The short answerBotox for crow’s feet relaxes the ring of muscle around each eye, so the fan of lines at the outer corners creases less when you smile or squint. Most people need 12 to 24 units for both sides, or $144 to $288 at $12/unit, and results usually last about 3 to 4 months. Of our two Botox brands, the FDA has approved Xeomin for crow’s feet; using Jeuveau there is off-label.
Crow’s feet are the fine lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes when you laugh, smile, or squint into the Florida sun. Botox crow’s feet treatment softens them by quieting the muscle that makes them. This guide explains what causes the lines, what the evidence shows, how many units and what cost to expect, how results unfold, and the side effects worth knowing. For everything about treatment at MeliOra, see Botox in Lutz, FL.
What causes crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet come from the orbicularis oculi, a ring-shaped muscle that circles each eye. It closes your eyelids, and its outer part tightens every time you smile, laugh, or squint. The prescribing information for Jeuveau notes that expression lines form at right angles to the pull of the muscle beneath them. Because this muscle pulls in a circle, its lines spread outward from the corner of the eye like the toes of a bird’s foot, which is where the name comes from.
Early on, the lines show only when you move. Over the years, they can start to linger when your face is relaxed. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, names sun exposure as the greatest single factor in how skin ages, and age-related changes in connective tissue reduce the skin’s strength and elasticity. Botox works on the muscle part of that story, not the sun damage.
Are laugh lines around the eyes the same as crow’s feet?
Yes. Laugh lines around the eyes and smile lines at the eyes are everyday names for crow’s feet. People also use “laugh lines” for the creases that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Those sit in a different part of the face, and crow’s feet treatment doesn’t change them.
Does Botox work for crow’s feet? What the evidence shows
Botox with Jeuveau or Xeomin blocks the nerve signal that tells a muscle to contract. When the outer part of the eye muscle relaxes, the skin over it folds less, and the lines soften. The FDA has approved Xeomin to improve the appearance of moderate to severe crow’s feet caused by this muscle, along with forehead lines and frown lines.
The Xeomin label reports two large trials, published in 2025, in which 730 adults with moderate to severe upper-face lines received Xeomin or a placebo. Crow’s feet treated with Xeomin improved significantly more than placebo at day 30. The bar for success was strict: both the investigator and the patient had to rate the lines as none or mild, at least two grades better than before, with the eye muscle fully tightened. Depending on the trial and group, 24 to 53 of every 100 people treated for crow’s feet cleared that bar, and none of the placebo group did. That bar asks for near-smooth lines, so it’s a fair reminder that Botox softens crow’s feet rather than erasing every crease.
Jeuveau is different. Its FDA approval covers frown lines between the brows only, so using Jeuveau for crow’s feet is off-label. The FDA explains that doctors may prescribe an approved drug for an unapproved use when they judge it medically appropriate, but that the agency hasn’t determined the drug is safe and effective for that use. Dr. Espinet tells you which brand she recommends for your eyes, and why, before treatment begins.
How many units of Botox for crow’s feet?
Most crow’s feet plans use 12 to 24 units for both sides. That’s the range MeliOra publishes for this area, and it’s a starting point, not a prescription. The Xeomin label dose is 4 units at each of three points per side, or 12 units per side and 24 in total. Jeuveau has no label dose for crow’s feet, and both labels say their units can’t be compared to or converted into units of another botulinum toxin product. For every area on the chart, see how many units of Botox you need.
| Crow’s feet plan | Units (cost at $12/unit) |
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| Typical range, both sides | 12 to 24 units ($144 to $288) |
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| Xeomin label dose, both sides | 24 units, 12 per side ($288) |
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| Forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet in one visit (Xeomin label maximum) | 64 units ($768) |
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Where you land in the range depends on how strong the muscle is, how far your lines spread, and how much movement you want to keep. A softer plan leaves a little crinkle when you laugh, which some people prefer around the eyes. If your lines only show when you smile, preventative Botox uses lighter doses.
How much does Botox for crow’s feet cost?
At MeliOra, Botox with Jeuveau or Xeomin is $12/unit, so crow’s feet at 12 to 24 units come to $144 to $288. The Xeomin label dose of 24 units is $288. Both brands cost the same, and there’s no travel fee anywhere in the service area. You agree on your units and your total before anything begins.
Your yearly total depends on your dose and how often you choose to retreat. For yearly budgets and the price of other areas, see what Botox costs in Lutz.
Botox around the eyes: where it goes, and where it doesn’t
The injections go into the outer part of the eye muscle, beside the bony rim of the eye socket, not into the eyelid. The Xeomin label places one point about 1 cm outside the bony rim, level with the outer corner of the eye, and the other two about 1 cm above and below it. Exact placement is adjusted to your lines and the way your face moves.
Placement matters for your smile, too. The Xeomin label warns against injecting too close to the zygomaticus major, the muscle that lifts the corner of the mouth when you smile, because that can make the lip droop. That’s one reason Dr. Espinet watches you smile and squint before she plans your points.
Crow’s feet treatment targets the outer corners of the eyes. Lines directly under the eye are a separate area, and they aren’t on MeliOra’s treatment chart.
Does crow’s feet Botox hurt?
Usually only briefly. The Xeomin label calls for a very fine needle for upper-face lines, and crow’s feet treatment uses only three points per side, so the injections are over quickly. In Xeomin’s upper-face trials, fewer than 1 in 100 people treated reported discomfort at the injection site as a side effect.
Crow’s feet Botox results: what to expect and when
The results timeline for crow’s feet follows the same pattern as other upper-face areas.
| When | What you may notice |
|---|
| Right after | Small raised spots that settle within an hour or so. Mild redness or a small bruise is possible. |
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| Days 2 to 7 | The effect begins. The Xeomin label puts the median onset at two to seven days after injection. |
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| About 2 weeks | Close to the full effect, and the right time to judge your result. |
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| Day 30 | When the Xeomin trials measured their results. |
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| Months 3 to 4 | Movement gradually returns. The American Academy of Dermatology says results last about 3 to 4 months, and sometimes longer. |
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Both labels say not to retreat more often than every three months. For more on onset, and why the first few days can look like nothing is happening, see how long Botox takes to work. For how results wear off and when to plan your next visit, see how long Botox lasts.
Side effects of Botox for crow’s feet
The American Academy of Dermatology says side effects tend to be mild and temporary. In Xeomin’s placebo-controlled upper-face trials, bruising where the needle went in was the most common one, and the label notes that the soft tissue of the eyelids bruises easily. A drooping brow affected fewer than 1 in 100 people. The academy lists a temporarily droopy brow or eyelid, from weakness in a nearby muscle, as a rare side effect.
- Mild and brief: redness, swelling, tenderness, or a bruise at the injection points
- Uncommon: a heavy brow, a droopy eyelid, or a lip that droops if product reaches the smile muscle. These are generally temporary, though the Jeuveau label notes that side effects can last several months
- Serious: in some cases, as with every botulinum toxin, the effect can spread beyond the treated area hours to weeks later. Get medical care right away for trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing, new muscle weakness, or double or blurred vision
- Who should wait or skip it: anyone with an infection at the treatment site or a past allergic reaction to a botulinum toxin product. A neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis may rule treatment out, and treatment is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding
For the full list, and how to tell normal from worth a call, see Botox side effects.
Crow’s feet treatment beyond Botox
Botox treats the muscle side of crow’s feet. It doesn’t repair sun damage or restore elasticity, so the skin side still matters. MedlinePlus advises a good quality sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors, even in winter, plus protective clothing and a hat when needed. In Tampa Bay, that’s a year-round habit.
If your lines show only when you smile, a lighter plan may be enough for now. If they stay etched when your face is relaxed, Botox can soften them but may not smooth them completely, and Dr. Espinet will tell you so before you spend anything. Treatments aimed at skin texture, such as resurfacing, aren’t on MeliOra’s menu. Many people treat the eyes and the forehead in the same visit; see forehead Botox for horizontal lines for that area.
Crow’s feet Botox with Dr. Espinet in Lutz and Tampa Bay
At MeliOra Elite Wellness, Dr. Melanie Espinet, a board-certified physician, places every injection herself. She watches you smile and squint, then maps your points and units, and you agree on the brand, the units, and your total before treatment. Botox with Jeuveau or Xeomin is $12/unit. If a lighter plan fits you better, she’ll say so.
Dr. Espinet comes to your home or office anywhere from Lutz and Wesley Chapel to Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, with no travel fee, or you can choose a select appointment at the Lutz office. Read about Xeomin in Lutz, the brand approved for crow’s feet, or book a Botox visit when you’re ready.
Frequently asked questions
How many units of Botox do you need for crow’s feet?
Most people need 12 to 24 units for both sides. The Xeomin label dose is 24 units, given as 4 units at three points on each side. Dr. Espinet sets your dose after watching how your eyes move when you smile and squint.
How much is Botox for crow’s feet?
At MeliOra, crow’s feet Botox is $144 to $288 for 12 to 24 units at $12/unit. The Xeomin label dose of 24 units is $288. Jeuveau and Xeomin cost the same, and house calls have no travel fee.
Is Xeomin or Jeuveau better for crow’s feet?
Xeomin is the one of our two Botox brands that the FDA has approved for crow’s feet. Jeuveau is approved for frown lines only, so using it around the eyes is off-label. Dr. Espinet explains her recommendation, including any off-label use, before treatment.
Can Botox get rid of crow’s feet completely?
Not always: Botox softens crow’s feet, but it may not erase every crease. In the Xeomin trials, 24 to 53 of every 100 people treated for crow’s feet reached none or mild lines at day 30 with the eye muscle fully tightened. Lines that stay when your face is relaxed may soften without disappearing.
When will I see results from crow’s feet Botox?
Many people notice a change within the first week, and the effect is close to its peak at about two weeks. The Xeomin label puts the median onset at 2 to 7 days, so judge your result at two weeks, not in the first few days.
Can Botox for crow’s feet change my smile?
It shouldn’t when it’s placed with care. The Xeomin label warns against injecting too close to the muscle that lifts the corner of the mouth, because that can make the lip droop. Your eyes will crinkle less when you smile, which is the point of the treatment.
Does Botox help wrinkles under the eyes?
The FDA hasn’t approved either of our Botox brands for lines directly under the eye, and that area isn’t on MeliOra’s treatment chart. Crow’s feet treatment targets the outer corners of the eyes, not the skin directly under them.
Can I treat crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines in one visit?
Yes. The FDA has approved Xeomin for all three areas together, with a label maximum of 64 units per session, which is $768 at $12/unit. Dr. Espinet may use fewer units for a softer result.
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