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September 21, 2011

A few years ago, Yvonne Sonia-Kerr saw the signs of aging setting in. So she started to get regular Botox injections.

"It's all about looking good is feeling good, and feeling good is looking good, and they go hand in hand," Sonia-Kerr said.

The 39-year-old deals with needles to keep crow's feet away. But soon she may be able to erase the wrinkles without pain. New research shows that a gel containing botulinum toxin-- the active ingredient in Botox-- is effective in reducing wrinkles around the eyes.

"You spread the gel right around the crow's feet area with a gloved finger. It sits on the skin, this is done in a doctor's office, then it's wiped off the skin half an hour later," explained Dr. Michael Kane, a plastic surgeon.

Studies show up to 90 percent of patients who used the gel reduced their wrinkles for up to four months.

Right now the gel is only in clinical trials, so it's not yet approved by the FDA.

Plastic surgeons say even with the gel, Botox injections will probably still be needed.

"Where the skin is thicker, for example between the eyes and the forehead, we might find the injections are better than the gel," said Dr. Ellen Marmur of the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Sonia-Kerr looks forward to less pain to look good.

"That's always a nerve-wracking experience to a degree, but to use a gel that eliminates the needle. That's a great thing," she said.

Botox injections cost hundreds of dollars. It's unclear what the gel would cost if it's approved for consumers. Researchers are also looking at using the gel for people who suffer from excess armpit sweating.

CBS News