Severe Facial Edema After Botox, How can this be Treated?

asked 7 months ago by rdsukh in Hong Kong
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 236 times
Tags: 1 week post-op, edema

I had Botox on my frown & above my eyebrows 5 days ago. Since then, I have experienced facial edema, but most severely in my lower cheek area (think Marlon Brando in the 'Godfather' - I kid you not!). I've had Botox many times before, but this is the first time this has happened. Is this a side-effect? Has anyone else experienced this? And how can it be treated? Seems a bit silly to have Botox done for my frown lines, and now I don't want to be seen out because I look like a chipmunk!

9 answers to Severe Facial Edema After Botox, How can this be Treated?

Swelling in Cheeks after Botox?

Hi RD. Because you have not had any problems in the past with Botox and because the reaction is in a different area of the face, we believe it's likely that the swelling is unrelated to the Botox injections. It's worth a call or visit to your injector, but we do not think the two would be related. If the problem persists, involves pain or gets worse, see your general practitioner.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Botox and facial swelling

I have never had a patient who had facial swelling after Botox, nor have I heard of such a reaction from my collegues. There is a very rare chance that you might be allergic to a constituent within the Botulinum toxin or a preservative in the liquid saline that is used to make the Botox solution in the doctor's office. If the doctor refers you to an allergist and provides the allergist with a sample of the liquid used to dilute the Botox, and a couple of... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Can't be related to botox

If botox from Allergan was used then the chances of it causing edema is close to 0%. Never had such a side effect. Check with the person who injected you and ask allergan if they sell their botox this person.

Andre Aboolian, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Complication with your Injection

Thank you for your question. Was the person who injected you a board certified plastic surgeon? I am sorry that you are experiencing this issue. I would suggest that you go and see the person who injected you. Checking to see exactly what was injected is very important. Good Luck!

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Severe Facial Edema After Botox, How can this be Treated?

I have used neurotoxins like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin for over 20 years and you should go back and see the MD that did your Botox injections, IMHO for evaluation and possibly a medrol dose pack.

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

Facial Swelling after Botox?

Hello! Allergic Reactions to Botox from ALLERGAN are RARE. Mostly this can be attributed an contaminants in the dilutant vs another disease process going on at the same . An allergist would help to determine if your symptoms are food related , environment related. Talk to your injector and go see him/her Dr jeneby

Thomas T. Jeneby, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.beautybyjeneby.com

Facial Edema After Botox

I have been injecting Botox for over 15 years and have never seen or heard of this side effect. If this persists, please see your internist as this could be another completely unrelated problem coincident in time only with your Botox. You did not mention if it was one or both sides of your face, but you may also want to check with your dentist if you are having pain in your jaw.

Sheri G. Feldman, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Cheek swelling after Botox

Botox does not cause edema. There is a difference between mild swelling at injection sites and edema. I think Dr. Steinsapir has hit the nail on the head. Were you injected by a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon? Are you sure that the product injected was purchased from Allergan and was not bought on the gray market from an unregulated manufacturer outside the United States? This is the crucial inquiry which you should pursue.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

BOTOX does not cause this type of facial swelling.

There are a couple of possibilities. One possibility is that you did not get BOTOX made by Allergan. There are less purified products out there that are passed off as BOTOX. It may be that this is what you were treated by an inferior product and you are having a reaction to this product, whatever it was. The other possibility it that the saline used to reconstituted the BOTOX was not sterile or had contaminates that you are reacting to. If this does not settle... more