Will my Droopy Eyebrow Caused by Botox Go Back to Normal?

Question

I got botox on 1st April this year (2010) for my forehead lines. The Doctor also injected in between and around my eyebrows. Well immediately afterwards I noticed my eyebrows had drooped. They now cover most of my entire eyelid. I cannot apply eye makeup now. I've had botox before and this didn't happen. I think less botox was used then. I mainly want to know will my brows ever go back to normal? It's been nearly 5 months now or has this caused permanent damage?

Mark K. Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS · Answer

Short answer -- YES... A drooping eye-BROW may happen in the following scenarios:(1) When the brow-elevating muscle in the forehead, the Frontalis, receives too high a dose of Botox.(2) The Botox is sub-optimally placed too low in the forehead -- it should typically be placed at least 1 cm above the Brow. (3) Over-injection of the glabella area (between the brows). (4) It may also happen if you have a low set eyebrow to begin with, in which case any Botox to the Frontalis increases the likelihood of a brow droop. Ironically, a droopy eye-BROW from Botox can sometimes be improved with MORE Botox -- this time, the Botox is typically injected into the outside (top of the crow's feet) part of the eye (aka the lateral aspect of the orbicularis oculi muscle) to generate a bit of a brow lift in that area -- by injecting more Botox and paralyzing the orbicularis muscle that normally acts to depress the brow in that area, you may get a slight compensatory brow lift...If the extra Botox does not improve the brow droop, it will likely last as long as the full duration of the Botox -- typically 3-4 months, but may last longer as in your case... Note however, that after 5 months you should have seen some improvement. I would recommend that you return to your physician injector and/or see a neurologist for further evaluation...In the future, please seek the services of an experienced physician injector. I think the key with Botox lies in truly understanding the anatomy of the injected area, and more importantly the variability in the anatomy between patients -- for brows, the forehead, and anywhere else you plan on receiving a Botox injection. This includes having a firm understanding of the origin, insertion, and action of each muscle that will be injected, the thickness of each muscle targeted, how deep beneath the skin the actual muscle resides, and the patient variability therein. As an aesthetic-trained plastic surgeon, I am intrinsically biased since I operate in the area for browlifts and facelifts, and have a unique perspective to the muscle anatomy since I commonly dissect under the skin, see the actual muscles themselves, and learn "first-hand" the incredible variability between patients -- live, "on the OR table" -- as opposed to via lectures or a cadaver dissection. For me, this helps guide where to inject and where not to. However, with that said, I know many non-aesthetic trained plastic surgeons and other physicians who know the anatomy well despite not operating in that area, and get good results.Good luck.Dr Markarian

James M. Pearson, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi. The effects of botox are temporary and not permanent. In some cases, the effects of botox treatment may still be evident 5 months following treatment. If the problem is truly related to your botox treatment, then as the effects of botox wear off, the problem should resolve. Always check with your doctor regarding any concerns that you have. Good luck.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Botulinum Toxin (Dysport and Botox) can cause muscle imbalance and the forehead frontalis muscles may be so weakened that it allows the brow to drop and droopy eyelids to become more apparent. As the frontalis muscle activity returns, this should resolve.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

If Botox is used too low on the forehead or too many units are used on the correct sites on the forehead, the muscle can weaken so much that it droops and the eyebrows can hide the upper eyelids. If this is what happened, it should definitely reverse soon as there is no permanent Botox muscular effect in this regard of which I am aware. Folllow up with your physician

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD, FACS · Answer

BOTOX can cause droopy lids but it will go back, it may take several months. But after the BOTOX wears off, there shouldn&rsquo;t be any permanent damage. However, to be safe, you should go to a doctor to be evaluated.

Will my Droopy Eyebrow Caused by Botox Go Back to Normal?

Answers (8)

Answer: Forehead droop after Botox

Answer: Forehead droop after Botox

Answer: BOTOX can cause droopy lids

Answer: BOTOX can cause droopy lids

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Will my Droopy Eyebrow Caused by Botox Go Back to Normal?

Answers (8)

Answer: Forehead droop after Botox

Answer: Forehead droop after Botox

Answer: BOTOX can cause droopy lids

Answer: BOTOX can cause droopy lids

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Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.