Crow's feet

definition

Crow's feet or laugh lines are small, unpleasant, star-shaped wrinkles on the outer corner of the eye. Due to their radial appearance, they are reminiscent of the feet of crows. Crows feet usually represent the pronounced form of laugh lines.
They form during various movements such as blinking or laughing. With increasing age, the skin loses its elasticity and elasticity. The result is that wrinkles can no longer recede properly and permanent, annoying wrinkles such as crow's feet occur.

causes

For example, crow's feet are caused by insufficient UV protection

As already described above, crow's feet arise when the annular Eye muscle (Orbicularis oculi muscle).

This is the case with almost all movements of the face (facial expressions) such as laughing or squinting. Since just at the outer corner of the eye the skin is particularly thin, a permanent use there especially quickly Wrinkling to lead.
However, as with all other wrinkles, the main cause of crow's feet is dwindling salary on Hyaluronic acid in our tissue.
From a biochemical point of view, hyaluronic acid is one long chain out Sugar moleculeswho owns the property tons of Water molecules to bind to yourself. Thus, the hyaluronic acid serves our skin as a huge water reservoirwho for Stability and moisture cares.
In addition to hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastic fibers also ensure elasticity and resilience. These help young skin to withdraw easily. From the 30 years of age however, the salary assumes Hyaluronic acid, Collagens and elastic fibers continuously from. The result is that wrinkles can no longer retreat and thus remain permanent. Crow's feet have emerged.
In addition to the lack of hyaluronic acid, they also play genetic factors, too high Exposure to sunlight without adequate sun protection, Smoke and an unhealthy lifestyle plays an important role in wrinkle formation.

treatment

Become Crow's feet perceived as very annoying, there are different ways to fight the unwanted wrinkles. Popular options for this are injecting the wrinkles with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin (also called botox).

Treatment with hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid causes a s due to its moisture-binding and moisturizing propertiestight, plump and youthful appearing skin.

You can today artificially in the laboratory and is very similar to the body's natural hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid can be used as an alternative to Injection also as gel, in Creams (Anti aging) or in the form of Capsules be used.
Since the skin However, only a small part of the hyaluronic acid can absorb, the effect is compared to one Injectionwhere the hyaluronic acid is injected under the skin, less pronounced and less effective. When injecting the crow's feet, a Microsyringe Hyaluronic acid injected directly into the deep layers of the skin. Thereby the body's own Hyaluronic acid deposits refreshed and new liquid mobilized under the wrinkle. This creates a optical enhancement and smoothing the fold.
Advantage of this treatment is the immediately visible effect and the few complications, e.g. bruises (Hematomas) or slight swelling. A smoothing of wrinkles lasts 3 to 6 months and can be combined with Botulinum toxin (Botox) be strengthened and lengthened. This means that even very pronounced wrinkles can be removed. Botox blocks the activity of muscle cells due to its neurotoxic effects. This leads to a desired relaxation (Hypomimia) of the face, which prevents the formation of new wrinkles. Then the pre-existing wrinkles are filled in and smoothed out using hyaluronic acid.
Combining the two together leads to one immediately visible wrinkles, as well as an even longer lasting effect. Another injection would be necessary after 6 months. However, hyaluronic acid can not only fight wrinkles. Nowadays it is also used for spraying Lips, nose, buttocks or of the breasts used; in some cases even for modeling nipples.

Treatment with botulinum toxin

An alternative or combination option to Hyaluronic acid is the already mentioned botulinum toxin, or botox for short.

Botox is originally one Neurotoxin, which is nowadays widely used in cosmetic medicine. Its main areas of application include the Fight against wrinkles, as well as preventing excessive sweating.
As a neurotoxin, Botox prevents them Excitation transmission between Nerve cell and muscle. This in turn causes the muscle to give its signal to contract (contraction) loses. The consequence is that the annular eye muscle (M. orbicularis occuli) when looking at the sun no longer tense and natural wrinkling does not occur. The skin stays smooth and relaxed.
Similar to the Hyaluronic acid injection During Botox treatment, the drug is injected into the nerve endings of the desired muscle using a very small and fine needle. It is particularly important to have this application carried out by an experienced and well-trained doctor, otherwise unloved complications how Asymmetries, a hanging Oberlied or one drooping eyebrow possible are.
Correct handling can instead create the effect of large, awake eyes. An application with Botox lasts average 3-6 months, but always depends on the amount of dose used and the treatment area. That means: the more nerve endings are treated with botulinum toxin, the longer the nerve endings need to regenerate and the longer the desired wrinkle-free effect. However, excessive doses of Botox should be avoided even with very deep crow's feet, as these have considerable aesthetic disadvantages such as a "Mask face" without facial expressions. Possible complications of a Botox treatment can be - if used incorrectly - drooping eyelids or eyebrows, impaired eyelid closure, swelling, redness or bruises.
Since with a botox treatment the Facial muscles first have to be overridden, optical improvements can only be seen after 48-72 hours. To 10 days the maximum success of the treatment is visible.

Facelift

A operational possibility to remove crow's feet in the long term, that would be the so-called Face liftingusing various techniques to remove excess skin removed and the underlying connective tissue is lifted. Consequence is a firmer, younger looking appearance. However, as with all other operations, face-lifting complications such as Bleeding and Scarring this type of wrinkle reduction is more recommended for women of advanced age.

For Crow's feet are suitable i.a. a upper facelift, in which a tightening order Forehead, eyebrows and temples occurs, or that Temple lifting, in which especially a tightening around the Temporal and Eyebrow region he follows.
However, very deep crow's feet cannot always be removed by surgery alone. For this reason, a combination therapy is also used here surgery and Hyaluronic acid or botox devices. The most modern surgical and anesthetic methods have made complications very rare, but they can still occur.
Typical complications include Circulatory disorders, Wound healing disorders, Bleeding and Nvein injurieswho mainly would have serious consequences on the face.

Every single possible complication is discussed in detail in a medical consultation.

prophylaxis

Because crow's feet for normal aging process belong to humans, one cannot completely prevent their creation, however delay.
A healthy lifestyle out enough sleep, a healthy diet, Sports and one adequate UV protection while sunbathing help to delay the development of crow's feet by a few years.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables can help free radicals before they damage the skin and drinking enough water helps to maintain optimal moisture and elasticity of the skin. Also the Give up cigarettes counteracts the early formation of wrinkles and ensures smooth, young skin.

Further topics from this area

Laugh lines

The smile lines are small wrinkles on the eyes or around the mouth. As the skin ages, the wrinkles deepen and often remain permanently visible.
Here you get to the topic: Laugh lines

Skin folds

Skin folds are an expression of the skin's natural aging process. With increasing age, wrinkles form primarily on the face and arise due to the loss of elasticity in the skin tissue.
Here you get to the topic: skin folds

Wrinkle treatment

As you get older, skin wrinkles naturally develop. Many people are bothered by wrinkles and are looking for ways to counteract the formation of wrinkles.
Here you get to the topic: Wrinkle treatment