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Botox for Crow's Feet: Avoiding a Frozen Look

asked 1 year ago by 325092anon in Sweden
Latest answer by Lawrence Kass, MD
Question viewed 1,904 times
Tags: age 25-34, crows feet, frozen, natural

My dilemma: I like wrinkles around the eyes. They show warmth and happiness. The problem is that now I have LOTs of wrinkles that are way too long and deep for my age (30). I now look haggard rather than happy. Is it possible for botox to soften and decrease the wrinkling, but still to leave some wrinkles? Would that simply mean injecting fewer units? I would hate to have my eye area frozen!!

20 answers to Botox for Crow's Feet: Avoiding a Frozen Look

+1

It is not possible to get a frozen look with botox around the crow's feet.

Botox does great for crow's feet wrinkles and is almost impossible to make them look frozen.  you will still have a natural look when you smile.  sincerely, david hansen,md
David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

+5

Botox for laugh lines

Botox will soften the appearance of the laugh lines but will not make them go away completely when they are as you describe.   The laugh lines occur from both squinting your eyes, and from smiling.  The Botox will relax the muscle in that area (the orbicularis oculi) responsible for the squinting.  It will have no effect on the mid-face musculature that raises your cheeks upward with a smile.  So you will still have your warm smile lines with smiling... more
Kathleen F. Archer, MD

Houston Oculoplastic Surgeon
+3

You do not need to be frozen to have a great result.

It is important to understand that you need to make smile lines when you smile or your smile will look insincere.  By customizing the amount of BOTOX using Microdroplet methods, it is possible to gain a very precise treatment effect.  Also the crows feet area benefits from fillers which helps support the skin and reduce the static lines.
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+2

Botox, Dysport, Wrinkle Treatment, Beverly Hills Botox Dyspor

No, you should be able to find someone with the proper experience using either Botox or Dysport so you can gradually soften these lines and wrinkles to some reasonable extend. I have used Botox for over 20 years and the "frozen face" is something that doesn't look good and should be avoided. It's much more common when large amounts of Botox or Dysport are used to completely immobilize the entire forehead.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox for crow's feet? Avoiding a frozen look.

You are absolutely right! Explain you wishes and your concerns to the doctor ann ask him to treat you with his recommended minimal number of units.
Lawrence Kass, MD

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox around the eyes without looking frozen

Smiling involves muscles other than those around the eyes that are injected with Botox to eliminate crows feet therefore the frozen look is avoidable. It sounds like you would benefit from resurfacing procedures or retinoids to increase the elasticity in your skin-- it will help reduce the appearance of the crow's feet.
Dina D. Strachan, MD

New York Dermatologist
+1

Botulinu m Toxin (Dysport or Botox) in moderation!

There is no doubt that you can proceed with baby steps and have the Botulinum Toxin (Dysport or Botox) injected in moderation. Perhaps you should start with 4-6 units per side.    
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox Works For Giving A Natural, Not Frozen Result For Wrinkles

Having nearly twenty years of experience with Botox for cosmetic purposes, I have seen many changes in its use throughout the years. In the beginning, freezing the muscles of facial expression, such as those that cause crow's feet on the sides of the eyes, or the of the scowl (frown) lines between the brows, or of the "worry" lines across the forehead was the desired result. Nowadays, this kind of "frozen" look, i.e. freezing the expression line muscles with... more
Nelson L. Novick, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon

www.youngerlookingwithoutsurgery.com

+1

Crows feet botox

So in essence the answer is yes- it is possible to get injections of neurotoxin around the eyes to "soften" the crows feet and not erase all lines. A discussion with your injecting physician on your desires is very important (even pointing out the lines you like in a mirror) so that the appropriate treatment can be given.
Purvisha Patel, MD

Germantown Dermatologist
+1

Botox can be individualized

Botox can be titrated to desired effect. You are correct that less units will give a lesser result. The orbicularis oris muscle, which creates crow's feet, is a very large muscle which can not be completely paralyzed with botox anyway. Chances are you will still retain a line or two if that is your goal. Best of luck
Richard W. Westreich, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox for crows feet will not eliminate all the wrinkles

I have never seen Botox produce a "frozen " look when injected into the crow's feet.  It is very difficult or impossible to eliminate all of the wrinkles around the eyelids, but if you have Botox injected and aren't happy with the result, you won't have long to wait for the Botox to disappear.  In three months, it will return to the pre-injection appearance.
Roger J. Oldham, MD

Bethesda Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Basd Botox" : frozen foreheads, flattened in-sloping inner brows, or demonic / surprised "Mr. Spock" raised lateral Brows

Regarding:  "Botox for Crow's Feet: Avoiding a Frozen Look My dilemma: I like wrinkles around the eyes. They show warmth and happiness. The problem is that now I have LOTs of wrinkles that are way too long and deep for my age (30). I now look haggard rather than happy. Is it possible for botox to soften and decrease the wrinkling, but still to leave some wrinkles? Would that simply mean injecting fewer units? I would hate to have my eye area frozen!!" "Bad... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Non frozen look from Botox

Absolutely, you do not need to obtain a frozen appearance from having had Botox. If fewer areas are injected within the responsible field of muscle activity, a softer appearance will occur. Also realize, that many times it is not possible to freeze the area even if it were requested, because some of the crow's feet lines are related to the big smile muscles and if these were injected there would be a problem with smiling. see video
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Botox for Crow's Feet

Botox injections can be very effective and lead to nice results when injected by the appropriate people.  Plastic surgeons and dermatologists have specific training in Botox injections.  When Botox first came out, there was a tendency to inject too much, which led to the "frozen" look.  It is more common now to perform microinjections into specific muscles in an attempt to relax the underlying muscle to help reduce wrinkles.  A balance must be achieved... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Botox for Crow's Feet: Avoiding a Frozen Look

Yes, have fewer units of the Botox injected with the understanding if not enough you may need a second visit to the injecting doctor.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox for crow's feet

Botox can soften the lines around your eyes from animation but will have little effect on fine lines.  
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Consider Dysport for the Crow's feet

The best treatment we have for wrinkles around the eyes, or crow's feet, are the neurotoxins, Botox and Dysport. Dysport is the new competitor of Botox, and patients feel it gives them a more " natural"  look (which to me means "less frozen").   Some physicians feel that because Dysport diffuses differently, it is superior in treating the crow's feet region.
Theda C. Kontis, MD

Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

facialplasticsurgerymd.com

+1

Botox for Crow's Feet

Botox is one of the best things around for eliminating fine lines and wrinkles such as crow's feet. Rather than "plumping" like collagen and fat, Botox blocks the impulses that nerves send to muscles, essentially paralyzing the muscles and diminishing their ability to tense. Using a very fine needle, the surgeon injects Botox in small doses where the facial muscles are most active--between the eyebrow and at the sides of the eyes, or beside the mouth. After receiving treatment,... more
Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox should not make your eyes look frozen

The answer to your question is that Botox can certainly be performed in a way that looks very natural.  The trick is to see a physician who is experienced and skilled at injecting Botox.  It is important that your doctor understands your goals (hopefully he/she will bring that up without you even asking). In order to keep some of the lines around your eyes when you smile, you will need to have a light treatment (less units of Botox).   If the light treatment is not... more
Marc Cohen, MD

Philadelphia Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox should be catered to patient's need

It is important that doctors who inject Botox, should understand what patients expectations are and their needs. The dose should depend on the age of the patient and the end result. The standard dosing is usually 12 units on each side of the eye, but that is anything but the rule. Smaller doses to about 6-8u may be used to allow for some movement. Other approaches is via the microinjection where 1-2u are injected in smaller micro aliquots so that the Botox effect is distributed to the areas... more
Hassan Galadari, MD

Dubai Dermatologist

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