Getting Rid of Bunny Lines

Bunny lines are the small angulated lines that show up on either side of one’s nose while smiling or animating one’s face. These lines are the result of the contraction of muscles on either side of the nose and cheek which results in skin folds on either side of the nose. Not every patient will develop these but some patients are prone to this type of phenomenon. Those patients that have bunny lines are often first seen in photographs as this can be evident also while smiling.

Bunny Lines Botox Treatment

The best way to manage the presence of bunny lines is the use of Botox or some type of neuromodulator into these muscles. Botox will help to reduce the strength of these muscles and limit the body’s ability to form these lines. In our experience, this is usually a good way to correct this issue. Unfortunately, surgery is not a very successful approach in treating bunny lines. The facial musculature is very intricate and stopping movement permanently can result in visible scarring as well as the unnatural movement of the face. Thus, the only recognized treatment for bunny lines at the present time is with a neuromodulating agent such as Botox, Dysport or Xeomin.

Are You a Good Candidate for Botox?

To determine if you are a good candidate for Botox to help correct your “bunny lines”, contact a board-certified physician who has experiences in this area. It is important to remember that the use of products such as Botox to correct bunny lines is “off-label”. What that means is that the FDA has not officially approved the use of this product in this particular area. However, since it has been used in similar areas such as the face for similar end-points such as muscle paralysis, physicians have the ability to use this product legally in non-FDA approved locations. This has been done for many years across all medical specialties as well as Botox in the face.

The initial indication for Botox’s FDA approval was only in the frown lines between the eyebrows. Since that time, additional approvals have been granted by the FDA (forehead and outer eyes and migraines), but we have previously used this product across the face in many different locations with great success.

To determine if you are a candidate for Botox, call our San Diego office at 858-638-9800 to schedule your in-person complementary consultation with Dr. Vincent Marin.

*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.