I Had Botox Three Days Ago. My Eyelids Are Quite Swollen. Is This Temporary?
Botox acts on the muscles in the injection site. In the crow's feet area, there is a rare complication of lower eyelid swelling that happens in about 1% of patients. In these patients, it appears that interfering with the activity of the orbital muscle effects the lymphatic drainage of the lower eyelid. This leads to a puffy, tired appearance to the lower lid. In this scenario, the puffy appearance improves as the Botox wears off, improving over 1-3 months. The puffiness is worsened by seasonal allergies, so I find that antihistamines like Zyrtec and Benadryl can help, as can sleeping on an extra pillow. Upper eyelid swelling is even more rare than lower lid puffiness, and can occur if the brow is dropped by Botox placed too low in the forehead. The most important thing to do is to see the doctor that performed the procedure as soon as possible so he/she can help analyze the problem and make recommendations for improvement. Hope that helps! Madeline Krauss, M.D.
