Fast facts

Botox 


What it is: Cosmetic injection to relax wrinkle-forming facial muscles intended to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Botox injections typically last up to 4 months.


What it addresses:

- Lines between eyebrows
- Furrows on forehead
- Crow's feet
- Smile lines
- Neck wrinkles
- Bell's Palsy
- Facial Asymmetry
- Excessive sweating


 
MORE INFORMATION
Question

Can smile lines be treated with Botox?


Asked by: Anonymous

Answers (5)

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1
November 23, 2008

Smile Lines and Botox

Michael Law, MD
Michael Law, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon
Answer by Michael Law, MD

Patients will often ask me if I can "get rid of this line" in regards to facial lines and wrinkles that may not necessarily contribute to the appearance of age or fatigue. My strong feeling about the softening of facial lines and wrinkles is this: if it doesn't 'age' you, and it doesn't make you look tired or worried, then don't spend your hard-earned money trying to make it go away. Some lines actually do add warmth and character to the face, and an older face with NO lines usually looks a bit odd.

Some smiles that may add age to the face can be treated conservatively with Botox.

Michael Law MD

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Raleigh, North Carolina

2
February 14, 2008

The success of Botox depends on the skill of the administrator

Yes, smile lines can be treated with Botox. However, it is a fact that Botox reduces muscle activity, and we need sufficient muscle activity around the mouth, so the doctor can only inject a small amount of Botox in this area, and, occasionally, the Botox injected is not enough to make a significant difference.

Importantly, it is best to have Botox injected by a highly trained physician, specifically a cosmetic dermatologist or a plastic surgeon. If you go to an experienced physician specialist, you can also have special areas treated, such as wrinkles and bags under the eyes, neck lines, bunny lines, and wrinkles around the lips and mouth (i.e, smile lines). Even a natural-looking “brow lift” can be achieved with Botox when it is administered skillfully.

3
February 6, 2008

Smile lines around the eyes respond well to Botox

Michael A. Persky, MD
Michael A. Persky, MD
Board Certified
Facial Plastic Surgeon

Smile lines around the eyes, also known as "crow's feet", are among the best areas treated by Botox. Approximately 10 to 12 units of Botox per side are required for good correction of the smile lines.

4
February 4, 2008

Botox not the best choice for smile lines

Can Botox be used to decrease “smile lines?” Yes. Is this a good idea? Usually not.

Botox is used to decrease lines in motion, most commonly on the upper face. “Smile lines,” which most of my patients refer to as "the lines between the corners of the nose and corners of the mouth," are normally filled with “skin fillers.” Fillers include collagen, Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, and Artefill.

If Botox is injected to decrease “smile lines,” it will decrease “smile lines” in motion due to muscle contraction. The muscle injected on both sides is the LLSAN (levator labii superioris alaque nasii). When the LLSAN contracts, it causes a deeper “smile line.” A small dose is used to relax this muscle. Now, is this a good idea? In general, I usually do not inject the LLSAN to soften the “smile lines”. The biggest potential problem is uneven mouth movements.

Asymmetry is often the enemy of Cosmetic Medicine. Worst case scenario: you could look like you’ve had a stroke. I’ve seen good results with injection of the “smile lines” in well selected patients, including less prominent “smile lines” and a lessened “gummy smile.” Many physicians will feel uncomfortable with injecting this area, and with good reason. Usually, patients can get great results with fillers alone.

Remember- It’s Your Face! Make sure an experienced Medical Doctor treats you with Botox for best results!

5
February 1, 2008

Different smile lines respond to different treatments

It depends on what you mean by smile lines. If you are referring to the lines around the mouth then no that is a job for filler, not botox. Botox is a muscle relaxer and if you completely relax muscles that allow you to smile you would look like you had a stroke!

If you mean the smile lines around the eyes then it again depends on which ones. The lines beside the eyes, "crows feet", that appear when we have a great big smile are created because of two things. One, the small muscles around the eye are squinting and contracting causing the lines. Two, the cheek is pushing up from the lower face and creating lines from pressure. These lines cannot be relaxed without stopping your whole cheek from moving.

The ones that we can improve with Botox are the little fan that goes upward and outward from that little corner of your eye. Those are the ones that are going to relax, lifting the eyebrow a little bit can be done with the crow’s feet injection in that area. Lifting the eyebrow, keeping the eye a little more open when you smile and when you squint, and smoothing those lines.

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