Crow’s feet are the fine lines that radiate outward from the outer corner of the eye. They appear earlier than wrinkles in most other areas because the skin around the eye is the thinnest on the face — about half the thickness of facial skin elsewhere — and sits over one of the most active muscles in the face.
This guide covers what causes them, why they often appear first, and the full range of treatments — from skincare and energy-based options through to anti-wrinkle injections and surgery — when each is appropriate.
Why crow’s feet appear first
The muscle responsible is the orbicularis oculi — the circular muscle that closes the eyelid and contracts every time you smile, squint, blink hard, or laugh. Its lateral fibres, where they overlap the temple, are the ones that create the radiating lines we recognise as crow’s feet.
Three anatomical factors make this area age first:
Thin skin. The skin of the lateral canthus is around 0.5mm thick, compared to about 2mm on the cheek. Thin skin holds dynamic creases longer and converts them to static lines sooner.
High muscle activity. The orbicularis oculi is among the most-used muscles on the face. Every blink contributes, and every bright-light squint contributes more.
Limited subcutaneous fat. There’s very little fat padding under the skin in this area, so the skin sits directly over the muscle. When the muscle contracts, the skin folds directly with no buffer.
The combination means that even patients without obvious lines elsewhere often see crow’s feet by their early thirties.
For an overview of how skin ageing progresses across the face, see our guide on fine lines versus wrinkles.
What makes them worse
The mechanical contribution from muscle activity is the main cause, but several factors accelerate progression:
UV exposure is the biggest modifiable factor. The skin around the eye gets hit harder than most of the face because sunglasses-free outdoor time exposes it directly, and squinting in bright light adds an extra layer of mechanical damage on top of UV.
Smoking compounds the problem in two ways: it directly degrades collagen, and smokers squint more from smoke irritation.
Sleep position. Patients who consistently sleep on one side often develop asymmetric crow’s feet, with deeper lines on the side that presses into the pillow.
Dryness. Chronic eye dryness — from screen use, contact lenses, or environmental factors — produces more squinting and more line formation. Treating the dryness with appropriate eye drops can slow the progression.
Not wearing prescription glasses or sunglasses when needed. Uncorrected near-vision strain produces compensatory squinting that etches lines.
Treatment ladder
Skincare and lifestyle
The single highest-impact intervention is daily broad-spectrum SPF applied around the eye area (and reapplied if outdoors). Wraparound sunglasses reduce both UV exposure and squinting. Topical retinoids in low concentration can be used around the eye in patients who tolerate them — start very low and build, since the skin here is sensitive. Adequate moisturisation and treatment of any underlying eye dryness reduce micro-squinting.
These steps don’t reverse established lines, but they slow the rate at which dynamic lines convert to static ones.
Anti-wrinkle injections
Botulinum toxin injection into the lateral orbicularis oculi is the most direct treatment for crow’s feet. Small doses (typically 8 to 12 units in total across both sides) relax the lateral fibres of the muscle and stop the skin folding when you smile.
What to expect: the session takes about 10 minutes. No numbing cream is needed. Two to three small injections per side are placed at carefully chosen points along the lateral orbital rim, outside the bony eye socket. The needle used is very fine.
When you’ll see the result: initial relaxation at days three to five, full result at two weeks. Effect lasts three to four months.
The honest limit: AWI works extremely well on dynamic crow’s feet — the lines that appear when you smile or squint. It works less well on lines that are also visible at rest, because by that stage the skin itself has been etched and needs additional collagen-building treatment to smooth fully.
The best results often combine AWI with one of the energy-based treatments below.
For more on this combined approach, see our anti-wrinkle injections FAQs and our guide on frown lines and forehead wrinkles, which usually responds to combined treatment of the same kind.
Energy-based treatments — when patients prefer to avoid injections
For patients who prefer to avoid injection-based treatment, or who want to combine modalities, two energy-based approaches address crow’s feet directly:
SmoothEye uses the Fotona Er:YAG laser in its non-ablative SMOOTH mode. Long-pulse energy heats the dermis and stimulates collagen production over a series of sessions, with no downtime. Patients typically need three to four sessions spaced four weeks apart for a meaningful result. The skin tightens visibly over the following two to three months as new collagen forms.
The advantage of SmoothEye is that it addresses skin quality directly rather than just muscle activity — useful for patients whose lines are static and etched, not just dynamic.
Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy. It reaches deeper into the dermis than non-ablative laser and produces stronger collagen remodelling, but with a longer recovery — typically four to seven days of pinkness and tiny scabs. Particularly useful for patients with crepey skin texture as well as lines, and for those whose crow’s feet extend down the cheek.
Combining SmoothEye and Morpheus8 in a layered protocol can produce more comprehensive results than either alone. Spacing between treatments is at least two to three weeks.
Fotona 4D covers the full face in four sequential modes and addresses crow’s feet as part of broader rejuvenation when the patient’s concerns extend beyond the eye area.
Dermal fillers — limited role here
Filler is not a first-line treatment for crow’s feet themselves. The skin overlying the lateral canthus is too thin to hide filler well, and the lines are caused by muscle activity rather than volume loss.
However, dermal filler placed in the lateral cheek or temple — addressing the volume loss that contributes to a generally aged look around the eye — can improve the visual prominence of crow’s feet indirectly. The tear trough and the area below the eye are often more usefully treated than the crow’s feet themselves, particularly when the patient’s complaint is “tired-looking eyes” rather than visible lines.
When surgery is the right answer
Once skin laxity around the eye is significant, no amount of injection or laser will close the gap. The structural problem at that point is excess upper-lid or lower-lid skin and descended brow, and the surgical options become more effective than non-surgical maintenance.
Blepharoplasty removes excess upper or lower eyelid skin. Upper blepharoplasty typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours and requires a week off social activities. The procedure dramatically refreshes the eye area when the underlying issue is true skin laxity rather than just dynamic lines.
Brow lift — including the endoscopic brow lift — repositions a descended brow. When the brow has dropped, the lateral skin bunches and crow’s feet appear deeper than they would otherwise. Lifting the brow back to a youthful position resolves this geometrically.
Canthoplasty tightens and reshapes the outer corner of the eye. Indicated less for crow’s feet themselves and more for patients with significant lateral lid laxity or a rounded eye shape that has developed with age.
Facial fat transfer restores volume to the lateral cheek and temple area. As above, this addresses the broader context of eye-area ageing rather than crow’s feet directly.
How to decide which treatment fits
A simple guide based on what you see:
Dynamic lines only (visible when smiling, smooth at rest): anti-wrinkle injections are the most effective first step. Add SPF and good skincare.
Faint static lines (visible at rest in addition to with movement): AWI combined with SmoothEye or Morpheus8 for the skin quality element. This is the most common combination requested in our 30s and 40s patients.
Deeper static lines with skin texture changes: energy-based treatment is more important than injections at this stage. AWI still helps but the skin work is doing the heavy lifting.
Significant skin laxity, hooding, or descended brow: surgical assessment. The honest answer is that injections and lasers won’t deliver what surgery can in this group.
A consultation with our specialist team — including Dr Spyridon Vlachos — establishes which category fits and recommends the lightest effective intervention.
Cost
Anti-wrinkle injection for crow’s feet alone typically starts from around £200; combination treatment of the upper face (crow’s feet, glabella, forehead) is usually more cost-effective than booking each area separately. SmoothEye and Morpheus8 are typically priced per session, with most patients booking a course of three to four. Surgical options vary substantially depending on the procedure. Finance options through Chrysalis Finance, including 0% APR, are available.
Common questions
Why are my crow’s feet getting worse even though I don’t smile that much?
Squinting is often the bigger contributor than smiling. Patients who don’t wear sunglasses, who work on screens, or who have uncorrected near vision squint constantly without realising it. Addressing the underlying cause (better eyewear, screen breaks, treating dry eye) reduces the rate of progression.
Will anti-wrinkle injections change how my smile looks?
Done conservatively, no. The aim is to soften the lateral lines without affecting the cheek-lifting movement that gives a natural smile. Over-treatment can flatten the smile or produce a “bunching” effect at the lower eyelid — which is why a conservative first dose matters, with the option to add a top-up at two weeks if more relaxation is needed.
Can I have crow’s feet treatment with my forehead and frown lines?
Yes — it’s actually preferable. Treating the upper face as a unit produces a more balanced result than addressing crow’s feet in isolation. See our hub guide on frown lines and forehead wrinkles for how the muscles interact.
How quickly will laser treatment work?
Visible tightening typically appears at three to four weeks after the first session, with continued improvement over the following two to three months as new collagen forms. Most patients need three to four sessions to reach their final result.
Are crow’s feet just a sign of getting older?
They’re a sign of skin doing what skin does — folding repeatedly along the lines of muscle pull. They’re not a disease, and patients who don’t mind them have no reason to treat them. Treatment is appropriate when the appearance bothers you, not because they need to be treated.
Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC specialist-registered surgeons · 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN · 0207 993 4849 · Book a consultation · Finance from 0% APR
Medically reviewed by Dr Spyridon Vlachos, GMC 7522950.
