10 Weeks Post-Botox: Shelve Under Eyes and a Lot of Wrinkles? (photo)

Question

I had Botox a few times with great results. This time I went to a different doctor and I got shelves under the eyes when I smile and a bit of a puffy eye at rest. PLUS a lot of dynamic wrinkles (after 3 weeks) that point downwards when I smile. My surgeon said he only injected 3 units on each side + only in the TEMPLAR era, NOT in the eye area! It has been 10 weeks now and no improvement at all. I am a bit worried now. Will it go away (soon)? What went wrong so that I can consider it next time?

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

Occasionally, Botox around the eyes (or too much of it) can cause the muscle to relax too much, thereby creating lax skin and more wrinkling of the fine skin around the eyes.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

unfortunately youll have to wait roughly 3 months to get back to your normal appearance.  botox around the eyes can cause the musculature that normally functions to move fluid out of the area to relax, leaving you with prominent eye bags, mild swelling, and increased undereye wrinkles.  i would avoid having any more botox in this area for you in the future, if you do not like this appearance.  I find many complain of their temples also apperaing hollow, and this can be treated with filler.  best of luck, Dr. E.

Sabrina Fabi, MD · Answer

It is difficult to say definitively what was different.  The good news is that the effects of the neuromodulators themselves generally only last 3-4 months. So if this is strictly related to the neuromodulator, it will go away.  I know the onset of your symptoms correlate with injections, but you can't rule out that something else may be accounting for your puffiness that happened to come on around the same time, as this is rare after neuromodulator injections, especially if such a little amount was used and it was injected so high.  I'd go back to the physician that treated you and ask for the appropriate referral if the neuromodulator can't account for your symptoms.  Good luck.

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Dear Angela,

	
		It is tough to say without looking
	
		Sometimes a different concentration of Botox is used where it can travel further if it is more dilute
	
		Sometimes it is just related to the technique
	
		Give it a few more weeks to see if it improves, it should be gone by 4 months


	Best regards,

	Nima Shemirani

Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD · Answer

It is likely that the Botox has moderately paralyzed your orbicularis oris muscle. This circular muscle sits on top of the bone that houses your eye, the orbit. Botox paralyzes the muscle which can cause increased prominence of under eye troughs as the muscle tone helps keep this area tight. This should go away slowly as the effects of Botox wear off; which should be in approximately 3 ½ - 4 months. “Dr. D”

10 Weeks Post-Botox: Shelve Under Eyes and a Lot of Wrinkles? (photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Botox around the eyes

Answer: Botox around the eyes

Answer: Shelves Under the Eyes

Answer: Shelves Under the Eyes

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10 Weeks Post-Botox: Shelve Under Eyes and a Lot of Wrinkles? (photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Botox around the eyes

Answer: Botox around the eyes

Answer: Shelves Under the Eyes

Answer: Shelves Under the Eyes

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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.