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Too Much Botox in Smokers Lines - No Movement, Cannot Speak Properly

asked 1 year ago by Hails878 in Perth Western Australia
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 971 times
Tags: movement, numb, smokers lines, speech

I have smokers lines, which Im deeply unhappy about. Was recommended botox; $180 worth; and now only 1 day later my top lip is so numb I cannot speak properly. She said 7-10 days would get affects of it. Im so worried its going to get worse. Is there ANYTHING I can do? Please please help. I wish I had got fillers; but was $600, thats why opted for botox at $180. Please please any help/advice for now to stop it or lesson it? Or advice for the future? I live in Perth, Western Australia.

24 answers to Too Much Botox in Smokers Lines - No Movement, Cannot Speak Properly

+1

Too Much Botox for Smoker's Lines

Hi Hails.  It sounds like you have too much product.  I am not sure how many units of Botox were injected, but for medium severity smoker's lines we typically only inject about 4-6 units.  While this amount only lasts about 6-8 weeks, it does a good job of hiding the lines without causing the type of numbness, paralysis you are speaking about. The problem is that there is really not a lot you can do before it wears off.  This should be at most 3 months in this... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

+2

Best Treatment for Smokers Lines

Hello and thank you for the question. To address your concerns, the management of smokers lines typically involves a tripartite treatment and especially in patients who have static peri-oral rhytids. The first step is to minimize the rhytids through a resurfacing technique. You have several options at your disposal including a chemical peel, dermabrasion, and fractionated laser resurfacing. Once the skin is resurfaced and a stable state is established, any residual rhytids that... more
Glenn Vallecillos, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Perioral BOTOX® for radial lip lines? Start at a low dose, increase slowly.

Perioral radial lines [vertical lines above and sometimes below the lips] are sometimes known as "smoker's lines" [and they seem to be more common in smokers, because smoking accelerates aging of the skin, so that smokers might get the lines perhaps ten years before an identical twin who did not smoke. The lines are more common in women, perhaps because women have thinner skin than men, and perhaps because a man's whiskers provide some structural support to his skin, kind... more
Kevin C. Smith, MD

Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Botox effects peak between 4-7 days after the injections

Purse and move your lips and mouth which will stimulate these muscles to bypass the weakened neuromuscular junctions and restoring muscle function.  It's not going to happen over night however, so be patient and keep moving the mouth.  It will get better quicker.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

If you’ve had too much BOTOX in the smoker’s lines it will get better

If you’ve had too much BOTOX in the smoker’s lines it will get better. It’s not a question of price of the number of units. You get different result from doing filler for the smoker’s lines versus BOTOX. The results from filler are more long lasting, depending on how it’s done.
Joseph A. Eviatar, MD

Bronx Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox around the mouth

I usually only recommend 1-2 units of botox (which is a very small amount) in each quadrant around the mouth.  It sounds like your injector might have been a bit too generous with the amount.  It will settle with time, but I'm not aware of any particular treatments to make it go away more quickly. Hang in there!   All the best
Thomas Fiala, MD

Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

Slip of the lip with Botox

one should give 1 unit at 1 cm intervals along the edge of the lup for 4 sites mesuring out from the middle of the lip. To get a good spread take 4 units and dilute it to a total icc fluid. then inject 0.25 cc at the 4 sites at the lip edge. 2 sites on the right and 2 on the left. People wil still have problems is s and p pronunciation for a week
Arnold W. Klein, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

BOTOX and LIp LInes

No worries, the botox effect will begin to lessen. Often for the first week or two movement can feel funny. Lip lines are challenging. Because they are caused by muscle movement , botulinum toxin injections are one means to work on them.  Fillers are the other option, and sometime I will use them both. Laser resurfacing if you are fair may be a longer term option as well.  Hang in there
Brian Maloney, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox upper lip at one day

It is possible that you were over-injected, but it is a little unusual that you would be experiencing such dramatic changes at 24 hours.  It usually takes a little longer than that.  That could be good or bad for you.  Some of our patients report a feeling of numbness and heaviness on day one that resolves over the coming days.  If that is your case then your results may still be OK.  If however you have only partial onset of the results and they are going to... more
Edward Buckingham, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too much BOTOX?

I would agree with the other physicians and say that you were probably over-injected in your lips.  The good news is that the effects should resolve; the bad news is that it may take several weeks to a month for this to happen.  Some injectors have actually gone back and added a little filler to the lips to increase stiffness which may help.  Otherwise, the only thing to do is to be patient and let it wear off. I hope that helps! see video
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

The lower face is the area that Botox can work TOO well.

You were over injected. Unfortunately, the results around the mouth can last LONGER than the results on the upper face. You can expect it to get worse over the next 2 weeks and last for a couple of months. Resurfacing with minimal Botox (4-8 units) gives fabulous results. Filler is always safer in this area for people who speak or play instruments for a living.
Mary Lupo, MD

New Orleans Dermatologist
+1

Botox Overdose of Lips

G'day Hails, The lip should only recieve about one unit of Botox in each of the four quadrants for the treatment of smokers lines.  Even at top price, 4 units of Botox may run about $60.  Sounds like you have been given too much Botox in your lips.  Unfortunately nothing to do until it wears off, but should give you ample time to find an injecting physician who knows what they are doing. Good luck and be well Dr. P
Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lip doesn't move from Botox

The lip muscle is very sensitive to Botox and it takes very few units to make it move less. When I inject Botox into the lip for improvement in the vertical lines, I do not do it to make all the lines go away, but use it to minimize the contraction of the muscle so the fillers last longer. I do not inject it in actors, public speakers, singers, wind instrument musicians, etc. Unfortunately, you probably will develop more immobilization in the next week. You will need to hold up your... more
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Botox in the Lip

Well, this is the reason why I caution so much against Botox around the month unless done very sparingly and only by Botox experts.  Filler and Botox are not equivalent.  Botox is great around the eyes, between the eyebrows and in the forehead to reduce dynamic (moving) wrinkles.  Filler are great for increasing volume and smoothing moderate and thin wrinkles.  At this point, rest assured that Botox is always temporary but it may take several weeks to months to wear off.... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Botox in the Upper Lip: Now You Know Why It Is Not a Great Idea

Unfortunately, your post describes why Botox in the upper lip is not a great idea.  Although it can minimize the vertical upper lip lines if performed properly, it often comes with functional compromise, tilting the risk/reward ration in the wrong direction.  Although fillers are more expensive, they typically lead to a very nice result without adverse sequellae.
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Overdone botulinum toxin to lips for smoker lines

Botox does not usually cause numbness. However, it can weaken the muscles that purse the lips and cause or aggravate the smokers lines. A small amount about 4-6 units in the upper lip is a good starting dose. You may have recieved more. There is no way to reverse it.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

CO2 and Erbium Laser resurfacing is the treatment of choice for smoker's or lip lines

CO2 and Erbium Laser resurfacing is the treatment of choice for smoker's or lip lines.  Fillers and Botox don't do a great job, and the results are temporary.  One treatment with these lasers can last for many years, and will end up costing less in the long run, and looking much better than the results obtained with fillers/Botox.  See my photos posted on my RealSelf profile for some examples of this treatment.  i hope your problem resolves quickly!  Take... more
William Groff, DO

San Diego Dermatologist
+1

Botox for Smoker's Lines

Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane are the treatment of choice for smoker's lines. Botox is used only to prolong and enhance the results of these injections, not as a substitute. Nothing you can do about the Botox now except wait until it wears off. And yes, it may get worse before it gets better.
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

BAD BOTOX - Too Much Botox in Smokers' Lines - "No Movement, I Cannot Speak Properly"

Regarding: "Too Much Botox in Smokers Lines - No Movement, Cannot Speak Properly I have smokers lines, which Im deeply unhappy about. Was recommended botox; $180 worth; and now only 1 day later my top lip is so numb I cannot speak properly. She said 7-10 days would get affects of it. Im so worried its going to get worse. Is there ANYTHING I can do? Please please help. I wish I had got fillers; but was $600, thats why opted for botox at $180. Please please any help/advice for now to... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too Much Botox in Smokers Lines - No Movement, Cannot Speak Properly

Not only a poor choice by YOU and the injecting doctor, to use Botox instead of a filler. But because of the price is outrageous! Medicine is a practice to help not to harm. Also for $180 hard to believe you received more than 15 to 18 units of BOTOX. If the injector hit the motor nerve directly, pure luck than you will have a few months with this issue. From MIAMI DR. Darryl j. Blinski
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botulinum toxin for smoker's lines can cause temporary speech problems

Botulinum toxin use around the mouth needs to be very conservative because it can interfere with speech. Hopefully, your issues will not progress and you will also adjust to the different sensation of less movement in your lips while you're speaking. But have hope - all of this will resolve in 2-3 months when your botulinum toxin wears off. Best,  Stephen Weber, M.D., Ph.D.
Stephen Weber, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Only time will resolve these symptoms.

Dear Hails I am so sorry to read about your situation.  The effect of this treatment is likely to increase and stabilize over the next two weeks.  Depending on how much BOTOX you were treated with, the effects can persist for several months.  When BOTOX is effective, it brightens our mood and this is the result of improved facial feed back.  However the opposite is true when there is a problem with BOTOX.  I strongly advise you to prepare yourself.  This... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Smoker's lines

Smoker's lines can be treated with Botox as long as it is used in very small amounts.  The numbness may be from swelling becasue the Botox takes about 1 week to work.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Choosing plastic surgery by price is a mistake

Unfortunately, smokers lines will be present even with Botox because they are permanent lines in the lips.  Fillers are the better treatment even though they need to be repeated.  Your Botox will wear off in 4 months and it is possible you are already seeing the maximum effect, maybe not yet though.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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