Crow’s feet are the lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes. In men they tend to show earlier and cut deeper than in women, and they respond well to the right treatment. Anti-wrinkle injections soften the lines caused by muscle movement. Daily sun protection slows them down. Peels and microneedling improve the skin texture that injections can’t reach. Below we explain which is which, what safe treatment looks like in the UK, and what it costs at our Liverpool studio.
TL;DR
- Crow’s feet are mostly caused by repeated squinting and smiling, plus sun damage. Men tend to get them earlier because of lower sunscreen use and differences in skin structure.
- Anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscle that creases the skin. They don’t fix crepey, sun-damaged texture, so many men need a peel or microneedling as well.
- In the UK, botulinum toxin is prescription-only and needs a face-to-face consultation with a qualified prescriber first. Remote prescribing is not acceptable.
- Men often need a different dose from the standard one, so choose someone who treats male faces regularly.
- At Rivers Edge Skin Studio in Liverpool, anti-wrinkle injections start at £200 for two areas, with peels from £60 and microneedling from £70.
Table of Contents
- Why men get crow’s feet
- What crow’s feet look like on a man
- Dynamic or static: the question that decides your treatment
- Anti-wrinkle injections for crow’s feet
- Safety rules in the UK
- Treating the skin, not just the muscle
- What you can do at home
- Our view: start with the face, not the product
- Prices at our Liverpool studio
- What a sensible plan looks like over a year
- FAQ
- Sources
Why men get crow’s feet
Crow’s feet, known medically as lateral canthal lines, are fine lines that form at the outer corners of the eyes. Every time you smile or squint, the muscle around the eye (the orbicularis oculi) contracts and folds the skin. Repeat that thousands of times and the fold stops springing back.
Three things drive it.
Expression. The lines start as dynamic lines: they only show when the muscle moves. Over the years they turn into static lines that stay put when your face is relaxed.
Sun. Ultraviolet exposure is the biggest outside factor. The Cleveland Clinic says photoaging is responsible for up to 90% of visible skin changes as men age. UV also breaks down collagen and elastin, which is what keeps skin firm.
Skin structure and habits. A review of ageing in the male face notes that men have thicker skin but reduced antioxidant levels in it, along with differences in how they age. Men are also statistically less likely to wear sunscreen or sunglasses. Smoking, dry skin and genetics add to it.
The gap between men and women narrows with age, but if you’re in your 30s or 40s and your lines look deeper than you’d like, you’re not unusual. A multinational study of men’s facial ageing looked at exactly this question of timing and the preventive habits men have.
What crow’s feet look like on a man
Male ageing around the eyes follows its own pattern. Research on the male face describes a distinct pattern of volume loss around the eye area and a different structure of the lower face. In practice, many men’s crow’s feet spread further down the cheek rather than staying tight at the corner of the eye. Men also tend to have stronger, broader muscle here, according to JCCP prescribing guidance.
That matters for treatment. Placement and dose that suit a woman’s smaller muscle can under-treat a man, leaving you paying for a result you can barely see.
Dynamic or static: the question that decides your treatment
Before you book anything, work out which kind of line you mostly have. A simple check: look in the mirror with your face fully relaxed.
| What you see at rest | What it usually means | What helps most |
|---|---|---|
| Lines vanish completely | Dynamic lines from muscle movement | Anti-wrinkle injections |
| Faint lines remain, skin looks crinkled or thin | Static lines and sun damage | Peels, microneedling, daily SPF |
| Both | Most men over 35 | A combined plan over several sessions |
This is the point where men most often get disappointed. Experts note that men often mistake crepey, sun-damaged skin for simple expression lines, then feel let down when injections don’t smooth it. Injections only deal with movement. They do not improve skin texture. That is why a proper assessment matters more than the product.
Anti-wrinkle injections for crow’s feet
Botulinum toxin (Botox is the best-known brand) works by temporarily relaxing a targeted muscle. Three brands are licensed in the UK for cosmetic use: Azzalure, Bocouture and Botox. For crow’s feet, small amounts are placed around the outer eye so the skin creases less when you smile.
What to expect:
- Timing. The JCCP information sheet says results typically begin within a few days and reach full effect within about two weeks.
- Duration. The same sheet puts it at roughly five to six months. Individual results vary, and the effect wears off gradually, so most men book repeat sessions.
- A natural look. Done well, you can still smile and squint. The aim is softer lines, not a frozen face. Most men tell us they don’t want anyone to notice they’ve had anything done, and a plan built around that is the right one.
- Side effects. Mild bruising, redness and headaches are common and usually settle quickly. Rare risks include the toxin spreading to unintended areas, which can cause double vision or difficulty swallowing. Either needs immediate medical attention.
If you want a plainer explanation of the treatment itself, our guide to what anti-wrinkle injections are covers it step by step.
Safety rules in the UK
This part is not optional reading. Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. The JCCP, working alongside regulators such as the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council, sets out that a face-to-face consultation with a prescriber must come before treatment. Prescribing remotely, for example from an online form or video call, is not acceptable for these procedures.
In practice, before anyone injects you:
- Check who is prescribing. It should be a doctor, dentist, or a nurse or pharmacist prescriber. Look them up on their professional register (GMC, GDC or NMC) and ask to see it.
- Expect a real assessment. The practitioner should look at how strong your muscle is, how far the lines extend and how much expression you want to keep.
- Ask about male experience. Ask how many men they treat and how they adjust dosing for stronger muscle.
- Be wary of bargain pricing. The JCCP stresses that safety and anatomical knowledge matter more than a cheap deal.
- Know where to go if something is wrong. Droopy eyelids or an allergic reaction need a practitioner who can manage them. Double vision or trouble swallowing means seeking medical help straight away.
The British Cosmetic Dermatology Group’s guide to botulinum toxin injections is a good independent read before your consultation. You can also check the JCCP’s public pages for how to find a practitioner on an approved register.
If you have a neuromuscular condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take medication that affects muscles or bleeding, tell the prescriber at the consultation. They will decide whether treatment is suitable for you.
Treating the skin, not just the muscle
Most men with established crow’s feet have a mix of movement and sun damage. The treatments that address the second part are different.
Chemical peels. A peel lifts the damaged surface layer and encourages fresh skin. It helps with dull, uneven and slightly crepey texture. The JCCP information sheet notes that injections are sometimes combined with medical-grade peels when static damage is present, which needs someone who can judge whether a peel suits your skin type and history. See our chemical peels for men in Liverpool page for details.
Microneedling. Tiny controlled punctures prompt the skin to repair itself, which supports collagen. It’s a useful option for fine lines and texture around the eyes and across the face. See our microneedling for men in Liverpool page.
Skin boosters. Polynucleotide skin boosters are aimed at skin quality and hydration, and suit men whose skin looks tired more than lined.
We go into how these treatments work alongside each other in our guide to combining skincare treatments for men. If puffiness or shadows around your eyes bother you more than lines, read under-eye bags in men, because that needs a different approach.
What you can do at home
Prevention is the most effective strategy, and none of it is complicated.
- SPF 30 or higher every day, all year. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is the single most useful anti-ageing step, and UV passes through cloud too. Apply it around the eyes as well.
- Sunglasses. They cut the squinting that creases the skin and shield the area from UV.
- Moisturise. A well-hydrated skin barrier holds up better.
- Consider a retinoid in your 30s and 40s. Topical retinoids and other vitamin A derivatives stimulate collagen, and they are best started under professional guidance because they can irritate. If you’d rather avoid retinoids, this explainer on retinol versus bakuchiol and how to start safely covers tolerance and a gentle starting routine.
- Sleep, stress and smoking. Seven or more hours of sleep and less stress support skin health, and stopping smoking helps. They won’t reverse deep lines, but they stop things getting worse faster.
If you’re starting from nothing, our guides on how to start a men’s skincare routine and preventing premature skin ageing lay out a simple routine. For the long game, see maintaining youthful skin.
Our view: start with the face, not the product
We only treat men, and that shapes how we approach crow’s feet.
The most common mistake we see is a man arriving with a treatment in mind, usually injections, when the lines are mostly sun damage. The second is the reverse: someone who has spent months on creams for lines that are really caused by muscle movement. Neither is a failure on his part. It’s hard to tell from a mirror at home.
So we start with a personalised plan. We look at how your face moves, how your skin looks at rest, and how much movement you want to keep. For many men the answer is injections for the movement, plus a short course of peels or microneedling for the texture, with daily SPF doing the long-term work. For others, skin treatment alone is enough. Our aim is natural-looking results that you’d be comfortable having a colleague or your partner notice only as “you look well”.
Looking after your skin shouldn’t be complicated. If we think a treatment won’t give you what you’re hoping for, we’ll tell you.
— David
Prices at our Liverpool studio
These are the prices published on our site for treatments relevant to crow’s feet. Anti-wrinkle injections are priced by the number of areas treated, so we confirm what your plan needs at your consultation.
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Anti-wrinkle injections (2 areas) | £200 |
| Anti-wrinkle injections (3 areas) | £240 |
| Chemical peel, single treatment | £60 |
| Chemical peel, course of 2 | £100 |
| Chemical peel, course of 4 | £200 |
| Microneedling facial, single treatment | £70 |
| Microneedling facial, course of 2 | £100 |
| Microneedling facial, course of 4 | £200 |
| Skin boosters, polynucleotides | £240 |
| Deep Cleanse Facial | £35 |
If you live in Merseyside and want a clear answer on what suits your eyes, see our anti-wrinkle injections for men in Liverpool page and book online. You can also see every treatment on our services page. Our guide to local anti-wrinkle treatment for men explains what to look for when choosing a clinic near you.
What a sensible plan looks like over a year
No plan fits everyone, but here is a typical shape for a man in his late 30s or 40s with both movement lines and some sun damage.
- Consultation and assessment. Muscle strength, line pattern, skin condition and your goals. Nothing is injected until this is done.
- Injections for the movement. Results build over about two weeks, so judge the outcome then, not on day two.
- A peel or microneedling course. A course of two or four sessions, spaced as advised, works on texture. Courses cost less per session than single treatments.
- Daily SPF and moisturiser. This protects the work you’ve paid for.
- Repeat injections as the effect fades. Over several months the movement returns gradually, and your practitioner will advise when to top up.
A few practical points. Avoid heavy sun exposure after skin treatments, and follow the aftercare you’re given. Be honest about any medication, supplements or skin conditions. And don’t compare yourself with other men: someone with thin, light skin and someone with thick, weathered skin need different plans.
FAQ
Can I get rid of crow’s feet completely?
Not entirely, and it would look unnatural if you did. Injections soften the lines caused by movement, and skin treatments improve texture. Deep, long-standing lines usually become less obvious rather than disappearing.
At what age do men start getting crow’s feet?
It varies a lot. Fine lines often appear in the late 20s or 30s, particularly with heavy sun exposure, and they deepen over time. Research suggests that Caucasian men report signs of ageing 10 to 20 years earlier than men with darker skin tones, which helps explain the spread.
Is Botox for crow’s feet safe for men?
When prescribed after a face-to-face consultation and given by a qualified, registered practitioner, it is a widely used treatment. Botox is often the first cosmetic procedure men choose. Mild bruising or headaches are the usual side effects, and rare serious ones need urgent medical care. Always check the prescriber’s registration.
Do men need more Botox than women?
Often, yes. Men tend to have stronger muscles around the eye, so a standard dose can under-treat. Your practitioner should set the dose at your consultation, based on your face rather than a fixed number.
Will I still be able to smile properly?
Yes, with a well-planned treatment. The aim is to soften creasing while keeping natural movement, so your expression still reads as yours.
Sources
- Crow’s Feet: What It Is, Botox, Treatment & Prevention, Cleveland Clinic
- Cleveland Clinic health information
- Aging in the Male Face: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors, Dermatologic Surgery
- Aging in the Male Face (Dermatologic Surgery, 2016) full text
- Signs of Facial Aging in Men in a Diverse, Multinational Study, PubMed
- Man-some: A Review of Male Facial Aging and Beauty, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
- JCCP Guidance Statement: Responsible Prescribing for Cosmetic Procedures
- JCCP Information Sheet 2: Botulinum Toxins
- Botulinum Toxin Injections, British Cosmetic Dermatology Group
- Botox in men, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology