Crow’s feet botox softens the excessive contraction of the ring muscle around the eye (orbicularis oculi), preventing the fine lines that appear when you smile from deepening and giving the eyes a more rested look. At my clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, I plan this area with micro-doses so that the character of your smile is preserved.
Why the eye area is different
The skin around the eyes is among the thinnest on the body. Lines here cannot be explained by muscle movement alone; the skin’s ability to hold moisture, its collagen support and its elasticity matter just as much. That is why two people of the same age with similar muscle strength can look very different. Botulinum toxin has an approved indication for softening the appearance of expression lines and has been in use for many years.
So at the examination I ask two questions together: is relaxing the muscle enough on its own, or does the skin also need biological support? If skin quality is weak, botox alone may not meet the expectation, and a combined plan gives a better result. This is where my functional medicine perspective applies — assessing the appearance through the whole tissue rather than a single muscle.
The procedure
At the examination I ask you to smile so I can analyse the strength of the eye muscles and how the lines spread. Injection points are chosen so the character of your smile is not disturbed; in this area the distance from the eye matters as much as the dose.
Micro-doses are given at 3 to 5 points. The treatment takes around 5 to 10 minutes. The skin is thin, so anaesthesia is usually unnecessary; numbing cream is available if you are sensitive.
The effect begins within 3 to 4 days and settles by day 10 to 14. Duration averages 4 to 6 months, and because micro-doses are used it can be slightly shorter in some people. I recommend leaving at least 3 months before repeating.
Visiting Istanbul or living here?
A large part of my patients are people living in Istanbul as foreign residents or visiting the city, so the practical questions come up often.
Same-day, no stay required. This is a walk-in treatment. There is no recovery period and you do not need to extend your trip for it.
Flying is not a problem. Cabin pressure does not affect the result. You can travel the same day.
Aftercare
For the best result, a few simple points on the first day are enough:
- Stay upright for the first 4 hours. Do not lie face down or keep your head bent forward.
- Do not massage or rub the treated area.
- Avoid very hot showers for 24 hours, and saunas and steam rooms for the first week.
- Avoid heavy exercise and intense cardio for the first week.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of treatment.
For the eye area specifically: wait 24 hours before applying make-up, and avoid rubbing the area when removing eye make-up on the first day.
Mild redness or a small bruise may appear at the injection points and settles within a few days. Allergic reactions are rare, which is why treatments are carried out under medical supervision.
What we review together at your consultation
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding
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An active skin infection at the treatment site
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Neuromuscular junction disorders
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Known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin components
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Your current medication and general health
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A tendency to puffiness around the eyes or slow lymphatic drainage
If any of these applies to you, we plan a more suitable alternative rather than proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
Will my smile lose its warmth?
No. The treatment is given to the ring muscle at the side of the eye; the cheek muscles are not touched. Your smile and the area around your mouth stay natural — only the excessive contraction that creates lines at the corner of the eye is softened.1, 2
Will my eyebrows lift?
The muscle here is one of those that pulls the outer brow down. When it relaxes, a slight and natural lift can appear at the brow tail; most patients describe it as the eyes opening up.
Can it be used on the fine lines under my eyes?
Crow’s feet treatment is for the muscles at the side of the eye. Fine lines along the lash line usually come from thin skin, and botox is not preferred directly there. Mesotherapy or under-eye light filler is more suitable for that area.
I get slight puffiness under my eyes. Will this make it worse?
In people with slow lymphatic drainage, reduced muscle movement can cause a temporary feeling of fluid retention. This is why I assess your lymphatic pattern at the examination and adjust the dose accordingly. If the tendency is marked, I may prefer to leave this area out of the plan.
If I stop, will my lines get worse?
No. Your muscles regain their movement and the lines gradually return to their previous state. During the treated period the skin has rested without folding, which has a protective effect.
At what age should I start?
There is no fixed age; what matters is muscle strength and whether the lines have set. The eye area is one of the first places lines appear, so a micro-dose preventative approach is often chosen here. The examination decides, not the birthday.
Can you tell me the price?
Under the applicable regulations, price information cannot be published on our website. The cost of a treatment depends on the product used, the technique chosen and the extent of the treatment. You can call the clinic for detailed information.
The eye area is one of the areas within botox treatments that needs the most careful planning. If you want to preserve even more of your expression, baby botox is also an option.
Sources
- Moers-Carpi M, Carruthers J, Fagien S, et al. Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA for treating crow’s feet lines alone or in combination with glabellar lines: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Dermatol Surg. 2015;41(1):102-112.
- Carruthers A, et al. A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Repeated OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatments in Subjects With Crow’s Feet Lines and Glabellar Lines. Dermatol Surg. 2015.