using either of them for crow’s feet is off-label. That is legal and common, and we will always tell you when a use is off-label.
Limits worth knowing
Botox works on lines made by movement. It does not change the texture of sun-damaged skin, and it does not treat under-eye bags or hollows. Very fine, crepey lines that are there even when you are not smiling may soften only a little. We will be straight with you at the consultation about what Botox can and cannot do for your eyes.
What to expect
- Consultation: we look at the lines while you smile and at rest, and review your health history and medicines.
- Treatment: a few shallow injections at the outer corner of each eye, kept a safe distance from the eye itself. It takes a few minutes.
- Aftercare: stay upright for a few hours and do not rub or press on the area for the rest of the day.
Results start to show within a few days, build over about two weeks, and usually last around three to four months. Treatment should not be repeated more often than every three months.
Side effects
The skin around the eyes bruises easily, so a small bruise is the most likely thing you will notice. In the Botox Cosmetic crow’s-feet trials the most common side effect was eyelid swelling, in about 1 in 100 people. Dry eyes or a change in how the eye closes are less common. Tell us if you already have dry eye or have had eyelid surgery. Like all botulinum toxin products, Botox carries a boxed warning about the rare spread of its effect beyond the injection site. Trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, or double vision, after treatment need urgent medical attention.
Crow’s feet are often treated at the same visit as the frown lines and forehead lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Botox change my smile?+
It should not change your mouth. Crow’s-feet injections are placed around the eye, not the cheek or lips. Your eyes will crinkle less when you smile, which is the intended effect.
How much Botox is used for crow’s feet?+
The FDA-approved dose of BOTOX Cosmetic is 24 units, 12 per side. We tailor the dose to how strongly your muscles move.
Can Botox fix lines under my eyes?+
Usually not well. Botox is best for lines caused by movement at the outer corners. Lines, bags or hollows under the eyes generally need a different treatment.
How long do the results last?+
Around three to four months for most people. Movement returns gradually, and you can be treated again after three months at the earliest.