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Crows Feet: What Are They & How to Get Rid of Them

Tagged: Facial Treatments

Date: 14th February 2024

Medically Reviewed by:  Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396)

Last reviewed: 14th February 2024

Crows feet are wrinkles that form at the corners of our eyes. They form as a part of the ageing process and through repeat facial motions such as smiling.  
 
As time progresses, these lines can become more pronounced as part of facial ageing over time, and it’s understandable that some people want to remove crows feet eyes and this is what we discuss below. We look at the cause of crows feet eyes, together with ways to cure them including lifestyle changes, non-invasive treatments, and surgical procedures. 

What Are Crows Feet?

Crows feet or smile lines are the formation of wrinkles at the corner of our eyes – mimicking the appearance of the triangular shape of a crow’s wrinkly toes. Most people develop them as we age but, in some people, they can be more developed which is when crow’s feet eyes treatment could be considered. 

What Causes Crows Feet?

The primary cause of crows feet eyes is the depletion of collagen production in our skin. As we age, collagen production diminishes at an average rate of 1% per year. Collagen is a vital protein that gives our skin elasticity and structure.

When collagen levels are depleted, our skin becomes prone to wrinkles – especially in areas where the skin regularly folds such as around our eyes. So, the combination of collagen depletion, and repeat facial expressions like smiling or squinting causing skin folds ultimately form the wrinkles around our eyes that we call crows feet. 

Can You Prevent Crows Feet?

The appearance of crows feet eyes can be reduced with lifestyle changes, and they can be eliminated with non-invasive treatments and surgery. However, there is no true preventative measure – crows feet eyes form naturally as a part of the ageing process and most people will experience some degree of crows feet during their lifetime.

What Are the Best Treatments For Crows Feet?

Crow’s feet eyes treatment can be broken into three categories – lifestyle changes, non-invasive treatments, and surgery and these include:

  • Lifestyle changes 
  • Non Invasive Treatments 
    • Anti-Ageing Injectables  
    • Chemical Peels  
    • Dermal Fillers 
    • Laser Therapy 
    • Microdermabrasion 
    • Morpheus 8 Treatment 
    • Radiofrequency Skin Tightening 
  • Invasive Surgery 
    • Blepharoplasty 
    • Brow Lift  
    • Canthoplasty 
    • Eyelid Skin Pinch 
    • Fat Transfer to Face 

Can Lifestyle Changes Get Rid of Crows Feet?

The appearance of crows feet eyes can be worsened with unhealthy lifestyle choices or a lack of care towards your skin. Things you can do to reduce the appearance of crows feet eyes and improve your skin quality include:

  • Topical skin care (creams, moisturisers, etc.). 
  • Quitting smoking. 
  • Improving sun protection (using high SPF sun cream). 
  • Improving diet. 
  • Exercising regularly. 
  • Staying hydrated.

We advise doing these things regardless of if you have crows feet eyes or not as they are fantastic for your wellbeing. However, doing these things can also work as minor preventative measures, and as a complement to non-invasive treatments and surgery.

Please note that lifestyle changes are highly unlikely to reverse any crows feet wrinkles you already have. 

How Can Non Invasive Treatments Get Rid of Crows Feet?

Lifestyle changes can have a limited impact but will not remove crow’s feet entirely. If you want to take more definitive action, there is a range of non-invasive treatments that work as a gateway to cosmetics without the need for surgery. These range from dermal fillers and chemical peels to radiofrequency and microneedling.

The benefits of non-invasive treatments are the quicker recovery times, lesser downtime, and affordability compared to surgical treatments. The main drawback of these treatments are the “repeat” nature, i.e. you may have to have multiple sessions over time to maintain the desired results. 

Anti-Ageing Injectables

Crows feet eyes can be reduced using anti-ageing injectables. This quick and hassle-free process involves injecting local muscle relaxants around your eyes to smooth out facial lines and wrinkles. It’s especially common and the procedure can be completed in as little as 20 minutes. The results last for between three to six months, but you can get repeat treatments to continually combat crows feet eyes.

Dermal Fillers

Using a solution including hyaluronic acid (which is found naturally in your skin), Dermal Fillers are injected around the areas of concern to fill out hollows and soften facial wrinkles, making your skin look youthful and rejuvenated. Filler for crows feet involves no downtime, and near-instant results. Dermal fillers are also one of the quickest treatments for crows feet eyes, taking no more than 30 minutes.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a type of exfoliating where a mildly acidic solution is used to remove the outer layer of skin around your eyes. As the old, dead skin is removed, new cell growth and collagen growth is stimulated which helps reduce crows feet and wrinkles under eyes. Phenol peels and Glycolic acid peels are the two most common variants of this crows feet cure.

Laser Resurfacing

Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing involves using a laser to remove layers of skin around the eyes where crows feet have formed. By removing layers of skin, your body triggers a response and the growth of collagen is stimulated which ultimately provides repairs and tightens skin around your eyes, removing the appearance of crows feet eyes.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion involves a type of exfoliation using a diamond-tipped wand or fine crystals. The effect is to improve your skin texture and reduce the appearance of winkles under and around the eyes, including crows feet. The treatment takes approximately 30 minutes, and a vacuum is used to remove the dead skin generated via the exfoliating process.

Morpheus 8

Morpheus 8 is a type of enhanced microneedling treatment that also uses radio frequency. It’s a type of controlled-trauma treatment that aims to produce a healing response in your skin and promotes the production of collagen which is essential for smoothing skin and giving it a firm texture. Typically, 1-3 treatments are needed and results can be seen in just a few days.

Non-Surgical Facelift

A non-surgical facelift offers a tailored crows feet cure that can be altered to suit each individual. The process can involve a grouping of different treatments including dermal fillers, chemical peels, and microneedling to combat crows feet eyes in the best way for you. 
 
Radiofrequency
 
RF is a method of skin tightening involving the use of energy waves. The waves penetrate and heat the dermis layer of your skin which stimulates the growth of collagen to ultimately tighten your skin and smooth crows feet wrinkles.  
 


Is Surgery the Best Treatments to Get Rid of Crows Feet?

If you want the best results and more long-lasting solutions, surgical treatments are the best way to get rid of crow’s feet. Depending on the individual, and the development of crows feet, surgical treatments can include Blepharoplasty, Fat Transfer to Face, a Brow Lift, and Canthoplasty.

The benefit of surgical treatments is the immediate, long-lasting results – you won’t have to return for repeat sessions unlike non-invasive options. However, the drawbacks are the longer recovery period, and the downtime from work.

Blepharoplasty

With a surgery time of between 1-2 hours and a full recovery of 2 weeks, Blepharoplasty is an excellent crows feet cure. This surgical procedure involves reshaping the eyelids via the removal of excess fat and skin which ultimately tightens the skin around the eyes and thus removes crows feet.

Brow Lift

A brow lift primarily aims to reduce the effect of drooping brows as we age, but the procedure is also a superb crows feet cure. During the surgery, excess skin is removed from the brow and the remaining structure is reshaped and redressed to create a tightened and lifted brow that also tightens skin around the eyes and eliminates crows feet. You can expect to need one week off work and the surgery is completed as a day case.

Fat Transfer to Face

Often referred to as facial fat grafting, fat transfer to face involves extracting and processing fat from your body and reinjecting it into the areas of concern. This restores the volume you lose in your face via natural ageing, giving you a rejuvenated look and eliminating facial wrinkles like crows feet. This procedure has the benefit of a shorter surgery and recovery time, with only a few days being needed off work, similar to dermal fillers

Eliminate Crows Feet With a Treatment to Suit Your Lifestyle and Case

Crows feet eyes can be eliminated with surgical treatments such as Blepharoplasty, Brow Lift and Fat Transfer and these methods offer the best treatment for crow’s feet and under eye wrinkles in more developed cases, or if you want a single-treatment solution and the most impactful end results.

However, for less-developed cases, or for those who want to avoid downtime from work, repeat non-invasive treatments like dermal fillers and anti-ageing injections provide a superb alternative, and are often popular as first-time treatment options.

At the same time, you should strive to make lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, reducing sun exposure, and staying hydrated to complement these crows feet eyes treatments and improve your wellbeing.   

FAQs

Lifestyle changes including eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding excess sun exposure can help reduce the appearance of crows feet, but not eliminate them entirely.

You can reduce the appearance of crows feet eyes by improving your diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and reducing sun exposure. However, only non-invasive and surgical treatments provide long-lasting solutions to crows feet eyes.

Yes. There are several surgical treatments for crows feet that provide long-lasting results. These include Blepharoplasty, Canthoplasty, a Brow Lift, Laser Resurfacing, and Fat Transfer to Face. 


Words From Our Founder

Mr. Bryan Mayou

Crow's feet are a common concern for many people as they can make the eyes look smaller and create a sad or angry facial appearance. Blepharoplasty, Facelift or Brow Lift can all effectively smooth and rejuvenate the eye area, depending on the concerns of the patient. However, injectables such as Botox can offer a more immediate result which may be preferable for some patients. Whichever technique the patient decides on, the goal is always to create a natural result, with more open eyes, resulting in a happy, more approachable appearance.
Mr. Bryan Mayou

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