Would Botox work on wrinkles on my cheeks and around my mouth?

Hello helenrae,Thanks for your question.The area of the upper cheek associated with the muscles around the eye will wrinkle with smiling.  This causes crow's feet to appear.  Botox in this area will soften those wrinkles in most people.  In the body of the cheek though there is no muscle so Botox wouldn't work.  This area is better smoothed out with filler/fat grafts and skin resurfacing with laser or chemical peels.The area around the mouth is quite dynamic and this causes the wrinkles.  Botox in the upper lip can soften those wrinkles, but that is where the use ends for wrinkles.  The corners of the mouth can be lifted with Botox, but this doesn't typically reduce wrinkles.  Again adding volume around the mouth and smoothing the skin with laser or chemical peels with best improve wrinkles around the mouth.I hope this helps?Warmest regards,Dr. Shah

Botox can work to help soften the deepening of the fine lines around the mouth as it weakens your ability to purse your lips.  Often weak doses are used so as to not over weaken the muscles.  I find fillers to in general to be a great first line approach to this area, but will combine it with Botox or Dysport based on the physical exam.  I also generally recommend energy devices such as Ulthera, Profound, or CO2 laser resurfacing as ways to address the fine lines around the mouth and face.

Botox is not generally used on the cheeks or for lines around the mouth, as it is a neuromodulator which works by inhibiting muscle movement that causes wrinkles. Botox works wonderfully for expression lines such as crow’s feet or forehead lines, but for perioral lines a dermal filler or laser resurfacing treatment may be a better option as these will not inhibit muscle movement that affects talking, chewing, or other mouth movements. Botox can be used in small quantities to help the resting frowny face or turned down mouth. Only experts in injection techniques can do this safely. For the cheeks themselves, there are dermal fillers available that can add volume, such as Juvederm XC or Restylane Lyft. I recommend visiting a board-certified dermatologist and telling them exactly what your goals are, so that they can help to find the best treatment for you.