How Many Units for Crow’s Feet? A Quick Reference

Crow’s feet are among the most satisfying areas to treat with botox. When done well, the result looks rested rather than frozen. Yet unit dosing around the eyes is not one size fits all. Small changes in anatomy, muscle strength, and facial habits can swing the ideal dose from light to robust. If you are deciding between a subtle refresh and a more comprehensive softening, it helps to understand how injectors think about units, patterns, and safety around the lateral canthus.

I have treated crow’s feet for years in patients who smile with their whole face, public speakers who rely on dynamic expression, and first timers who want proof that cosmetic botox can look natural. The sweet spot for most people falls within a predictable range, but the art is in the details: how many lines you see at rest, how far the fan spreads when you grin, and how your brow moves at baseline.

The quick reference most people want

For most adults, crow’s feet botox lands between 6 and 12 units per side, typically divided into 3 to 5 tiny injections around the outer corner of each eye. If you prefer the total number, that is usually 12 to 24 units for both sides combined. A lighter touch might be 4 to 8 units per side for a first session or for preventative botox in someone with fine lines but strong skin elasticity.

Here is how that plays out in the chair. After you smile, your injector maps the fan pattern of the orbicularis oculi muscle and places small aliquots along the creases. The dose is distributed, not dumped in one spot, because the muscle wraps like a ring. A careful spread gives smoothness without heavy eyelid changes or a blink that feels odd.

Why the range varies: muscle strength, skin, expression style

Crow’s feet form where the orbicularis oculi pulls skin into repeated folds. Two people of the same age can need different dosing because they recruit that muscle differently. Some grin with a wide, lateral pull that spreads lines toward the temple. Others crinkle primarily at the outer canthus with minimal spread. On top of that, thinner skin imprints lines more easily, especially after years of sun exposure.

I pay attention to three things during a botox consultation. First, the depth and length of lines at rest, because true static lines sometimes need adjunctive treatments like fractional laser or microneedling in addition to neuromodulator. Second, the symmetry of movement side to side. Dominant chewing or sleeping sides can create asymmetry that calls for a unit or two more on one side. Third, eyelid position and brow position at baseline. Patients with low brows or mild eyelid hooding may require a conservative approach to preserve lift.

A note on brands, units, and conversions

Patients often ask whether botox vs dysport or xeomin will change the number of units. Yes, but only in the sense that each brand has its own unit definition. In everyday practice, many clinicians use apples to apples with botox cosmetic and xeomin units, while dysport units are often dosed at about 2.5 to 3 to 1 relative to botox units. The effect can be equivalent when conversion is correct, but the label unit is not interchangeable. If you received 20 units of dysport for crow’s feet in the past and now switch to botox, you should not expect the same numeric unit count. This is one reason to keep your treatment record detailed. It helps your injector adjust cleanly across brands.

Typical dosing patterns I use by scenario

A first time patient in their late 20s with faint lines that appear only with a big smile often starts at 4 to 6 units per side. That is a true preventative botox approach, sometimes called baby botox when the aliquots are very small and spaced widely for flexibility. Someone in their 30s or 40s with moderate lines that arc toward the temple usually does well at 8 to 10 units per side. If your lines extend into the upper cheek or if you have a strong smile pull, 10 to 12 units per side will likely give a more complete softening.

Men often need more than women, not because gender dictates dosing, but because men commonly have thicker, stronger orbicularis oculi. I have plenty of men who look natural at 12 units per side, especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors squinting.

Prior treatments matter too. If you had crow’s feet botox within the last four months and still have partial effect, a lower booster dose may be appropriate. Conversely, if your last session wore off quickly, your injector might increase units modestly or adjust the pattern.

Treating the companion areas for balanced results

Crow’s feet rarely live alone. They share tension with the glabella and forehead. It is common to pair eye wrinkle botox with glabella botox for frown lines or a touch of forehead botox for horizontal lines. The reason is not just aesthetic harmony. When you relax one muscle group, others can compensate. Treating in balance helps prevent eyebrow quirks and uneven wrinkles above the brow.

A botox brow lift can complement crow’s feet treatment if you want more lateral eyebrow height. By placing small units under the tail of the brow and reducing the downward pull from the orbicularis, you get a millimeter or two of lift. That subtle effect is meaningful for makeup wearers who want shadow real estate, and for anyone who feels heavy laterally. The dose is small, often 2 to 4 total units per side, but the placement is precise. It is not a surgical lift, more of a refined perk.

Safety near the eyes and what good aftercare looks like

The crow’s feet area is one of the safer zones for botox injections. That said, the injector must respect a few boundaries. The lower lid is sensitive to diffusion. If product tracks too close to the lash line, a temporary change in blink or a slight eyelid droop can occur. This is rare with modern technique and conservative dosing near the orbital rim. I keep injections just lateral and slightly superior to the canthus, then fan outward with small volumes to reduce risk.

Common side effects include pinpoint swelling that resolves in minutes, mild redness, and occasional bruising. Bruising is more likely if you take fish oil, aspirin, or other blood thinners, or if you have fragile capillaries. I recommend holding nonessential supplements that affect clotting for a week before your botox appointment, but always check with your physician if you take prescribed medications. After the botox procedure, stay upright for four hours, avoid vigorous exercise that day, and hold off on facial massages or devices that push product around. Makeup can go on after an hour if the skin looks calm.

When lines remain after perfect dosing

Neuromodulators soften dynamic lines by relaxing the muscles that crease skin. They do not resurface skin or fill etched creases. If you have deep, static lines around the eyes that show even when your face is neutral, consider pairing botox with skin texture treatments. Fractional laser, RF microneedling, light chemical peels, or judicious use of hyaluronic acid skin boosters can help. I avoid traditional filler right up against the smile lines outside the eye because the area is mobile and delicate. Microdroplet techniques may be used carefully, but most improvement comes from collagen stimulation rather than volumization.

How long crow’s feet botox lasts and what that means for maintenance

Expect results to start at day three, peak by day 10 to 14, and last about three to four months. Highly expressive patients may metabolize faster. Over time, consistent treatment shortens the muscle memory that creates wrinkles. Some patients find they can extend sessions to every four to five months with stable results botox near me once they are on a maintenance plan.

If you want enduring smoothness for a long event season, plan your botox timeline with your injector. For example, a bride might treat eight to ten weeks before the wedding, then decide on a small touch up two to three weeks out if any lines recover. For someone preparing for media appearances, I time treatment at least two weeks before cameras roll, which allows any small bruise to fade and the effect to settle.

The role of skin quality and lifestyle

You will get better results from botox for wrinkles when the skin is hydrated and supported by collagen. A daily sunscreen around the eye area remains the unglamorous but vital step. Squinting is the crown maker for crow’s feet, so keep sunglasses in the car, gym bag, and coat pocket. If you have dry under eyes, use a lightweight eye cream with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Heavy occlusive creams can migrate and irritate eyes, so choose something that sinks in quickly.

Sleep position matters. Side sleeping can bunch the lateral eye skin. If you are committed to your side, consider a pillow that supports your head without pushing the cheek upward. These small choices will not replace neuromodulator, but they stretch the life of your results and may allow a lower dose over time.

What affects unit choice beyond the crow’s feet themselves

Any competent injector looks at your face as a whole. Crow’s feet intersect with the midface, brow, and even the chin and neck in a wider aesthetic plan. Here are common considerations that influence dosing choices:

Lip dynamics and a planned lip flip. If you are treating the upper lip for a subtle curl, your injector might stage or coordinate dosing to monitor changes in smile and avoid over relaxing the perioral area on the same day as a robust crow’s feet session.
Masseter botox for jaw clenching or jawline contour. Relaxing the masseter can subtly change smile width and lower face balance, which affects how much tension you want to release near the eyes. Combined treatments are common, but a thoughtful sequence helps keep expression natural.
Glabellar strength. If your frown line botox is strong, sometimes a slightly lighter crow’s feet dose maintains a lively lateral smile. The reverse can be true if the lateral eye pull dominates your expression.
Migraine botox or therapeutic botox patterns. Patients on a medical protocol often have set injection sites. Cosmetic dosing can be layered, but we watch total exposure and interval timing.
Neck bands and platysma botox. If you lift the lower face with platysma relaxation, the upper face may need minor adjustments to keep balance.

Most patients never need to think this hard about interplays, but your injector does. The point is not to complicate things, but to explain why two friends can book the same service and receive different unit counts.

Cost, value, and realistic expectations

How much is botox for crow’s feet? Prices vary by region and by provider. Practices charge by unit or by area. In markets where unit pricing is standard, you might see 10 to 18 dollars per unit for botox cosmetic. At 12 to 24 units total for both sides, the price band can range widely. Clinics that price per area may bundle at a flat rate. Beware of cheap botox options that seem too good to be true. Dilution and product sourcing matter, as does the injector’s experience.

Results should look like you on a great day. You should retain expression, just with softened radiating lines and a less crinkled texture at maximal smile. If your goal is zero movement, say so clearly at your botox consultation, but understand the trade off. Very high dosing risks a flat smile and can slightly change the way your cheeks rise. Most people prefer a natural look botox outcome that smooths without blunting warmth.

Comparing brands and techniques for the eye area

Botox cosmetic is the most recognized brand, but dysport and xeomin are also widely used and well studied. Dysport can have a slightly faster onset for some patients. Xeomin lacks accessory proteins, which some clinicians prefer for those with sensitivities. In the crow’s feet zone, all three can achieve excellent results when dosed and placed properly.

Microbotox or mesobotox techniques involve superficial microdroplets placed intradermally to refine pores and texture. Around the eyes, I sometimes use a hybrid approach, placing standard intramuscular units along the fan and a few tiny intradermal dots more laterally to soften crepe without over relaxing the orbicularis. Baby botox is simply a light dose, not a different product. It shines for first timers and for those whose work demands expressive faces on stage or camera.

What a session feels like, step by step

You arrive without heavy makeup around the eyes. After photos document your baseline, you smile, squint, and relax on cue while the injector maps the pattern. The skin is cleaned, sometimes with a cool swipe of alcohol or chlorhexidine. A tiny needle places small units in three to five points per side. Most patients describe the sensation as quick pinches with minimal pain. The entire botox appointment takes 10 to 15 minutes. There is no true downtime, but plan your workout tomorrow, not today.

If you bruise easily, ice for several minutes right after treatment. Avoid saunas and hot yoga until the next day. Skip retinoids that evening. You can return to skincare the following night. If you have a special event, schedule treatment at least two weeks before, particularly if it is your first session, so the effect has time to settle.

Edge cases and careful calls

A few situations deserve special mention. Very hooded lateral lids can look heavier if you overtreat crow’s feet, especially inferiorly. In these patients, I keep the lower dots minimal and rely more on the lateral and superior points. Patients with dry eye symptoms need a delicate approach because orbicularis relaxation can transiently alter blink strength. Those with previous eyelid surgery should share that history openly, including any issues with closure or lagophthalmos.

Smokers often show etched lines more quickly, and they may need combined strategies to smooth texture. Heavy sun damage underscores the value of sunscreen and restorative treatments. If you have a history of keloids, you can still receive botox injections because we are not provoking deep dermal injury, but tell your injector about any scarring tendencies so we avoid unnecessary trauma.

When to consider other treatments first

If your primary concern is under eye hollowing, botox is not the answer. That calls for volume strategies, whether filler placed carefully in the tear trough by an expert, or newer biostimulatory approaches and skin tightening. If you want forehead lift beyond a millimeter or two, a surgical brow lift offers a different magnitude of change. Crow’s feet botox pairs nicely with both, but it does not replace them.

Putting units into context with real examples

Think of Emma, 34, with fine lines that appear only when she beams. We used 5 units per side with three injection points. She kept her lively smile, and her makeup stopped settling into creases at the outer corners. She returned at four months for maintenance with the same dose.

Now consider James, 46, who runs outdoors every weekend and squints in sunlight despite sunglasses. His lines extend toward the temple in a wide fan. We placed 11 units per side across five points, with an extra unit laterally after mapping his strongest crease. He loved the smoother look, asked to keep full expression, and maintained a three month interval because his metabolization is brisk.

Finally, Priya, 52, with etched lines and mild lateral hooding. We treated conservatively at 8 units per side, avoiding inferior placement, and paired it with fractional laser in two sessions. Results were balanced and natural, with a noticeable but subtle softening.

Quick answers to the most common questions

How many units for crow’s feet? Usually 6 to 12 per side, or 12 to 24 total. Light dosing can be 4 to 6 per side for beginners or preventative botox.
How long does it last? About three to four months, with onset around day three and a peak by two weeks.
Does it hurt? Minimal. Small pinches that last seconds. Most people skip numbing.
Will I look frozen? Not if your injector respects your expression goals and uses balanced dosing. You can soften lines and keep warmth.
Is there downtime? No true downtime. Avoid heavy exercise and massage that day. Bruising is possible but usually small.

The bigger picture: plan, evaluate, adjust

The best outcomes come from an honest conversation about how you move your face and what you want to keep. A skilled injector uses a starting dose informed by anatomy and experience, checks in at two weeks for any needed tweaks, and evolves your plan over time. Small changes in unit count can make a noticeable difference at the outer eye. So can coordinated treatment across the forehead and glabella. Think of crow’s feet botox as part of a wider aesthetic plan that honors your features rather than erasing them.

If you are new to cosmetic botox, bring photos of how you like your face at full smile. If you have had botox before, share the exact unit counts and brands if you can. Ask how the injector plans to place the units, what they recommend for aftercare, and how they handle touch ups. These practical details matter more than chasing a perfect number.

When done thoughtfully, crow’s feet botox is one of the simplest ways to look rested. The right units, in the right spots, let your eyes smile without the extra crinkle that can read as fatigue. That is the quiet magic most people are after, and it is entirely achievable.