Smiling Looks Odd After Botox In Chin, Will It Subside?

Hi SF.  It sounds like there may have been too many units used.  Tobetter evaluate you, before and after pictures would be required.  But when we are working around the mouth and chin, very small amounts of Botox are required.  We will even accept shorter duration just to make sure we do not encounter exactly the same problem you are describing.  

When you say he injected 10 units as a follow up, this would indicate to us that there was more used initially, which sounds like too much around the chin or mouth.  

It is very difficult to answer your question without first viewing photo's of the facial movements and contour you are describing. However, using smaller amounts around the mouth is generally recommended. It sounds like you may have had too much product injected, and where the treatment was meant to decrease activity in the chin, it probably drifted to other areas causing unnatural and unwanted restrictions.

the added 10 units might have affected one of the depressor muscles of the lip which are revealing their Botox effect not at rest, but when you try to smile. Often in this setting, the other side which wasn't treated, or not treated to the same extent, does lower normally but the affected side doesn't, making an asymmetric mouth shape when attempting smiling.

There is a chance that in injecting the Botox into the mentalis or chin muscles that it diffused into some of the muscles that depress or lower the lip when smiling.  This can lead to an uneven smile.  This does wear off in 3-4 months, when the Botox effect goes away.

I am so sorry you are having a problem with chin BOTOX.  Yes properly done with a tiny amount of BOTOX, this treatment is very effective for eliminating chin dimples.  Get too much of a good thing and you look like a stroke victim.  Your injector is not a rocket scientist.  The end point is not paralysis but aesthetic improvement.  Despite resolution of the issue, they still had to inject you will more BOTOX-makes no sense.  Now you have a problem.  Sure it will resolve.  Howe will you feel if it takes 4 months to resolve.  How will your principle director feel if you show up for rehearsals looking like you have a stroke?  My suggestion: avoid this treatment and this injector next time.

Thank you for your questions SF_Dancer. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. In the lower face it can be used to address the dimpling on the chin that some people see. A small amount of Botox placed in the chin will relax the mentalis muscle and smoothen out the dimpling. It is important to use a small amount and care must be taken to inject in the right place. This is because if the Botox diffuses to the adjacent DLI muscle (which pulls down the lower lip), one will see a temporary asymmetric smile. The asymmetric smile should last no longer than three to four months. Please follow up with your doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

It appears as if you may have had some of the Botox placed in your chin affecting the nearby mimetic musculature of the face with the resultant abnormal smile.  This will resolve without any long term sequelae but will take 3-4 months.  

Botox in the chin as well as laterally in the depressors can be an extremely effective tool for softening over-exaggerated muscle activity. Botox drifting into adjacent muscle groups is not uncommon and tends to increase with the dose. It can make you look a bit strange if it overshoots, but in the right patient, a precise placement can make for a stunning improvement!

Personally, I tend to be a bit more of a 'chicken' with use of Botox in these particular areas and use minimal doses, but not having seen you and evaluated your needs, it is only conjecture! The good news is that it will wear off and hopefully sooner vs. later. Best Regards!

KC

The chin can have bizarre movements if the Botox is not administered artfully.  An additional touch up by a knowledgeable injector can smooth out the results.

and can also be used for the muscles that pull down the corners of the lips.  However, there are muscles in the chin which depress the lower lip, and if they are treated with the Botox, it may make your smile lessened on the lower portion.  Give it 2 weeks and if it still looks odd, check back with your doctor to see which muscles are involved.  Luckily it will begin to wear off in 6 weeks.  Best to you