“Dr. Seckel, what can I do about the crow’s feet around my eyes?” — Cathy, Long Island NY
Dear Cathy,
Crow’s feet are one of the earliest signs of facial skin aging. Most people begin to notice crow’s feet in their late 20’s. They are more noticeable in people with very fair, thin skin. Beautiful results can be achieved with Botox
Crow’s feet are caused by the pull of a muscle called the Orbicularis Occuli Muscle which surrounds the eye and the orbit-the bony prominence which protects the eye.
This muscle is called a “muscle of facial expression which means that the main function of the muscle is to express emotion, thus when we laugh or cry we tighten the muscle and the muscle pulls on the skin and forms the “crow’s feet.
As our skin ages after many years of smiling (hopefully) and or crying, the crow’s feet become noticeable even when we do not smile. Eventually the crow’s feet become permanent depressed lines in the skin.
Surgery, Blepharoplasty or Eyelid tuck cannot correct these lines as surgery only removes eyelid fat and sometimes skin. The muscle is left behind and still causes crow’s feet when we smile. Non-surgical facial rejuvenation methods can however be effective.
Laser resurfacing or skin rejuvenation can remove the crow’s feet lines but as soon as you smile and the muscle contracts the crow’s feet will return.
The best and most effective way to lessen or remove crow’s feet is to use Botox®, a non-surgical facial rejuvenation method.
Botox® relaxes the muscle so that the muscle no longer pulls on the skin at rest and the skin relaxes and the crow’s feet disappear. (See figure 7-5 page 172 in Chapter 7, No Down Time Facial Anti-aging Procedures in my book “Save Your Face. The picture shows a patient smiling before and after Botox®).
Botox® for crow’s feet is very safe if injected by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is experienced in its use, in a medical facility. Side effects are unusual. Botox® does have to be repeated every 6 to 9 months.
Contrary to what many people say I have never seen a patient whose facial expression looked flat or like “wax” from Botox®. People look normal and smile normally after Botox®, they just don’t have crow’s feet. See photo results from my Boston Plastic Surgery Practice
For a detailed discussion of Botox® read Chapter 7 No Down Time Facial Anti-aging Procedures in my book “ Save Your Face-The Truth About Facial Aging Its Prevention And “Cure, or contact me.
I hope this answer is helpful.
Boston, Massachusetts