Dysport Gone Wrong: Can This Be Fixed? When Will This Resolve? Is There a Treatment? (photo)

In most cases, the use of Dysport is predictable and unwanted or undesirable effects are secondary to the product not being injected properly. This is why this type of treatment (including Botox) has become one of the most popular treatments performed today.

Occasionally, results are not what one expects. Let's look at some of the reasons why and what can be done.


Drooping eyelid. This must be distinguished from a drooping or low eyebrow as the cause and treatment is very different. A drooping eyelid occurs when the muscles that elevate the eyelid have been affected. When this occurs, one can see that one eyelid margin is lower than the other, causing one iris (the colored part of the eye) to show less on the affected side. This is due to improper injection technique. Fortunately, this often resolves within 4 weeks. Fortunately, there are prescription eyedrops that can be used to stimulate the muscle to elevate the eyelid until it recovers. In all cases, this resolves completely as the Dysport wears off.

Drooping eyebrow. This is a common problem seen after Dysport. In nearly all cases, this is predictable and patients with heavy eyebrows should exercise caution and restraint when considering having the forehead treated. The reason why most have forehead furrows (wrinkles) is to elevate the eyebrows and open up the eyes. If one paralyzes the forehead, the eyebrows will not raise and those with naturally heavy eyebrows will be very unhappy. Luckily, this can sometime be improved by injecting the muscles that further depress the brow (the brow depressors

Visual problems, double vision, and/or the eye does not move normally. This occurs from improper injection of Dysport, which affects the muscles that move the eyeball.

Worsening of frown lines after treatment. This is not uncommon and occurs from several reasons.


Not enough Dysport was used

The lateral fibers of the corrugator muscles (the one over the inner part of the eyebrow) were not treated

The brow depressor muscles are being recruited. Luckily, they can treated, which may help.

Lines under the eyes after treatment of the Crow's feet. This is common. The Crow's feet occur when the muscle around the eye contracts, causing those little lines next to the eye. Unfortunately, the lines under the Crow's feet occur from a different muscle group that is not usually treated. When the Crow's feet are treated, these lines become more obvious. In most cases, one does not attempt to treat these as it can affect facial expression. 

After six months you should have return of movement and should be able to start over. If you have no movement I would be surprised and would expect return of motion soon. I would go to someone that does this a lot and let them evaluate your muscle motion. By looking at this one can then decide on best treatment.