Botox in chin, my chin started locking up, changing shape and turning red. Now I can’t swallow solid food. (Photos)

Question

About 2 weeks after receiving Botox injections in my chin I noticed when scrubbing my face that my chin would involuntarily seize up and almost curl upward get larger and swell and contract and pull down the sides of my mouth and turn red. While this still happens when my chin is touched, at 4 week I was no longer able to swallow solid food. My throat either won’t finish the swallow and I have to cough it up or food particularly get stuck. Has anyone ever heard of this happening?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Your first problem is a funky chin treatment.  Unfortunately an unbalanced chin treatment will cause the mentalis muscle (bulk of the muscle in the chin) will ball up.  Look awful. The treatment is to inject more botox to counter this effect.  However, now we have your other problem: hypersensitivity to botox.  The swallowing issue is a systemic botulism effect.  This is rare but it happens.  When it happens after a cosmetic botox treatment, my advise is the same: do not have cosmetic botulinum toxin again.  No botox, no xeomin, no dysport.  No chinese botox.  No botox.  One in 10,000 or so are hypersensitive to the system effects of botox.  The effect will wear off but it can take time.  If you are having swallowing issues, you should lift the head of your bed by a few inches so you do not feel like you are drowning at night.  I would recommend seeing your primary care physician to discuss the issue.  It could take a couple more months for the swallow symptoms to resolve.  I think an assessment by an otolaryngologist would be appropriate to assess the swallow radiographically to understand your risk of aspiration.  This difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This isn't typical with Botox. If it persists, I recommend following up with your Doctor. If you're unhappy with your final results, venus legacy can give improvement. Botox results resolve in 3-4 months. Best, Dr. Emer

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

Botox is used in the chin to subdue the pitting and effects of muscles in the area.   After the injection the effects come over the next 10 days or so.   I have never heard of difficulty swallowing.   Visit your Botox plastic surgeon and have him  review  your course.   Find out what dose of Botox was used.   You will be fine.   In 3 to 4 months Botox wears off.   My Best,  Dr Commons

Botox in chin, my chin started locking up, changing shape and turning red. Now I can’t swallow solid food. (Photos)

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Botox in chin, my chin started locking up, changing shape and turning red. Now I can’t swallow solid food. (Photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Botox

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