Lines at the outer corners of the eyes can come from muscle, from thin skin, or both. Medical Director Dr Sin Yong works out which before suggesting anything at IN Eternity Clinic on Orchard Road.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓Crow’s feet are lines fanning from the outer corner of the eye. Lines that appear only when you smile come from the orbicularis muscle and respond to anti-wrinkle injections; lines that stay at rest are etched into thinning skin and need skin boosters or laser resurfacing as well. Most people have some of both.
A simple test helps. Look in a mirror with a relaxed face, then smile broadly. Lines that appear only with the smile are dynamic: the orbicularis oculi muscle is pleating the skin as it contracts. Lines still visible with the face at rest are static: the skin has thinned and lost elasticity, so the creases remain.
Validated grading scales used in research rate crow’s feet separately at rest and on smiling for exactly this reason. Most people over 35 have a mix, and the proportion decides the plan. Sun exposure, smoking and frequent squinting deepen both kinds. The fine lines and crepe guide explains the skin side in more detail.
For dynamic lines, small doses of botulinum toxin, a prescription medicine, are placed into the outer part of the orbicularis muscle to soften its pull. The aim is a smile that still reaches the eyes, not a frozen look; doses that are too high or placed too low can flatten the smile or affect the cheek. The effect builds over about two weeks and usually lasts a few months.
Our anti-wrinkle injections page covers the wider treatment, micro-dose anti-wrinkle treatment explains a lighter approach for people who want softening rather than stillness, and the price guide sets out what affects cost.
“If the lines vanish when you stop smiling, the muscle is the target. If they stay, the skin is. Treating one when you have the other changes little.”
Where the skin itself is creasing, treatment aims to improve its thickness and hydration. Polynucleotide boosters, including a thinner formulation made for the eye area described on our Rejuran page, support repair; Profhilo and hyaluronic acid skin boosters improve hydration. For people who prefer no injections, the Deep Synergy Booster uses ultrasound delivery.
Boosters improve crepey texture gradually across a course; they do not stop the muscle movement that folds the skin, so they are often combined with anti-wrinkle injections. If the concern is a hollow under the eye rather than lines beside it, see under-eye filler vs Rejuran Eye.
Static lines that remain after the muscle has been softened usually need the skin rebuilt. Fractional laser creates controlled micro-injuries that the skin repairs with new collagen. The FSX Laser, a non-ablative thulium and erbium glass protocol, treats fine lines with little downtime for most people; T2 Frax Radiance uses picosecond energy for tone and texture; deeper etched lines may suit fractional CO2 on the Tetra PRO at settings chosen for thin periorbital skin.
Where loosening skin and a heavier upper lid accompany the lines, radiofrequency tightening such as Thermage FLX with its eye tip, or VF Lift – Vertical Facelift, may be part of the plan. Laser near the eye always uses protective eye shields.
The outer-eye lines often appear with other changes. Our eye hub collects them: eye bags, tear trough hollows, dark circles and droopy eyelids. Lower down, smile lines follow the same ageing of the cheek.
Repeated contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle when smiling or squinting folds the thin skin at the outer eye. Over time, sun exposure, natural collagen loss and smoking thin that skin, so the lines stay even at rest. Genetics influence when they appear and how deep they become.
They soften lines caused by muscle movement, usually within about two weeks, and the effect lasts a few months. Lines etched into the skin at rest improve less, because the skin itself has creased. Those typically need skin boosters or laser alongside, planned at assessment.
It should not, when doses are conservative and placed in the outer part of the muscle. Too much, or placement too close to the cheek, can flatten the smile or affect the lower eyelid. A light first treatment with review lets the dose be adjusted to your expression.
Laser can be used around the eyes with suitable settings and protective eye shields. The skin here is thin, so energy and density are lowered and darker skin types are treated cautiously to reduce the risk of pigment change. Suitability is decided at assessment.
There is no set age. Some people in their late twenties notice dynamic lines and choose a light treatment; others wait until lines remain at rest. Sun protection and good skincare help at any age. The decision is yours, made after an honest discussion of what each option can do.
Cost depends on whether injections, boosters, laser or a combination are needed, how many sessions are planned and the products used. Because the cause varies between people, the plan and its cost are set out at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic before anything is booked.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.