Why is there a bag under my eye after Botox?

Seven days ago, I got touch-ups of Botox for the wrinkles under my eyes. On my way home, I noticed that I had a bag under one of my eyes. It was very large and has gone down since then but it still looks puffy and unlike my other eye.

This is my second treatment of botox. I went once 6 months ago for my forehead and eyes and then had touch ups and everything looked normal, and now this time 6 months later when I went it was normal, but then when I got touch ups I got this ugly eye bag.

So is the swelling normal? Will it go down? What do you suppose happened in this case? I am seeing my doctor about it next week but I am wondering why this might have happened and if it will go away. I thought Botox was supposed to make you look better, but in this case I look worse. Any thoughts as to why this happened would be greatly appreciated. Any treatments I might try at home? Thank you so much.

5 answers to “Why is there a bag under my eye...”

A: More injections, more chances for complications

By Kenneth R. Francis, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The enemy of good is perfect. This is what happens when you tempt the needle gods by "touching up" what probably was just a "good" Botox result. The more you have needles inserted into your skin the more chances you have of developing a bruise, infection, whelt, nerve injury, etc. The... more

A: Two scenarios for Botox swelling

By Daniel Reichner, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Based on how fast (less than an hour) you developed the swelling, I suspect that the injection caused a small amount of bleeding under the one eye. Since you are only seven days out from this second injection, if the swelling was caused by bleeding, you should expect another week or two of... more

A: The sagging may be related to Botox

By Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD - Los Angeles Oculoplastic surgeon

Dear Rae Rae, Lower eyelid Botox is not always the best idea. The muscle that is treated helps to support the lower eyelid skin. When it is weakened sufficiently, the lower eyelid skin can bow creating the appearance of a bag. The good news is that this effect will diminish in time. The bad news is there is... more

A: You may have a small hematoma.

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

To Rae Rae, Hi! If you got swelling right away, it is not the Botox. Botox takes 2 or 3 days to start working. The Botox needle may have hit a little blood vessel and caused some bleeding (small hamatoma). This happens sometimes and might explain the swelling. It should go away in one... more

A: Botox does not cause prolonged swelling

By David Shafer, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

RaeRae, Botox does not cause prolonged swelling. If you noticed the "swelling" on your way home from the injections, then this may be due to the trauma of the injection itself or to a small, localized hematoma/bruise from the needle. Within hours, the saline used for Botox is absorbed in the body and does... more