Botox for crow’s feet usually takes about 10 to 24 units to relax the small ring of muscle at the outer corner of each eye, with the first softening showing in 3 to 4 days and the full result settling by around two weeks. It tends to last roughly 3 to 4 months before movement gradually returns. That is the typical case for the fine lines that fan out when you smile or squint. What changes from person to person is how strong those muscles are, how deep the lines already sit at rest, and whether what is bothering you is really a movement line at all or something closer to crepey skin or a shadow under the eye, which Botox treats far less well. Those last distinctions matter more than most people expect, and they are where a lot of the confusion around the eye area comes from.
Botox for Crow’s Feet at a Glance
- Units per session: about 10 to 24 total, roughly 5 to 12 per side
- Injection points: usually 3 to 5 tiny injections per side, around the outer eye
- Appointment time: short, often about 5 to 15 minutes once you are assessed
- First changes: around 3 to 4 days
- Full effect: by about 2 weeks
- How long it lasts: roughly 3 to 4 months, then repeat to maintain
- Downtime: little to none; most people return to their day, with occasional minor bruising
- Best for: dynamic crow’s feet, the lines that appear or deepen when you smile
- Less suited to: static under-eye crepe, tear-trough hollows, puffiness, or pigment-based dark circles
- Cost: priced per unit, considered cosmetic, and not covered by provincial health plans
Key Terms, Defined
- Crow’s feet: the fine lines that fan out from the outer corner of the eye, named for their shape, most visible when you smile or squint.
- Orbicularis oculi: the ring-shaped muscle that circles the eye and does the squinting and blinking. When it contracts repeatedly, it creases the skin at the outer corner.
- Dynamic lines: lines you see mainly with movement or expression. These respond best to Botox.
- Static lines: lines that stay etched even when your face is at rest. These usually need skin treatments rather than a muscle relaxer.
- Neuromodulator: the category of injectable, including Botox and Dysport, that briefly blocks the nerve signal to a muscle so it relaxes.
- Units: how neuromodulator doses are measured. Crow’s feet typically need a modest number per side.
- Off-label: a use that a trained injector may choose based on experience and evidence, outside the exact wording a product is officially authorized for.
One honest caveat before the detail. Every face is a little different, and the numbers here are typical ranges rather than a quote for you. The right dose, the right injection points, and honestly whether Botox is even the best tool for what you see in the mirror are things a qualified injector decides in person, after watching how your eyes actually move. This article is general education, not medical advice. Botox is a prescription medication and a medical procedure, and the results are temporary, not guaranteed, and carry some risk, so the plan that is safe and natural-looking for you is best set by the person who assesses and treats you.
Key Takeaways
- Botox for crow’s feet works on dynamic lines, the ones driven by the muscle that contracts when you smile or squint. It softens them rather than erasing the skin itself.
- Most sessions use about 10 to 24 units, show first changes in 3 to 4 days, settle by two weeks, and last roughly 3 to 4 months.
- Under-eye wrinkles are often a different problem. Crepey texture and tear-trough shadows usually respond better to skin treatments or carefully assessed filler than to Botox.
- Botox on the lower eyelid is a limited, higher-risk, often off-label use. It is done cautiously and in small amounts, and it is not the answer for most under-eye concerns.
- Side effects are usually mild and short, like minor bruising or watery eyes. A drooping eyelid or brow is uncommon and almost always temporary, and it is worth reporting.
- Pricing is per unit and cosmetic, so it is not covered by provincial plans. The exact number depends on how many units your eyes need.
What Are Crow’s Feet and Under-Eye Wrinkles?
Crow’s feet are the fine lines that spread out from the outer corner of the eye, and under-eye wrinkles are the finer lines and crepey texture that sit directly below it, and the two are not quite the same thing. That distinction sounds like splitting hairs, but it changes the whole treatment plan, so it is worth a minute. Crow’s feet are driven largely by muscle. Every time you smile, laugh, or squint against the sun, the fine lines and wrinkles at the outer eye crease, and over years that repeated folding leaves a mark. Under-eye lines, the ones right beneath the lash line, are more often about the skin itself: it is thin there, it loses collagen with age, and it starts to look crepey even when your face is doing nothing.
Dynamic vs Static Lines
Here is the shortcut that injectors use. Make an exaggerated smile in the mirror and watch the outer corner of your eye. If the lines appear or get much deeper with that expression and soften when you relax, they are dynamic, and dynamic lines are what Botox was built for. If the lines stay put when your face is completely at rest, they are static, and a muscle relaxer will only do so much, because the crease is now in the skin rather than just the movement. Most people over about forty have a mix of both, which is normal, and it is the reason a good plan sometimes pairs Botox with a skin treatment rather than relying on one alone.
Why the Eye Area Shows Age First
The skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest on the body, it moves constantly, and it gets a lot of sun. That combination is why crow’s feet and under-eye lines often show up before wrinkles anywhere else, sometimes in the early thirties, sometimes later. Genetics plays a part, sun exposure plays a big part, and so does squinting, whether from screens, driving, or just not wearing sunglasses. None of that is a personal failing, it is mostly ordinary biology, and a fair amount of it is slowable with habits I will get to near the end.
Does Botox for Crow’s Feet Actually Work?
Yes, Botox works well for crow’s feet when the lines are dynamic, and it is one of the better-studied uses of the injectable. Botox is the brand name for a purified botulinum toxin type A, a neuromodulator that temporarily blocks the nerve signal telling a muscle to contract. Around the eyes it is placed into the anti-wrinkle injectable target there, the orbicularis oculi, the ring of muscle that pulls tight when you squint. Relax that pull a little and the skin at the outer corner stops folding as hard, so the lines look softer and, with consistent treatment, can become shallower over time.
What it does not do is iron out skin that is already creased at rest, and this is where expectations sometimes run ahead of the treatment. If your crow’s feet are mostly a movement thing, you will likely be pleased. If they are deeply etched even when you are not smiling, Botox will improve them but not fully smooth them, and your injector may suggest adding something that works on the skin itself. The honest version is that Botox is excellent at its job and oversold for everything else. According to the Cleveland Clinic (U.S.), botulinum toxin works by blocking the muscle contractions that happen when you squint, which is exactly why it suits dynamic lines and not static ones.
How Does the Treatment Work, and How Many Units?
A crow’s feet session is quick and uses a small number of units spread across a few precise points at the outer eye. After an assessment, the injector cleans the area and places tiny injections, usually 3 to 5 per side, into the muscle just outside the bony rim of the eye socket, keeping well away from the eye itself. Most people describe it as a series of quick pinches. The whole thing often takes only a few minutes once you are actually in the chair, though a proper first-time assessment takes longer, and it should.
Dosing is individual, but there are typical ranges. Crow’s feet commonly take about 5 to 12 units per side, so roughly 10 to 24 units in total, though a lighter touch is often wise the first time so your injector can see how your muscles respond before adding more. If you are new to this, the guide to first-time Botox and how to prepare covers the appointment itself in more detail.
| Detail | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Units, total | About 10 to 24 |
| Units per side | About 5 to 12 |
| Injection points per side | 3 to 5 |
| Appointment time | About 5 to 15 minutes |
| First changes | 3 to 4 days |
| Full effect | Around 2 weeks |
| How long it lasts | About 3 to 4 months |
| Downtime | Little to none; occasional minor bruising |
Once it is in, the product binds over the first few days, which is why you see the first softening around day three or four and the full effect by about two weeks. For the wider picture of timing, our guide to how soon you see Botox results and the one on how long Botox lasts both go deeper than I can here.
Can Botox Treat Under-Eye Wrinkles Too?
Botox has only a small and cautious role under the eye, and for most under-eye concerns it is not the right tool. This is the part people are often surprised by. The lower eyelid has a delicate balance of muscles that help hold the eye in position and move tears along, and relaxing them too much can cause problems like a puffier lower lid, a rounder eye shape, or dryness. Some experienced injectors do place a very small dose into the lower lid muscle in carefully selected patients, usually alongside crow’s feet treatment, but it is a limited, often off-label use that calls for real caution and is not a routine request.
If what bothers you under the eye is crepey texture or fine lines at rest, those are a skin problem, and skin treatments tend to serve you better. If it is a shadowy hollow, that is usually a volume issue better assessed for under-eye filler, and our piece on under-eye filler cost sets out what that involves. And if the main issue is darkness rather than lines, that points toward dark circles care instead, which our guide to dark circles and under-eye bags walks through. For a sense of why those under-eye lines form in the first place, there is also a useful read on what causes under-eye wrinkles.
| What you see | What it usually is | What tends to help |
|---|---|---|
| Lines fanning from the outer eye on smiling | Dynamic crow’s feet (muscle) | Botox or another neuromodulator |
| Fine crepey lines under the eye at rest | Static, thin skin and lost collagen | Microneedling, RF microneedling, resurfacing, medical skincare |
| A shadowy hollow along the orbital rim | Volume loss (tear trough) | Carefully assessed under-eye filler |
| Puffiness or bags | Fat or fluid, not wrinkles | Medical assessment; sometimes a surgical referral |
| Brown or bluish discolouration | Pigment or visible vessels | Pigment-focused skincare, some lasers |
How Much Does Botox for Crow’s Feet Cost?
Botox for crow’s feet is priced per unit, so the cost of your session depends on how many units your eyes need rather than a flat area fee. Since crow’s feet usually take about 10 to 24 units, the per-unit price is what drives the total. At Canada MedLaser, Botox is listed starting around $10 per unit, though the exact per-unit figure and the number of units are confirmed at your assessment, because a light first treatment and a fuller one are not the same bill. It is worth being a little wary of any clinic that quotes a rock-bottom per-unit price without talking about who injects you or how many units they plan to use.
One thing to be clear about: treating crow’s feet with Botox is a cosmetic choice, so it is not covered by OHIP or other provincial plans. That is standard for aesthetic injectables. If you are comparing quotes across the GTA, the broader Botox cost guides for places like Mississauga put typical per-unit ranges in context, even though they cover the whole face rather than the eyes alone.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per unit, not a flat area fee |
| Units for crow’s feet | About 10 to 24 |
| Per-unit price at Canada MedLaser | Listed starting around $10 per unit |
| Session total | Roughly the per-unit price times the units used |
| Insurance | Cosmetic use is not covered by provincial plans |
| Exact quote | Confirmed at a consultation after assessing your eyes |
Is Botox Around the Eyes Safe? Side Effects and Risks
For most healthy adults, Botox for crow’s feet is considered a low-risk cosmetic treatment when it is done by a trained injector, and the common side effects are mild and short-lived. You might get a little redness, minor swelling, a small bruise at an injection point, watery eyes, or a mild headache in the first day or two. None of that usually lasts long, and a cold compress and leaving the area alone is most of the aftercare.
The risks worth understanding come mainly from product reaching a muscle it was not meant to. Near the eye, that can mean a temporarily drooping eyelid or brow, an uneven or slightly off smile if the cheek muscles are affected, or in rare cases double or blurred vision. These are uncommon, they are nearly always temporary because the effect wears off, and careful placement by an experienced injector is the main thing that prevents them. This is genuinely a case where who holds the needle matters, which is also why precise placement around the lower lid and outer cheek is treated so carefully.
| Usually normal and short-lived | Reasons to contact your injector |
|---|---|
| Small bumps that settle within the hour | A drooping eyelid or brow that bothers you |
| Mild redness or tenderness for a few hours | An uneven or lopsided smile |
| Minor bruising fading over several days | Double or blurred vision |
| Watery eyes or a mild headache | Spreading redness, warmth, or pus |
| A slightly different feel when you squint | Any trouble breathing, swallowing, or speaking (seek urgent care) |
That last row is rare at cosmetic doses, but it is a medical emergency if it happens, so do not wait it out. Health Canada publishes plain-language guidance on cosmetic injections and their risks, which is a sensible read before any appointment. Botox is a prescription medication in Canada, and while treating crow’s feet with neuromodulators is common practice, some uses around the eye may be considered off-label, so ask your injector what is standard and what is not for your plan.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
A good candidate is usually a healthy adult whose crow’s feet are driven by movement and who understands the result is temporary and repeatable. If your lines show up mainly when you smile, if you are bothered enough to maintain treatment every few months, and if you do not have a reason to avoid neuromodulators, you are likely a reasonable fit. People who want a one-time permanent fix, or who are chasing perfectly smooth skin at rest, are often better served by a combined plan or a frank conversation about what is realistic.
There are also situations where Botox is usually delayed or avoided. It is generally not given during pregnancy or breastfeeding as a precaution, since it has not been studied in those groups. Certain neuromuscular conditions, such as myasthenia gravis, are reasons to avoid it. An active skin infection or breakout at the injection site means waiting, and a known allergy to botulinum toxin or its ingredients rules it out. At Canada MedLaser, treatments are performed by trained registered nurses, and the assessment is where any of these flags should come up, so be open about your health history and any medications.
| Often a good fit | Usually advised to wait or avoid |
|---|---|
| Healthy adults with dynamic crow’s feet | Pregnant or breastfeeding (precaution) |
| Lines that appear mainly when you smile | Certain neuromuscular conditions (e.g. myasthenia gravis) |
| Comfortable with temporary, repeatable results | Active infection or breakout at the injection site |
| Willing to maintain every few months | Known allergy to botulinum toxin or its ingredients |
What to Expect: Before, During, and Aftercare
The appointment itself is simple, and the aftercare is mostly about leaving the area alone for a day. Before treatment, it helps to skip alcohol for a day or so and, where your own doctor agrees it is safe, to go easy on blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil, since these raise the chance of a bruise. Come with a clean face and a clear idea of what bothers you.
Afterward, the main rules are gentle and short. Stay upright for about four hours, keep your hands off the area for the first day so the product settles where it was placed, and skip heavy exercise, saunas, and hot yoga for a day or two. Most people go straight back to work. For the full day-by-day version, our Botox aftercare guide covers the dos and don’ts in detail. You will usually judge the result at about two weeks, which is also when a small touch-up is made if one side needs a touch more.
Botox vs Other Options for the Eye Area
Botox is the first choice for dynamic crow’s feet, but it is one of several tools, and the eye area often does best with a combination. Dysport is a closely related neuromodulator that some injectors prefer for the delicate crow’s feet area because of how it spreads, and our overview of Dysport explains the differences. For the skin quality under and around the eyes, collagen-building treatments such as microneedling can help the crepey texture that Botox cannot touch. And if you are weighing a muscle relaxer against adding volume, the comparison of Botox versus filler is a good place to sort out which problem you are actually solving.
It is also worth remembering that the same neuromodulator treats several areas, and many people combine crow’s feet with the forehead and the lines between the brows for a balanced result. If that is you, the guides to Botox for frown lines and forehead wrinkles round out the picture, and the masseter Botox guide shows how differently the same product behaves elsewhere on the face.
How to Slow Crow’s Feet and Under-Eye Lines
You cannot stop your face from moving, and you would not want to, but a few habits genuinely slow how fast crow’s feet and under-eye lines set in. Daily sunscreen is the big one, since sun exposure drives a large share of the collagen loss that deepens these lines. Sunglasses help twice, by blocking UV and by stopping the constant squint. A skincare routine with a retinoid at night and consistent moisturizing supports the thin skin around the eye, and not smoking matters more than most people like to hear. None of this reverses existing lines, but it buys time, and it makes whatever treatment you do choose work on a better canvas.
When you are ready to talk through your own eyes, or you just want an honest read on whether Botox, a skin treatment, or a mix makes sense, you can book a complimentary cosmetic injections consultation and have a trained injector assess what you are actually seeing. If you are in the city, the Botox in Toronto page covers what is offered locally.
Expert Insight
The first thing I do with crow’s feet is ask the person to smile, then relax, and I watch. If the lines mostly disappear when the face is at rest, Botox is going to make them very happy. If the lines are still there when they are not moving, I tell them straight that Botox will soften them but not erase them, and that we may want to add something for the skin. The under-eye question comes up constantly, and my honest answer is that I am conservative there. A tiny bit in the right candidate, sometimes, but it is not where the big wins are. Managing what the treatment can and cannot do up front is what keeps people happy at the two-week mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Botox really work for crow’s feet?
Yes, for dynamic crow’s feet it works well. Botox relaxes the muscle that creases the skin when you smile or squint, so the lines look softer. It works best on lines driven by movement and less well on lines that stay etched when your face is at rest, which usually need a skin treatment instead.
How many units of Botox do you need for crow’s feet?
Most people need about 10 to 24 units in total, roughly 5 to 12 per side, placed across 3 to 5 small injections on each side. The right number depends on how strong your muscles are and how much movement you have, and a lighter first dose is often sensible so your injector can see how you respond.
How much does Botox for crow’s feet cost?
It is priced per unit rather than as a flat area fee, so the total depends on the units used. At Canada MedLaser, Botox is listed starting around $10 per unit, with the exact figure confirmed at your assessment. Because it is cosmetic, it is not covered by provincial health plans.
How long does Botox last on crow’s feet?
Usually about 3 to 4 months. The outer-eye muscles move a lot, so crow’s feet can sometimes wear off a touch sooner than other areas. Movement returns gradually, and most people book a maintenance session every few months to keep the look consistent.
How soon will I see results?
First changes appear in about 3 to 4 days, and the full effect settles by around two weeks. Two weeks is the right time to judge the result and to arrange a small touch-up if one side needs a little more.
Does Botox work for under-eye wrinkles?
Only in a limited way. A very small dose in the lower lid muscle is sometimes used in selected patients, usually alongside crow’s feet, but it is a cautious, often off-label use. Crepey under-eye skin generally responds better to microneedling or resurfacing, and hollows to carefully assessed filler.
What is the difference between crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles?
Crow’s feet fan out from the outer corner of the eye and are driven mainly by muscle movement, which is why Botox suits them. Under-eye wrinkles sit beneath the eye and are more about thin, aging skin, so they usually need skin-focused treatments rather than a muscle relaxer.
Is Botox around the eyes safe?
For most healthy adults it is considered low-risk when a trained injector performs it. Common effects are mild, like a small bruise, watery eyes, or a brief headache. The less common risks, such as a temporarily drooping eyelid, come mostly from imprecise placement, which is why who treats you matters.
What can go wrong with crow’s feet Botox?
The main concerns are a temporarily drooping eyelid or brow, an uneven smile if the cheek muscles are affected, or rarely double vision. These are uncommon and they wear off, since the product is temporary. Careful placement away from the eye and the right dose are what prevent them.
Does Botox for crow’s feet look frozen or unnatural?
It should not when it is dosed well. The aim around the eyes is to soften the lines while keeping a natural smile, not to freeze the area. A conservative dose and good placement usually leave you looking like yourself, just less creased at the outer corner.
Does Botox age your face over time?
No, there is no good evidence that Botox ages the face. If anything, reducing the repeated creasing can slow how deep dynamic lines become. Some people notice the treated muscle looks a little less bulky over time, which is expected, not damage, and it reverses if you stop.
Is there an age that is too early or too late for crow’s feet Botox?
There is no strict cutoff. Some people start in their late twenties or thirties when dynamic lines first appear, and others begin later. It is rarely too late to soften dynamic lines, though deeply etched static lines at any age respond less and may need a combined plan.
Can I combine Botox with filler or skin treatments around the eyes?
Often yes, and it is common. Botox handles the movement lines, while a skin treatment like microneedling improves crepey texture and filler can address a hollow. A good injector sequences these sensibly rather than doing everything at once, and your consultation is where that plan is set.
What are the alternatives to Botox for crow’s feet?
Dysport is a close alternative neuromodulator. For the skin itself, microneedling, resurfacing, and medical skincare with retinoids and sunscreen help the texture Botox cannot change. The right choice depends on whether your lines are dynamic, static, or a mix of both.
Does crow’s feet Botox hurt?
Most people find it very tolerable. The injections are tiny and the area is treated with a few quick pinches, often over in a couple of minutes. Some injectors use ice or a very fine needle to keep it comfortable. Any soreness afterward is usually mild and brief.
When can I exercise or wear makeup after crow’s feet Botox?
Give makeup over the injection points a few hours so the tiny entry marks close, and hold off on heavy exercise, saunas, and hot yoga for about 24 to 48 hours. Light activity the same day is fine. Staying upright and not rubbing the area for the first few hours matters most.
Who should not get Botox for crow’s feet?
It is generally avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution, in certain neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis, when there is an active infection at the site, and in anyone with a known allergy to botulinum toxin. Your assessment is where these are checked, so share your full health history.
Related Reading
- Botox vs Filler: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
- Botox Aftercare: Dos, Don’ts, and a Day-by-Day Timeline
- How Long Does Botox Last? Results, Timeline, and Treatment Tips
- What Are the Causes of Under-Eye Wrinkles?
- Under-Eye Filler Cost in Toronto: Prices, Results, and What to Expect
- How to Get Rid of Forehead Wrinkles: Treatments That Work
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Results, dosing, suitability, and safety vary from person to person and depend on your anatomy, the injector, and how your treatment is performed. Botox is a prescription medication and a medical procedure that should be assessed and performed by a qualified, regulated provider. It is temporary, not guaranteed, and not risk-free, and some uses around the eye may be off-label. Never stop a prescribed medication on your own before treatment, and consult a qualified healthcare or medical aesthetics professional about your individual situation.
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