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Why Can't I Open my Mouth After Having Botox?

I had Photofacial and Botox in the eye, forehead and brow areas. I have been doing this for years. 12 days after treatment I can't smile or open my mouth wide enough to eat. I feel like my nose has been injected with Botox and it's swollen.

I spoke to my Dr. and he said that I just have to wait it out. Ok, but why did this happen?

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by sommers in ca

Doctor Answers (8)
Community Comments (0)

You need immediate evaluation and treatment if your condition worsens

I would recommend that you follow up with a physician who is experienced with Botox. If no improvement is seen or worsening of your condition occurs, then I would report to an emergency room for immediate evaluation and treatment. There is definitely something odd going on that does not make any sense. I wish you the very best and I hope you find this helpful!

Botox and no smile

A photofacial willnot do this. Botox injected close to the msucles that allow you to smile can affect your smile ability. Unfortunately, it wil take 3-4 months to wear off.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Very unusual.

If it is due to the Botox, then the Botox was either injected into the wrong muscles or diffused into unintended muscles. This can occur if the injections for crow's feet are made too deep or too medial. This leads to the muscles that help elevate your lips and move your nose. If it is due to the Botox then, the effect will wear off, but it will take 3 to 6 months. You should be closely followed by your doctor to make sure there is not anything more serious occurring.

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Okay so I agree with the other doc that if the Botox was injected too low on the cheeks it can interfere with the Zygomatic muscle (and others)that allow you to smile. This is poor form and you shouldn't go back to that doc. However, mouth opening is done my the mandibular (lower jaw) depressors. These muscles are located under the chin. There is no way the Botox that you got could have gotten into these muscles. Something else is going on. I recommend seeing a neurologist and not... more

Botox probably injected too low in the cheek.

Hi! What most likely happened is that Botox was injected near the muscles that raise the corners of your mouth (These muscles are in the cheekbone area). When these muscles relax (from Botox), it is hard to smile or raise your upper lip. It will go away but may take weeks and weeks.

Botox in the wrong place

Dear Sommer If your doctor's treatment pattern included the lower eyelid and this was done too deeply, it is possible for the BOTOX to affect the muscles of the face that control the smile. These muscles include the zygomaticus major, minor, and the lip elevators. The swollen nose effect occurs when the levator labii alaeque nasi muscle which lies along the side of the nose and serves as a minor lip elevator gets too much treatment. This muscle is sometimes intentionally injected to... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

9 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Botox and Photofacial affecting the mouth

Sommers I don't think that the Botox is affecting your mouth - unless it was injected into your cheek muscles which help elevate the lips. If you had significant swelling after your photofacial treatment, this is probably why you have difficulty opening your mouth. I sometimes give a 6 day course of methylprednisolone to patients that have significant swelling after photofacial treatments.

Don't know this

The Botox shoud have no effect on your ability to open your mouth. Perhaps the tightness is more due to the photofacial? I think it should pass.

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