Botox Eyelid Droop - My plastic surgeon recommended Naphcon-A by Alcon. Is this the best product or are there better products?

Question

I had Botox for lines around my eyes and between eyebrows 6 days ago. My left eyelid is drooping badly (like Popeye). My plastic surgeon recommended Naphcon-A by Alcon, which I have been using religiously for 2 days. I see no improvement. Is this the best product or are there better products?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

A rare side effect is temporary drooping of one eyelid. This is short lived. Eyelid droop may also be corrected with a prescription eye drop (Iopidine 0.5%) that you can get from a physician. This can help alleviate the droop within a few weeks to a month. You can also wait a couple of months for the effects of the Botox to wear off, at which point the droopiness will also go away.

Mark K. Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS · Answer

The complete effect of the Botox may not be seen for up to 7-10 days.  So your eyelid may potentially get worse before it gets better with the drops.  Since you are only 6 days post-injection, I would recommend continuing with the eye-drops as long as you can tolerate them.  Be sure your injecting physician has discussed all potential side-effects of the drops including "adrenaline-like" symptoms such as anxiety, heart-pounding, and heart-racing as well as eye irritation, eye dryness, and eye pain.  If you experience these symptoms, you will likely need to switched to a different type of eye-drop.On average, the drops may raise your eyelid about 2mm.You have two pieces of good news:#1 -- The eyelid droop rarely lasts as long as the full duration of the Botox.  Botox typically lasts 3-4 months, while the eyelid droop rarely lasts longer than 1-2 months.#2 -- The eyelid droop is likely 100% reversible.Good luck.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

There are many other eyedrops which stimulate the muscles which lift the eyelid and may cause a partial correction. This will likely need to be repeated for 2-3 months and include the meds discussed here such as lopidine, aproclonidine, alphagan, naphcan-A, etc.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

The Naphcon does help but the Apraclonidine is thought to be better.  However, here is the story.  I have studied the effect of these drops in individuals in your situation.  The effect of the drops in the first week of treatment predicts the longevity of the side effect.  When the drop is effective,  this suggests that the droppy lid will resolve in 4 to 6 weeks.  However, if the drops are not initially effective, then the ptosis can persist for 3 to 6 months and sometimes longer.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

If your eyelid droop is from the effect on the levator of the upper eyelid from botox being placed close to the eyebrow above the pupil, then Iopidine is the best prescription. The side effect is not permanent and may take up to 12 weeks to fade completely, possibly slightly more but this is doubtful.

Botox Eyelid Droop - My plastic surgeon recommended Naphcon-A by Alcon. Is this the best product or are there better products?

Answers (9)

Answer: Apraclonidine drops (Iopodine) preferred drop.

Answer: Apraclonidine drops (Iopodine) preferred drop.

Answer: Eyelid droop from Botox

Answer: Eyelid droop from Botox

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Botox Eyelid Droop - My plastic surgeon recommended Naphcon-A by Alcon. Is this the best product or are there better products?

Answers (9)

Answer: Apraclonidine drops (Iopodine) preferred drop.

Answer: Apraclonidine drops (Iopodine) preferred drop.

Answer: Eyelid droop from Botox

Answer: Eyelid droop from Botox

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.