When Botox is Injected in the Upper Lips, is the Result Permanent or Can It Be Reversed?

asked 1 year ago by DL52 in Richmond, VA
Latest answer by Melissa Chiang, MD
Question viewed 444 times
Tags: permanent, reversal, upper lip

My smile is crooked, one side goes down farther than the other. Also, I cannot spit or enunciate clearly. Will this go away and if so, when?

12 answers to When Botox is Injected in the Upper Lips, is the Result Permanent or Can It Be Reversed?

The effects of botox are temporary - 3-5 months

Botox lasts 3-5 months. It always wears off. Injecting botox into the upper lip helps reduce lines from pursing of the lips lengthens the upper lip, reducing "gummy" smile and reducing the amount of lip that curls under when we smile. This can be particularly helpful when the upper lip "disappears" when the patient smiles Injection of the upper lip is an advanced technique. A small amount goes a long way. ... more

Melissa Chiang, MD
Houston Dermatologist

BOTOX® always wears off

One of the things that makes BOTOX®, Dysport® and other formulations of BTX-A so safe is that the effects of this class of medication always wear off. The duration of effect depends on the dose, and on the location treated. For example, higher doses generally last longer, but even a dose several times the maximum usually used in a given area will only be effective for a limited period of time. When the lips are treated with BOTOX®, usually 3 or 4 doses of 1 unit each are... more

Kevin C. Smith, MD
Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox in the lips

Botox can be used delicately and sparingly on the lip lines to help efface them. However, too much may affect the movement. It takes about 4 months for this to completely wear off.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Botox reversal

There is no reversing the effect so you are stuck until it wears off, probably 3 -4 months. I don't do Botox around the mouth because of the problem you describe. The muscles around the mouth are very small and there are about a jillion of them each doing its own little job. I much prefer filler around the mouth. There is no risk of your problem and if HA fillers are used, they can be reversed with hyaluronidase. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Botox in the upper lip

The effect will go away, and there is nothing you can do to speed that process. As I think you can see from the answers already, botox in the upper lip is touchy, with a very small therapeutic window. Meaning it is very difficult to get just the right amount in place that will last an appropriate amount of time and not have too many side effects. That's why I have stopped suggesting it to patients. Unfortunately for you, this might be a difficult lesson learned... more

Kevin Robertson, MD
Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.robertsonplasticsurgery.com

Botox Effect is NOT permanent - Good News with Overdone Lip injections

Regarding: "When Botox is Injected in the Upper Lips, is the Result Permanent or Can It Be Reversed? My smile is crooked, one side goes down farther than the other. Also, I cannot spit or enunciate clearly. Will this go away and if so, when?" To smooth deep smoker's lines, VERY small amounts of Botox MAY be injected in the upper lip to slightly weaken the underlying muscle. If the threshold of minute weakening is passed, as it sounds like it was done in your case, the... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetric smile with Botox

Botox is temporary and tends to resolve completely by 4-6 mopnths. Anything that persists beyond this period is unlikely to be related to the Botox.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Botox for the upper lip

If I inject Botox in the upper lip (which is seldom), I inject minute quantities (maybe 1-2 units per side). Unfortunately, now you know why. The good news is that the effect WILL go away. It generally lasts about 3-4 months. I wish there was a way to reverse it, but there isn't.

Matthew Bridges, MD
Richmond Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox NOT Good Around Mouth Area

The asymmetry you are experiencing is not that unusual when people inject around the mouth. Luckily, it will al resolve on its own between 3-5 months. This is one of the reasons that Botox really is not ideal for the mouth area. It often paralyzes segments of the muscle more on one side vs. the other. Because of this, you get asymmetry and a crooked facial expression. Just be patient and it will wear off on its own. In the meantime, tell people you... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Botox is never permanent

If you have a muscular unbalance from the Botox don't be concerned that it's permanent. It will all go away by four months, latest five; usually around three months most of the ill-effect is no longer seen.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox is temporary and loses effectiveness with time

Botox is temporary and loses effectiveness with time. Usually it lasts about 3 months. There is no medication to reverse it but in about 3 months the effect will be completely resolved.