The next time you scrunch your nose at a bright light or laugh hard, look closely in a mirror. Those fine diagonal creases that radiate from the upper sides of the nose toward the inner eye are bunny lines. They can be endearing, but they also tend to deepen as the nasalis muscle overworks. The good news is that a few precisely placed botox injections can soften them without touching your smile or changing your expression.
What exactly are bunny lines?
Bunny lines are dynamic wrinkles that appear when the nasalis muscle contracts. The nasalis lifts and compresses the nasal bridge, so repetitive movements etch diagonal lines across the upper nose and sometimes creep toward the lower eyelids. In early stages, they show only when you squint, sniff, or grin. As the skin loses elasticity, the lines can linger at rest, which is when people start to notice them in photos or makeup settles into them.
They are often more prominent in people who already use botox for forehead lines or frown lines. When the glabella and frontalis are relaxed by neuromodulator injections, the nasalis sometimes compensates, working harder when you emote. That compensation can deepen bunny lines. It’s not a complication, it is normal facial recruitment. Tailoring dosing for the nasalis helps keep the face balanced.
How neuromodulator injections soften the nasalis
Botulinum toxin treatment works by blocking acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, which decreases the nasalis muscle’s ability to contract fully. Reduced contraction means less skin bunching across the nose, which means softer diagonal creases. For bunny lines, providers typically use botox cosmetic injections at very low doses, often in the range of 2 to 4 units per injection point, with 2 points per side of the nose. Total dose usually falls between 6 and 12 units, but the exact number depends on muscle strength, facial asymmetry, and how far the lines extend.
You will often see the term baby botox or micro botox used to describe conservative dosing. Both approaches aim for subtle refinement rather than a stark change. In my practice, I start conservatively, then adjust two weeks later if needed. This reduces the risk of diffusion into nearby muscles, which can create unwanted changes like a slight smile imbalance.
The placement that matters
Because the nasalis lies thin and close to the skin, injection depth and angle affect results. Too superficial, and you increase the risk of visible bumps that take a day or two to settle. Too deep or lateral, and the toxin can spread to muscles that elevate the upper lip or affect the levator labii superioris, which can influence your smile. A seasoned injector will ask you to crunch your nose, watch the exact pattern and intensity of the lines, then map two to three micro-aliquots per side along the most active creases.
I typically avoid the very medial bridge near the radix where the skin is thin and vascular, and I stay clear of the tear trough. The goal is a tight footprint: tiny injections, predictable effect. If your lines extend higher toward the inner canthus, your provider may add a micro-drop near the orbital rim, but this requires a delicate hand to avoid under-eye heaviness.
What it feels like and what to expect
Most people describe bunny line injections as quick pinches, markedly easier than masseter botox or forehead treatments. The treatment time is often under five minutes. There is no need for numbing cream, though some clinics apply a cold roller to dampen the sting.
Post injection, you can expect small blebs at the injection sites that flatten within 30 minutes. Pinpoint bruising is possible, especially if you take fish oil or other supplements that thin the blood. Mild redness or a bee-sting look can last for an hour or two. You can return to work immediately. As with any botox procedure, avoid rubbing the area for the rest of the day, skip hot yoga or vigorous workouts for 24 hours, and sleep with your head elevated the first night if you tend to swell.
Results emerge gradually. You may notice a lighter scrunch within three to four days, with full effect at around two weeks. Longevity ranges from 8 to 14 weeks for most patients. Because the nasalis is a small muscle, some see their bunny lines creeping back by week 10. If you are new to botox therapy, the first two or three cycles may wear off more quickly, then stabilize.
How often to treat and how to keep it natural
Frequency ties to your goals and how expressive you are. For steady control, most patients repeat every three to four months. If you prefer seasonal touch-ups around events or photos, you can stretch longer. The question of how often should you get botox has no universal answer. For bunny lines, less is often more. Small doses maintain softness without stripping character.
Will botox freeze your face? Not when done correctly. The nasalis relaxes, but you still smile and squint. The difference is that the diagonal creases do not take center stage when you emote. If you already receive botox for crow’s feet or a botox brow lift, your injector should coordinate sites and dosing to maintain expression harmony.
When bunny lines are not just bunny lines
A subset of patients show etched lines that do not fully disappear at rest. These static lines benefit from combination treatment. Neuromodulator injections reduce motion, but they do not fill a crease. In those cases, tiny amounts of hyaluronic acid or skin-boosting treatments can be layered after two weeks of neuromodulator settling. Some clinicians pair micro botox with fractional laser or microneedling to stimulate collagen in the area. The sequence and spacing matter; you do not want to stack procedures that increase irritation or diffusion risk on the same day.
There are also patients whose “bunny lines” track from allergies, frequent nose wiping, or nasal obstruction that prompts habitual scrunching. Addressing the trigger helps. I have had patients with chronic rhinitis who experienced fewer lines after starting a nasal steroid. Others improved once a deviated septum was corrected. Reduce the repetitive movement, and the lines relax with fewer units.
What can go wrong and how to avoid it
Side effects are uncommon at these low doses but deserve a careful review. The most notable risk is diffusion into the levator muscles that lift the upper lip, which can cause a slight smile change or an asymmetric grin. This tends to be subtle and resolves as the botulinum effect wears off, but it is avoidable with precise placement. Bruising, small lumps that resolve, and temporary tenderness are routine and short-lived. Headache is rare and usually mild.
Allergic reactions to botulinum toxin are exceedingly rare. If you have a history of neuromodulator reactions, you should discuss it with your clinician. The question is botox safe long term comes up often. Safety data for botulinum toxin treatment are robust over decades for both aesthetic and medical use. Long-term risks at cosmetic doses remain low when performed by trained professionals. Antibody formation is possible, especially with high cumulative doses and frequent intervals, which can lead to diminished effect. Bunny line dosing is small, so this risk is lower than with large areas like masseter botox or medical botox treatment for migraines.
Dosing judgment in the real world
Here is how I think through a first session:
- Evaluate at rest, then with exaggerated scrunching and natural laughter to see the pattern, intensity, and any asymmetry. Plan two points per side, with a potential third if the line extends toward the inner canthus. Start with 1 to 2 units per point, reassess at two weeks, and add 0.5 to 1 unit per point if needed. The goal is refinement, not eradication.
If the patient is already receiving botox for frown lines or botox for crow’s feet, I adjust those sites to minimize compensation. For instance, if lateral crow’s feet dosing is strong, a modest reduction laterally can decrease spillover activity into the nasalis.
For men and athletic patients who metabolize faster, I plan on the higher end of the baby botox range initially, then titrate. For first timers, I err toward the low end. The revisit at two weeks is where finesse happens.
How bunny lines fit into a broader facial plan
Bunny lines rarely live alone. They share the stage with other dynamic wrinkles. Many patients consider wrinkle relaxing injections for multiple areas, but sequence matters. If you are planning botox for forehead lines, treat the glabella and forehead first, reassess two weeks later, then add bunny lines. This staggered approach shows how your face rebalances and reduces over-treatment.
If you are considering a botox lip flip or botox for gummy smile, your injector should map the upper lip elevator complex carefully before treating bunny lines. Overlapping territories exist near the alar base and the piriform aperture, and misplacement can affect both areas. Balanced, minimal dosing at each point keeps control over a delicate zone.
Natural-looking results, not a blank nose
People often ask, can botox look natural in such a central area? Yes, provided the dose and placement respect how you move. You should still be able to crinkle your nose a little. The aim is to prevent sharp, deep creasing. I show patients how to test the result: laugh in a mirror at week two. If the lines are significantly softer but your smile reads the same, we hit the mark. If your nose barely moves, we dial back next round.
For those worried about expression, a trial with the smallest possible dose is an option. You can always add more. Removing toxin is not an option; you wait for it to wear off.
Preparation and aftercare that matter more than you think
Preparing your skin and schedule helps avoid hiccups. If bruising is a concern, skip alcohol the night before and avoid high-dose fish oil, ginkgo, or aspirin for a few days if your physician approves. Arrive without heavy makeup on the upper cheeks and nose so the skin can be cleansed thoroughly.
After treatment, keep the area clean, avoid facials, masks, or exfoliants for 24 hours, and do not massage the bridge or sides of your nose. Makeup can go on after a few hours if the skin looks calm. Sunscreen should stay in the routine, since UV damage increases skin laxity and makes creasing worse over time.
Comparing neuromodulators: does the brand matter?
The difference between botox and dysport or botox vs xeomin gets attention online. For bunny lines, all three are effective when dosed correctly. Dysport has a tendency to diffuse slightly more, which can be helpful in some areas, but for the nasalis many injectors prefer tighter spread. Xeomin lacks complexing proteins, which some believe reduces antibody formation risk, though evidence is mixed. I default to the product I know best in a given area. For tiny zones like bunny lines, familiarity is more important than labeling.
Costs, touch-ups, and realistic timelines
Costs vary by region and clinic, often charged per unit. Because bunny line dosing is small, the price is usually lower than areas like the forehead. Some clinics bundle touch-ups within two weeks at no charge. Ask in advance. If you are budgeting for a year, plan for three to four sessions. If your metabolism runs fast or you intensively exercise, your intervals may shrink by a few weeks. That is normal.
As for the botox recovery timeline, it is short. You may have minor swelling for a few hours, an occasional bruise for a few days, and incremental softening over two weeks. Photos at day 0 and day 14 help you see the change, especially since this area can be subtle under overhead lighting.
Pitfalls: when bunny lines look worse before they look better
Two scenarios sometimes catch patients off guard. First, if you are new to neuromodulator injections in the upper face, you might notice your bunny lines more after treating the frown or forehead. That compensation phase can last a few weeks. The fix is easy, add conservative units to the nasalis. Second, if you have prominent crow’s feet and avoid treating them, the nasalis may do extra work when you smile, upstaging the eye area further. A light balance on both regions can look more natural than focusing on one.
Another rare but real issue is treating the nasalis when your upper lip elevators are already weak, which can subtly dull a gummy smile correction or botox lip flip. A short facial muscle exam solves this before it happens.
Can preventative botox help here?
Is preventative botox effective for bunny lines? If the lines only appear with exaggerated scrunching and you are in your 20s or early 30s, a very light dose a few times per year can temper etching. I would not advocate early, frequent dosing unless your nasalis is particularly hyperactive or you are already treating adjacent areas that increase recruitment. The skin quality component also matters. If your skin is thin and sun-damaged, collagen support through skincare, SPF, and procedures like microneedling may do as much good as frequent injections.
What if botox wears off faster than expected?
Can botox wear off faster in this area? It can. The nasalis is active whenever you laugh or squint, so metabolic clearance feels more obvious. High-intensity exercise, fast metabolism, and small starting doses can shorten the window to eight or nine weeks. If you consistently feel under-corrected by week six, ask your injector to adjust the dose slightly or consider a more frequent schedule for a cycle or two to catch up. Also confirm you are not rubbing or massaging the area after injections, which can affect early spread.
If you notice a sharp drop in effect after years of treatment, antibody formation is possible but uncommon at these doses. More often, the cause is a change in product, reconstitution, or interval. A simple switch back to your prior routine usually restores results.
Integrating bunny line care into overall skin strategy
No injection lives in a vacuum. If you want softer lines that last, combine neuromodulator injections with daily sunscreen, gentle retinoids, and steady hydration. Retinoids help with collagen support, but they can irritate the thin skin over the nasal bridge. Introduce them slowly and botox near me stop for 48 hours before and after injections to avoid compounding redness.
If you are curious about botox for under eyes or botox for smile lines, be cautious. Those areas sit close to the nasalis and require advanced mapping. An experienced injector can decide whether to treat one zone, the other, or both, and how to stagger them.
When to skip or delay treatment
There are times to wait. If you have an active sinus infection, are recovering from nasal surgery, or have significant swelling from allergies, hold off until things calm. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are standard contraindications for cosmetic botox. experts in Ann Arbor MI botox If you have a neuromuscular disorder or are on medications that interact with neuromodulator injections, you need clearance from your physician.
A brief note on expectations
Botox before and after results for bunny lines look subtle in photos because the lines only show with movement. The best way to judge is a paired video: scrunch and smile on day 0 and day 14. You should see the diagonal tracks soften while your cheeks and lips move normally. If still photos are your goal for an event, schedule your treatment two to three weeks before, not the week of.
Quick reference: ideal candidates and red flags
- Good candidates: dynamic diagonal creases across the nose during expression, minimal static etched lines at rest, realistic expectations for subtle softening. Caution or referral: complex nasal deformities, prior nasal surgery with altered anatomy, significant facial asymmetry, or a history of atypical response to neuromodulators.
Final take
Bunny lines are small, but they sit center stage on the face. Targeted botox aesthetic treatment can relax the nasalis enough to erase the sharpest creases without flattening your expressions. Success relies on precise dosing, conservative first steps, and coordination with any botox for crow’s feet or frown lines you already receive. Done well, the effect is the kind that friends notice without knowing why, and makeup stops settling into tiny diagonal tracks when you laugh.
If you are considering this treatment for the first time, schedule a consult rather than a same-day session. Ask your provider to assess your animation pattern and to map a plan that keeps your smile intact. Start small. Reassess at two weeks. Let the details do the heavy lifting. That is how tiny injections deliver noticeable refinement.