Can Facial Twitching Be Treated with Botox?

Question

Have you or one of your colleagues treated facial twitching with botox? After gamma knife tx. on a noncancerous tumor on the cover of my brain, one year later the twitching started. My dr. said it should last maybe one yr. That statement was made in 2006. It seems the tumor shifted and is touching the nerves to my right eye, under eye, upper lip, lower lip, and chin.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Certainly. Botulinum Toxin can be used and is an excellent treatment for facial spasms especially of the eye (blepharospasm) one of the indications. However, this can result in undesireable facial laxity. This must be discussed at consultation.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Botox or dysport can be injected in the individual muscles that are twitching but the neurologist or other doctor doing the treatment should describe the asymmetry that will develop and the possible stroke-like appearance that can appear when you try to use the muscles as only the other side will work and it will last a few months.

Matthew Schulman, MD · Answer

The answer is yes. But first it is important to make sure the twitching is not the result of a medical problem that needs attention. I have treated benign twitiching with Botox and Dysport. The most common areas are around the eye in people that have a persistent "twitching" lower eyelid. Dysport works faster than Botox and seems to be better to stop twitching because it works in about 24 hours.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, facial twitching can be treated with Botox.  I would suggest seeing a specialist with experience treating patients with Botox for non-cosmetic disorders.  Good luck.

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD, FACS · Answer

Facial twitching can be treated with BOTOX. In fact, the original reason it was approved was to treat eyelid spasms. That’s why it was first used by oculoplastic surgeons. Generally, the treatment does not last a year. Usually, the treatment lasts 3-4 months. But, sometimes the spasms will get better over time and then less BOTOX is needed.

Can Facial Twitching Be Treated with Botox?

Answers (8)