Heavy eyebrows / shelf above eyebrows. Can this be fixed with more Botox? (Photo)

Question

Botox has left a heavy shelf/muscle over my eyebrows and want to know if more botox can fix it or wait it out to fade in time.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question, what you're describing is a relatively common side effect known as brow ptosis or a “heavy shelf,” which can occur when Botox affects the frontalis (forehead) muscle unevenly.

This happens when:

The upper frontalis is treated, but the lower portion is spared, causing the lower forehead muscles to remain active while the upper relaxes, leading to a shelf-like heaviness.

Or the glabella (between the brows) is treated more aggressively than the forehead, reducing upward pull and allowing the brows to descend.

Can more Botox fix it?
In some cases, yes—a strategic placement of a small amount of Botox above the outer brows can help lift the lateral brow by relaxing the muscles that pull it down (like the orbicularis oculi). However, this must be done very carefully, or it could worsen the issue.

Alternatively, should you wait it out?
If you're within the first few weeks of injection and the heaviness is not severe, it may be best to wait and monitor. Botox typically begins to wear off at 6–8 weeks, and full function usually returns within 3–4 months. If the heaviness is uncomfortable or affecting your confidence, a follow-up with your injector is recommended.

My advice:

See a board-certified dermatologist or experienced injector for an in-person evaluation.

Discuss a minor touch-up if appropriate.

Ensure that future treatments are more balanced to maintain a natural, lifted brow position.

This is correctable, and fortunately, temporary. You’re not alone in experiencing this!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you are unhappy with your Botox results.  Botox effects will gradually fade over approximately three to four months.  You will return to the look you had prior to treatment.  Always see an expert injector for optimal results.

Rajaie Hazboun, MD, MBA · Answer

Thank you for posting your question here let me start by stating that my answer is based on the limited information and pictures provided. for a more detailed and bespoke plan please consult with a plastic surgeon in person.
adding more botox will unlikely take that area down especially if you already have no movement in it and you might risk dropping your eyebrows. The other issue is that the ridge that you are seeing could be the result of your bone having a ridge and not necessarily your muscle which I cannot tell just based on the pictures. If it is your muscle then over time and with regular botox injections it might weaken and attenuate but if it is your bone and it's bothering you then you can consult with a plastic surgeon who can potentially shave down the bone to give you a smoother transition.
I hope this helps, best of Luck!

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

Your eyebrows seem a little low centrally but the ridge above that is likely to be bone.  We shape and remove that regularly along with a brow lift.  Very beautifying!

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

These “shelf’s” are bonny prominences called supraorbital ridges and correction can be achieved only by means of surgery.  This means an incision along the hairline and flattening of these ridges with a burr. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon, possibly someone with craniofacial surgery background, would help. Good luck.

Heavy eyebrows / shelf above eyebrows. Can this be fixed with more Botox? (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Could be bone

Answer: Could be bone

Answer: Forehead contouring

Answer: Forehead contouring

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

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

Heavy eyebrows / shelf above eyebrows. Can this be fixed with more Botox? (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Could be bone

Answer: Could be bone

Answer: Forehead contouring

Answer: Forehead contouring

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

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