Do the diagonal wrinkles that scrunch up along the sides of your nose when you smile or squint bother you in photos or the mirror? Those are bunny lines, and a small, precise dose of Botox cosmetic injections can soften them without freezing your expression or changing your smile.
Bunny lines show up most clearly when you crinkle your nose. They radiate out from the bridge toward the inner cheeks, sometimes as two short diagonals, sometimes as a delicate fan with one side deeper than the other. They form because a compact muscle called the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi contracts with certain expressions. Over time, repetitive movement etches creases into the skin. For many people, bunny lines appear after a few rounds of anti wrinkle botox in other areas like the glabella or crow’s feet, because facial movement compensates and shifts. For others, they are simply part of how they express a warm smile or a skeptical squint.
This is a small, specialized treatment, and getting it right depends on experience. In my practice, I view bunny lines as part of the midface pattern, not an isolated target. The goal is harmony, so the nose softens while the eyes, upper lip, and cheeks still feel like you.
What exactly are bunny lines and why do they deepen?
Bunny lines follow the fibers of muscles that lift the upper lip and flare the nostrils. When you sniff, laugh hard, or focus under bright light, these fibers cinch the skin along the nasal sidewall. In younger skin, the creases disappear immediately. With time, collagen thins and repetitive folding leaves faint tracks that start to linger even at rest. People who are expressive, those with seasonal allergies who rub or scrunch the nose, and people who have had botox glabellar lines treated (between the eyebrows) often notice these wrinkles more.
An important nuance: bunny lines can be more pronounced on the dominant side of your face. If one eyebrow arches higher or one cheek lifts more in photos, expect asymmetry in bunny lines too. Skin thickness and photodamage matter as well. Finer, sun-exposed skin etches faster, which is why diligent sunscreen and supportive skincare help results last longer.
Where Botox fits: the smallest doses, the smartest placement
Botox cosmetic treatment works by relaxing muscle activity where it is injected. For bunny lines, the intent is not a heavy immobilization. It is a subtle reduction in the crease-forming pull along the nasal sidewall. The doses are small, often 1 to 2 units per injection point, typically two points per side. For those with a wider wrinkle fan, an additional micro point may be added. Total units per session commonly range from 4 to 10 for both sides combined, depending on gender, muscle strength, and baseline lines.
Botox microinjections, sometimes called microbotox or mesobotox when used more diffusely, can be adapted here. Instead of a bolus, I feather tiny units into the superficial plane so the muscle quiets without creating heaviness. That nuance matters near the nose because overtreatment can pull on the upper lip dynamics and the nostrils.
If you have already had botox for eyes, botox crows feet treatment, or botox forehead wrinkles addressed, we look at the whole upper face. Relaxing one group of muscles changes how others behave. For example, when the glabella is smooth, some people recruit the nose scrunch more when frowning or concentrating. Calm the bunny lines and the overall expression pattern evens out.
What a typical appointment looks like
The visit is quick, usually 15 to 20 minutes. We start by watching your natural expression. I ask you to smile broadly, squint gently, and crinkle your nose. I mark the diagonal lines and palpate the muscle slip. The skin is cleansed, sometimes with a dab of alcohol or chlorhexidine, then cooled with a small ice pack for a few seconds to reduce sting and minimize the risk of bruising.
The injections are superficial and feel like brief pinpricks. You might tear slightly from reflex, not pain. There is no downtime. Makeup can go back on after a light pat with a clean sponge, though I advise avoiding heavy rubbing that day. The effect starts to appear after 3 to 5 days, with full softening by days 10 to 14. If needed, a small touch up visit at the two week mark dials in symmetry or adds a micro point.
How long it lasts and what maintenance looks like
Results last about 3 to 4 months for first timers, sometimes stretching to 5 or 6 months with repeat cycles. Small muscles metabolize neurotoxin at slightly different rates than big muscles like the masseter, so your longevity may vary. Some patients prefer a botox maintenance plan that aligns bunny line treatment with their broader schedule: botox every 4 months for the upper face, or alternating between every 4 and every 6 months based on season and budget. I see predictable stability by the second or third round, and very occasionally we can reduce units as the habit of scrunching diminishes.
Patients who plan around events often integrate this into a holiday botox prep timeline. Since full results peak at two weeks, aim to schedule 2 to 3 weeks before photos or travel. If you like to refresh before summer outdoor events, consider a spring appointment. Practices sometimes offer seasonal botox specials, which can make a small area like bunny lines an easy add-on.
Subtle art, real risks: how to avoid overcorrection
Bunny lines sit near key functional structures. Over-treating or placing product too low risks odd effects like a smile that feels tight, a slightly flattened nasal flare, or an upper lip that does not lift evenly. These effects are uncommon and usually mild, but they are precisely why I favor lower units with thoughtful mapping.
Depth matters. Injections that are too deep can drift. Angling superficially and staying lateral to the nasal bone reduces spread. If a patient has botox for gummy smile correction or botox for nostrils planned in the same session, I separate the two by at least a few millimeters and scale doses conservatively, then assess at the two week botox follow up rather than chasing immediate perfection. When in doubt, less is more on day one, followed by a measured botox review session.
Another pitfall is trying to erase etched lines at rest using only botox cosmetic. If the crease is deeply imprinted, relaxing the muscle helps, but the skin may still show a faint track. In those cases, we discuss complementary options like a whisper of dermal filler placed intradermally, energy-based skin tightening, or collagen-stimulating skincare. Sometimes a combined approach, a light botox and filler package, works better than pushing more units. Skin biology sets the ceiling for what pure muscle relaxation can achieve.
Where bunny lines fit into full-face planning
Faces age and move as a system. If someone arrives for botox for facial rejuvenation with concerns across the upper and midface, I evaluate the interplay between glabellar lines, crow’s feet, forehead movement, and bunny lines. A patient who has botox 11 lines and botox between eyebrows treated but leaves bunny lines strong can look slightly off when smiling. Conversely, if you only soften the nose without considering crow’s feet, the eyes may still read as tense. The art lies in balance.
Patients often ask about addressing related areas:
- For eyes that look tired, botox for tired eyes focuses on the orbicularis oculi pattern. This can include a conservative botox brow lift for a millimeter or two of lateral lift. A careful hand avoids botox for droopy eyelids or over-relaxed lids in those with hooding. For smile concerns, botox for smile wrinkles and lipstick lines can be paired with bunny line softening if vertical lip lines steal attention. Small units around the mouth require precision to avoid speech or straw-sipping changes. For nose shape, botox nose tip lift can rotate a drooping tip upward a few degrees by relaxing the depressor septi nasi. It is a lovely complement if your bunny lines sit near a downward-rotating tip during a big grin.
When combined thoughtfully, these micro areas create a fresh, rested look that still moves and feels like you. Non surgical botox is not a face lift, but find botox Charlotte careful sequencing can deliver a meaningful botox rejuvenation effect.
Who is a good candidate, and who should pause
Most healthy adults with dynamic nose wrinkles are candidates. Those who notice the lines mainly when smiling or squinting usually get the most satisfying improvement. People who already enjoy results from botox for anti aging in other areas often appreciate the additional refinement.
A pause or a more in-depth discussion is warranted if you have chronic nasal obstruction, recent sinus surgery, uncontrolled allergies causing constant rubbing, or a history of atypical responses to wrinkle relaxing injections. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are standard no-go periods for elective botox cosmetic procedures. If you are on blood thinners, you can still do this, but expect a slightly higher chance of pinpoint bruises. Prior nasal trauma or surgery changes anatomy, and I adjust placement accordingly.
What it feels like to live with the result
By day three, you start to notice less crinkling when you catch yourself in a car mirror. At one week, selfies in natural light often look smoother along the bridge-to-cheek transition. You should still crinkle a bit, just not enough to etch a line. Friends rarely guess you had botox cosmetic; they simply comment that your skin looks rested. Makeup sits better because there is less folding under foundation. If you use a brightening concealer at the inner eye, it will no longer settle into diagonal creases by midday.
The experience is most satisfying when the rest of your expression is in tune. If your brow pulls strong medially but the bunny lines are quiet, we may discuss balancing botox glabellar lines. If crow’s feet still spike at the outer canthus, a small add-on to botox for eyes creates a cohesive finish.
Skincare that supports the treatment
Botox relaxes movement; it does not rebuild skin. Pair the treatment with habits that reinforce collagen and even tone. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher protects collagen from UV degradation. A nighttime retinoid, introduced gradually, encourages collagen formation and refines texture. Niacinamide balances barrier function and oil, which helps around the nose where makeup can separate. If you struggle with shine, adjunctive botox for oily skin or botox for pores via microdoses in the T-zone can reduce sebaceous activity. That is a different technique from bunny line injections and should be spaced and mapped separately.
Consider scheduling gentle in-office treatments between botox cycles. Light chemical peels or non-ablative laser passes polish residual etching. If skin laxity plays a role, energy-based tightening can boost the scaffold. None of these replace muscle relaxation, but together they carry your result farther.
Pricing and planning with transparency
Bunny line treatment typically costs less than larger areas because the dose is small. Practices price either per unit or per area. In a per-unit model, expect 4 to 10 units for both sides together. In an area model, bunny lines often sit at the lower end of the fee schedule. Bundling as part of a customized botox treatment can reduce per-visit overhead and increase consistency across sessions. Some patients build a yearly plan: core upper face areas every 4 months, then reassess at botox after one week for early tweaks and at botox 3 month results to plan the next round. Others prefer botox every 6 months and accept a brief fade-in period before refresh.
Ask about a personalized botox plan if you are managing several small concerns. A botox rejuvenation package that addresses glabella, crow’s feet, and bunny lines together often looks more natural and can be more cost-effective than piecemeal touch-ups.
Realistic expectations and what not to chase
Expect softening, not erasure. Dynamic lines should barely appear when you smile, and at rest the etched track should fade or look faint. If a line is deeply engraved, think of botox as step one. Overloading units to chase a zero-line outcome invites side effects and rarely achieves the goal. A better path blends modest botox with skin-directed options.
Do not chase week-one stiffness as a success metric here. The nose is expressive, and a slight residual crinkle is normal and even desirable. The test is how you look in motion and in photos under different lighting. A quick desk mirror glance can mislead because the angle and light exaggerate texture. I like patients to show me three photos at follow-up: a relaxed smile in daylight, a gentle squint at dusk, and a full laugh indoors. If the story reads as smooth, we are on track.
A word on adjacent areas and when to combine
Bunny lines sit in a neighborhood of small, expressive muscles. Strategic combinations produce outsized improvements.
- If your inner brow dives when you concentrate, a conservative botox frown lines treatment plus bunny line softening prevents the compensatory nose scrunch that appears when the brow is overworked. If crowding at the outer canthus steals attention, a measured botox crows feet treatment completes the eye-nose unit and keeps the cheek smile natural. If the nasal base widens during a big grin, tiny doses of botox for wide nose or botox for nostrils can narrow flare, but these require careful selection to avoid dulling expression.
Integration with fillers depends on the cause. If midface volume loss contributes to creasing at the nasofacial junction, a delicate filler in the medial cheek can distribute tension away from the nose. I keep filler and botox at least one to two weeks apart in this area for clarity on what each is doing and to minimize edema compounding.
Edge cases and special scenarios
Not every bunny line is equal. Some lines are actually early creases from cheek movement or from an exaggerated zygomatic lift. Those may look like bunny lines but respond better to microbotox feathering along the upper cheek or a tiny bit of volume support at the lid-cheek junction. On the other end, if a patient has botox for face asymmetry or botox for uneven eyebrows, we often see one-sided bunny lines that need unilateral dosing. Asymmetrical treatments are common, and the unit difference can be as small as a single unit per side.
Athletes with low body fat sometimes metabolize neuromodulators faster. If you train at high intensity, expect closer to the 3 month mark before fade. Conversely, first-timers who are nervous about too much change often do well starting with the smallest effective dose, then adding a unit at the touch up visit if needed. Patients with underlying TMJ issues or those considering botox for clenched jaw or botox masseter reduction should know that masseter treatment does not affect bunny lines directly, but it can subtly change smile dynamics, which may warrant a reassessment of nose dosing after jawline adjustments.
Aftercare that actually matters
There is little to do after this appointment. Skip strenuous exercise, saunas, and facials for the rest of the day. Avoid pressing or massaging the area. Sleep in any comfortable position; there is no need to sit upright all night. Makeup is fine with a light touch after an hour. If you see a pinpoint bruise, a dab of arnica or a green color corrector hides it easily. Results will not be apparent immediately; resist the urge to judge at day one.
Keep your scheduled check-in. A botox follow up at 10 to 14 days lets us adjust with precision. Past that window, additional units start a new onset timeline, so early review serves you better.
Frequently asked questions I hear in the chair
Will this change my breathing or sense of smell? No. We inject superficially into tiny muscles that affect skin creasing, not the structures that move air. You should not feel any difference in nasal airflow.
Can Botox drift into my upper lip and cause a smile change? With conservative doses and correct placement, that risk stays low. The most common side effect is a small bruise or a day of tenderness. If a mild smile asymmetry occurs, it usually fades as the Charlotte botox product wears in over two to three weeks, and can be balanced with micro units if needed.
What if I want a slightly lifted tip as well? We can plan a botox nose tip lift in the same session or at follow up. The dose is small and distinct from bunny line points. I often stage it to ensure each effect is measured.
Will treating bunny lines make other wrinkles worse? No. It can reduce compensatory movement. If anything, smart mapping helps distribute expression so no single zone bears all the load.
How soon before an event should I do this? Two to three weeks is ideal for full onset and any touch up. If you have never had botox cosmetic before, schedule earlier in case your metabolism runs fast or you want micro adjustments.
Putting it all together
Bunny line treatment is a precision task with outsized impact on how your midface reads in motion and in stills. Tiny, well-placed units of botox cosmetic soften diagonal nose wrinkles while preserving an authentic smile. The technique leans on light dosing, shallow depth, and a keen eye for facial balance. When paired thoughtfully with adjacent treatments like crow’s feet softening or a modest brow lift, it elevates the entire upper face without broadcasting that anything was done.
If you are mapping a broader plan for botox for facial balance or exploring a customized botox treatment, include the nose in your consultation. Bring photos of your natural smile and a couple of shots where you are squinting in bright light. Note when the lines bother you most: morning after sleep, late afternoon, under office LEDs, or outdoors. Those details help refine dosing more than any template.
The best result feels like you on your best day, across lighting conditions and expressions. With bunny lines, that means a laugh without the pinched crease and a selfie without diagonal tracks stealing the scene. A few careful units, repeated on a sensible schedule such as every 4 to 6 months, keep it that way, quietly and predictably.