Eyebrows drooping and feeling of heavy eyes after Botox touch-up. Will it improve?

Question

I received a touch up of Botox 3 weeks after my original 25 units in my forehead and between my eyebrows. I am 5 days post-touch up and have noticed that my eyes feel heavy and my eyebrows have dropped, causing the arch in my eyebrows to essentially go away. Will this improve?

Alexander Rivkin, MD · Answer

Hello,Sorry you are experiencing this issue.  It sounds like the Botox may have been placed (or possibly migrated) too close to the brows causing some heaviness.  Fortunately Botox is temporary, and in most cases this heaviness will only last a few weeks before letting up.  You can sometimes improve this by adding a couple of units under the brow to relax opposing muscles (although I recommend seeing an experienced injector if going this route). Best of luck,Dr. Alexander Rivkin

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Some minor pain, inflammation, swelling and redness may occur at the injection site, and is temporary. Botox takes three to five days for it to show its effect. Please keep your board certified facial plastic surgeon updated on your healing process.
Best wishes,

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

I have been injecting Botox in the upper face for over twenty-five years. The good news is that it is a tried and true, proven treatment for dynamic frown line wrinkles between the eyebrows and worry lines across the forehead. The not-so-good news for most people is that the beneficial effects tend to last only between three and six months. On the other hand, if the Botox were injected improperly, such as might have been the case here (i.e. too low on the forehead close to the brows), the ptosis of the brow (falling down of the brow or lids and heaviness in the brows) will also be short-lived. Fortunately, this untoward effect tends to pass after only a month or two and may also be helped by certain eye drops that your doctor can prescribe for you in the meantime. So you just need to hang in there. However, going forward, you might consider seeking a second opinion from a board certified aesthetic physician and be certain to ask to see his/her before and after photos before agreeing to proceed. Best of luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

At three weeks, you have your final results with your touch up. Botox results last 3-4 months. In the mean time, Venus Legacy and thermage treatments can soften results. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This is of course due to botox.  The effect will take months to wear off.  While it is possible to superimpose a correcting treatment in 6 to 8 weeks, one really has to now what they are doing in order to accomplish this and this know how seems to be extraordinarily rare.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear of your post-Botox issues.  If botox is placed too low to the brow and too much of the forehead muscle is paralyzed it can lead to dropping or flattening of your eyebrow.  I would discuss your results with your injector so that adjustments can be made on your next treatment to help avoid a similar outcome.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. This can happen if too much is injected into the forehead and if placed too low. If the forehead muscle is paralyzed it can lead to dropping of the eyebrow. I recommend having a follow up with your injector for evaluation and treatment. Best of Luck!

Mary P. Lupo, MD · Answer

The temporary nature of Botox and Dysport can be a blessing if you get less than optimal results, or you have side effects. Your dose does not sound incorrect, but the placement of the injections could have been too low on the forehead and it weakened the lower frontalis muscle (which raises the brows) too much. It likely will feel better in 2-4 weeks and your next treatment should be adjusted accordingly.

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. This can happen if too much is injected into the forehead and if placed too low. If the forehead muscle is paralyzed it can lead to dropping of the eyebrow. I recommend having a follow up with your injector for evaluation and treatment. Best of Luck!

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question lgf326. I am sorry to hear about your
situation. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with
facial expression. Sometimes people feel heaviness in the brows after a treatment. This is transient and goes away on its own. It can be corrected by placing a small amount of Botox in the corners of the brows. Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Eyebrows drooping and feeling of heavy eyes after Botox touch-up. Will it improve?

Answers (18)

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