By Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP · Updated September 26, 2026
If you are weighing crow’s feet treatment, the real question is which tool fits the lines you actually have. Botox® for crow’s feet softens the crease that appears when you smile, while microneedling works on the skin quality around the eye. They solve different problems, and for many people the best result comes from using both. Here is how to decide.
The short version: Botox relaxes the muscle that folds the skin into crow’s feet when you smile, microneedling rebuilds the skin’s own collagen to smooth the fine lines that stay at rest, and combining them treats both the movement and the texture. Botox results last about three to four months, while microneedling builds over a series of sessions.
What are crow’s feet and what causes them?
Crow’s feet are the fan of fine lines at the outer corner of the eye, caused first by the orbicularis oculi muscle contracting every time you smile or squint, and later by thinning, sun-exposed skin that starts to hold those creases even at rest.
There are two kinds of crow’s feet, and telling them apart is the whole reason treatment choices differ. Dynamic lines appear only when you smile or squint. They come from muscle movement, and they are what most people first notice in photos. Static lines are the creases that stay visible when your face is relaxed. They come from years of that same movement combined with collagen loss, sun exposure, and the naturally thin skin around the eye.
Miami adds its own pressure. Constant bright sun and squinting against the glare speed up both the muscle habit and the skin damage that drive crow’s feet, which is why many patients here notice them earlier than they expected.
Does Botox get rid of crow’s feet?
Botox is the most direct treatment for dynamic crow’s feet: it relaxes the muscle that folds the skin when you smile, so the lines soften or disappear during movement, with results appearing in a few days and lasting about three to four months.
Botox is a neuromodulator. Injected in tiny amounts around the outer eye, it gently relaxes the orbicularis oculi so the skin no longer folds as sharply when you smile. Because it treats the cause of dynamic lines, it is the first-line option when your crow’s feet are mostly a smiling or squinting pattern. You can compare the options, including Botox, Dysport®, and Xeomin®, in our guide to how Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin compare.
- Units: crow’s feet commonly take a small number of units per side. The exact number depends on how strong your muscle is and how wide the fan of lines spreads.
- Timing: you usually see softening within three to five days, with the full effect by about two weeks.
- Duration: results typically last three to four months; as the muscle gradually regains movement the lines come back, and most people schedule a maintenance treatment.
- Natural movement: the goal is a softer smile line, not a frozen one. Careful dosing around the eye keeps your expression intact.
What Botox does not do is change the texture or thickness of the skin itself. If a line stays etched when your face is completely still, Botox will soften it but may not erase it. That is where the second tool comes in.
Does microneedling help crow’s feet?
Microneedling improves crow’s feet by remodeling the skin itself: fine controlled channels prompt new collagen around the eye, which thickens crepey skin and softens static lines over a series of sessions rather than through muscle relaxation.
Microneedling uses a device with very fine needles to create controlled micro-channels in the skin. Your body responds by producing fresh collagen and elastin, which gradually improves skin thickness, tone, and the fine crepey texture that Botox cannot reach. For crow’s feet, that means it targets the static, textural component: the crinkle that stays when you are not smiling.
Because it relies on your own collagen response, microneedling works over time. Most people do a series of sessions spaced a few weeks apart, and results build over the following months. It also pairs well with the delicate skin around the eye when performed by a trained injector who respects that area. Learn more about microneedling at our Miami Beach studio.
Botox vs microneedling for crow’s feet: how do they compare?
Choose Botox when your crow’s feet show up mainly with movement, choose microneedling when the skin around your eye looks crepey at rest, and choose both when you have a mix of dynamic lines and thinning skin.
The two treatments address different layers of the problem, so they tend to work together rather than compete. This table lays out the practical differences.
| Botox for crow’s feet | Microneedling for crow’s feet | |
|---|---|---|
| What it targets | Dynamic lines from muscle movement | Static lines and crepey skin texture |
| How it works | Relaxes the orbicularis oculi muscle | Stimulates new collagen in the skin |
| When you see results | 3 to 5 days, full by 2 weeks | Builds over weeks across a series |
| How long it lasts | About 3 to 4 months | Longer term as collagen remodels, with maintenance |
| Downtime | Little to none | Redness for a day or two |
| Best for | Lines that appear when you smile | Skin that looks lined at rest |
Should you combine Botox and microneedling?
For most people with established crow’s feet, combining the two gives the fullest result: Botox calms the muscle that keeps folding the skin, while microneedling rebuilds the skin’s quality, so the lines improve both in motion and at rest.
When both dynamic and static lines are present, using one treatment alone leaves part of the problem untouched. Botox relaxes the movement that etches new lines, and microneedling improves the skin that is already creased. Sequencing matters, and it is planned around each treatment’s healing window rather than done in the same moment on the same spot. In practice, a consultation is where we map which lines are muscle, which are skin, and the order that fits your skin and your calendar.
This is also where an experienced injector matters. The skin around the eye is thin and unforgiving, so both the Botox placement and the microneedling depth should be handled by someone who treats this area regularly.
What does crow’s feet treatment cost in Miami Beach?
Botox for crow’s feet is priced by the number of units used, while microneedling is priced per session or as a series, so your total depends on how many units your muscle needs and whether you add a microneedling package.
Because Botox is dosed in units, the price scales with how strong your muscle is and how much area you treat. Microneedling is usually priced per session, and because it works best as a short series, many people plan it as a package. The most accurate number comes from an in-person assessment, where your treatment plan and pricing are confirmed before anything is done. You can see current options for Botox for crow’s feet in Miami Beach and book a consultation to get a plan built for your lines.
Where to Find Us in Miami Beach
Our office sits on 5th Street at the northern edge of South of Fifth (SoFi), the southern tip of Miami Beach, about three blocks from Ocean Drive. Patients come to us from across Miami Beach, Brickell, Mid-Beach, and Bal Harbour.
1000 5th Street, Suite 414
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Frequently asked questions about crow’s feet treatment
How many units of Botox do you need for crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet usually take a small number of units per side, but the exact amount depends on how strong your smile muscle is and how far the lines spread. Your injector confirms the number after assessing your movement in person.
How long does Botox last for crow’s feet?
Botox for crow’s feet typically lasts about three to four months. As the muscle gradually regains movement, the lines return, and most people schedule maintenance treatments to keep the result.
Can you treat crow’s feet without Botox?
Yes. Microneedling, medical-grade skincare, and sun protection can all improve the skin around the eye and soften static lines. They work on skin quality rather than muscle movement, so results build gradually and are often combined with Botox for the fullest effect.
Does microneedling help crow’s feet?
Microneedling helps the textural, at-rest component of crow’s feet by stimulating new collagen, which thickens crepey skin around the eye over a series of sessions. It does not relax the muscle, so it is often paired with Botox for dynamic lines.
How much does crow’s feet treatment cost in Miami Beach?
Botox is priced by the number of units used and microneedling is priced per session or as a series, so the total depends on your muscle strength and whether you add microneedling. Pricing is confirmed in writing at your consultation before treatment.
Can you get Botox and microneedling at the same time?
They are usually staged rather than performed on the exact same spot at the same moment, because each has its own healing window. Your injector plans the sequence so the two treatments support each other safely.
Kelly Wolfe
Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, is a Florida-licensed nurse practitioner and the owner of South Florida Face and Body, where she personally performs every injectable and microneedling treatment. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami and a Master of Science in Biochemistry, and her background in how skin and muscle age differently shapes how she plans crow’s feet treatment around each patient.
The best crow’s feet result reads as a rested face, not a treated one.
Meet Kelly →Ready to soften your crow’s feet? A consultation is the fastest way to learn whether Botox, microneedling, or a combination fits your lines. Book a crow’s feet consultation in Miami Beach.