Can eyebrow pain be treated with Botox?

Thanks for your inquiry. I would suggest a formal evaluation to get a diagnosis on eyebrow pain.  Once your history and exam are completed perhaps Botox is an option. Best. Dr. ALDO

It depends on the cause of the pain. Normal muscle contraction should not be painful. Spasm may be painful and in this situation Botox can relieve the symptoms. 

Botox can help improve discomfort caused by headaches, so in that way Botox can treat pain.  It's best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to see how it impacts your individual situation.

You should first be evaluated by neurologist. If the neurologist determines the pain is due to muscle hyperactivity, then Botox may help. 

Thank you for your question Redoz1122. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.It is difficult to make an assessment without a formal exam where the entire medical history is reviewed. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.While Botox is best known for its use in cosmetic treatments, there are many other indications for Botox including excessive sweating in the underarms, palms, and soles, migraine headaches, cervical dystonia, spasms of the eye muscles, cross eyes, and bladder dysfunction. It has also been shown to help with depression, premature ejaculation, abnormal heartbeats, cleft lips, and pain with intercourse for women.Botox works to treat migraine headaches in the same way it works to treat wrinkles: by relaxing muscles. In the case of migraine headaches (and sometimes other headaches such as tension headaches) the muscles in the upper face and head contract. This puts pressure on the bones which can be very painful.  Botox will relax the muscles to relieve the pain. The areas treated with Botox for migraine headaches are those treated in the upper face. Sometimes additional muscles are also treated with Botox such as those in the temples and back of the head. The dose of Botox used is in the range of 60 to 70 units. Full results are seen in two weeks and after a Botox treatment. However, many patients feel improvement as early as the next day after a Botox treatment.  Botox treatment for migraines will significantly reduce the frequency of migraines and is a great alternative for those for whom oral medications are ineffective. Most people enjoy their results from a Botox treatment for three to four months. At that time a maintenance treatment is recommended.If I had a patient with the concern described here I would recommend consulting with a doctor for an evaluation to determine the cause of the pain. If the pain is caused by migraine headaches, then a Botox treatment as described above would likely be helpful.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.

After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.

Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Everyone has unique expressions. We move our facial muscles in a repetitive way and over time those repetitive movements cause wrinkles and fine lines. When you start to experience the signs of aging, Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are available to diminish unwanted wrinkles and creases in your face.


Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin lock the release of a chemical called acetylcholine, which triggers the muscle contractions that create wrinkles. Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin essentially paralyze the muscles and stops them from contracting. Results from these treatments are visible within 3-7 days with results that can last anywhere from 3-4 months.


Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin be used to improve:


Worry lines in your forehead


Lines between the eyebrows


Smile lines


Laugh lines from nose to mouth


Crow’s feet

I have been using Botox for treatment of headaches off-label since 2006 very successfully.  Injections at the brows can cause slight displacement of the brows.  Typically it can cause a brow lift which is more desirable in women than men.   Injections too close to the eyelids can cause drooping, however there are methods to reduce eyelid drooping.  The benefit of using Botox to treat headaches is the prolonged duration of pain relief, which can be up to 3 months or longer, no drug interactions, minimal side effects and no drowsiness so you can drive home immediately.  It is non-narcotic, not habit forming and not toxic to the liver or kidneys even with prolonged use.  In my opinion, you have much more to gain than lose. 

It would be an off-label treatment. However painful muscles have been treated with Botox. Risks in injecting an eyebrow muscle include droop of the eyebrow or even eyelid droop if it's close to the eyelid muscle. However; Botox does work well in relieving muscle pain and if you're aware of the risks and try a light dose, it might be worthwhile to see if it works. If it causes a droop it will go away in 3 months.

Depending on the muscle involved, it’s worth a try. Your doctor will have to confirm that the cosmetic results of relaxing the muscle involved will not be a problem. Also, to make sure your brow/ forehead moves symmetrically, both sides may need to be injected. Botox works wonders for many people with headaches. I think it’s definitely worth a try. Make sure you see a board certified specialist, and I sure hope it works for you!

I’ve never treated a patient for this specific complaint, but Botox certainly helps with stress head aches caused by tension in the brow muscles. I think you should give it a shot and best of luck!