The lines around the eyes are caused by a decline in collagen production as a result of aging.
The muscle responsible for crow’s feet, called Orbicularis oculi, contracts circularly. When you have plenty of collagen around, and your skin is elastic, your skin quickly bounces back to its initial position after creasing.
However, when you have less collagen, your skin becomes less elastic, and each time your skin creases, there’s a chance that the muscle movement may contribute to the development of fine lines.
Our expert at Colorado Skin Care, Dr. Kimberly Stone, often uses Botox® to rejuvenate the eye areas of her patients. Read on to learn why Botox is such a popular choice for treating crow’s feet and find out what you can expect from the treatment.
Why do wrinkles appear in the first place?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals. However, as you get older, your collagen production goes down.
Although you can’t completely halt aging, you can ensure your body produces enough collagen to keep your tendons, joints, and skin healthier for longer.
Collagen is made out of protein, but taking collagen supplements won’t lead to higher collagen levels in your body. Your body requires both the building blocks for collagen (plenty of protein) and vitamin C. Vitamin C ensures that you can convert the amino acids into collagen.
Your body may have a harder time producing enough collagen if you consume a diet high in sugar, use tan beds, and fail to get enough high-quality protein from your diet.
Botox doesn’t increase the amount of collagen you produce. However, by paralyzing the muscles responsible for movement around the eye, Botox can prevent the creasing of the skin.
Achieving a natural yet youthful look with Botox
Botox can block the nerve signals that tell your muscles around the eyes to move. Some fear that Botox looks unnatural, but the secret to looking as if you haven’t had any treatments is to opt for a smaller dose that still allows some expression in the eye area.
Botox placement matters as well. If the injection site is too close to the eyes, the Botox may freeze the entire movement of the Orbicularis oculi. However, if the injection site is too far away from the eyes, it may freeze the movement of the upper cheeks instead.
If you’re concerned about the area underneath the eye, dermal fillers are a better solution. The wrinkles underneath the eyes are not caused by movement but by poor skin elasticity.
Learn more about treating crow’s feet with Botox
Like any other cosmetic treatment, Botox has its pros and cons. Dr. Stone can help you better understand what Botox does and whether or not you may be a good candidate for it.
Contact us to schedule an appointment and find out what non-invasive treatments are a good fit for your cosmetic goal.