Corrugator muscles sore & seem more prominent/tensed after recent Botox. Is retreatment necessary? How long until it improves?

Question

Can make out outline of corrugator muscles after receiving 14 units of Botox 4 days ago to treat single crease btwn brows. They were not noticeable to me before & the area feels tight/sore as if muscles are really tense and can't relax (opposite of what I thought Botox was supposed to do). RN says muscles possibly sore just due to being poked w/needle. Zero improvement noticed yet and area is sore. Should I wait longer? Retreat? Visit different Dr./RN? Unhappy so far and don't know what to do.

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question in regards to Botox.Botox can take up to two weeks before total correction has occurred. I suggest waiting until then, at that time if you still have concerns with your injections, schedule a follow up appointment and additional units may be added. To be sure, see two or more board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment.I hope this helps.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Botox takes 2 weeks to see the results and often you can have soreness or headaches after botox injections. I suggest giving it two weeks and seeing what the results are then.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Melissa Chiang, MD, FAAD · Answer

It can take 1-2 weeks prior to seeing relaxation of muscles after Botox treatment.  Please be patient.  It is odd that your muscles feel tense and more noticeable; perhaps you have a small hematoma from the needle poke.  If the bruise is deep, you may not see discoloration. You might ask the RN if she noticed more blood than usual when she withdrew the needle.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question susanne77. I am sorry to hear about your situation. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression such as the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns. The pivotal studies demonstrated that with a dose of 20 units in this area, the peak effect is seen at 14 days after the treatment and most people enjoy their results for 3-4 months. Patience is important. Please follow up with your doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Stacey Folk, MD · Answer

Dear susanne77,You are very likely noticing swelling and tenderness from the injection which should resolve over he next week. You could also have a tiny hematoma that could also bruise a little as it resolves. Your Botox can take up to 10 days to kick in, and just FYI the dose used was quite small so I wouldn't be surprised if you need more. You kind of get what you pay for, and being stingy on the dose isn't always worth it.Best of luck,

Corrugator muscles sore & seem more prominent/tensed after recent Botox. Is retreatment necessary? How long until it improves?

Answers (5)