Botox for Crow's Feet: What Wrinkle Type Are You Treating?

Hello, I am Dr. Kim Yeonjin, medical director of UH CELL Clinic's Gangnam branch.

Wrinkles That Deepen When You Smile

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Botox Cosmetic in 2013 for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe crow's feet in adults. According to Medscape's coverage of that approval, the decision rested on two randomized trials that placed 833 adults into Botox or placebo groups, and the Botox group showed a larger improvement.

Botox works by reducing muscle contraction, so it makes the most sense where a wrinkle is caused by that contraction in the first place. The clearer a line becomes when a patient smiles, the stronger the case for a muscle injection.

What to Check Before Booking

I serve on Allergan's faculty for Juvederm and Botox. When you go in for a consultation anywhere, it is reasonable to ask whether the wrinkle type was actually assessed in front of you.

FAQ

Can my eyelids swell after Botox for crow's feet?

According to the FDA, the most common adverse reaction reported with Botox Cosmetic for crow's feet was eyelid edema. If you have an important event coming up, it is worth raising this possibility during the consultation so you can plan timing around it.

Can glabellar lines be treated on the same visit?

Healio's report on the FDA approval noted that treatment for glabellar lines (the vertical lines between the eyebrows) and crow's feet can be administered during the same session. Whether that combination makes sense for you, and how it is sequenced, is decided during the exam based on how your facial muscles behave.

Can I get treatment without a consultation first?

We diagnose individual skin condition before designing any treatment plan. Even within crow's feet alone, the mix of dynamic and static wrinkles varies from person to person, and the plan changes depending on that mix.