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Crow’s Feet Treatment in Myrtle Beach, SC: Get Expert Care

Jul 14
12 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Crow’s Feet Treatment in Myrtle Beach, SC: Get Expert Care

The lines around your eyes used to disappear when you stopped smiling. Now, they seem to stay.


Crow’s feet can make your eye area look tired or older, even when you feel rested. These fine lines often start at the outer corners of the eyes and deepen with repeated facial expressions, sun exposure, and the natural aging process.


Professional crow’s feet treatment in Myrtle Beach, SC, can soften these lines while keeping your smile natural. The best treatment depends on whether your wrinkles appear only during movement or remain visible while your face rests.


At Nouveau Dermé Aesthetic Centre, L. Jamison Stewart, MSN, FNP-C, creates treatment plans based on your facial anatomy, muscle movement, skin quality, medical history, and goals. This guide explains why crow’s feet develop, which treatment options may help, and what you can expect from a consultation.


What You’ll Learn From This Article

This guide covers:


  • Why crow’s feet start to appear

  • The difference between dynamic and static eye wrinkles

  • How Botox and other treatments work

  • What happens during an injection appointment

  • Possible side effects and downtime

  • How sunscreen and skincare can protect your skin

  • Why precise treatment matters around the eyes



What Are Crow’s Feet?

Crow’s feet are among the first facial wrinkles many people notice. They often begin as faint lines when you smile, then gradually become more visible.


Where Crow’s Feet Form

Crow’s feet are fine lines and wrinkles that form at the outer corners of your eyes. Medical professionals may call them lateral canthal lines.


The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the skin on the cheeks or forehead. It also contains fewer oil glands, which means dryness and changes in skin texture may become noticeable sooner.


Each time you blink, smile, laugh, or squint, the muscles beneath this thin skin contract. Young skin usually smooths itself after the movement stops. As collagen and elastin decline, the skin may not return to its original position as easily.


Why They Are Called Smile Lines

The orbicularis oculi muscle surrounds each eye. It helps you blink and creates the small creases beside your eyes when you smile.


Crow’s feet are not a disease or a sign that something is wrong. According to the Cleveland Clinic, they are a normal part of facial movement and aging.


You do not need to treat crow’s feet for medical reasons. Treatment is a personal choice based on how you feel about their appearance.



Why Crow’s Feet Develop

Why Crow’s Feet Develop

Most people develop crow’s feet from a mix of repeated movement, collagen loss, genetics, and environmental exposure.


Repeated Facial Expressions

Every smile or squint folds the skin along the same pattern. Over many years, those repeated movements can create creases that remain visible.


Bright sunlight may cause you to squint more often. Uncorrected vision problems can also increase squinting, especially while reading or looking at distant objects.


Loss of Collagen and Elastin

Collagen gives your skin structure and firmness. Elastin helps it stretch and return to its normal position.


Your body produces less collagen and elastin as you age. This change can make the skin around the eyes thinner, looser, and more likely to hold a wrinkle after facial movement.


Sun Exposure in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach residents often spend significant time outdoors. Beach visits, boating, golf, gardening, and daily driving can all add to cumulative UV exposure.


Ultraviolet radiation can break down collagen and damage skin cells. It may also worsen discoloration, dryness, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Daily sun protection matters even on cloudy days. Clouds do not block all UVA radiation.


Other Factors That Affect Eye Wrinkles

Several factors may influence how early you notice crow’s feet and how deep they become:


  • Genetics and facial anatomy

  • Smoking or secondhand smoke

  • Dry or irritated skin

  • Inconsistent sunscreen use

  • Frequent squinting

  • Chronic stress and facial tension

  • Poor sleep

  • Natural differences in skin thickness

  • Previous sun damage


You cannot control every cause, but you can protect your skin and choose treatment when the lines begin to bother you.



Dynamic vs. Static Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet do not all behave the same way. Your provider must look at how the lines change when your face moves and rests.


Dynamic Crow’s Feet

Dynamic wrinkles appear when you smile, laugh, or squint. They may disappear almost completely when your face relaxes.


Muscle contraction creates these lines, so a neurotoxin such as Botox may provide an effective treatment. Botulinum toxin temporarily reduces selected muscle activity, which can reduce wrinkles caused by repeated movement.


Static Crow’s Feet

Static wrinkles remain visible when your face rests. They often develop after years of facial movement, collagen loss, sun exposure, and changes in skin texture.


Botulinum toxin injections may soften the movement that makes static lines deeper, but they cannot replace lost collagen or repair every surface crease.


Why the Difference Matters

Dynamic wrinkles often respond well to neurotoxin treatment. Static lines may need a combined plan that also supports skin quality.


That plan may include medical-grade skincare, microneedling, a chemical peel, Morpheus8, laser treatment, or another collagen-supporting option. The right choice depends on your skin and the location of the lines.


Medical News Today also notes that treatment options differ based on the cause and depth of the wrinkles.



Professional Crow’s Feet Treatment Options

Professional Crow’s Feet Treatment Options

No single treatment works for every person. Your best treatment will depend on muscle strength, wrinkle depth, skin sensitivity, sun damage, and your comfort with downtime.


Botox and Other Neuromodulator Injections

Botox Cosmetic and similar neurotoxins temporarily reduce communication between nerves and selected facial muscles.


For crow’s feet, the provider places small injections near the outer corners of the eyes. Reduced muscle contraction means the skin folds less strongly when you smile or squint.

The goal is not to freeze the entire eye area. Careful dosing can soften crow’s feet while allowing natural facial expressions.


Placement matters. The muscles around the eyes also influence blinking, brow position, and eyelid support. An injector must understand facial anatomy and adjust the treatment to the individual's movement pattern.


Nouveau Dermé offers Botox by Allergan Aesthetics and Xeomin by Merz Aesthetics for selected expression lines.


Medical Grade Skin Care

A consistent skin care routine can support hydration, collagen production, and smoother skin texture.


Your provider may recommend products that contain:


  • Retinoids

  • Peptides

  • Antioxidants

  • Hyaluronic acid

  • Ceramides

  • Glycolic acid

  • Broad-spectrum sunscreen

  • A suitable eye cream


Hyaluronic acid can help attract moisture and temporarily plump dry skin. It does not relax the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles.


Retinoids may stimulate collagen production and support skin cell renewal. Strong formulas can also cause redness, peeling, or irritation, especially around the eyes. Use them only as directed.


Microneedling and Morpheus8

Microneedling creates controlled microchannels in the skin to start a natural healing process. This response may stimulate new collagen and improve fine lines, skin texture, and overall skin quality.


Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy. It may support deeper collagen remodeling in suitable patients.


The provider must use appropriate settings and treatment boundaries near the eye area. Not every part of the upper or lower eyelid is suitable for treatment.


Chemical Peels and Skin Renewal

A medical-grade chemical peel removes selected damaged surface layers so newer skin can appear.


Peel strength and ingredients vary. A lighter peel may help with dullness and mild texture concerns, while stronger peels usually involve more downtime and a longer healing process.


The Perfect Derma Peel is available at Nouveau Dermé. Your provider will determine whether a peel is appropriate for your concern and where it can be safely applied.


Plasma IQ and Laser Skin Tightening

Plasma IQ and laser technology may help selected concerns related to skin texture, mild laxity, or collagen decline.


A laser treatment uses controlled energy to create a planned skin response. Depending on the device, laser resurfacing may address surface damage, while other laser systems focus more on tightening or collagen support.


These treatments are not interchangeable. Your provider must assess your skin tone, sensitivity, wrinkle depth, and previous procedures before recommending one.



Comparing Crow’s Feet Treatment Options

This table gives a general overview. Your consultation will determine which option fits your needs.

Treatment option

Main concern addressed

How it may help

Typical downtime

Botox or Xeomin

Dynamic wrinkles

Reduces targeted muscle contraction

Usually minimal

Medical-grade skincare

Dryness and early fine lines

Supports hydration and gradual skin renewal

Depends on product tolerance

Chemical peel

Surface damage and texture

Removes selected damaged skin layers

Varies by peel strength

Microneedling

Fine static lines and texture

Supports collagen production

Usually mild to moderate

Morpheus8

Texture, collagen loss, mild laxity

Combines microneedling with radiofrequency

Varies by settings

Laser skin tightening

Mild laxity and collagen decline

Uses controlled energy to support firmer skin

Depends on the device

Plasma IQ

Selected areas of skin laxity

Creates a controlled surface response

May require visible healing time

A treatment name does not tell you whether it is appropriate for your eye area. Your health history, anatomy, skin type, goals, and recovery preferences all matter.



Who May Be a Good Candidate for Crow’s Feet Treatment?

Who May Be a Good Candidate for Crow’s Feet Treatment?

You may be a candidate when the appearance of crow’s feet bothers you, and you want a nonsurgical treatment option.


Common concerns include:


  • Fine lines that stay visible at rest

  • Deep creases when you smile

  • Eye wrinkles that look more noticeable in photographs

  • A tired appearance around the eyes

  • Early dynamic wrinkles

  • Loss of smoothness or firmness

  • Sun-damaged skin


You should have realistic expectations. Treatment can reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, but it may not remove every line.


Factors Your Provider Must Review

Tell your provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medication, or using supplements that may increase bruising.


You should also discuss:


  • Neurological or muscular conditions

  • Previous eyelid surgery

  • Eyelid weakness or drooping

  • Chronic dry eye

  • Active infection or rash

  • Recent injections or skin procedures

  • Previous allergic reactions

  • Changes in vision or eye health


A responsible provider may postpone treatment or recommend another option when the expected benefit does not justify the risk.



What to Expect During a Crow’s Feet Consultation at Nouveau Dermé

What to Expect During a Crow’s Feet Consultation at Nouveau Dermé

A proper consultation should include both a medical review and a detailed facial assessment.


Facial Movement and Skin Assessment

Your provider will examine the outer corners of your eyes while your face rests. You may then be asked to smile, squint, blink, or raise your brows.


This assessment shows how your muscles move and whether the lines are dynamic, static, or both.


The provider may also look at:


  • Muscle strength

  • Brow position

  • Eyelid support

  • Skin thickness

  • Facial symmetry

  • Sun damage

  • Skin texture

  • Previous treatment results


Health History and Previous Procedures

Your health history helps the provider identify risks and select a suitable treatment.

Bring a list of medications and supplements. Tell the provider about any previous Botox injections, fillers, surgery, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and microneedling.


Filler is not usually the first choice for crow’s feet. Injecting filler too close to the eye can carry serious risks. Your provider should explain why a recommended procedure fits your anatomy.


A Personal Treatment Plan

L. Jamison Stewart, MSN, FNP-C, has experience in cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, primary care, and aesthetic medicine. He is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.


Jamison considers your facial movement, skin quality, medical history, lifestyle, comfort, and goals. He does not use one treatment plan for every client.


You should leave the consultation knowing what the procedure may improve, what it cannot correct, what downtime to expect, and how much maintenance may be needed.



What Happens During Botox Treatment for Crow’s Feet?

The procedure is usually brief, but careful preparation still matters.


Preparation and Injection Placement

The provider cleans your skin and observes your facial expressions. Small marks may help guide injection placement.


A fine needle delivers small amounts of botulinum toxin near the outer corners of your eyes. The exact number of injections depends on your anatomy, muscle strength, product, and desired result.


Comfort During the Procedure

Most people describe a short pinch or light pressure. The discomfort usually passes quickly.


A cold pack or another comfort measure may be used when appropriate. Numbing cream is not always necessary for a quick injection procedure.


Keeping Your Expression Natural

Conservative dosing can reduce the appearance of fine lines without removing the character from your smile.


Your provider may choose a smaller dose when treating you for the first time. The plan can then be adjusted during future visits based on your response.



Recovery, Results, and Maintenance

Most people return to routine activities shortly after neurotoxin treatment.


Common Short-Term Reactions

You may notice:


  • Temporary redness

  • Small bumps at the injection sites

  • Mild swelling

  • Tenderness

  • Bruising

  • A mild headache


These effects often improve without treatment. Follow the aftercare instructions provided by the practice.


When Results Appear

Botox results do not appear immediately. Muscle movement usually starts to decrease over several days.


The final response may take longer to assess. Product choice, dose, metabolism, muscle strength, and previous treatment history can affect the timing.


How Long Results Last

Botulinum toxin effects usually last several months, although results differ from person to person. Muscle movement returns gradually. Your crow’s feet will not suddenly come back overnight.


Maintenance should follow your response, not a rigid calendar. Your provider can help you decide when another treatment makes sense.


Results From Skin-Based Treatments

Microneedling, Morpheus8, peels, and laser treatments work differently from Botox. Their results may develop more slowly as collagen remodeling and skin renewal occur.

Static wrinkles may soften, but deep lines may remain partly visible. More than one session may be recommended.



Risks and the Importance of Experienced Care

Risks and the Importance of Experienced Care

Crow’s feet treatment takes place close to the eyes, so precision matters.


Possible Side Effects of Neuromodulators

Possible side effects include:


  • Pain or bruising

  • Temporary swelling

  • Headache

  • Uneven results

  • Brow or eyelid drooping

  • Dry eye or excessive tearing

  • Temporary weakness in nearby muscles


Serious reactions are uncommon, but you should know what requires medical attention.

Seek urgent care if you develop difficulty breathing, swallowing, speaking, or seeing after treatment.


Why the Eye Area Requires Precise Treatment

Small differences in injection location or dose can affect brow height, eyelid movement, and symmetry.


Choose a licensed medical provider who understands facial anatomy and can manage complications if they occur.


Ask these questions before treatment:


  • Who will perform the procedure?

  • What medical and injection training do they have?

  • Which product will they use?

  • Why is this the best treatment for my wrinkle pattern?

  • What side effects should I watch for?

  • Who should I contact after the appointment?

  • What result is realistic?



How to Prevent Crow’s Feet From Deepening

How to Prevent Crow’s Feet From Deepening

You cannot stop the natural aging process, but daily habits may help prevent crow’s feet from becoming more pronounced.


Use Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen Every Day

Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to exposed skin each morning.

Choose a sunscreen that you can use comfortably around the eyes. Reapply after swimming, sweating, or spending extended time outdoors.


Sun protection factor measures protection against UVB rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreen also protects against UVA exposure, which contributes to collagen damage.


Wear Sunglasses and a Hat

UV-blocking sunglasses protect the skin around your eyes and reduce squinting.

Choose frames large enough to cover the outer corners of your eyes. A wide-brimmed hat provides additional protection during long periods outside.


Support the Skin Barrier

Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. Avoid scrubbing or pulling the skin around the eyes.


An eye cream may improve hydration, but it cannot stop muscle movement. Look for products made for the eye area, especially if your skin reacts easily.


Use Active Ingredients Carefully

Retinoids, glycolic acid, and antioxidants may support a skin care routine, but stronger does not always mean better.


Too much irritation may worsen dryness and make fine lines look more noticeable. Ask your provider where and how often to apply active products.


Make Practical Lifestyle Changes

Protect your skin by:


  • Avoiding smoking

  • Eating a balanced diet

  • Getting consistent sleep

  • Managing stress

  • Drinking enough water

  • Following a regular skincare routine

  • Scheduling vision checks if you squint often


These steps cannot remove existing crow’s feet, but they may reduce avoidable damage.



Why Choose Nouveau Dermé for Crow’s Feet Treatment in Myrtle Beach, SC?

The provider you choose affects both your safety and your results.


Care From a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

L. Jamison Stewart, MSN, FNP-C, has worked in cardiology, surgery, orthopedics, primary care, and aesthetics. His medical background supports careful screening, realistic recommendations, and close attention to facial anatomy.


Treatment Based on Your Whole Face

Crow’s feet do not exist in isolation. Brow position, cheek movement, eyelid support, skin thickness, and facial symmetry can all affect the result.


Jamison considers how your eyes move when you smile, not just how the wrinkles look in one photograph.


Honest Recommendations Without Pressure

Nouveau Dermé focuses on clear discussions and personal treatment planning. Your recommendation may include Botox, skincare, collagen-supporting procedures, or no treatment at all.



Frequently Asked Questions About Crow’s Feet Treatment

1. What is the best treatment for crow’s feet?

Botox or another neurotoxin is commonly used for dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Static lines may also need skincare, microneedling, a chemical peel, Morpheus8, or laser treatment. An in-person assessment is the best way to choose treatment.

Yes. Medical-grade skincare, microneedling, peels, laser technology, sunscreen, and collagen-supporting treatments may reduce their appearance. These options do not relax the muscles in the same way as botulinum toxin injections.

Proper placement and conservative dosing can preserve natural movement. Your eyes should still show expression when you smile. A frozen look may result from excessive dosing or treatment that does not account for your anatomy.

The number varies. Your provider will consider the strength of your muscles, the depth of your lines, your facial symmetry, and the product used. More injections do not always mean a better result.

There is no correct age. Some people notice crow’s feet in their twenties, while others develop them much later. Consider treatment when the lines bother you and a qualified provider believes the procedure is appropriate.

Dynamic lines may soften significantly. Deeper static wrinkles may remain visible, especially when collagen loss and sun damage are present. The goal should be natural improvement, not perfectly smooth skin with no movement.



Choose a Crow’s Feet Treatment That Fits Your Face

Crow’s feet develop from repeated facial expressions, collagen loss, sun exposure, genetics, and changes in skin quality. Dynamic lines appear when you smile or squint, while static lines remain when your face rests.


Botox and other neurotoxins can soften movement-related wrinkles. Skincare, microneedling, Morpheus8, chemical peels, Plasma IQ, and laser treatments may help with texture, collagen loss, or mild skin laxity.


Treatment around the eyes should be precise and based on a full medical and facial assessment. The goal is not to erase every line. It is to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet while keeping your expression natural.


To learn which option fits your needs, schedule a consultation with Nouveau Dermé Aesthetic Centre for crow’s feet treatment in Myrtle Beach, SC.

 
 
 

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Dawn Moore

LPN, CHCM, CMPE

Dawn Moore is the co-owner of Nouveau Derme Aesthetic Center in Myrtle Beach, SC, with a strong background in healthcare leadership and patient care. She began her career as a practical nurse and later earned certifications as a Certified Healthcare Manager and Certified Medical Practice Executive, with 15 years of experience directing primary care operations for Indiana based hospitals and a rural health clinic. Dawn brings a patient-focused, organized, and compassionate approach to the aesthetic care experience at Nouveau Derme.

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