Is Botox approved for crow's feet lines?

People want to know whether treating crow's feet with Botox is an approved use or an improvised one. If you are in Mamaroneck or Larchmont, the answer is yes, and the source is below.

The direct answer

The Cleveland Clinic's Botox page says Botox and two other brands "are a family of botulinum toxins (purified proteins) that are FDA approved for the temporary treatment of frown lines (“elevens”) and laugh lines (“crow’s feet”)."

Crow's feet are listed there as laugh lines. The approval is for temporary treatment of those lines.

Where to read more

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons keeps a page on botulinum toxin as a cosmetic procedure. For a wider scientific look, there is a paper on the current indications and limitations of botulinum neurotoxins in PubMed Central (NIH).

If you meet an unfamiliar name on a treatment list, MedlinePlus has drug information on daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm, a separate botulinum toxin product name.

What you can do now

Ask your clinician which product they plan to use on the eye area and what it is approved for. A clear answer should take a sentence.

What to leave alone

Do not buy a toxin product to use on yourself, and do not accept a vague answer about the product name. If you notice something unusual near the eye after treatment, call the treating clinic rather than waiting.

The question that comes next

People tend to ask next how Botox compares with the other brands on a clinic menu. That is a separate question, worth taking to your consultation.