What Is Botox?
Botox is the brand name for an injectable drug made from purified botulinum toxin (Clostridium botulinum). This bacterium can cause the food poisoning known as botulism if ingested in large quantities, but when used in small amounts is safe and effective for both medical and cosmetic purposes. When injected into muscles, Botox relaxes them by blocking nerve signals. This makes the drug helpful medically for things like reducing muscle spasms, stopping excessive sweating, and treating chronic migraines.
Cosmetically, Botox is used in facial muscles to relax them and keep them from contracting as much. This serves to smooth out Iines and wrinkles like crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines. The FDA approved Botox specifically for treating crow’s feet in 2013. Prior to that it had been approved for other uses.
How Botox Treats Crow’s Feet
To understand how Botox works to treat crow’s feet, you must first understand the role of the facial muscles in developing them. Certain facial expressions, such as smiling, frowning, and squinting, cause the muscles around the eyes to move. This crinkles up the skin, creating tiny lines. When you are younger, these lines go away when you relax your face. But as you age and lose skin elasticity, these lines become permanent crow’s feet.
Botox injections into the muscles around the eyes block some of the nerve signals they receive. This relaxes the muscles, causing them to contract less as you move your face, which causes fewer creases in your skin. You can use Botox to relax your muscles and reduce the appearance of current crow’s feet, or you can use it as a preventive treatment when you are young to slow the development of crow’s feet altogether.
Unfortunately, the effects of Botox are temporary. They typically last only three to four months. During that time, however, the skin at the outer edges of your eyes will be smoother and the appearance of crow’s feet significantly reduced.
The Botox Treatment Process
Botox treatment is fast and easy. You won’t need anesthesia, so there are no lab tests or medical clearances necessary prior to your treatment. You will need to consult with your plastic surgeon beforehand, however, so that you know what to expect.
Initial Consultation
During your consultation, your provider will evaluate the severity of your crow’s feet, your skin type, your skin thickness, and any other factors that will influence treatment. They will also ask you what outcome you hope to achieve and explain what is possible with Botox treatment and what is not. It’s important that you have realistic expectations for your treatment so that you aren’t looking for more than you can get.
The Procedure
A Botox treatment session usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Crow’s feet typically require 10 to 12 units of Botox per side, but this can vary. Men, for example, have stronger facial muscles and may need more units while those with only fine lines may need fewer. The treatment process involves the following steps:
- The treatment area is thoroughly cleaned to remove makeup, dirt, and oil. This is done to prevent infection.
- If desired, you can opt for a topical numbing agent or ice pack to reduce any discomfort. Many patients, however, find the process painless even without any numbing agents.
- Your plastic surgeon will mark the injection sites with a washable pen to ensure precise placement of Botox into the correct muscles.
- The provider will inject the Botox into your muscles using a very thin needle. For crow’s feet, expect three to five injections per eye.
Minimal Downtime
Botox doesn’t require any recovery time, so you can get back to your life immediately after your appointment. You should, however, avoid lying down for three to four hours after your treatment and avoid rubbing the treated areas for 24 hours. It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol for 24 hours after a Botox treatment as well.
What to Expect After Botox
After receiving Botox injections, there are a few things you can expect in terms of results and potential side effects. Knowing what to expect after treatment reduces stress and anxiety since you’ll know what is normal and what may indicate a problem.
Immediate Results vs. Gradual Effects
You probably won’t notice any reduction in your crow’s feet immediately after leaving your treatment session. They will improve gradually, however, and you’ll start to notice a reduction within three to five days. The Botox will take full effect in seven to 14 days. When it does, there will be a marked improvement in the smoothness of the skin around your eyes.
Common Side Effects
It’s common to experience some mild swelling, bruising, or redness around your injection sites. You can ease these symptoms with a cold compress or ice pack. Hot water can exacerbate swelling, so stick to cool showers during the first 24 hours after treatment.
Some people may experience a mild headache after Botox. You can treat a headache with acetaminophen if necessary. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin as they can make bruising worse. You may also experience a tight or heavy feeling around your eyes, but this will subside as you get used to the Botox’s effects.
All of these side effects typically resolve in a day or two at most except for tightness around the eyes. This can take as long as a week to subside as the Botox gradually takes effect.
How Long Botox Lasts
The effects of Botox are temporary and will gradually fade. To keep crow’s feet at bay, you’ll want to schedule regular Botox treatments every three to four months. Otherwise, your crow’s feet will return.
Risks and Considerations
Complications from Botox injections for crow’s feet are extremely rare, but they can happen. You can greatly reduce the risk by choosing a qualified, skilled plastic surgeon to administer your treatments. Poorly administered Botox can lead to:
- Muscle paralysis rather than relaxation
- Uneven results
- Drooping eyelids
- Dry eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Trouble closing the eyes
- Infection at the injection site
Fortunately, because the effects of Botox are temporary, these complications generally are as well. You should seek prompt medical attention for an infection, however.
Long-term use of Botox can have long-lasting effects. Over time, repeated Botox use can weaken the muscles around the eyes or cause them to atrophy. For most people, this reduces the appearance of their crow’s feet on a more permanent basis and means less Botox is needed to achieve the same results.
Unfortunately, if Botox is administered too frequently in excessive amounts, muscle atrophy can make the skin look hollow. If the eye muscles are over treated or the surrounding muscles become weak, natural movements around your eyes could cease, resulting in a frozen look. Again, using a qualified practitioner who understands the potential risks of long-term Botox use is your best defense against these issues.
Is Botox Right for You?
Botox is generally a safe and well-tolerated treatment for crow’s feet. But it’s not right for everyone. We can help you decide if Botox is right for you after assessing you during a free virtual consultation, but there are some general guidelines to consider.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for Botox are generally healthy individuals who are looking for a non-surgical treatment option for crow’s feet. They’re willing to engage in multiple treatment sessions to maintain their results and have a realistic understanding of what to expect from treatment. You are not a good candidate if you are or have:
- Afraid of needles
- Deep, static wrinkles around your eyes
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Neuromuscular conditions like ALS or myasthenia gravis
- Active skin inflammation or infection
- Allergic to any of the ingredients in Botox
Age Considerations
If desired, younger patients can seek Botox treatment as a preventive treatment to help stave off crow’s feet. Older patients benefit from treatment by smoothing the skin and reducing the appearance of crow’s feet. It’s important to note that Botox works well on fine lines and wrinkles that disappear or lessen when you relax your face. It’s not effective when crow’s feet become deep enough that they are visible all the time.
Your plastic surgeon will assess the thickness of your skin, depth of your crow’s feet, strength of your eye muscles, and any other factors that can impact the success of Botox as a treatment. If your provider decides that Botox won’t help you, they will recommend other treatment options that can.
Comparing Botox to Other Crow’s Feet Treatments
Botox vs. Fillers
Botox works by weakening the muscles around the eyes to prevent crow’s feet when you make certain facial expressions. Fillers, on the other hand, work by filling in the creases of your face to add volume. Fillers are better for deep, static wrinkles that are present all the time. If you have both static and dynamic wrinkles, combining these two treatments can be helpful.
Botox vs. Laser Treatments
Although it’s more expensive than Botox and filler, laser treatment can also help with crow’s feet. Laser treatment essentially causes minute injuries to the skin. The skin in turn starts to heal itself with new skin cells which contain more collagen and elastin. This reduces the appearance of crow’s feet and produces longer-lasting results.
Laser treatment works well if you have only very fine lines and wrinkles. It produces longer-lasting results than Botox and can treat sun damage as well as crow’s feet, but it typically costs significantly more. It also requires about one to two weeks of recovery.
Botox vs. Skincare Products
Topical creams and lotions that contain retinoids help to promote collagen production in the skin. This can help prevent and reduce the appearance of the fine lines and wrinkles of crow’s feet. Results are slow to appear, however, and will disappear if you stop using the product. Retinoids can also cause skin irritation in some people. This topical treatment is easy to apply yourself, however, and doesn’t require injecting Botox or fillers into your body.
Benefits of Botox for Crow’s Feet
Although it may not be for everyone, Botox helps a lot of people with crow’s feet and offers many advantages over other treatment options. These advantages include the following:
- It’s non-invasive
- There’s no downtime
- Treatment is quick and painless
- Provides subtle, natural results
- Can prevent crow’s feet from becoming static or deeper
Cost of Botox for Crow’s Feet
The cost of Botox treatment varies based on a variety of factors. Location plays a role, as does the experience level of your plastic surgeon. On average, Botox costs $10 to $20 per unit and crow’s feet require 10 to 15 units per eye. Some patients require more units however, while others can get away with fewer. We encourage you to sign up for a free virtual consultation in order to get a personalized estimate for your specific situation.