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Is Botox Safe To Use In My Face If I've Had Bells Palsy?

asked 11 months ago by kate in los angels in los angels
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 572 times
Tags: under eyes, female, droopy, bells palsy, risk

I am 33 year old and I had a bell’s palsy around 15 years ago and still I have left with a few residual drooping in my left eye and eyebrow. I want to have botox for cosmetic purpose to reduce my face wrinkle especially around my eyes and frown line, I want to know is botox injection risky for my face or not? Could it cause my problem to come back again? My wedding is September and I am so afraid if something bad happen to me. Please help me.

12 answers to Is Botox Safe To Use In My Face If I've Had Bells Palsy?

Okay to use BOTOX on a Bell's Palsy patient

BOTOX is safe to use on a patient with a history of Bell's Palsy. However, I strongly recommend that this injection be done by someone who is very familiar with anatomy of the face and familiar with injecting patients with Bell's Palsy.

S. Ozan Sozer, MD
El Paso Plastic Surgeon

Bells Palsy and Botox, you should be careful

IMHO, you want to go slowly using Botox in areas where you have residual muscle weakness from your Bell's palsy 15 years ago. I have been a plastic and cosmetic surgeon for over 20 yewars and I woiuld not consider giving you Botox to the forehead and Crow's feet, with that history, and a wedding in September. Wait until after the wedding, IMO.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Yes and no.

Kate BOTOX can be great for this situation. However, what you need is an experienced injector with experience treating patients with Bell's Palsy. This is not a situation where you should go down the street to the store front with the "nurse" doing treatment with no doctor around. Oculoplastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and specialized general plastic surgeons are going to be better choices for core specialists treating this situation. You... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

BOTOX® is sometimes used to restore symmetry to faces affected by Bell's palsy and similar disorders

BOTOX® is sometimes used to restore symmetry to faces affected by Bell's palsy and similar disorders. In such cases, the other side of the face is relaxed with precise doses of BOTOX®, so that both sides are equally relaxed. Treatment is repeated from time to time to maintain the desired degree of relaxation and facial symmetry.

Kevin C. Smith, MD
Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox and Bells' Palsy

Dear Kate, Botox is certainly an option for someone who has had Bells Palsy in the past. In fact, it is a treatment for Bells Palsy patients who have developed synkinesis, or abnormal re-wiring of the nerves as they heal. This often causes spastic contraction of the surrounding muscles. So a history of bells palsy alone is not a contraindication. However, I would suggest you see an oculoplastic surgeon who is experienced in botox injections and Bells Palsy, because... more

Jasmine Mohadjer, MD
Clearwater Oculoplastic Surgeon

Botox and Bell's Palsy

I would go in and see an experienced injector for a consultation and get a full evaluation of your needs and concerns. A judgment would be made to the pros and cons of treating you. I do not suggest that any patient do anything immediately before a large event such as a wedding! Botox takes three to four months to wear off so I would suggest planning for this ahead of time. Best regards!

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

michaelelammd.com

Botox is given to some patients with Bells Palsy

Some patients have Botox to recreate symmetry after being affected by Bell's Palsy. However, if there is a risk for you to have an unsatisfactory cosmetic result and it is within five months of your wedding, I would suggest you not have the Botox as it could take four months to have the effect fully disappear and you need time for photographs possibly before the wedding. If you have a treatment more than five months before the wedding and like the results, then you might consider... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox injections if you have Bells Palsy...

If you have a history of Bells Palsy and are thinking of getting botox injections for wrinkles, you should see a physician with a lot of experience with these injections. Often times, the patient will have excessive wrinkling and muscle movement on the unaffected side, and Botox treats this wonderfully. If an area is drooping it may not actually lift it, but weakening of the stronger side could make you look more symmetrical. If an area of the affected side... more

Andrew Miller, MD
Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.associatesinplasticsurgery.com

Botox treatment and Bell's palsy

In fact Botox can be used to correct the facial asymmetry of Bell'sPalsy. I don't feel that there is a risk of re-activating your Bell's Palsy.

Ted Brezel, MD
Long Island Dermatologist

Botox to correct persistent bells palsy wrinkles

I have had great success treating a patient of mine who had Bells palsy about 20 years ago. She is a Ford model and no one even comments on her asymmetry! I have been able to reduce her asymmetry with Botox by treating a few overacting muscles and avoiding treating areas with persistent weakness. She and I are both very pleased.

Ashley A. Smith, MD
Sonoma Valley Dermatologist

Yes Botox is safe and mainstay treatment for Bells Palsy

Botox is actually one of the mainstay treatments for patients with a history of Bell's Palsy who develop a phenomenon called "Synkinesis." Synkinesis is an uncoordinated movement of the face that occurs when the nerve regenerates in an abnormal pattern. The treatment for synkinsis included neuromuscular retraining as well as botox or dysport. There are some risks with botox but overall patients get great outcome if it is done by a facial nerve expert. ... more

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Is Botox Safe To Use In My Face If I've Had Bells Palsy?

Hi Kate. Botox often can help the complications of Bell's palsy, and I have many such patients, so you are definitely a candidate for Botox. Your particular desires may or may not be related to the Bell's palsy. Go to a specialist that treats complications of Bell's palsy so that you get the optimal result.