Have you started noticing fine lines at the corner of your eyes? You are not alone because crow’s feet are a natural part of aging. But people often want to reduce these pesky lines to regain a smoother, younger-looking face. So how can you treat crow’s feet?
What Are Crow’s Feet?
Crow’s feet are the expression lines that appear at the corner of the eyes. They are dynamic wrinkles that are created by the repeated contraction of the facial muscles when making expressions such as squinting, smiling, or laughing.
Since the skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the skin on other parts of the face, wrinkles tend to appear there early. The skin in that area is also more susceptible to wrinkles due to the decline in collagen and elastin within the skin over time, and damage from the UV rays of the sun.
How Can I Treat My Crow’s Feet?
Wrinkle relaxers are highly effective for treating crow’s feet. Botox Cosmetic was the first wrinkle relaxer introduced to the market in 2002 and remains the market leader. However, patients are no longer limited to Botox because there are now other wrinkle relaxers available, specifically, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
What Are Wrinkle Relaxers?
Wrinkle relaxers are cosmetic injectables that prevent the muscles from contracting. When used to treat crow’s feet they inhibit the movement of the facial muscles at the corner of the eyes. This makes existing wrinkles less noticeable and reduces the likelihood of new ones forming.
How Do Wrinkle Relaxers Treat Crow’s Feet?
Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau are all derived from botulinum toxin type A, but each product has a slightly different formulation and degree of potency. Botulinum toxin is a purified protein made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Wrinkle relaxers are injected into the underlying muscles that cause crow’s feet to develop. When injected, they block neurotransmitters from the nerves that cause the muscle to contract. This stops the contraction of the muscle and temporarily reduces the appearance of crow’s feet.
What Can You Expect?
Treating crow’s feet with wrinkle relaxers is a quick, pain-free procedure that takes about 15 minutes. The effects can be seen within 3-7 days of treatment, depending on the specific product used. The crow’s feet will look noticeably smoother as the facial muscles relax.
There is generally no downtime after treatment, so patients can resume normal activities right away.
How Long Do The Results Last?
Botox Cosmetic and other wrinkle relaxers have a similar duration of 3-4 months. Therefore, touch-up sessions are needed to maintain results.
Wrinkle relaxers wear off because the body gradually breaks down the botulinum toxin in the weeks after treatment. Also, the body is always making new neurotransmitters, and these will initiate movement in the muscles. Once this happens, lines will start to reappear.
Who Is A Good Candidate?
Wrinkle relaxers are ideal for men and women who want to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and other dynamic wrinkles. However, people that have a neuromuscular disorder are not good candidates for wrinkle relaxers. The treatment is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.
Choosing Your Wrinkle Relaxer Injector
If you are thinking of getting Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Jeuveau, be sure to book an appointment with an experienced, highly skilled injector. Getting wrinkle relaxers from an inexperienced provider could put your health at risk.
When wrinkle relaxers are carefully injected by a skilled medical professional you can expect to get beautiful, youthful-looking results.
If you are ready to erase crow’s feet and refresh your appearance, wrinkle relaxers are a great choice.