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Chapter 098 min read

Bunny Lines: The Delicate Treatment of Mimic Lines on the Nose

"Bunny lines" that form near the bridge of the nose can become more prominent after glabella botox. This section explains why this hidden detail is important and how it can be resolved with a very small dose.

Main ideas in this chapter

  • Bunny lines are formed by the contraction of the nasalis muscle; they sometimes become more prominent after glabella treatment.
  • The total dose does not exceed 2-3 units per side; high doses can affect the lateral nasal muscles.
  • If planned together with glabella, the problem of "lateral reflection of the frown" is solved.
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Image:Bunny lines are often noticed when smiling.· Unsplash (royalty-free)

What are bunny lines?

Bunny lines are diagonal/linear expression lines that form on the sides of the nasal bridge, parallel to the root of the nose. They are called "bunny lines" because they resemble the movement of a rabbit wrinkling its nose. The muscle that produces these lines is the nasalis — especially when the glabella is actively used, the nasalis reflexively kicks in.

Bunny lines are not independent. When the glabella and procerus muscles are silenced, in some patients, the nasalis starts working harder to compensate, and previously unnoticed lines appear. This is the scientific explanation for the complaint "botox created new lines"; in fact, there is no new line, the existing line has become more visible.

When are they treated?

Bunny lines treatment is planned as a natural continuation of glabella treatment. If a line becomes prominent on the nose when the patient smiles or reacts to something, this area is targeted with a low dose of 2-3 units. It is not unnecessary: the glabella + bunny lines combination softens the face as a "unified" whole.

However, bunny lines are not treated in every patient. If the patient has a strong, frequently smiling face and considers these lines "part of themselves," it is very natural not to treat them. In the clinic, this area is almost always discussed with the patient and not done automatically.

Dose and technique

1-2 units per side of the nose (total 2-4 units) is sufficient. The needle is placed superficially on the lateral surface of the nasal bone; a deep needle can affect the upper lip muscle called levator labii superioris alaeque nasi and lead to upper lip asymmetry. Therefore, the injection remains high and does not go down.

The effect is noticeable in 5-7 days. The patient's feeling of "my nose feels lighter" is common. The result is subtle — it is not prominent in the photograph, but when looking closely at the face, the lines are seen to soften.