Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet are the fine lines and wrinkles that develop around the outer corners of the eyes. At first, you may only notice them when you smile or squint. Over time, those lines can become more noticeable even when your face is relaxed.
For many people, the goal isn’t to eliminate every line around the eyes. After all, some movement around the eyes is part of a natural smile. The concern is often when the lines become deeper, the skin begins to look crepey, or the eye area starts appearing more tired or aged than you feel.
At AIVI Aesthetics in Agoura Hills, we take a natural, skin-forward approach to crow’s feet. We look beyond the wrinkle itself and evaluate facial movement, collagen loss, skin quality, sun damage, and the delicate skin surrounding the eyes.
Our goal is to help your eyes look rested, refreshed, and natural—without making your expression look frozen.
What Are Crow’s Feet?
Crow’s feet are the lines that extend outward from the corners of the eyes.
They are also known as lateral canthal lines or smile lines around the eyes.
They develop primarily because the circular muscle surrounding the eye—the orbicularis oculi—contracts when you:
- Smile
- Laugh
- Squint
- Blink
- Make facial expressions
When we’re younger, the skin usually returns to its resting position after these movements.
As collagen and elastin gradually decline, the skin becomes less resilient. Repeated folding eventually leaves lines that may remain visible even when you’re no longer smiling.
Why Do Crow’s Feet Develop?
Crow’s feet are influenced by more than facial expressions.
The skin surrounding the eyes is naturally thin and delicate, making changes in collagen and elasticity especially noticeable in this area.
Common factors contributing to crow’s feet include:
- Repeated smiling and squinting
- Natural collagen loss
- Decreased skin elasticity
- Sun and UV exposure
- Genetics
- Skin dehydration
- Hormonal changes
- Smoking
- Environmental exposure
- Natural aging
Sun exposure can be particularly important because ultraviolet radiation contributes to collagen breakdown and premature skin aging.
Over time, you may notice not only lines but also thinner, drier, or more crepey-looking skin around the eyes.
Dynamic vs. Static Crow’s Feet
One of the most important things to determine is whether your crow’s feet are dynamic or static.
Dynamic Crow’s Feet
Dynamic crow’s feet appear primarily when you smile or squint.
These lines are strongly influenced by the movement of the muscles surrounding the eyes.
Neuromodulators such as Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, Jeuveau®, or Daxxify® may be used to temporarily reduce excessive muscle contraction and soften these lines.
Static Crow’s Feet
Static crow’s feet remain visible even when your face is relaxed.
Once this happens, the concern may involve more than muscle movement.
Collagen loss, sun damage, thinning skin, dehydration, and changes in skin elasticity may all contribute.
For these patients, simply treating the muscle may not fully address the appearance of the skin.
A combination approach focused on movement + collagen + skin quality may provide a more comprehensive result.
Treatments for Crow’s Feet
There isn’t one treatment that is right for everyone.
Some patients primarily need excessive muscle movement softened. Others have significant skin changes that require collagen stimulation or resurfacing.
At AIVI Aesthetics, your treatment plan is based on what is actually causing your crow’s feet.
Do I Need Botox or a Laser for Crow’s Feet?
It depends on what you see when your face is relaxed.
If the lines primarily appear when you smile, the concern is likely dominated by muscle movement.
A neuromodulator may be enough.
If you can see the lines when you’re no longer smiling, or the skin looks thin and crepey, skin quality and collagen loss are likely contributing.
In that situation, we may discuss resurfacing or collagen-stimulating treatments in addition to—or instead of—neuromodulators.
For some patients, the most natural result comes from treating both.
Will Botox Around My Eyes Change My Smile?
This is an important concern for patients who want natural-looking results.
The goal should not be to completely remove all movement around your eyes.
Some lines around the eyes during a genuine smile are normal and can contribute to a natural, expressive appearance.
Neuromodulator treatment depends on your anatomy, muscle strength, dose, and placement.
At AIVI Aesthetics, treatment is individualized rather than automatically using the same injection pattern or dose for every patient.
The goal is softer lines—not a different smile.
Can Crow’s Feet Be Prevented?
You can’t completely prevent crow’s feet because smiling and facial expression are normal parts of life.
And we wouldn’t want you to stop smiling just to prevent wrinkles.
However, you can help slow premature skin aging.
Preventative strategies may include:
- Daily sunscreen
- Wearing sunglasses outdoors
- Avoiding excessive UV exposure
- Medical-grade skincare
- Maintaining skin hydration
- Appropriate retinoid use
- Conservative neuromodulator treatments
- Periodic collagen-stimulating treatments
Preventative aging isn’t about starting every treatment early.
It’s about maintaining healthy skin before significant changes develop.
A Skin-Forward Approach to Eye Rejuvenation
Crow’s feet aren’t always simply a “Botox problem.”
If we only focus on stopping muscle movement, we may overlook what is happening to the skin.
The delicate eye area changes with age because of:
Movement.
Collagen loss.
Sun damage.
Skin thinning.
Elasticity changes.
Hydration.
At AIVI Aesthetics, we evaluate all of these factors before recommending treatment.
Sometimes neuromodulators are the right answer.
Sometimes the skin needs resurfacing or collagen stimulation.
Sometimes a combination approach makes sense.
And sometimes maintaining good skincare and sun protection is enough for where you are right now.
The treatment should fit the concern—not the other way around.
Frequently Ask Questions
For crow’s feet that primarily appear when smiling, neuromodulators such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, or Daxxify may help soften the lines. If wrinkles remain visible at rest, treatments that improve collagen and skin quality may also be considered.
Botox and other neuromodulators can temporarily reduce muscle activity responsible for dynamic crow’s feet. Results vary depending on your anatomy, wrinkle depth, muscle strength, dose, and treatment plan.
Yes. Depending on what is causing the lines, options may include CO2 laser resurfacing, microneedling, RF microneedling, PRF, medical-grade skincare, or a combination approach.
Lines that remain when your face is relaxed are known as static wrinkles. They may develop after years of repeated facial movement combined with collagen loss, sun exposure, and declining skin elasticity.
There isn’t one correct age. Treatment depends on your facial movement, skin quality, sun exposure, genetics, and personal goals rather than your birthday.
Natural-looking treatment usually involves respecting your facial anatomy and avoiding unnecessary overtreatment. The goal is often to soften excessive lines while preserving enough movement for your smile to remain expressive.
Look Refreshed—Without Losing Your Smile
Crow’s feet are part of natural facial expression. You don’t need to erase every line around your eyes to look refreshed.
If those lines are becoming deeper, remain visible when you’re not smiling, or are accompanied by crepey or sun-damaged skin, we can help determine what’s actually contributing to the change.
At AIVI Aesthetics, our approach to crow’s feet focuses on natural expression, healthy skin, collagen preservation, and thoughtful treatment planning.
Depending on your needs, your personalized plan may include Botox or another neuromodulator, CO2 laser resurfacing, RF microneedling, microneedling, PRF, medical-grade skincare, or a combination of treatments.
The goal isn’t to change your eyes or your smile.
It’s to help you look healthy, rested, refreshed, and still like yourself.
Schedule your personalized consultation at AIVI Aesthetics to learn which treatment options may be appropriate for your crow’s feet and overall skin health.
AIVI Aesthetics
Agoura Hills, California
Call or text: (818) 851-9900
We serve patients throughout Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Malibu, Conejo Valley, and Woodland Hills.
