Crow’s Feet Botox: Soften Smile Lines Around the Eyes
Crow’s feet are the fan-shaped lines that radiate from the outer corners of the eyes. Caused by the orbicularis oculi muscle, they are one of the earliest signs of facial aging and one of the three FDA-approved cosmetic indications for Botox.
Crow’s Feet: Why They Form and How Botox Addresses Them
Crow’s feet develop from the orbicularis oculi, the circular muscle that surrounds the eye and controls blinking, squinting, and the natural compression of smiling. The skin around the eyes is among the thinnest on the face, which makes it particularly susceptible to the fine lines and creases that repeated muscle movement creates over time.
Botox placed carefully in the lateral orbicularis oculi reduces the contraction that deepens these lines, softening their appearance both at rest and during expression. The goal is to soften, not eliminate. Dr. Ashar uses conservative placement to reduce the lines that bother you while preserving the natural warmth of your smile and the expressiveness of your eye area.
Dynamic crow’s feet appear only during smiling or squinting and respond very well to Botox, often appearing nearly absent after treatment. Static crow’s feet are present at rest and represent lines that have been etched into the skin over time. Botox still improves static lines by preventing further deepening and softening their appearance, but the improvement is more gradual. Patients with significant static lines often benefit from combining Botox with a skin quality treatment like SkinPen microneedling or a VI Peel to address the skin texture itself. Dr. Ashar will tell you which category your lines fall into during consultation.
All Botox treatments at Tactus Health are performed by Dr. Ashar N., DNP, APRN, FNP-C, not a technician. Every treatment includes a two-week follow-up assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lateral canthal lines (crow’s feet) are one of the three FDA-approved cosmetic Botox indications, alongside forehead lines and glabella lines. This means the safety and efficacy data for this specific use has been reviewed and confirmed by the FDA, which is not the case for many other cosmetic Botox applications.
No. Crow’s feet Botox only reduces the lines radiating outward from the eye corner. Your smile remains fully natural. Many patients find that softening the eye-corner lines actually makes their smile appear warmer and more relaxed because the visual tension around the eye area is reduced.
Botox addresses lateral lines from the orbicularis oculi but does not treat under-eye hollows or puffiness. Those require different interventions — filler for hollows, skin treatments for texture. Under-eye filler and crow’s feet Botox can be done at the same visit if both are clinically indicated. Dr. Ashar will discuss what is achievable for your specific concerns during consultation.
Dynamic crow’s feet appear only during smiling or squinting. Static crow’s feet are visible at rest. Dynamic lines respond more dramatically to Botox. Static lines improve but more gradually, as the skin needs time to recover texture. Both benefit from treatment, and patients with static lines often get better long-term results by combining Botox with a skin quality treatment such as SkinPen microneedling or VI Peel.
Typically 10-15 units per side (20-30 units total), though this varies by the depth of the lines and strength of the orbicularis. Some patients with very fine lines need fewer units; patients with deeper, longer-established lines may need the higher end of the range. Dr. Ashar will assess and recommend a specific dose during your consultation.
Ready to Book Crow’s Feet Botox?
Free consultation with Dr. Ashar. In-person at our Sugar Hill, GA clinic.