Botox for Crow’s Feet: What You Should Know

Aging is associated with various changes in the body, including the skin. Wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin mark the process of aging, typically appearing on the face.

Crow’s feet are one of the common skin conditions that occur around the eyes, depriving you of youthful looks. As the name suggests, these so-called smile lines or crow’s feet are particularly visible when you laugh.

This article highlights botox treatment and how it can help treat crow’s feet.

What Are Crow’s Feet?

Lateral canthal lines, or crow’s feet, refer to fine lines that develop around the corners of your eyes. It is a type of wrinkle formed due to the contraction of orbital muscles in the outer eye corner. Crow’s feet are initially most visible when you smile or squint but appear permanently over time.

There are two major types of wrinkles, i.e., static and dynamic. When a crow’s feet appear while smiling, it is a dynamic type. Static wrinkles worsen with muscle contraction but are always visible on the facial skin.

What Causes Crow’s Feet?

As mentioned, aging is the most common cause of crow’s feet. The skin condition affects both men and women; however, men develop deeper wrinkles than women. That is attributed to higher amounts of enzyme matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in men’s skin. These MMPs break down the skin cells quicker, leading to a wrinkle formation.

The following are some prominent factors that lead to crow’s feet:

Loss of Facial Elasticity

Aging is characterized by a lot of changes in the body. Young skin is replete with collagen and elastin proteins that impart to the skin its ability to stretch and heal. With increasing age, the proteins decrease, reducing the healing and stretching ability of the body. Decreased skin elasticity is linked to developing wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet.

Lifestyle Habits

Individuals living stressful lives are more likely to develop wrinkles. Poor diet and sleeping routines can negatively impact your skin health. Cigarette smokers are also at greater risk because tobacco consumption promotes the destruction of dermal fibers.

UV Exposure

Exposure to sunlight can trigger wrinkle formation around your eyes. Crow’s feet developing as a response to UV light exposure can even occur at a young age.

What Is Botox Treatment?

Botox treatment refers to an injectable toxin primarily used to manage skin wrinkles. According to the FDA, botox is the only treatment option for managing dynamic facial wrinkles. This treatment type helps lighten wrinkles and crow’s feet.

Botox injections work by temporarily blocking nerve signals that lead to muscle contraction, and wrinkles will soften and disappear as the muscles relax.

How Can Botox Treat Crow’s Feet?

Botox is your primary beacon of light to eliminate crow’s feet and make your facial skin smooth and plump again. Botox treatment is a non-invasive and effective method of reviving your youthful look, giving you a radiant complexion and enhanced self-confidence.

The development of crow’s feet is attributed to the loss of collagen in the thin periorbital (around the eye) skin.

Injections containing botulinum toxin relax the muscles surrounding the corners of the eyes and prevent contraction. Most people notice evident smoothness in the overlying skin a few days after botox treatment.

There are different types of toxins used for managing skin conditions. According to a double-blinded and randomized study, botulinum toxin type A is safe and efficacious in reducing the intensity of crow’s feet. Prabotulinumtoxin A and onabotulinumtoxin A are types of botulinum toxin that are safe for treating crow’s feet.

How Is Botox for Crow’s Feet Performed?

Botox is a relatively simple and quick outpatient procedure that does not require you to take a leave from work. Most doctors will apply an anesthetic gel or other form of topical anesthetic to numb the region around the eyes before the procedure.

They will administer a botox injection (containing botulinum toxin) directly below the eyes (in the crow’s feet region). That will block muscle contraction as you smile or squint. The procedure usually takes a mere 10 minutes to complete

Are There Any Side Effects of Botox for Crow’s Feet?

Botox is generally a very safe treatment, but you may experience mild symptoms afterward. The potential side effects of botox include swelling and redness around the affected areas. That can make your eyelids droopy and cause excessive tearing in the eyes. The side effects usually disappear within a couple of days.

How Long Does It Take to Notice Results?

The botox injection usually takes just a few days to show its magic. The wrinkles covering your eyes start to lighten after a couple of days as the muscles start to relax. The results of the treatment last for three to four months. You will need to receive more subsequent injections to maintain wrinkle-free facial skin.

Alternatives to Botox Treatment

Botox is a safe and highly effective treatment modality for crow’s feet. However, you can try different options as an alternative treatment to botox for crow’s feet, including:

• Cosmetic laser treatment
• Dermal fillers
• Chemical peels
• Microneedling

All of these treatments can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s feet, but microneedling and botox are incredibly effective at doing so.

Tired of Old Looking, Wrinkled Skin? Spa MD Is Here to Help!

Crow’s feet or laugh lines are wrinkles that develop around the eyes as you age. The thin skin layer beneath the eyes loses elasticity with increasing age making it prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

Crow’s feet typically develop as a result of aging and UV exposure. Botox is widely used to treat wrinkles and fine lines. Botox injections relax the muscles underneath the eyes to lighten the wrinkles and eliminate crow’s feet for three to four months. It is a safe procedure, and the few side effects (if any) resolve within a few days.

If you wish to have wrinkle-free skin and feel comfortable in your facial aesthetic by overcoming crow’s feet, contact Spa MD today for reliable and effective botox treatment.