Do those diagonal crinkles that appear when you smile or scrunch your nose linger longer than they used to? They are called bunny lines, and precisely placed Botox across the nose bridge can soften them without stealing your expression.
I remember my first bunny line consult vividly because it flipped my own mental map of facial movement. A patient, mid-30s, with bright eyes and an outdoor job, hated how two fine creases etched across the upper nose whenever she laughed. She had never had injectables and feared the frozen look more than the lines themselves. We used a micro dose along the nasalis muscle and checked balance with her crow’s feet. Two weeks later she returned with the same easy laugh, but the creases no longer stuck around. If you have ever wondered how to treat such tiny lines with equal parts restraint and precision, this is the field note.
What bunny lines actually are
Bunny lines are oblique wrinkles that form on the upper sides of the nose when the nasalis muscle contracts, often visible during smiling, sniffing, or squinting. Early on, they are dynamic wrinkles, meaning they show only with movement. Over time, repeated folding can engrave the skin, turning them into static wrinkles that show even at rest. Skin quality amplifies the picture. Dehydration, significant sun exposure, and thinner dermis from genetics or age can make these lines more noticeable.
The nasalis sits like a small fan across the nose bridge and sidewalls. It narrows the nose and helps flare the nostrils. It also tethers skin tightly, which is why even a millimeter of change here is visible. Treating bunny lines means relaxing specific fibers without weakening nearby muscles that lift the upper lip or shape your smile. That is where Botox, or another neuromodulator, earns its reputation as a precision tool rather than a blunt instrument.
Why a tiny dose often works best on the nose
Cornelius botoxThe nose bridge is a delicate neighborhood. Most adults need only 2 to 6 units total to soften bunny lines. I tend to start on the conservative side, a baby botox or micro botox approach, split symmetrically between the upper sidewalls. Mini botox dosing allows you to test how your nasalis responds. If static creases persist after the first cycle, a touch more can be added at a follow-up rather than overshooting on day one.
Smaller doses do more than protect movement. They help avoid spillover into the levator labii muscles that lift the upper lip. Too much diffusion can flatten your smile or change how your nose scrunches, which almost everyone notices in photos. Patients often describe this light approach as a botox refresh rather than a makeover, because it smooths specific lines without altering character.
The session: what to expect from chair time to results
A typical session for bunny lines is a lunchtime botox visit. After a quick assessment of your smile and squint patterns, the injector might mark two to four micro points along the upper sidewalls of the nose. I like to ask patients to over-smile and sniff to map the strongest fibers. The skin here is thin, so the needle is tiny and the depth is superficial. Most people describe a brief prick and a tickle, not pain.
Immediately afterward you may see faint bumps like mosquito bites for ten minutes, and occasionally a pinpoint bruise. Makeup can cover any redness after a couple of hours. The neuromodulator starts to work within two to three days, continues to ramp up for a week, and typically peaks by day 10 to 14. This delayed onset is normal for a neuromodulator treatment. I schedule a check at two weeks for first-timers to confirm symmetry, especially if we are coordinating with crow’s feet or frown line treatment.
Pairing bunny line treatment with the rest of the upper face
The nose bridge rarely operates in isolation. Bunny lines often appear as a side effect after aggressive frown line or crow’s feet treatment because the nasalis overcompensates once bigger muscles relax. In practice, the best results come from looking at the upper third of the face as one system. If your brow knitting is strong, light wrinkle relaxer injections between the brows can share the load and prevent the nasalis from taking over. If squinting dominates, a tailored eye wrinkle reduction around the outer canthus can balance pull without flattening the smile.
I once treated a 42-year-old wedding photographer who had already corrected her glabellar lines. Her bunny lines popped as a new complaint only after glabella treatment. We added 2 units per side to the nasalis and dialed back her crow’s feet from 10 units per side to 8 to maintain her eye smile. Her next set of photos showed that even small adjustments can keep expressions readable while the skin looks smoother.
When to consider preventative botox vs. correction
If the lines only show with a big smile and your skin springs back immediately, you are squarely in preventative botox territory. A prejuvenation botox strategy might mean light dosing two or three times a year to keep the nasalis from carving grooves. For those with faint etching at rest, a corrective phase is reasonable: slightly higher micro dosing for one or two cycles, sometimes paired with skin support, then a maintenance phase at lower units.
Static creases also respond to surface interventions. Hydration, topical retinoids, and targeted resurfacing can complement neuromodulation. In thin, sun-freckled skin, a series of light peels or fractional laser can soften shallow imprints. This is not botox skin tightening per se, but skin quality improvement that makes every injection look smarter.
Will it look natural?
Natural looking botox is a function of anatomy, dose, and intent. The goal is not to erase every fold. You should still scrunch your nose, just without the accordion lines that hang on afterward. The most common reason for an unnatural result in this area is treating the nasalis without considering the zygomatic muscles that power the smile. When those are left hyperactive while the nasalis is quieted, the entire upper face can look slightly disconnected.
I ask patients to smile big during the placement and apply the needle to exactly where the crease fans out. Two to three micro points per side suffice for most faces. The less product used, the lower the risk that it drifts toward muscles of the upper lip. In return, you get subtle botox results that friends do not spot, even if they cannot place why your selfies feel more photo-ready.
How long will it last and what does upkeep look like?
Across the nose, results usually last 3 to 4 months, sometimes as short as 8 to 10 weeks in athletes or fast metabolizers. People with high facial animation also cycle faster. A botox maintenance routine that includes bunny lines will often align with frown line treatment so you make fewer visits. If you are new to neuromodulators, expect your first treatment to fade fastest, with longevity improving slightly after your second or third round as the habitual movement softens.
A botox touch-up session at two weeks is useful if an area still creases unevenly. After that, I recommend avoiding stacked doses within a week of big social events. Schedule your botox rejuvenation session 2 to 3 weeks before weddings, shoots, or travel so you can fine-tune and still look fresh, not recently treated.
Safety notes and edge cases I watch for
Bruising is the most common minor side effect. A rare bump can form if product sits too superficially, which settles within a few hours. Headaches occur in a small fraction of patients after any neuromodulator treatment, usually brief. The real art is avoiding functional changes. Over-relaxation can make the upper lip feel heavy or alter a gummy smile. In my experience, this happens when injections sit too low on the nose sidewall or when the total dose exceeds what the skin requires.
There are edge cases. Patients with nasal obstruction who rely on strong nasal flaring for breathing prefer even lighter dosing because the nasalis helps open the airway. People whose smiles already dip at the corners need caution to prevent any sense of droop. If you have had recent rhinoplasty, scar tissue can change diffusion, so I recommend waiting until your surgeon clears you, which often means several months. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, I do not treat with neuromodulators.
Bunny lines, the “Botox glow,” and realistic expectations
Many clients ask if treating bunny lines adds to a botox glow. That glowing look is mostly a combination of softened dynamic wrinkles and better light reflection across smooth skin. Around the nose bridge, the effect is subtle. It contributes to an overall botox smoothing and botox refinement, but the nose is a small canvas. The glow most people notice comes when bunny line treatment is coordinated with forehead wrinkle treatment or gentle smile line smoothing around the eyes.
Static creases etched deeply may never disappear completely with neuromodulators alone. Expect a softening rather than complete erasure when the skin lines are visible even when the face is resting. That is where blending micro botox with collagen-stimulating skincare or procedural resurfacing earns dividends.
Comparing neuromodulation to other options
Fillers typically do not belong on the bony upper nose sidewalls for bunny lines. The skin is thin, the space is tight, and the risk of visibility outweighs the benefit in most cases. Energy-based devices can help in select situations, but the nasalis is a muscle problem first. Topicals will not stop that muscle from creasing the skin. Neuromodulators are the least invasive, most specific tool for this job, a non surgical wrinkle treatment that takes minutes and avoids downtime.
That said, it is not a standalone anti-aging plan. A comprehensive, personalized botox treatment might include small units across the glabella, crow’s feet, and bunny lines, adjusted for facial balance and expression. Beyond the upper face, patients often explore botox for dynamic wrinkles in other areas: a micro sprinkle for a dimpled chin, subtle shaping along the jaw for a square face due to clenching, or an eyebrow lift that opens heavy lids. The point is to treat the face as a composition rather than a set of isolated parts.
A practical step-by-step for the most cautious patient
- Start with a conservative consult. Ask your injector to assess you while you smile, squint, and sniff. Request a low initial dose, such as 1 to 2 units per side. Time it smartly. Book your express wrinkle treatment 2 to 3 weeks before a key event. Review at two weeks. If one side still creases, add a micro top-up rather than jumping dose in a single session. Keep your map. Photograph your results and share them next time so your injector can repeat what worked. Pair strategically. If bunny lines appeared after treating frown lines or crow’s feet, adjust those zones to balance movement.
How I avoid the “overdone” look
I keep attention on three levers: dose, point, and pattern. Dose is obvious. Points matter because the nasalis is thin and fibers differ person to person. I place the needle high enough to avoid the levator labii superioris, which helps lift the upper lip, and lateral enough to avoid midline heaviness. Pattern means coordinating with the rest of your face. If your crow’s feet are active, I under-treat them a touch when I treat bunny lines to keep the outer eye smile alive. This preserves a youthful look while giving a botox smoothing that reads as you, not a template.
Patients also appreciate honesty about trade-offs. If you have strong nasal flaring, even a tiny dose can slightly reduce that ability. If your smile relies on a scrunchy nose, we might accept a faint crease rather than erase it entirely. This is personalized botox treatment in practice. The best outcome is a refreshed look that does not call attention to itself.
What the first 48 hours look like
Plan for a quiet evening. No saunas, hot yoga, or tight goggles for a day. Gentle face washing is fine. Do not massage the nose bridge where the injections went in. If a small bruise appears, arnica and cool compresses help. Makeup is safe after a few hours as long as the skin is not actively bleeding. You can return to work immediately. Most people do. This is a weekend botox or lunchtime botox service for a reason.
By day three, movement begins to soften. By day seven, you should see the bunny lines fade when you smile. By day ten or fourteen, you are at your botox youthful results peak for this zone. The shift is subtle, and if I have done my job well, the only feedback you will hear is that you look well rested.
Costs and value, framed honestly
Bunny lines require small amounts of product, so the cost is often less than forehead or glabella work. Pricing varies by region and clinic model. Some practices charge by area, others by unit. Expect a bill that reflects a micro dose, though minimum visit fees apply in some offices. Value comes from precision. A conservative plan that uses fewer units, placed well, can outperform a heavier hand that requires a corrective visit. Think of it as botox enhancement for a detail that shows up in every candid photo.
Special cases that benefit from expert mapping
Runners, teachers, performers, and anyone outdoors in bright light tend to squint and scrunch more. They may need slightly more frequent refreshes or small dosing across connected areas to avoid a patchwork effect. Patients with oily skin or enlarged pores often notice that softening bunny line movement helps makeup lay smoother along the nose bridge, a quiet bonus. If acne overlaps this region, avoid injecting through active pustules, and reschedule if needed to reduce infection risk.
A final note for those treating clenching or bruxism with jawline neuromodulators: as the masseters shrink, facial balance shifts subtly. Strong cheek elevators can become more prominent, which sometimes highlights nasalis movement. Plan your bunny lines strategy with your jawline timeline to keep the whole face harmonious.
Integrating bunny lines into a broader maintenance plan
Your botox upkeep should reflect how your face moves over months, not just a snapshot. For many, that means aligning bunny lines with frown lines and crow’s feet on a 3 to 4 month cycle. Others prefer a lighter cadence with express botox visits that sprinkle units where needed. I keep a simple record of dose, point, and effect so we can iterate. Over time, most patients require slightly less product to maintain results as muscle memory softens.
Skincare matters. A well-formulated retinoid, daily sunscreen, and realistic moisturization help maintain a botox glow up effect by improving how light reflects off the skin. If static creases are the main complaint, adding gentle resurfacing every couple of seasons tightens the look without jumping to aggressive interventions.
A brief word on expectations
Bunny line treatment will not lift your brows or change your nose shape. It will not replace volume lost at the midface or soften deep nasolabial folds. It does one thing very well: it relaxes the nasalis so the skin across the nose bridge no longer wrinkles as deeply with expression. That subtle change can have outsized impact on how youthful and rested you look, especially in close-up photos and bright lighting.
Patients who enjoy the result often explore adjacent, minimal tweaks, such as a tiny eyebrow lift for a more open gaze or botox for tired eyes if under-eye crinkling is More help strong. The guiding principle remains the same: use as little as needed to achieve a natural finish.
The bottom line from the treatment chair
Bunny lines are small, but they carry a lot of visual weight because they sit in the center of your face and activate with joy, laughter, and focus. Treating them asks for restraint and anatomy literacy. Start with a micro plan, review two weeks later, and adjust by a unit or two at most. Balance with the surrounding muscles so your smile still reads as you. Done well, this is a fast wrinkle fix that does not trade personality for polish.
The patient I mentioned at the start still returns twice a year. We use 2 units per side, sometimes 3 if her cycling training is peaking and her expressions are bigger. She still laughs with her whole face. The difference is that the lines no longer stay behind to tell on her. That is the quiet power of a professional botox treatment across the nose bridge: a small, precise shift that keeps the spotlight on your expression, not your creases.