Dynamic Wrinkles

Every facial expression requires muscles to contract. When a muscle contracts repeatedly over years, the overlying skin folds along the same line each time. Young skin is elastic enough to spring back after each contraction. As we age, collagen and elastin fibres weaken — the skin gradually loses its ability to fully recover, and the repeated fold becomes a visible crease that deepens with time.

The most common dynamic wrinkles are: forehead lines (frontalis muscle), frown lines between the brows (glabella / corrugator muscles), and crow's feet at the corners of the eyes (orbicularis oculi). Other areas include bunny lines on the nose, lip lines, and neck bands.

Dynamic wrinkles appear or deepen during facial expression and are caused by muscle movement. Static wrinkles are present at rest — they have become permanently etched into the skin and remain visible even when the face is relaxed. Early dynamic wrinkles disappear completely at rest; established ones remain visible at rest too.

This distinction matters for treatment: dynamic wrinkles respond well to botulinum toxin (Anti-Wrinkle Treatment), which temporarily relaxes the muscle creating the fold. Static wrinkles — volume loss, deep folds, and skin laxity — are better addressed with dermal fillers, chemical peels, or skin-resurfacing treatments. Many patients require a combination.