Can Botox for 11's Cause Wrinkles in Other Parts of the Face?

Muscle recruitment can account for some new lines in other areas that have not been previously treated with a neuromodulator like Botox.  One must also keep in mind that facial aging also continues. With both bony and fat atrophy that occurs with time, your muscles are contracting onto a volume that may not be as robust as it used to be, accounting for new lines forming with age.

Crows feet are caused by the contraction of the muscles around the eyes as well as some of the upper outer smile muscle that when it elevates the corner of the mouth. Once the crows feet muscles are relaxed, one might see more or the smile muscle activity to compensate if one is trying to squint but unable to because of the relaxed muscles that were treated. One shouldn't be aggressive to treat the smile muscle area as this can relax the outer mouth too much and affect the shape of the lips and cause problems with speech and eating and drinking temporarily.

Hi Jenna.  When Botox is used correctly between the eyes, it would not cause wrinkles under the eyes.  While it's possible for Botox to "migrate", it's very difficult even with bad injection technique for Botox injected between the eyes to migrate below it.  

What's more likely is that you are seeing wrinkles below the eyes either because the aging process is naturally revealing them or because the focus of your concerns has moved on from the frown lines to a new area.  

I would agree with Dr. Pearson's post - muscle recruitment and/or compensation from other areas is very common when one area is regularly treated with Botox.

Thank you for your question, Jenna. In general, when used correctly, Botox does not displace wrinkles from one area of the face to another. However, in an attempt to compensate for the muscles affected by Botox, nearby muscles may be 'recruited' to aid in facial movement. That process may unmask the appearance of dynamic wrinkles in adjacent facial areas. Additionally, following treatment with Botox and improvement of the noticeable dynamic wrinkles, wrinkles that were previously unnoticed may seem more apparent. If pre treatment photos were taken, it may help to review those to check as to whether those 'new' lines were in fact present before treatment. Raise your concerns with your Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist who may be able to offer more specific advise in your particular case. Good luck to you.