Most people first notice bunny lines when someone asks them to smile wide for a photo or to scrunch their nose in mock disgust. Two diagonal creases appear along the sides of the nose, sometimes faint and cute, sometimes etched and distracting. For some faces, those lines soften when expression relaxes. For others, they linger and deepen with age and repetition. If you are considering botox for bunny lines, the goal is simple: quieter movement in the right places without blunting your smile or changing what makes your face expressive.
I have treated hundreds of noses over the years. The nasalis muscle, which runs across the bridge and sidewalls of the nose, can be surprisingly strong. When it overworks, it pulls the skin into furrows that stack vertically toward the inner eye area. The trick is not to freeze the whole area, but to reduce the peak pull along the most active fibers. Done well, botox injections soften those narrow crinkles while preserving the natural lift of the cheeks and the authenticity of a grin.
What causes bunny lines, and why they persist
Bunny lines come from repeated contraction of the nasalis, a thin, fan-shaped muscle that compresses the nasal sidewalls. Many people recruit it when they smile, laugh, squint, or sniff. Over time, the skin folds along the same vectors and develops static creases. The change often accelerates after other upper-face botox treatments. If you quiet the frown lines between the brows (glabellar complex) and crow’s feet, your face may unconsciously redirect expression into the nose region. Patients sometimes return a month after their initial botox session, happy with their brow and eyelid area, but puzzled by newly prominent lines next to the bridge. That is a common pattern, not a complication.
Skin quality influences how stubborn those lines become. Sun exposure, thinner dermis, and lower collagen content allow the fold to set earlier. Repetitive motion carves the track. If you press a napkin into the same crease day after day, you engrave it. The same logic applies to expression lines across the nose.
How botox relaxes the nasalis, in plain terms
Botox is a neuromodulator, not a filler. It does not plump creases the way hyaluronic acid does. It quiets the muscle input that causes the fold in the first place. A tiny amount of botox cosmetic, delivered into the superficial fibers of the nasalis, dampens the peak squeeze. The line softens because the skin is not being punched into itself with each smile or squint. Over several treatment cycles, the break from constant folding lets fine lines fade. Deep, leathered creases may require time, combination therapy, or realistic acceptance that complete erasure is unlikely.
Anatomically, the placement matters. The nasalis sits superficial, and injections should stay just under the skin, not in the deeper plane. That reduces the risk of spreading into the upper lip elevators or the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, which could otherwise pull the smile downward or create asymmetry. This is one of those areas where millimeters count.
What a typical treatment looks like
A botox appointment for bunny lines is quick. Once you are assessed, the injections themselves take a few minutes. I usually ask patients to smile naturally, then to scrunch the nose the way they do when they notice the lines in the mirror. We identify the peaks of the creases, then map out two to four superficial points on each side. The face tells you where to go, but there are guardrails: stay lateral to the nasal bridge, avoid the thin skin close to the tear trough, and stay modest with total dose.
Entry-level dosing often falls in the range of 2 to 5 units per side. Younger skin, softer lines, and weaker nasalis activity may call for the low end. Stronger movement or deeper etching can justify a small increase, still conservative. If you also receive botox for frown lines, crow’s feet, or an eyebrow lift, I adjust bunny line dosing downward to respect the overall balance of your smile and eye expression. The first session is rarely about chasing perfection. It is about establishing your response curve so we can fine-tune at a touch up.
Most patients describe the sensation as a quick pinch. Ice, vibration, or a topical numbing cream can help, though most do not need it for this area. You can return to normal life immediately after leaving the clinic. If you have an event the same evening, plan for a small chance of pinpoint redness or a mark that looks like a bug bite for an hour or two.
When you can expect results, and how long they last
Onset for bunny line botox usually begins at day three to day five, with the full effect at about two weeks. The duration for the nasalis area typically runs closer to 8 to 12 weeks, sometimes stretching to three or four months in patients with slower metabolism or gentler muscle recruitment. First-time users may metabolize faster, or they may simply notice the return of movement sooner because they are watching closely. Over repeated sessions, duration tends to stabilize.
Because bunny lines are tied to expression, the subjective result matters as much as the clinical one. I often ask patients to bring photos of the exact smile that bothers them. We use a consistent expression at follow-ups, almost like a lab test. The difference becomes clear when you recreate the same grin two weeks apart.
Choosing the right provider and why it matters on the nose
There is less margin for error around the midface. The nose area is small, superficial, and close to muscle groups that shape your smile. A skilled injector understands the interplay between the nasalis, levator labii complex, and orbicularis oculi. They also respect skin thickness, which varies with age, gender, and ethnicity. Technique, not just dosage, drives safety. Superficial placement, slow injection, and precise mapping reduce spread and bruising.
Credentials matter. You want a botox specialist with medical training in facial anatomy, whether that is a dermatologist, facial plastic surgeon, or an experienced aesthetic physician associate or nurse under proper supervision. Ask how often they treat bunny lines specifically, not just botox for forehead or crow’s feet. Volume brings pattern recognition: the more noses they treat, the better they become at reading subtle asymmetries and avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unnatural smiles.
The art of subtlety: avoiding the frozen look
Patients often worry that botox face treatment will flatten their personality. For bunny lines, a restrained approach respects the smile. I rarely exceed moderate dosing at the first visit, even in strong nasalis users. If anything, I under-correct by a unit or two and invite a quick touch up at the two-week mark. A graceful result preserves cheek lift and under-eye warmth, while the sharp creases at the side of the nose no longer jump out in photos. That balance is the signature of good aesthetic care.
The surrounding treatments matter too. If you go heavy on botox for crow’s feet, your face may push expression into the midface and nose. If you go light around the eyes, more motion disperses naturally, sparing the nasalis. There is no one formula. A complete botox treatment plan should consider how your brows, lids, cheeks, and upper lip move together. Sometimes, addressing a gummy smile with minute dosing to the levator labii reduces the nose scrunch indirectly. Other times, microdosing the bunny lines alone is all you need.
Safety profile and side effects you should know
Botox aesthetic injections for bunny lines are low risk in experienced hands. The most common effects are mild and brief: redness at the injection site, a small bump that settles within an hour, and rare pinpoint bruising that resolves within a few days. Occasional headaches can occur after any botox procedure, though they are less common with small facial areas.
Unwanted effects are typically about spread or placement. Too deep or too medial, and you could tease weakness in the upper lip elevators, leading to an odd smile or a slight change in how the nostril rim sits during a grin. Overdosing can flatten nasal expression so much that the midface looks stiff. These events are usually temporary and fade as the botox wears off, but they are better avoided than endured. Good mapping, shallow placement, and conservative dosing are the antidotes.
Allergic reactions to botox are extremely rare. If you have a history of neuromuscular disorders, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take certain antibiotics that interact with neuromodulators, your provider may advise deferring treatment. A thorough botox consultation should cover medical history, medication review, and prior responses to injectable therapies.
How bunny line treatment fits into a broader plan
Faces age as a system. Targeting only one small area sometimes amplifies another. If you soften bunny lines but keep deep crow’s feet, the eye wrinkles may take center stage. If your under eyes have crepe-like texture or tear trough shadows, smoothing the nose creases might make the contrast more noticeable. That does not mean you need a full-face overhaul, but it argues for thoughtful sequencing.
In practice, I often stage treatment. Start with the most distracting movement first. For many, that is the glabella and crow’s feet. Once settled, if the nose creases announce themselves more, address them with low-dose botox. If fine lines linger after two or three cycles, consider adding skin quality work: light energy devices, biostimulatory microneedling, or topical retinoids to improve dermal resilience. For deeply etched static lines, a whisper of hyaluronic acid placed strategically can help, but that is the exception. The nasalis region is not a playground for filler. It demands restraint and advanced technique to avoid vascular or aesthetic complications.
What first-time patients often ask
Does it hurt? The nose skin is thin, so you will feel small pinpricks, but it is fast. Most patients rate it two or three out of ten. Ice or vibration makes it even easier.
Will it change my smile? Properly placed botox for bunny lines softens the nose scrunch while leaving your smile intact. Heavy-handed placement can alter smile dynamics, which is why dosing and plane depth matter. If you are cautious by nature, opt for a trial microdose.
How long until I see something? Expect partial effect by the end of the first week, full effect at two weeks.
How often will I need maintenance? Most patients refresh every three to four months. Highly expressive faces or athletes with faster metabolism sometimes return at ten to twelve weeks. Over time, as the habit of forceful scrunching fades, some can stretch intervals.
Can I combine this with other areas? Yes. Many people treat frown lines, forehead, crow’s feet, and bunny lines in the same session. Your provider should balance the plan so expression stays harmonious.
Aftercare that actually matters
You do not need elaborate rituals. The key is to avoid behaviors that increase spread in the first hours. Skip intense exercise for the rest of the day. Do not press or massage the area. Keep your head upright for several hours. Clean makeup brushes and avoid heavy application right away to reduce the chance of irritation at puncture sites. If a bruise appears, topical arnica can help, but time is the main remedy. You can resume normal skincare that evening or the next morning. Gentle washing is fine.
A small number of patients notice a mild headache later that day. Hydration, rest, or an over-the-counter pain reliever that you tolerate well usually does the trick, assuming your medical history allows it. If anything feels off or asymmetry appears, reach out to your provider. Early assessment is better than waiting and worrying.
Cost, value, and when to pass
Pricing varies by geography, injector experience, and whether the clinic bills by unit or by area. Bunny lines typically require a low number of units compared to botox for forehead or masseter slimming, so the price is modest relative to larger zones. If you see a price that looks too good to be true, ask about the product source, dilution practices, and injector credentials. Authentic botox cosmetic has trackable lot numbers, and reputable clinics do not obscure them.
There are times when botox is not the answer. If your primary concern is a static, deeply etched crease that sits there even when you are expressionless, and your nasalis muscle barely activates, neuromodulation alone will disappoint. Skin resurfacing, collagen-stimulating treatments, or a careful microdrop of filler placed away from high-risk vessels might serve better. A thoughtful provider will say no when the fit is poor. That honesty saves you money and frustration.
A case study that illustrates the balance
A 38-year-old photographer came in troubled by lines next to her nose that jumped out in close-up shots. She had never tried injectables. Her glabella and crow’s feet were active, but not the main complaint. On test expressions, her nasalis fired strongly with a deep diagonal crease ending near the inner canthus. We agreed on conservative dosing: 3 units per side, superficial plane, with placement slightly lateral to avoid spill into the levator complex.
At her two-week botox appointment, the crinkles were half as prominent. Her smile looked natural. She loved the change, but under direct light, a faint etch line remained at rest. We decided on a 1 unit per side touch up. She returned at three months with soft but returning motion. We repeated the same dose, then added a home protocol of nightly retinaldehyde and sunscreen every morning. By her third cycle, the static etch had softened further, and her maintenance interval settled at about four months. She never needed filler in that area, and we kept her crow’s feet on the lighter side botox near New Providence to prevent compensatory nose scrunching.
The lesson is not that those exact numbers suit everyone, but that steady, modest adjustments beat aggressive one-time fixes. The nose is a small canvas. Less paint goes a long way.
Integrating bunny line care with other popular treatments
If you already receive botox for frown lines or a botox brow lift, your injector should dial in your bunny line plan accordingly. High-dose crow’s feet work reduces outer eye wrinkles, but sometimes shifts your expressive energy inward, so the bunny lines appear stronger. In these cases, microdosing along the nasalis often completes the picture. Conversely, if you love a very animated eye area and prefer minimal botox for crow’s feet, you may find you need almost nothing on the nose.
Patients who pursue a botox lip flip or botox for gummy smile should approach bunny lines with extra care. These interventions involve muscles that sit close to the nasalis. Coordinated dosing prevents overlap that might dull the upper lip lift. Again, mapping and restraint trump templates.
If you use botox for migraine, masseter bruxism, or hyperhidrosis, your systemic exposure remains low because botox acts locally where injected. There is no evidence that treating other body areas reduces facial efficacy. Each zone is a separate decision based on goals and anatomy.
Setting expectations: what success looks like
Success does not mean a motionless nose. It means the crinkle softens, the diagonal tracks blur, and your smile reads as fresh rather than scrunched. Friends may comment that you look well rested, without being able to point to a single change. In photos, the highlight across the midface appears smoother, and makeup sits more evenly along the sidewall of the nose.
If your lines were deep to begin with, plan for a few cycles to retrain the habit. Skin behaves like fabric. If you stop creasing it, the memory fades, but not overnight. Combine your injections with sun protection, a retinoid suitable for your skin, and sensible hydration. That simple trio does more for fine lines than most jars on the shelf.
Practical checklist for patients considering botox for bunny lines
- Bring a photo of the expression that bothers you most. It focuses the consultation. Start with conservative dosing, and schedule a two-week follow-up for possible touch up. Avoid heavy exercise and facial massage for the rest of the treatment day. Track your personal duration, then set your maintenance injections just before full return of movement. Reassess adjacent areas, especially crow’s feet and gummy smile, so your overall expression stays balanced.
Final thoughts from the treatment chair
Bunny lines are small, but they sit at a visual crossroads between the eyes, cheeks, and upper lip. That is why patients notice them more than they expect. Botox injection therapy in this region is a study in minimalism. Two to four strategic microdeposits can change how your smile photographs and how makeup lays along the nose without stealing the spark in your expression. The best results come from careful mapping, modest dosing, and a willingness to refine rather than overhaul.
If you are booking your first botox appointment, plan it at least two weeks before any big event. Choose a provider who treats faces daily, not occasionally. Ask for a treatment plan that considers your whole upper face, not just a single crease. With that approach, botox for bunny lines becomes a quiet, reliable tool in a broader anti aging strategy, one that values proportion, movement, and the character in your smile as much as the smoothness of your skin.
Whether you are pairing bunny line treatment with botox for wrinkles across the forehead, softening frown lines, or keeping crow’s feet in check, the same principles hold: respect anatomy, favor the smallest effective dose, and judge success in the mirror of real life rather than in exaggerated facial contortions. That is how you smooth the nose creases safely, and how you keep looking like you, just a little more at ease.