Some expression lines become part of the way we smile, laugh and move our face. Crow’s feet around the eyes and bunny lines across the sides of the nose are both created largely by repeated facial movement and can become more noticeable over time.
At Pure Perfection, we assess how your facial muscles move rather than focusing on individual lines in isolation. Treatment can be carefully tailored to soften lines that have become more prominent while preserving the expressions that make your face look like you.
What Are Crow’s Feet & Bunny Lines?
Crow’s feet are the fine lines that extend from the outer corners of the eyes. They are particularly noticeable when smiling or squinting and are sometimes referred to as laughter lines.
Bunny lines are the small diagonal or horizontal lines that appear across the sides and upper part of the nose, usually when smiling, laughing or scrunching the nose.
Both are dynamic expression lines. Initially, they may only be visible when the face moves, but repeated muscle contraction combined with changes in skin quality can cause them to become more noticeable when the face is relaxed.
What Causes Crow’s Feet & Bunny Lines?
Repeated facial movement is the main cause. Smiling and squinting repeatedly contract the muscles around the eyes, while certain expressions activate the muscles around the nose.
As we age, natural levels of collagen and elastin gradually decline and the skin becomes less able to spring back after repeated movement. This can make expression lines appear deeper or remain visible for longer.
Sun exposure can accelerate these changes, particularly around the delicate eye area. Genetics, skin quality and individual facial anatomy also influence when these lines develop and how noticeable they become.
Treatments for Crow’s Feet & Bunny Lines at Pure Perfection
Treatment will depend on how the lines appear when your face is moving and at rest, as well as the overall quality of the surrounding skin.
Anti-Wrinkle Treatment
Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to temporarily reduce the muscle activity responsible for crow’s feet and bunny lines.
For crow’s feet, treatment is carefully placed around the outer eye area to soften lines created when smiling and squinting. Bunny lines can be treated with precise injections around the muscles responsible for wrinkling the nose.
The aim is not to remove every sign of expression. Treatment is tailored to soften excessive movement while keeping the face looking natural.
Polynucleotides
For the delicate eye area, polynucleotides may be considered when crow’s feet occur alongside changes in skin quality, fine lines or reduced elasticity.
Rather than affecting muscle movement, polynucleotides support the skin’s natural repair processes and can form part of a wider regenerative approach to the eye area.
Skin Boosters
Skin boosters may be recommended where fine lines are accompanied by dehydration or a general decline in skin quality. They work differently from anti-wrinkle injections, focusing on improving hydration and the condition of the skin itself.
Depending on your concerns, treatment may focus on muscle movement alone or combine different approaches to address both expression lines and skin quality.
FAQs
What is the difference between crow’s feet and bunny lines?
Crow’s feet develop around the outer corners of the eyes, while bunny lines appear around the sides and upper part of the nose. Both are usually caused by repeated facial movement.
Can anti-wrinkle treatment improve crow’s feet?
Yes. Anti-wrinkle injections can reduce the activity of the muscles responsible for creating crow’s feet, helping to soften the lines while maintaining natural expression.
Can bunny lines be treated with anti-wrinkle injections?
Yes. Small, carefully positioned amounts of anti-wrinkle treatment can be used to reduce the muscle activity responsible for bunny lines.
Will treating crow’s feet stop me from smiling naturally?
The aim is to soften excessive muscle movement rather than remove expression altogether. Your treatment is planned around how your face naturally moves so that results remain balanced.
What if my crow’s feet are visible when I am not smiling?
Lines that remain visible at rest may have both a muscular and skin-quality component. Anti-wrinkle treatment can reduce repeated movement, while treatments such as polynucleotides or skin boosters may be considered where improving the surrounding skin would also be beneficial.