Crow’s feet, the fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes when you smile or squint, are one of the three areas most often treated with Botox at Elume Medspa in Fairfax, VA. Treatment is planned and performed by Shaheen Ghafari, a licensed Nurse Practitioner, and this page explains how she approaches the eye area and what to expect. For the overview, start with our Botox treatment page.
What are crow’s feet, and why are they different from other lines?
The muscle that circles each eye tightens every time you smile, laugh, or narrow your eyes against the sun, and the skin at the outer corner folds into a small fan of lines. That skin is among the thinnest on your face, with less support underneath it than the forehead or cheeks, so the lines tend to appear earlier and show more readily, and sun exposure over the years makes them more visible still. Crow’s feet are also tied to the expression people like most, a real smile, which is why the approach here is different from the forehead: the goal is to soften the lines, not to switch off the movement that makes a smile look genuine.
How is Botox placed around the eyes?
Botox is an FDA-approved treatment that relaxes the specific muscle behind an expression line. For crow’s feet, small doses are placed at the outer corner of the eye, in the part of the circling muscle that creates the fan of lines. The placement is deliberately conservative and stays away from the areas that control your eyelid and the movement under the eye, so you keep a natural smile and your eyes open and close as they always have. Shaheen watches you smile and squint before placing anything, because the pattern of lines and the strength of the muscle differ from person to person and often from one side to the other. The dose is individual and is decided at your consultation. Our units guide explains what goes into that decision.
Will I still be able to smile naturally?
Yes. A natural smile is the whole point of treating this area carefully. The lines soften because the muscle at the outer corner relaxes, but the rest of the smile, the lift of the cheeks and the crinkle that makes it look real, is not what is being treated. The approach at Elume is conservative by design: a first treatment starts with a modest dose, and if you want more softening at your next visit, that is easy to add. Going the other way is not possible until the treatment wears off, which is one more reason to start carefully. If a frozen look is your worry, read will Botox make me look frozen.
What does the appointment involve?
A free consultation comes first, 30 minutes in person or 15 minutes by phone. Shaheen reviews your health history and looks at how the lines form when you smile. The treatment itself typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. The skin around the eyes is cleansed, a topical numbing cream may be applied if you would like it, and a few small injections are placed at the outer corner of each eye. You can return to most of your usual activities afterward, with a short list of things to avoid that Shaheen goes over with you at the visit. Botox is not booked online at Elume. Request an appointment at our scheduling page or call (703) 383-0431, and the office calls you back to confirm a time.
When do results show, and how long do they last?
Results start to appear within 3 to 5 days, settle in about 1 to 2 weeks, and last approximately 3 to 4 months. Crow’s feet are treated with smaller doses than the forehead or the frown lines, and how long the effect holds in this area varies from person to person. When movement returns, the lines come back as they were; nothing is lost by stopping, and nothing is lost by waiting to rebook. Many people pair a crow’s feet treatment with the forehead and frown lines on the same schedule so that everything wears off together. Read how long Botox lasts for what affects duration.
What about under-eye lines or fine lines Botox does not treat?
Botox treats the lines made by muscle movement at the outer corner of the eye. It does not address hollowing or dark circles under the eye, the fine crepey texture of the lower lid, or lines that are still visible when your face is completely relaxed and have set into the skin. Those are different conversations. Volume and hollowing are usually a filler question; texture and laxity are usually a skin treatment question, and Morpheus8 is one option there. It is common for someone to need Botox for the crow’s feet and something else for the under-eye area, and the consultation is where that gets sorted out. See the cosmetic injectables overview and Morpheus8 vs Botox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can crow’s feet be treated with the forehead and frown lines in one visit?
Yes. The three areas are the most common combination, and treating them together keeps the timing aligned so they wear off around the same point. Read about Botox for forehead lines and Botox for frown lines.
Does Botox around the eyes hurt?
Most people describe a brief pinch at each injection. The skin at the outer eye is thin, so the sensation can be a little sharper than on the forehead, but it is over in seconds and a topical numbing cream is available if you would like it. The full experience, from the first seconds to three months out, is described in what Botox feels like.
How soon can I wear makeup?
Ask at your visit. The usual guidance is to keep the injection points clean and untouched for at least the first four hours, and to skip heavy makeup around the eyes for the first 24 hours. Shaheen gives you the specific timing along with the rest of your aftercare instructions.
Is Botox or Dysport used for crow’s feet?
Elume offers both, and Shaheen will recommend one based on your history and your goals. They work in the same way and the appointment is the same. Read Dysport vs Botox and the Dysport treatment page.
Book a free Botox consultation in Fairfax
If crow’s feet are what you want to address, the next step is a free consultation with Shaheen Ghafari, 30 minutes in person or 15 minutes by phone. Botox is not booked online at Elume Medspa, so request your appointment at https://elumemedspa.com/schedule/ or call (703) 383-0431 and the office will call you back to confirm a time. Elume Medspa is at 3925 Blenheim Blvd, Suite 53-D, Fairfax, VA 22030.
