What Is a Bunny Line? Causes, Prevention and Treatment Options

Bunny lines—what a cute name for something that tends to overstay its welcome. These little crinkles have likely made an appearance during your most expressive moments: scrunching your nose at an inside joke, feigning shock at some scandalous gossip, or simply smiling so big that your whole face joined in. They mark laughter, mischief, and personality, etching themselves into the skin like a record of all the times you’ve reacted just a little too hard. But what happens when those fleeting moments stop being so fleeting? When the creases meant for a single second start settling in, sticking around long after the joke has passed? For some, a bunny line here and there becomes a feature they’d rather not have front and center—a little too permanent for comfort.

At the Aesthetic Associates Centre, we offer non-surgical solutions to soften those stubborn bunny lines—without erasing the personality behind them. Think of it as a gentle way to hit “refresh” on your expressions, keeping the charm but dialing back the crinkles. Because while your smile should leave a lasting impression, your wrinkles don’t have to.

What’s a Bunny Line and Why Does It Show Up?

Bunny lines are those small, diagonal wrinkles that appear on either side of your nose, stretching from the inner corners of your eyes toward your cheeks. You’ll often spot them when someone smiles, laughs, squints, or scrunches their nose—movements that give these lines their charming name. They mimic the twitchy little motion of a rabbit’s nose, which is why they’re called “bunny lines.”

These lines start as dynamic wrinkles—meaning they only appear when your face moves. Over time, however, they can deepen and become static wrinkles that linger even when your face is relaxed.

The root cause of bunny lines is repeated muscle movement. Every time you smile, laugh, or squint, the nasalis muscle (the muscle responsible for wrinkling the nose) contracts. Over the years, these repetitive motions crease the skin in the same areas again and again. If you’re naturally expressive, you may see bunny lines appear earlier in life.

But it’s not just facial expressions at play. As we age, our skin loses collagen and elastin—the proteins that keep it firm and elastic. By the time you hit your 30s, collagen production decreases by about 1% each year. As these supportive proteins decline, the fine lines caused by expression become more permanent.

Lifestyle factors can also accelerate the formation of bunny lines. Excessive sun exposure, smoking, dehydration, and even poor skincare habits all weaken the skin and make these wrinkles more noticeable.

In short, bunny lines tell a story—a story of smiles, squints, and the natural aging process. While they may seem like a small detail, for many people, they can feel like an unwelcome sign of aging.

Bunny Line Wrinkles: What Are Your Treatment Options?

Once bunny lines start sticking around longer than you’d like, there are a few science-backed ways to smooth them out—without surgery or downtime. These treatment options target the root causes of these wrinkles, helping you soften their appearance while keeping your natural expressions intact.

Botox: Relax the Muscle, Reduce the Wrinkle

One of the most effective ways to treat a bunny line is with Botox®—a purified form of botulinum toxin. When injected precisely into the nasalis muscle, Botox temporarily relaxes that muscle. As a result, the skin over it smooths out, and those diagonal wrinkles fade.

The procedure itself is quick and straightforward. In just a few small injections, the muscle activity that deepens bunny lines is reduced. This treatment doesn’t freeze your entire face—it only targets the specific muscle creating the wrinkle, so your natural expressions remain. By calming repetitive muscle movements, you’re essentially stopping those wrinkles in their tracks.

Dermal Fillers: Restore Volume and Smooth Static Wrinkles

For bunny lines that have settled in and become more pronounced over time, dermal fillers offer a highly effective way to restore smoothness and volume. Injectables like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, which consist of hyaluronic acid (a substance your skin naturally produces), do more than just “fill” wrinkles.

When placed strategically around bunny lines, fillers restore lost volume beneath the skin’s surface, softening the depth of each crease. They also attract and hold water molecules, delivering hydration to the skin from within. Over time, this added moisture and volume improve the skin’s texture, elasticity, and firmness.

Many fillers also encourage collagen production—a key protein that keeps your skin smooth and resilient. So, while the results are immediate, the skin continues to benefit long after the appointment.

Bring Back Your Fresh, Natural Look

Your smile, your laughter, your spark—they deserve to shine without the extra lines tagging along. If your bunny lines have started to feel a little too permanent, we’re here to help you smooth things over.

At the Aesthetic Associates Centre, we believe in enhancing your natural beauty—not masking it. Our team offers safe, non-surgical treatments tailored to your unique features so you can feel confident whenever you look in the mirror. Schedule your consultation today, and let us help you soften those lines.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for beauty insights, treatment highlights, and helpful tips to keep you looking and feeling your best.