How to Get Rid of Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet, those pesky lines around the eyes are often the inevitable consequence of being an expressive and happy person. Some people love their crow’s feet and embrace them as part of the aging process. 

For others, they can be a constant reminder that “time waits for no man (or woman)” as the saying goes. If you fall into the latter category, and you’d prefer not to have lines around the eyes, then anti-wrinkle injections can be your best friend.

Why prevention with anti-wrinkle treatment is your best strategy?

As another famous saying goes: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Thank you Benjamin Franklin for this nugget of wisdom! Nowhere is this most evident than in the area of skin aging and wrinkle formation.

You see, when it comes to wrinkles, specifically crow’s feet, there are two kinds: dynamic and static. We all have dynamic wrinkles to a certain extent. These are caused by facial expressions such as smiling and laughing. 

When we’re young (20’s and 30’s), dynamic wrinkles are not visible when our face is at rest. We can smile, laugh and emote all day long, and our skin stays smooth, plump and youthful. That’s because younger skin is naturally abundant in the vital building blocks of a smooth complexion: collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid and moisture.

Once we get into our mid 30’s and beyond, we start to lose many of the structural elements mentioned above that keep our skin firm, smooth and wrinkle-free. Over time, those dynamic lines around the eyes start to get “etched in” and gradually morph into static lines (visible even when the face is at rest). 

Why focus on prevention? Crow’s feet get deeper and more difficult to treat over time. There’s also a cumulative effect when you add lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and not drinking enough water into the mix. That’s why preventing crow’s feet in the first place using anti-wrinkle injections is preferable to trying to reverse them after the fact.

How to get rid of crow’s feet with anti-wrinkle treatment? 

Let’s say you’re coming across this information too late and you already have moderate or even deep crow’s feet. Now what? Is there anything you can do short of resorting to surgery or drastic laser resurfacing procedures? Fortunately, anti-wrinkle injections (also called neuromodulators) can reverse the lines and wrinkles around your eyes even after they have formed – but only to a certain extent. 

Anti-wrinkle injections work best to reverse mild to moderate crow’s feet. You can expect to see anywhere between 50-80% improvement after your first crow’s feet anti-wrinkle treatment. If you stick with it regularly (we recommend every 3-4 months), the static wrinkles around your eyes will soften even more and may fade completely over time.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of crow’s feet that are extremely deep or prominent, you may need to combine anti-wrinkle injections with other modalities such as chemical skin peels. For the most part, the neuromodulator will do all the heavy lifting; however, you’ll probably require skin resurfacing to effectively smooth deep wrinkles around the eyes. 

How anti-wrinkle treatment works to prevent and reverse crow’s feet?

When injected into the lateral Orbicularis oculi (the corners of the round muscle that allows you to open and close your eyes), neuromodulators temporarily ‘relax’ that small area of muscle and prevent it from moving. This technique is highly effective at diminishing both dynamic and static crow’s feet.

Both patients and practitioners love treating this area. That’s because anti-wrinkle injections not only soften crow’s feet, they can have a dramatic eye-opening effect as well. After treatment patients typically look more refreshed, wide-eyed, awake and youthful. 

Keep in mind that your practitioner may recommend treating other complementary areas in addition to crow’s feet. Although this is definitely not required (as the crow’s feet is a stand-alone treatment area), the overall result is often more harmonious and balanced. 

For example, it’s possible to achieve a subtle brow lift using anti-wrinkle injections (placed at the outer corner of the eyebrow). This technique can enhance your crow’s feet treatment very nicely. The injection relaxes the downward pulling action of the brow, causing it to become slightly elevated – usually by about 1-2 mm.       

Will I look natural after anti-wrinkle injections?

If you’ve never had anti-wrinkle treatment before you may be concerned about looking “frozen” or “fake.” That’s a valid concern given all the frozen celebrity faces we’ve seen in the media over the years.

Fortunately, the “frozen” look is mostly a thing of the past. Thanks to a better understanding of neuromodulator action and advanced injection techniques, it’s possible to look completely natural. In fact, when done right, most people should not be able to tell that you’ve had anti-wrinkle injections. 

Always look for a reputable clinic. In the hands of an expert injector, with years of training, experience and a thorough understanding of facial anatomy, there’s no need to worry about looking “fake.”  

In fact, anti-wrinkle treatments are not only safe and incredibly effective for reversing crow’s feet, you’ll still look like you. The only difference is you’ll look more refreshed and a few years younger. 

For additional information on how to reverse crow’s feet and achieve healthy, glowing skin around the eye area we invite you to contact us at Restoration Clinic in Mt. Hawthorn.