Bunny Lines: What They Are and How Botox Softens Them

Bunny lines are the small diagonal wrinkles that fan out on the upper sides of the nose when you smile, laugh or scrunch your nose. They come from the nasalis muscle that runs across the bridge of the nose, and they become more visible, and eventually stay, as skin loses collagen with age. A few units of Botox or Dysport relax that muscle and smooth the lines within a week or two, with results that usually last three to four months. At Glow Theory, bunny lines take 4 to 12 units of Botox, which is $56 – $168. They are often treated alongside frown lines and crow’s feet for a balanced result.

This guide explains what causes bunny lines, why they sometimes appear after Botox elsewhere, how treatment works, what it costs and the small risks to know about.

What causes bunny lines?

• Muscle movementThe nasalis muscle wrinkles the skin across the top of the nose each time you smile, laugh or scrunch your face.
• Genetics and expressionSome people naturally scrunch their nose more when they smile, so their lines show earlier.
• Aging skinAs collagen and elasticity drop, lines that came and went start to stay at rest.
• Sun damageUV exposure breaks down collagen faster, deepening lines.
• Botox elsewhereWhen frown lines and crow’s feet are relaxed, some people start using the nose muscles more when they smile, making bunny lines more noticeable.

“Botox bunny lines”: why they appear after treatment

Some people notice bunny lines for the first time a week or two after Botox for frown lines or crow’s feet. Botox does not cause new wrinkles, but when nearby muscles are relaxed, the face sometimes recruits the nasalis muscle instead when you smile or squint. The fix is simple: a couple of units on each side of the nose, often at your two-week follow-up. Many injectors treat the nose at the same time as the frown lines for this reason.

How Botox treats bunny lines

Your injector places a few small injections into the nasalis muscle on each side of the upper nose. The muscle relaxes, so it can no longer crease the skin as strongly when you smile. Your expression stays natural; you will still smile normally, just without the scrunching lines.

What to expect	Details
Units	4 to 12 units of Botox, or 12 to 36 units of Dysport, in total
Appointment	A few minutes for the nose; often added to frown lines or crow’s feet
Results start	3 to 7 days, full effect at about 2 weeks
Lasts	About 3 to 4 months
Downtime	None; small bumps settle within minutes

Treating bunny lines is an off-label use of Botox: it is FDA-approved for frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines and neck bands, and is widely used by experienced injectors in other small facial muscles, including the nose.

Can filler or lasers treat bunny lines?

Bunny lines are mainly caused by movement, so Botox or Dysport is the main treatment. If the lines have become etched in at rest, skin treatments that build collagen, such as Morpheus8, HALO or MOXI, can soften what remains. Filler is rarely used on the nose for lines, because the nose has a delicate blood supply. See vascular occlusion for why the nose is a higher-risk area.

Cost of bunny line Botox in Carlsbad

Botox is $14 per unit, and you pay only for the units used. See how much Botox costs.

Bunny line treatment in Carlsbad

Read more about nose Botox, frown lines and crow’s feet, follow our Botox aftercare, or learn about Botox in Carlsbad. Book a consultation at our studio on El Camino Real in South Carlsbad.