Bunny Lines Botox in Irvine, CA — Smooth the Wrinkles Across Your Nose
A few precise units to relax bunny lines at the source.
Bunny Lines Botox in Irvine, CA
Bunny lines are the short, diagonal wrinkles that fan across the bridge and sides of the nose when you smile, laugh, or scrunch — named for the way a rabbit wrinkles its nose. They come from the nasalis muscle, and as that muscle repeats the same motion over years, the lines can start to linger even at rest. A few precise units of Botox relax the nasalis so the skin above it creases less, softening the lines while leaving the rest of your expression intact. At Spectrum Skin Clinic in Irvine, bunny line Botox is performed by Dr. Sabeen Munib, MD.
How Bunny Lines Fit the Upper Face
| Context | Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship to glabella Botox | Treating the corrugator without the nasalis can cause bunny lines to intensify as the nose wrinkles to compensate | Often treated at the same session as glabella |
| Relationship to crow's feet | Strong squinting drives both; bunny lines may reduce when crow's feet treatment reduces lateral orbicularis activity | Assessed together |
| Treated in isolation | Possible if patient has prominent bunny lines without prior upper face Botox | Less common; scope confirmed at consultation |
| Dose range | 2 to 5 units per side into the transverse nasalis | Low dose; placement above the alar crease to avoid affecting lip elevation |
What Causes Bunny Lines
Bunny lines are caused by repeated contraction of the nasalis muscle — specifically its transverse head, which runs diagonally across the nasal bridge and sidewall. When the nose is wrinkled expressively, the transverse nasalis contracts and gathers the skin of the nasal sidewall into diagonal creases that fan outward from the nasal bridge. Over time, repeated contraction deepens these creases into the skin.
Bunny lines are common in patients who have had glabella Botox — when the corrugator supercilii is relaxed, some patients unconsciously recruit the nasalis to compensate, producing lines that were not visible before treatment. In these patients, adding a small amount of Botox to the transverse nasalis at the same glabella session prevents this compensatory wrinkle pattern from developing.
In patients without prior Botox, prominent bunny lines at rest reflect either a strong or habitually active transverse nasalis, thinner skin on the nasal sidewall that shows creasing more readily, or a combination of both.
Who May Be a Candidate
| Profile | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Existing glabella Botox, developed new bunny lines | Good candidate | Most common presentation; add nasalis to next treatment session |
| Prominent bunny lines at rest without prior Botox | Good candidate | Assess nasalis strength and rule out compensatory recruitment from elsewhere |
| Bunny lines only visible with extreme expression | Lower priority | Treat only if cosmetically significant; low-visibility lines often not worth treating |
| Past nasal surgery or narrow nasal bridge | Requires review | Altered anatomy changes injection landmarks; careful assessment required |
Why Placement Matters Here
The transverse nasalis is a thin muscle running diagonally, and its injection point must be precise to target the muscle belly without affecting adjacent structures. The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi — the muscle that elevates the upper lip and nostril — passes nearby. Injecting too close to the alar crease or too inferiorly can partially relax this muscle, producing temporary drooping of the upper lip or altered nostril shape during smiling.
Dr. Munib places the injection point on the transverse nasalis approximately at the level of the inferior end of the nasal bone — above the alar crease and lateral to the nasal tip. The dose is kept low, typically 2 to 4 units per side, and placed superficially to remain in the nasalis rather than penetrating deeper where the levator lies. Patients with a narrow nasal bridge or thin nasal sidewall skin require particular care in placement.
Because the nasalis is a small muscle with limited mass, the result from a well-placed, low-dose treatment develops within seven days and typically lasts three to four months.
What to Expect
Consultation: Dr. Munib watches how your nose creases when you smile and scrunch, then maps a small number of injection points.
Treatment: About 10 minutes. A few fine-needle injections per side — most patients describe a quick pinch.
Onset: Smoothing typically begins in 3–5 days and settles by about two weeks.
Duration: Commonly 3–4 months; results may last longer with regular treatment.
Recovery: No downtime. Stay upright and avoid rubbing the area for a few hours.
Results Timeline
Bunny lines Botox typically shows within five to seven days as the transverse nasalis relaxes — faster than larger muscles like the frontalis or masseter. The full effect is visible at fourteen days. Results last three to four months, consistent with other small-muscle Botox zones.
Patients treating bunny lines as part of a full upper face plan should synchronise the schedule with their glabella and crow's feet appointments so that all three areas are refreshed at the same time. This avoids a patchwork appearance where one area has worn off while others remain active.
Physician-Performed. Conservative by Design.
Dr. Sabeen Munib, MD performs bunny line Botox personally at Spectrum Skin Clinic in Irvine.
Because the nasalis sits close to the muscles that lift the upper lip, this area is treated conservatively — small, well-mapped doses that soften the lines while keeping a natural, mobile smile.
Pairs Well With
Bunny lines are often treated alongside frown lines and crow's feet for a balanced upper face.
Glabella Botox — frown lines and the 11s.
Crow’s Feet Botox — smile lines around the eyes.
Botox & Dysport Treatments — the full Botox treatment hub.
Book Your Bunny Lines Consultation in Irvine
If you notice diagonal creases on the sides of your nose during smiling or squinting — or if bunny lines have appeared after starting glabella Botox — a consultation at Spectrum Skin Clinic will assess whether adding a small nasalis dose to your next appointment is the right adjustment. Dr. Sabeen Munib sees patients in Irvine, CA. Most bunny lines consultations are brief additions to an existing upper face Botox review.
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