Face wrinkles form with age, whether around our eyes, mouth, eyebrows, or nose. “Bunny lines” is the name given to the wrinkles that form around the nose.
However, they are not necessarily only seen among older people. Many people can also see them when their face forms certain expressions.
Bunny lines can become a source of low confidence in some individuals, so they want to get them treated.
Fortunately, there are ways by which you can minimise their appearance. Furthermore, they’re not always inevitable; you can take steps to prevent them.
What Are Bunny Lines?
Bunny lines are the diagonal and horizontal wrinkles that appear around the bridge of the nose, beneath the glabella (the area between the eyebrows).
They can extend from the inner corners of the eyes to the bridge and even the dorsum of the nose. While the horizontal wrinkles can usually be seen on the top of the nose.
Bunny lines are so-called because they appear similar to the noses of bunnies when they twitch. However, they’re not considered as attractive or “cute” as humans.
You can easily spot them when you’re smiling, laughing or scrunching your nose up (like when you’re angry or smelling something bad).
Although, these wrinkles can stay on the nose even when you aren’t making any expressions.
Some people don’t even notice that they have them. However, because of the frequency of certain facial expressions, they can be more prominent in some people compared to others. Several different muscles in the nose result in the formation of the bunny lines.
Bunny lines are a result of the ageing skin and the active use of the muscles around the nose. According to the US National Library of Medicine as you age:
- You lose muscle tone in the face
- The skin gets dry
- Underlying fat pads shrink
- The skin becomes thinner
All these can make the wrinkles on the face more prominent.
Can Botox Help Bunny Lines?
Botox is one of the most popular and effective treatment options for bunny lines. Botox works by blocking nerve signals to the muscles that allow them to contract.
This procedure hinders the process and allows the muscles to relax, which minimises the appearance of dynamic wrinkles (forming from facial movements).
The doctor may begin by applying a numbing cream to the area so that you do not feel any discomfort. Usually, 2 units of Botox are administered to each side of the nose.
However, you may need more depending on the severity of the wrinkles. The injector will also take care to give you a superficial dermal injection.
Botox is usually referred to as a “lunchtime procedure.” That’s because you should be out of the clinic in less than an hour. It will take a couple of days for the Botox to take effect, while the full results can be seen after 2 weeks.
Keep in mind that this treatment will only last for 6 months, and you’d need maintenance injections.
Can Botox Cause Bunny Lines?
Botox does not cause bunny lines. However, they can appear more noticeable when the skin around them is wrinkle-free. That’s why many people who get Botox for their crow’s feet, glabellar lines, or lipstick lines also end up getting it for their bunny lines.
It’s not accurate that Botox causes bunny lines to form because the muscles in the nose are overcompensating for those in the forehead.
These lines only become more obvious or noticeable because the surrounding skin is quite smooth when the person is making some facial expressions.
Examples of many actresses like Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Kylie Minogue, Kim Cattrall, and Amanda Holden have been provided as cautionary tales.
However, their bunny lines did not form as a result of Botox. They already had them but didn’t get Botox for them, which drew more attention to them.
Bunny Lines Botox Gone Wrong: What Can Happen?
The doctor has to be careful about the site of the injection and its depth. If it’s injected into the wrong muscle, the muscles affecting other areas of the face will also be paralysed, which will, of course, affect their movement and appearance.
Here, it’s possible that the practitioner ends up injecting into the muscles that elevate the lips. It can result in the drooping of the upper lip (one or both sides). This is unlikely as long as the medical practitioner is trained and experienced.
However, if you’re already at this point, unfortunately, there isn’t much that you can do to reverse the muscle paralysis, so you’ll probably have to wait it out.
Also, there’s the problem of over-injecting Botox. Your doctor should determine how many units to use after assessing the severity of the wrinkles.
It can vary. Keep in mind that after Botox, you will experience some temporary swelling, bruising, redness, and even facial weakness. That should, however, go away in time.
It’s extremely important that you do your research when looking to get Botox. Make sure to ask questions from your doctor about the procedure and the Botox itself. The practitioner needs to be licensed with experience in administering Botox.
How To Get Rid of Bunny Lines Through Other Non-Surgical Treatments?
You’ll more commonly hear about Botox for bunny lines, but there are other treatments that can also help minimise their appearance.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are also quite commonly used for minimising the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. They can also help restore volume to a particular area of the face.
It’s possible to treat bunny lines with them, especially if you have deep wrinkles. The filler will puff up the area, smoothing the skin. It will also stimulate the production of collagen, which will further help make the bunny lines look less prominent.
Laser Resurfacing
Bunny lines can also be helped by laser resurfacing treatment. It will essentially remove the epidermis – the outermost layer of the skin – with an intense beam of light. In addition, it will also trigger the body’s natural collagen production, which can help smooth out wrinkles.
Chemical Peels
Another popular skin treatment for mild to moderate skin problems is chemical peels. These are also used for treating wrinkles and fine lines.
Containing a combination of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, they peel off layers of the skin, revealing youthful skin underneath.
How To Prevent Bunny Lines?
There are some things that can worsen the appearance of nose wrinkles. You can do the following to try and prevent them:
Have Good Skin Care
Retinoids (vitamin A) are quite commonly used as anti-ageing products by many people.
According to Harvard Health, it can stimulate collagen production and even the growth of new blood vessels. It can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines and make the skin smoother.
Many people consider the use of retinoids worth it, although it can cause some temporary side effects like:
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Dryness
- Irritation
- Peeling
It can also cause increased sensitivity to the sun, which is why it’s recommended that you wear sunscreen when you’re using them.
Other than that, it is also recommended that you moisturise your skin as that can also make the wrinkles and fine lines less prominent by hydrating the skin (although it cannot prevent them entirely).
Wear A Sunscreen
Almost every other person emphasises the importance of sunscreen these days. The harmful UV radiations of the sun penetrate the deeper layer of the skin and break down collagen and elastin, which can make the skin sag and result in the formation of severe wrinkles.
Having lighter skin puts you at a greater risk of getting sunburned. It’s important that you wear sunscreen and avoid sun exposure whenever possible. Consider wearing a hat and sunglasses for extra protection.
Get Preventative Botox
Getting Botox in your 20s and 30s to prevent severe wrinkling is what’s known as preventative Botox.
Keep in mind that it won’t stop you from ageing, but it can slow down the wrinkles from forming or appearing on your face. They will essentially appear at a later age than they would have without Botox.
According to Scientific American, after the age of 20, you produce 1% less collagen every year, which will affect the quality of your skin. Therefore, it’s understandable that many people want to get preventative treatments.
Quit Smoking
There are many different ways in which smoking affects the skin. And it’s true that it can result in the formation of premature wrinkles. It causes narrowing of the blood vessels and reduces the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. In addition, it degrades the structure of the skin.
Smokers’ lines also develop around the mouth as a result of the frequent movement of the muscles in a particular position. It also causes wrinkling around the eyes. Most importantly, smoking can cause skin cancer, which is why it’s best to quit it altogether.
Concluding Remarks
Bunny lines are wrinkles on the nose that many people find unattractive and want to get rid of. Some people have more of them because of certain facial expressions that they make.
They can also become more prominent with age. However, there are a few non-surgical treatments that can help reduce their appearance.
In addition, you can also do some things to prevent them. In any case, you should discuss your concerns with a dermatologist so they can recommend a suitable treatment for you.
