How to Get Rid of Crow’s Feet
Crows feet are fine lines that extend outward from the edges of the eyes. Crows feet can appear due to age, sun damage, frequent squinting or simply because the muscles around your eyes are very strong. Almost everyone ends up with crows feet botox at some point in the aging process, so even though they are not something to be embarrassed about they are no longer something you have to put with, either.
If you have crow’s feet, you may want to get rid of them because you consider them an undesirable symptom of aging. Botox is an injection that can reduce the appearance of crows feet treatment and give you a more youthful looking face. In this article, we’ll discuss how Botox injections work and explain how they can help you get rid of crow’s feet. Dr. Mimi Lee is proud to offer procedures such as Botox to treat crow’s feet for patients living in the Little Rock, AR area.
What Is Botox and How Does It Work?
Botox is the leading trade name for botulinum toxin type A. Botulinum toxin is the toxin produced by the bacteria that causes botulism, but the injection contains no active bacteria. When injected into a muscle, Botox blocks the neurochemical that causes the muscle to move. The muscle remains soft and paralyzed for up to four months, after which time it regains its ability to move. To maintain the age diminishing effect of Botox, you’ll need to receive three or four injections per year.
Botox is particularly popular as a cosmetic treatment. It produces good results when injected into the facial muscles that cause wrinkles. In addition to crow’s feet, Dr. Lee uses Botox to treat lines on the forehead, around the lips and at the top of the nose (bunny lines). Due to the fact that Botox is not an injectable dermal filler, it is not useful for treating static wrinkles. If you have wrinkles that are apparent even when your face is at rest, you may benefit from another kind of injectable. Different injectables that can treat crows feet are mentioned at the end of this article.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox?
To receive a Botox treatment, you should be at least 18 years old and have no history of neuromuscular problems. You should not be pregnant or nursing. Botox may not produce a desirable result in people with weak or drooping facial muscles or with very asymmetrical faces. Botox is most effective on wrinkles that are visible when your face is at rest. If you believe you fit this description, then you may qualify for Botox injections.
If you’re considering a Botox injection as a way to get rid of crows feet or other wrinkles, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee. If you have transient crow’s feet caused by strong facial muscles, it’s likely that you’ll experience a good result with Botox. Dr. Lee will examine your face and make a recommendation. Even though Botox may not be the right choice for you, Dr. Lee offers other treatments that may be able to provide what you’re looking for.
Does the Botox Treatment Hurt?
Botox treatments usually take about 15 minutes or less. During the treatment, Dr. Lee will inject both sides of your face with a very small needle. Although injection with a needle may cause very mild pain, most people don’t notice it. If you are afraid that the Botox treatment might hurt, ask Dr. Lee to apply a topical anesthetic. The anesthetic will numb the area and prevent you from feeling the needle.
Some people report mild soreness after receiving Botox injections. You can take over-the-counter pain medication to ease the soreness if needed. Slight bleeding at the injection sites is also common, but the bleeding usually stops quickly. Talk to Dr. Lee at your consultation if you have any concerns or questions about side effects, or if you would like to know what kinds of pain medications you can take after the procedure.
It may take you some time to become accustomed to the way your face feels after you’ve had Botox injections. Some people report a “tight” feeling in the facial muscles even though the muscles are actually flaccid. Others simply find the feeling of being unable to move certain facial muscles strange. In most cases, it takes about five days for the full effects of a Botox injection to become evident. By the end of that period, you’ll stop noticing the way that your facial muscles feel.
If you enjoy your experience with Dr. Lee, you should continue seeing her in order to provide feedback so that she can adjust the injection dosages to maximize the positive effects while minimizing your discomfort. Repeated Botox injections have the capability of providing more and more effective results. Botox paralyzes the muscles, and this paralysis allows the muscles to become weaker. If you choose to continue with injections, the wrinkles on your face will diminish more and more, even after the effects of Botox have worn off.
Are There Alternatives for Treating Crow’s Feet?
Because Botox works so well on the muscles of the upper face, it is one of the most popular methods for treating crow’s feet. Other options for getting rid of crow’s feet do exist, however, if for any reason you think that Botox may not be the best option for you. Procedure options for the same treatment can sometimes seem so similar or so different that it is hard to decide which to choose. Hopefully this article is able to help clear up some of the confusion, but if you still have questions or concerns we recommend Dr. Lee as your go-to resource. She received her certification for the American Board of Surgery in 1999 and has been practicing her passion ever since, so she has the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary for answering any questions you may have. These are some alternatives to Botox that may also help you get rid of crow’s feet.
Injectable Fillers
Depending upon the root cause of your crow’s feet, Dr. Lee may recommend a filler such as Restylane or Juvederm rather than Botox. A filler contains a substance such as hyaluronic acid — a natural substance found in connective tissues — that fills in the spaces under the skin. Since a filler is very effective in making the skin appear plumper, it typically produces dramatic results when used to treat crow’s feet and other types of wrinkles.
Because Dr. Lee will administer a filler injection slowly, the procedure takes longer than a Botox injection. The treatment may take about an hour. The body absorbs the filler eventually, though, so you’ll need to receive one or two injections per year to maintain the effect. Fillers tend to last longer than Botox, which is an aspect to consider when deciding which treatment option is the best for you.
One of the best aspects of injectable fillers is that the size of the particles in a filler can determine the filler’s plumping effect. If you have very deep or fairly moderate crow’s feet, Dr. Lee will use a filler with larger particles or smaller particles, respectively.
Since fillers work by adding material under the skin to raise the skin’s surface — and not by paralyzing the muscles under the skin — you’ll see the positive effects of an injectable filler instantly. However, injectable fillers can also cause mild side effects such as redness, swelling and bruising at the injection sites. It may take several days for the side effects to resolve themselves.
Dysport
Similar to Botox, Dysport is a viable alternative for treating crow’s feet. The question that patients have the most often regarding Dysport is, “What makes Dysport different from Botox?” Even though the two products are made from the same ingredient (botulinum type A), and they do very similar things, they aren’t the same. Their relationship can best be described as that of two different brands of tires or pens. Their function is the same, but there are subtle differences between the two that make them stand apart, and that may make Dysport the right injectable for you.
Dysport’s unique qualities include the way the formula is made up and the length of time it takes to set after being injected. Results from a Dysport injection can be seen up to 4 days faster than the results from a Botox injection. Some patients even report Dysport lasting longer, which is due to the fact that the formula for Dysport contains less protein. Less protein means fewer antibodies being formed against it, hence the increased longevity.
The subtle differences between the two injectables can sometimes make it hard to determine which is right for you, which is why Dr. Lee will help you decide by explaining the differences and making a recommendation based on your desired results.