I cannot move my forehead and it feels tight and numb 1 week after Dysport. Is this normal? When will it clear up?

Dysport and botox both can cause heaviness in the eyebrows and varying degrees of forehead movements.  Next time have the doc inject smaller amts of the dysport so as to allow more movement for your forehead.  Don't worry , usually in a few weeks that effect improves some.  Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

It may be that too much was used in the area, resulting in heaviness.  This can be caused by both Dysport and Botox.  This should improve over the next few months.  

Brow heaviness and forehead immobility can occur with either Botox or Dysport, both of which are brand names of botulinum toxin A made by two different companies. The toxin in each is identical; the additional proteins and exact composition or each product is (minimally) different. Each toxin works the same way--as a neurotransmitter blocker that paralyzes the muscles into which it is injected. Onset (several days usually) and duration of effectiveness (2-6 months, 4 months average) can vary with each product, but more with each patient, and even more with each injector!

If you wanted all of your forehead lines or wrinikles "gone" then that is what you got--unfortunately the "frozen," heavy feeling is the lack of muscle tone that allows your forehead to animate normally. Neither Botox nor Dysport cause numbness, which can be confirmed by stroking your forehead skin. Lack of any forehead movement may "feel weird," but describing that feeling as numb is perhaps inaccurate.

There is nothing to inject or take that will reverse the effects of botulinum toxin, but your body will make new receptors and the adverse feelings should diminish gradually over time, and be gone entirely in several months.

BTW, Dysport is NOT "another Botox." Since Botox Cosmetic brand of botulinum toxin came into the marketplace first, it achieved "name branding" similar to the first photocopiers: you "Xeroxed" something; or soda pop in the south: you aske for a "Coke" and are then asked "What kind?" Both products work well and the differences are less than the other factors noted above.

It sounds like you could benefit from doing less units in the forehead the next time you get treated.  It helps to not put too many units on the lateral sides of the forehead as well.  The good news is this effect should not last for the entire duration of the Botox.  It should improve in a few weeks and not feel so heavy.  

Typically the "frozen forehead and heavy brows" can happen from either too much toxin (dysport, botox or Xeomin) or from injecting too low on the forehead. This sensation is usually strongest at about 1 week and by 3-4 weeks is getting better.  Make sure your doctor knows this happened so that the injections can be modified next time to prevent this.  This happens more often to people who have excess skin on their upper eyelids or sagging of the forehead in which the upward movement of the eyebrows is necessary to keep the extra skin out of the visual field. If this is the situation, it may be necessary to have a blephoroplasty or brow lift to correct the underlying issue. Toxin is best avoided in the forehead in this scenario until the eyelids/brow have been corrected wither surgically or with Ultherapy. I hope this helps!Dr. Quenby Erickson