Botox is Limiting my Smile, Do I Have Options?

Without knowing how much Botox was injected or exactly where in was injected, it is impossible to give you specific advice.  However, Botox injections are very technical and it is important that you are injected by an experienced plastic surgeon.  A difference of a few mm of depth of the needle can make a huge difference in which muscles are affected by the Botox.  The good thing in your case, is that Botox is always temporary.  So if you do not like the results, you can rest-assured that the effect will go away in a few months.

 

Good Luck.

 

Botox treatment of the crows feet is limited to treating that component of these periorbital lines related to the eyelid muscle movement.  A significant part of the crows feet is related to the bunching up of skin near the cheek bone when the smile muscles contract.  If these muscles near the cheekbone are relaxed with Botox, then the smile may get affected and you may droop or look asymmetric when trying to smile, laugh, eat, sing, etc.

When you do find a new injector, make clear your prior reaction and your concerns and desires for your treatment outcome.  If the new injector can't listen either, trust me, there are many highly qualified injectors out there who can provide you with what you are looking for.

Botox is great to treat facial lines of animation.  Sometimes patients are bugged by the lines that crop up on the upper cheek/eye region and they want  the doctor to "chase them" further down.  This can sometimes affect the muscles that allow you to smile.  It wears off in 3-4 months.

Yes, Find a new injector with enough experience to avoid trying to tackle the lines near your cheek that appear to be crows feet when in fact are produced by the zygomaticus muscle, which is a muscle that elevates the angle of your mouth, and hence when injected, causes weakening of the smile.

Best of Luck,

Dr. Malouf