The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that Botox is an effective treatment, albeit transient, for crow’s feet, or the wrinkles that form next to aging eyes. Dallas plastic surgeon Sam Jejurikar, like many other plastic surgeons, has been using Botox for this indication for several years.
Botox was approved more than ten years ago for treating glabellar frown lines, the wrinkles between the eyebrows. Injections of Botox are also FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic migraine headaches, severe axillary hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating) and blepharospasm (eyelid spasm).
Botox is made from same toxin that causes botulism, which is a life-threatening form of food poisoning. According to the FDA, there has never been a “a confirmed serious case of toxin spread,” when Botox is used as approved
The most common side effect when the drug is used for crow’s feet is swollen eyelids, says the FDA. Dr. Jejurikar notes that patient’s can suffer temporary bruising when receiving Botox into the Crow’s feet.
Botox works by paralyzing selected muscles, making wrinkles less prominent. Botox has two competitors, Xeomin and Dysport, which also contain botulinum toxins. All are approved for frown lines, but Botox is the first approved for crow’s feet.