New wrinkles after Botox - are they permanent?

I'm only 22 and I had Botox a little over a week ago to treat/prevent crow's feet. They are pretty much gone now but my lower eyelid and under my eye area has gotten more wrinkled! I read it may be that these muscles are over compensating for the paralyzed ones. If that's the case, will they smoothen out after the Botox has worn off, or will the muscle actually grow and remain this way? Please help!

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15 answers to “New wrinkles after Botox - are they...”

A: Botox wrinkles are not permanent

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

Hello, I agree with the other physicians that the best thing about Botox is that the results are very temporary.  Your research may be correct--that your muscles are overcompensating for the paralyzed ones.  I always like to see my patients back for a status post visit about a week after their... more

A: BOTOX around the eyes

Daniel Reichner, MD

Sporty It does sound like your lower eyelid muscles are "over-compensating" for the paralyzed obicularis muscle in the crows feet area.  As a Board Certified Surgeon, I feel it is important to see our patients back in the office one to two weeks after their Botox treatment.  This allows us... more

A: These wrinkles will not be permanent in your case

Don Mehrabi, MD

Thank you for your question. Botox is temporary, lasting only 3-4 months for almost everyone, with some exceptions. In your case, you've noticed extra wrinkles because of some overcompensating as the muscles causing your crow's feet are relaxed. As those same muscles regain their usage, your temporary... more

A: This can happen, next time get injections higher

Steven F. Weiner, MD

Sometimes you need the support of the lower muscles around the eye to prevent these wrinkles.  I see this in about 2-3% of patients.  If this happens, the doctor needs to avoid injecting the lower crow's feet.  Rest assured, this will all resolve when the BOTOX wears off.

A: There will be no permanent change

David Shafer, MD

Sporty3686, The best thing about Botox is that it is always temporary. I am curious to see your before and after pictures, since I do a lot of Botox and have not see significant compensatory wrinkles like you are describing in my patients. Sometimes, when one area is smoothed out with the Botox, the other... more

A: Overactive muscle function should stop when Botox wears off

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Sporty, Why on earth would you do Botox at age 22? Cosmetic medicine has its consequences, as you now know. Sometimes, there is compensatory recruitment of untreated muscles to protect your eyes from too much light. Fortunately, the effects of Botox last only about 3 months. Your overactive muscle... more

A: Lower eyelid wrinkles should return to normal

Bryan K. Chen, MD

I don't think you need to worry about the creation of permanent wrinkles of the lower eyelids as a result of your botox injections to the crows feet.  This should resolve with time as the Botox wears off.  You might consider having just a couple of units injected to the lower eyelid region to soften... more

A: Botox wrinkles should get better

Kari L. Colen, MD

It is difficult to know whether you actually have more wrinkles under your eyes from muscle compensation or whether you think it looks like more wrinkle now that the sides of your eyes are smooth. Either way as the Botox wears off in the next 3 months, this should get better. Don't worry.

A: Temporary wrinkles

Brent Moelleken, MD

The orbicularis muscle surrounds the eye.  Botrox relaxes just the outer fibers, so the other fibers are not affected. If a patient "tests" their Botox by smiling or "squinching", they may see more activity in fibers that weren't injected. This should be a very temporary effect. If it... more

A: Wrinkles and Botox

Steven Wallach, MD

Yes, it sounds like your muscles are indeed overcompensating adjacent to where the Botox was injected. This will go away as the Botox wears off.

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