Crow’s feet tell stories. They show sunlit afternoons, punchline laughter, and the squint that comes from focusing hard on something you care about. People come to me not to erase those stories, but to keep them from shouting when a whisper would do. Botox for crow’s feet can soften the lines fanning from the outer corners of the eyes without muting the expressions that make a face feel honest. When done well, friends notice you look rested, not altered.
This is a practical guide based on what I’ve seen over thousands of injections, reflections from follow up visits, and the details patients wish they had known earlier. We will cover how Botox works, what to expect from the Botox procedure around the eyes, dosages and timelines, how to judge Botox results against realistic goals, why “less is more” remains smart in this area, and when other tools make sense alongside Botox therapy.
What crow’s feet are really made of
Crow’s feet are mainly dynamic wrinkles. They form when the orbicularis oculi muscle contracts as you smile, laugh, or squint. In your 20s the lines appear only during movement. In your 30s and 40s, repeated folding thins the dermis, and fine lines linger even at rest. By your 50s and 60s, sun exposure, collagen loss, and skin laxity add etched creases and a crêpe texture that Botox alone cannot fully smooth.
Understanding the mechanics matters, because Botox cosmetic targets the muscle, not the skin. If the crease is a result of movement, relaxing the orbicularis oculi with Botox injections reduces the motion that deepens the lines. If the crease is etched into the skin or paired with laxity, we usually pair Botox with skin treatments to address the surface.
How Botox works in plain terms
Botox for wrinkles is a purified neuromodulator. It blocks nerve signals that tell the muscle to contract. It does not fill lines, dissolve fat, or tighten skin. Think of it as a pause button for overactive muscles. When placed precisely, it softens movement enough to smooth expression lines without freezing your smile.
The effect starts to show within 2 to 5 days, peaks at around day 14, then gradually wears off across 3 to 4 months. Some people hold results a bit longer, others a bit shorter. Dose, metabolism, muscle strength, and how often you animate your eyes all play a role.
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The art of “just enough” around the eyes
I use words like art because crow’s feet sit close to the cheek elevator muscles and the delicate under eye area. Over-treating can create unnatural stillness, a flattened smile, or lower eyelid heaviness. Under-treating barely moves the needle. The sweet spot is a calibrated reduction in scrunching, so the skin doesn’t fold as hard during botox services near me a grin.
For most first time Botox patients, I start conservatively with “Baby Botox” or “Micro Botox” dosing patterns and adjust at the two week review. This staged approach keeps results subtle. It also lets us map how your muscles respond. No two faces recruit the orbicularis muscle identically when they smile.
What the Botox procedure looks like for crow’s feet
A typical session takes 10 to 20 minutes. You arrive without heavy makeup around the eyes. I take photos in neutral and smiling positions for your chart and future Botox before and after comparisons. We plan the injection pattern together with a mirror, so you understand where each injection will land and why.
The injections feel like tiny pinches. I use very fine needles and small aliquots of Botox cosmetic. Most patterns use 3 to 5 points on each side, directed at the outer fibers of the orbicularis oculi. If your line pattern extends further down the cheek, we may add one or two low points carefully to avoid smile asymmetry. Right after, you will see small bee-sting bumps that fade within 10 to 20 minutes.
Bruising risk is low but not zero. The skin here has many small vessels. I apply light pressure to reduce it. If you take fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, or blood thinners, your risk of bruising is higher; coordinate with your prescribing doctor before making any changes.
Doses, timelines, and the feel of the result
For crow’s feet, common total doses range from 6 to 12 units per side, though I occasionally use as low as 4 per side for Baby Botox or as high as 15 per side for very strong muscle activity. People with thicker orbicularis often need more, while those seeking ultra-subtle results do well with less. If we also do a Botox brow lift effect, we adjust the pattern across the outer brow tail to gently tilt the brow up 1 to 2 millimeters without pulling the forehead or causing droopy eyelids.
You will not wake up the next day completely smooth. Expect a softening phase. By day 3 you’ll notice less crinkling when you smile. By day 7 to 10 the lines at rest look better, and by day 14 we know what the dose achieved. If needed, we can add a couple units at that two week mark.
What “natural results” actually look like
No stacked filters and no glassy under eyes. A successful Botox treatment around the eyes leaves you free to smile. The difference is in the strength of the scrunch and the sharpness of the folds. Your makeup sits better in that outer corner. Fine lines soften and the deeper creases seem less etched. Your eyes read more open and relaxed because the surrounding skin is not working as hard.
Real world example: a patient in her late 30s who works outdoors. She smiled with strong cheek lift and tight eye squeeze. We used 8 units per side the first time and added 2 units each side at the follow up. Her friends said she looked “fresh” after a vacation. She felt she could wear less concealer. That is the level of change I aim for when someone asks for subtle Botox.
Where Botox fits among other options
Botox for crow’s feet is unmatched for movement lines, yet it does not resurface skin or rebuild volume. If lines remain at rest after two cycles of Botox, or the skin texture looks crêpe-like, I usually suggest pairing treatments. Fractional laser, microneedling with radiofrequency, or gentle chemical peels can thicken and smooth the dermis over time. If volume loss at the outer orbit contributes to a hollow, carefully placed dermal filler can support the area, though we avoid the immediate crow’s feet fold to prevent product visibility in thin skin.
Retinoids, daily sunscreen, and good hydration pull more weight than most people expect. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher helps more than any single office treatment. Sunglasses reduce squinting that forms expression lines, an easy piece of preventative Botox strategy without a needle.
Safety, risks, and how we avoid problems
Botox safety is well established when administered by a trained, certified Botox provider. Side effects are usually mild and temporary: pinpoint bruises, small swelling, or a headache within 24 hours. Rare issues include eyelid heaviness, brow asymmetry, a smile that feels off, and under eye bulging if the lower fibers are over-relaxed. Most of these settle as the Botox wears off, and many can be avoided with conservative dosing and careful placement.
Choose a board certified Botox doctor, dermatologist, or an experienced Botox nurse injector supervised appropriately. Watch for providers who rush, use cookie-cutter patterns, or promise permanent results. If someone offers Botox deals that sound too good to be true, ask about the brand, dilution, and units. Unusually low Botox price points sometimes hide high dilution or off-brand toxins. You want predictable dosing and known quality.
The conversation during consultation
I ask what bothers you most when you look in the mirror. I watch how your face moves while you talk, not only how you smile for a photo. Some people recruit their lower eyelids strongly, others squeeze mainly up top. This affects where the needles go. I also ask about headaches or eye strain, because Botox for migraine or tension patterns in the forehead and temples can shift how we balance the upper face.
We discuss your job and social calendar. If you have an event, we plan the Botox injection at least two weeks in advance, ideally three. That window lets any bruise fade and the results settle. If you are new to treatment, we start lighter before a big event. Subtle Botox plays better on cameras than an aggressive first pass.
Costs and value
Botox cost varies by region, injector experience, and whether you pay per unit or per area. In many US cities, crow’s feet treatment typically runs 16 to 30 units total. Per-unit pricing may range from roughly 10 to 20 dollars per unit. So a realistic Botox price could land between 250 and 500 dollars for crow’s feet alone, sometimes more in high-cost markets. Avoid chasing the cheapest option. Technique matters as much as the product, and a skilled injector often uses fewer, better-placed units to achieve a more natural result.
What to do and what to avoid after treatment
Here is a short checklist I give my patients. Keep it simple and you will do well.
- Keep your head upright for 4 hours. Skip naps or yoga inversions that might disperse the product. Avoid rubbing or massaging the outer eye area for the rest of the day. Postpone heavy workouts, saunas, or hot yoga until the next day. Use ice gently if you bruise. A pea-sized bruise is not unusual and fades within a week. Expect full Botox results by day 14. Message your clinic if anything feels uneven at that point.
Matching crow’s feet Botox to the rest of your face
The eyes do not live alone on the face. If the crow’s feet soften but the glabella and forehead lines remain very active, the upper face can look unbalanced. Many patients choose light Botox for frown lines or forehead lines at the same visit to keep harmony across expressions. The doses there are often lower than internet lore suggests, especially if you want to preserve natural brow movement and avoid droopy eyelids.
A microdose Botox brow lift can complement crow’s feet work, adding a slight uptick to the tail of the brow that brightens the eye shape. Conversely, if someone already has a high or arched brow, I avoid that extra lift to prevent a surprised look. Customization is not a marketing phrase here. It is the difference between “You look great” and “Did you do something?”
Edge cases and judgment calls
There are a few patterns I watch closely:
- Very thin, crepey skin with photoaging. Botox helps but cannot iron paper-thin skin. Better to set expectations and plan resurfacing. Heavily hooded eyes. If the outer brow sits low, aggressive crow’s feet dosing can make the lid feel heavier. In those cases, a careful Botox eyebrow lift or even non surgical skin tightening may be the first step. Smiles that rely on the malar or zygomatic muscles more than average. Over-treating the lower crow’s feet can pull energy out of the smile. If someone’s smile is their signature, we tread lightly. Under eye bulging on animation. Relaxing certain fibers can make mild festoons more visible. We adjust placement, or skip low points. Prior eyelid surgery. Scar patterns sometimes change muscle recruitment. We re-map movement before planning the Botox treatment.
How long Botox lasts and what maintenance looks like
Most people repeat Botox for crow’s feet every 3 to 4 months. A few metabolize it faster and book at 10 to 12 weeks. Others can stretch to 5 months once their baseline lines have softened with regular care. Preventative Botox, started in the late 20s or early 30s, often uses very low doses at longer intervals to keep lines from etching in. There is no one schedule that fits everyone. Your maintenance plan should match your goals, budget, and tolerance for a little movement returning before the next visit.
If you stop treatments, the muscle returns to baseline over several months. You do not age faster for having used Botox. You simply go back to your natural rate of expression-driven folding. Many patients take breaks during busy seasons and pick up again later without issue.
Botox vs filler vs skin treatments around the eyes
People often ask if filler can replace Botox under and around the eyes. They do different jobs. Botox limits motion. Filler occupies space. In the outer crow’s feet zone, filler risks showing through thin skin when you smile. I almost always use Botox first. If a volume issue remains, we use micro-aliquots of a soft HA filler placed away from the lines themselves. For under eye wrinkles specifically, Botox has limited use because it can weaken support; most improvement there comes from skin tightening procedures, collagen banking with lasers, or careful filler in the tear trough if indicated.
For skin texture and pigmentation, topical retinoids, vitamin C serums, and diligent sunscreen produce measurable change over months. In-office, a series of light peels, microneedling, or fractional non-ablative lasers can smooth fine etched lines that Botox cannot erase.
Special situations: TMJ, migraines, and facial balance
Some patients come for Botox for TMJ or masseter overactivity. Slimming the jaw or easing jaw clenching changes the way the lower face moves and can draw attention upward to the eyes. In those cases I harmonize the upper face with lighter doses around the eyes and forehead lines, so the overall expression remains balanced.
If you receive Botox for chronic migraine or for headache relief in the forehead and temples, we coordinate crow’s feet dosing to protect brow position. Over-relaxing the forehead while ignoring the orbicularis can make the brow feel heavy. Gentle crow’s feet treatment can support an “open eye” feel when the frontalis is dialed down for migraine control.
First time Botox nerves and what to watch for
It is normal to worry about looking frozen. The surest way to avoid that is to start with conservative units and an injector who values facial expression. Photos at baseline and at two weeks help you see changes you might forget to notice day to day. If you see any smile asymmetry after a week, send a quick photo to your clinic. Small touch-ups can correct it. If bruising happens, a dab of peach or orange corrector under concealer camouflages purple hues well during the first days.
Plan your first session at a time when you do not need to look perfect the next morning. Most people have no visible marks after an hour, but a rare bruise can be annoying if you have a photoshoot or stage event the next day.
What good follow up looks like
Two weeks after a first treatment, I invite patients back for a five minute assessment. I check smile strength, line reduction, and brow symmetry. If needed, I add a unit or two to even things out. Over time, we build a map of what your face prefers. Many patients eventually do not need the two week check because their dosing becomes predictable.
If at any visit you want more or less movement than last time, say so. Some patients like a bigger smile line reduction in summer when they squint more outdoors. Others prefer lighter treatment in winter. Botox maintenance is more flexible than people assume.
When Botox is not the answer
If your primary concern is under eye bags from fat herniation, Botox will not fix it. If you want skin tightening on the upper lids or to correct heavy hooding, neuromodulators are limited. That is the realm of skin tightening devices or eyelid surgery. If you have a history of neuromuscular disorders, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a known allergy to any component of the injection, you should not receive Botox. Always review your medical history with your provider.
A brief word on pricing gimmicks and product names
Not all “toxins” are the same. In the US, FDA-cleared options include onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox), abobotulinumtoxinA, incobotulinumtoxinA, and others. Units are not interchangeable across brands. Be cautious comparing unit counts from a friend who used a different product. Also beware of clinics advertising “liquid facelift” or “Botox fillers,” which muddle categories. Botox and dermal fillers work together at times, but one does not replace the other.
If you chase the lowest advertised price per area, ask what dilution they use and how many units are actually injected. Value lies in precise technique, consistent product, and predictable follow up. Affordable Botox exists, but durable, natural results require quality.
Looking rested without looking done
Crow’s feet soften best with a light touch. One of my regulars, a news anchor, schedules every 14 to 16 weeks for tiny doses. On camera she keeps her full smile without that sharp crinkle that can read as tension under studio lights. A teacher in her early 50s prefers two sessions per year with slightly higher dosing, paired with a spring microneedling series to refresh fine texture. Two different occupations, two different strategies, same guiding idea: smooth the lines that distract, protect the expression that connects.
If you want to try Botox for crow’s feet, take a few minutes in a mirror and smile naturally. Notice where the deepest folds appear and how far onto the cheek the lines travel. That map helps your injector plan. Ask for honest expectations, not promises. If the plan includes sunscreen, sunglasses, and a simple home routine, you are in good hands. If it includes a thoughtful maintenance schedule and a willingness to adjust from treatment to treatment, even better.
Faces change over time. A good Botox plan changes with them. The goal stays steady: a subtle refresh around the eyes so your expressions read warm and clear, not tired. That is what keeps results looking like you, just a bit more rested.