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POSTED UNDER Botox REVIEWS

Swollen Lower Eyelids After Botox

ORIGINAL POST

First of all, my review isn't about my overall...

sunshine26August 23, 2009
$200

First of all, my review isn't about my overall dissatisfaction with Botox, but rather my unhappiness with a side effect of the treatment I'm experiencing.

I'm a 26 year old female who received Botox injections almost three weeks ago on my lower eyelids and forehead. I've had Botox several times before this, loved it and never have had any problems. However, this was the first time I've received injections under my eyes, which I initially thought I needed due to some fine lines appearing as I smile. My PS placed two units under each eye, and I thought it would be uneventful as it always is each time I have it injected.

Four days afterwards, however, my lower eyelids became abnormally puffy.

After a visit w/ an ophthalmologist, she ruled out any eye infections and prescribed a course of steroids for periorbital edema, which helped bring down the puffiness tremendously. As soon as I finished the steroids though, my eyes puffed up again.

Could I just be one of the rare people who is hypersensitive to Botox? Is it possible the puffiness under my eyes is permanent, or will my eyes return to normal after the Botox wears off?

Replies (22)

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tried but failed
August 28, 2009
Hi Sunshine26 - have a look at some of the posts and reviews from other RealSelf members like myself, Beth F, Amaxy, Penelope, Learning etc. Puffiness under the eyes from botox for crows feet seems pretty common actually. I don't think you are hypersensitive to the product. Do your cheeks puff out when you smile creating a chipmunk-look (almost like they are swollen)? It appears to happen when the botox for crows feet is injected too low under the eye and too close in towards the nose. The lower eye muscle becomes overweakened and the fat pads that are usually held back by a strong eye muscle bulge out. Hope this info helps. Let us know how you are doing. Cheers.
sunshine26
August 28, 2009
Well, what's interesting is that my PS did not inject my crow's feet....he only injected my eyelid skin about 1/2 an inch from my lash line. My cheeks aren't puffing out, but I feel like the fat pads in my eyes are more noticeable now since I had this done. Never again will I Botox my eyes...so not worth it!
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tried but failed
August 28, 2009
Where exactly did the injector put the botox "under your eye"? Was it directly under your lower lashes? This can cause puffiness under the eyes also. Lots of us are in the same boat (see Chloerose's Jabba the Hut post too!) and have done lots of investigating so give us some more info and we will try to help.
sunshine26
August 28, 2009
My PS did two injections (one unit each)under each eye. It was mainly at the tear trough-lower eyelid/check junction area. It's been 3 1/2 weeks, and the puffiness has gone down, but I'm still puffy! When I saw an ophthalmologist two weeks ago, I had asked whether or not my under eye muscle was so relaxed from the Botox so it was causing it to bulge - however, when she pressed down on my under eye lids, she concluded it was edema. I just hope it goes down! I feel like it's aged me 10 years. :(
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tried but failed
August 30, 2009
I agree it is hard to tell the difference between oedema (excuse all of my Australian spelling) and pseudo-herniation of fat pads under the eyes. Apparently, oedema looks the about the same when you are looking straight ahead as when your eyes are in looking up. However, herniated fat pads look much worse when eyes are looking upwards (bulge out more). Also, did your PS do a "snap test" on your lower eye lid before giving you the botox under your eyes. This may be the underlying issue (whether your puffiness is oedema or fat) - see http://www.dailydermpearls.com/Fillers%20&%20Botox/Bertucci%20snap%20test.htm I too have aged 10 years from the "magical fountain of youth" (ha, ha) that you expect from botox. Last Friday it was 7 weeks for me and there is a SMALL reduction in the puffiness. Good grief! Will this never go away???!
sunshine26
August 31, 2009
Wow....- "If the tone in the lower eyelid is poor, you need to stop, because if you inject Botox there, you will wind up with poor muscle activity, poor lymphatic drainage and there will be a fullness in the lower eyelid." - Vince Bertucci, M.D. I wish I would have known this before I ever got Botox under my eyes? Has anyone tried doing any treatments to aid lymphatic drainage?
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tried but failed
September 2, 2009
Wow indeed.
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tried but failed
September 2, 2009
Hiya Sunshine - unfortunately I did my botox research AFTER my current diabolical result. I wish I done all of this research BEFORE then I would have known that no way should botox ever go under my eyes especially directly under the lower lash. I am prone to puffiness under the eyes so this is the WORST place to put botox for me and the current state of my face is living proof of that. However, I trusted the doctor to know what she was doing, which in hindsight was the greatest error of all. I have been speaking with Learning and she has had some success with manual lymphatic drainage for the puffiness under her eyes. I am using my Tua Viso on my cheek muscles (because some of them still work) and it is helping with the puffiness a bit. The eye muscles work as a pump to get rid of the excess fluid and when they are paralysed the fluid can't clear. Other people have tried acupuncture with some success as well. Avoiding salt might be a good idea too. Keep us updated as to your progress. Cheers
sunshine26
September 16, 2009
Just wanted to give everyone an update with respect to my initial injections. I got Botox on 8/4/09, and my lower eyelid puffiness began on 8/7/09 as the Botox was setting in my face. We aren't just talking about minimal morning edema - it was "I've been crying for six hours straight" puffiness. After being extremely puffy for a week,I saw an ophthalamologist on 8/14/09. I was prescribed Prednisone (sp?), a tapering steroid pill regimen of six days. Puffiness was pretty much resolved at that point,but slowly returned upon finishing the pills. Waited another two weeks, saw ANOTHER ophthalamogist (the first one was kinda judgmental re: getting Botox in the first place, hence my lack of follow-up visits) and was prescribed mild steroid/cortisol eye drops for the puffiness. The puffiness went away completely (yay!!) but has slowly returned since I stopped the drops. Due to the nature of steroids (and their effect on the eyes), it's apparently not safe to do the drops long-term. Anyway, just doing lymphatic massage gently around my eyelids, which has slightly helped; witch hazel and all these numerous puffy eye creams on the market have NOT helped! Just trying to wait this out. However, the good thing is that they are slowly and surely going down in size....but this is such a slow process!!!! I'm hoping this trend continues as my Botox begins to wear off (I only had 13 units placed in my face total) and that this isn't something I'm going to be dealing w/ on a permanent basis. Only time will tell...
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tried but failed
September 17, 2009
Oh I understand PUFFINESS under the eye! Goodness, botox can cause some horror results, can't it? And they last such a long time especially when you are desperate for any improvement. I agree with you, only time will tell. I am ten weeks in and only just starting to see some improvement. I am terrified that it will 'unimprove'!
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