When we smile, fine lines appear around our eyes. These lines commonly known as crow’s feet—are not a flaw. They are one of the strongest social signals of warmth, acceptance, and friendliness. A genuine eye smile instantly softens communication and builds trust.
Many of us realized this during the years of wearing face masks. When mouths were hidden, the only visible smile was the one around the eyes. Those lines carried emotion when nothing else could.
Ironically, kind people often pay the price for their kindness. Repeated smiling strengthens the muscles around the eyes, and over time, temporary smile lines can gradually become permanent even at rest.
Once these lines appear even without smiling, they are no longer just expression lines. They become etched into the skin, slowly turning into permanent wrinkles. This stage is where preventive treatment becomes valuable.
The goal of Botox in this area is not to erase smile lines completely. Freezing the eye area removes expression and feels unnatural. Instead, we aim to gently relax overactive muscles to slow wrinkle formation while preserving a natural, expressive smile.
Over-treating the lower eye area can lead to unwanted effects such as an unnatural or distorted smile. For this reason, Botox is generally not injected directly under the eye, as it may cause prolonged swelling and imbalance.
Some patients notice that Botox around the eyes does not last as long as in other areas—sometimes less than three months. This is completely normal. We blink and smile thousands of times every day, which causes these muscles to recover faster.
Occasionally, patients feel that lines under the eyes or on the bridge of the nose—often called bunny lines—become more noticeable after treating crow’s feet. Sometimes this is simply because the main lines have softened, making others more visible. In other cases, nearby muscles temporarily compensate.
Treating crow’s feet is about balance. A light, preventive dose can reduce the risk of permanent wrinkles while preserving warmth, expression, and authenticity.
At Derma One, we believe your smile should stay human—not frozen—just relaxed, rested, and real.
