Should I relax platysma muscle to reduce effects of botox issues from an injection on sides of lip and one side of chin? (photo)

Its quite common to have asymetries with smiling after injection of Botox into the DAO muscles or Mentalis Muscle (chin muscle) If you only had one side of the chin injected then you would expect to have asymmetry for sure. I would just let it ware off and don't do it again. As for the Platysma bands , treatment with Botox will relax the muscles and contribute to the neck sagging with time. Most patient don't really want this so I don't recommend treating the bands this way. Discuss the other options with your surgeon.

Good Luck!

Thank you for your question and pictures. I am sorry to hear you are having this issue. The asymmetry is due of having one DAO muscle on one side of your face treated and not the other. It will get better within weeks since Botox last 3-4 months on average. From the picture provided, it does look like you are a good candidate for platysmal bands treatment with Botox. I recommend seeing an expert in your area for a proper consultation and treatment plan. All the best, Dr. Michon

Hi there 
Thanks for you question. You can't do nothing to change the effect of Botox for dropping side. It will stay between me 3-4 months. It will get away by itself over time and come back as normal. Good luck 
Dr Stephanie Olivier FRCSC, MD 

The asymmetry is due to having DAO on one side injected and that does not allow the lip to go up so doing the other will help that. also you look like a good candidate for injection into the platysmal bands but be sure you see a board certified dermatologist

Thank you for your question and submitting your pictures. The asymmetry you are experiencing is from treating one side of the chin resulting in some relaxation of the DAO muscle that pulls the corner of the lip down. Since the DAO is relaxed, the muscles that support your smile are stronger resulting in an upturn of the corner of your lips on the side of the face where your chin was injected. Also, you are experiencing some recruitment of the platysma muscle which could be treated with 10-15 units of Botox. Both platsymal bands should be assessed as relaxing on one side and not the other can again result in some assymetry. I hope this was helpful - Dr. Moore.

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photogaphs Ysabella. I am sorry to hear about your situation and I understand
your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated
with facial expression. The most common areas of treatment with Botox are the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns, and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles or squints. There are also a number of areas that are treated in the lower face.Some people have a downturned corner of the mouth which gives the appearance of a sad face. Botox can be placed in the DAO muscle in the lower face which is responsible for pulling down on the corner of the mouth. When this muscle is relaxed the corner of the mouth will be elevated by 1-2 mm, providing a more youthful and rested appearance.Some people have dimpling or a cobblestone appearance on the chin due to contraction of the mentalis muscle in this area. If the mentalis muscle is treated with Botox these dimples will be reduced.With any injection there is a risk for pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. In the case of Botox there is also the risk that the Botox spreads to nearby muscles, relaxing certain muscles that were not intended to be treated. In the lower face, the DLI muscle sits between the mentalis and the DAO muscles. The DLI muscle is responsible for pulling down the lower lip and it is used when one smiles. If Botox spreads to and relaxes this muscle it can lead to the appearance of an asymmetric smile. Some physicians try to correct it by placing Botox into the contralateral DLI muscle (on the other side). However I recommend that my patients just wait as the effects go away on their own.Another phenomenon seen with Botox is called muscle recruitment and compensation. When a muscle has been relaxed with Botox, sometimes other muscles are recruited and contract when one attempts to make the facial expression. This serves to compensate for the inability of the primary muscle to contract. A common example is the bunny lines that are seen on the sides of the nose after treatment with Botox in the glabella or for the crow's feet. Since the muscles in the treated area are relaxed, the muscle on the nose (nasalis) contracts in an attempt to compensate for this loss when one frowns or smiles. In such a situation the bunny lines can be treated with a small amount of Botox (2-4 units per side). In the lower face compensatory recruitment can occur when the platysma muscle in the neck contracts after muscles in the lower face have been relaxed with Botox. Similarly this muscle can be relaxed with Botox as well. For my patients I usually use approximately 10 units per band. If placed properly it does not affect other muscles. Relaxing the platysma muscle may also lead to an improvement of jowls and jawline definition. When such recruitment occurs I recommend prophylactic treatment of the recruited muscles at the next treatment.
Please follow up with your doctor for specific
recommendations. Good luck!