Drooping eyelids are uncommon side effects of botulinum toxin treatment. So what should be done to reverse the condition if you get droopy eyelids after Botox? This blog outline ways to reverse eyelid ptosis after injection of botulinum toxin by first explaining what Botox is and how droopy eyelid develops after the anti-wrinkle treatment.
Anti-wrinkle injections have become one of the most popular cosmetic treatments to soften facial wrinkles and fine lines. The ageing signs are due to excessive movements of facial muscles over the eyes. Fortunately, botulinum toxin injections relax these muscles eliminating fine lines and preventing wrinklesfrom the further formulation. Although cosmetic treatment is quick and safe, sometimes you can get bad results when the formula is injected wrongly by an untrained cosmetic doctor. This article explains how a client can reverse drooping eyelids.
Ways to Reverse Eyelid Ptosis After Botulinum Toxin Treatment
Droopy eyelid after the anto-wrinkle treatment is not life-threatening and can be easily resolved by an experienced cosmetic doctor. The results of botulinum toxin treatment are temporary; they wear off a few weeks after the treatment. Therefore, you can wait for the toxin to be metabolised and absorbed by body mechanisms. However, it all depends on how serious the botulinum toxin migration was or how much formula was in contact with eyelid muscles. Nevertheless, low doses will reach the frontalis muscles, taking less time to wear off. There are quick ways to fix eyelid ptosis, mostly referring to the experience of the aesthetic doctor. These include:
- Correcting the anti-wrinkle injection: after a cosmetic doctor evaluation and the droopy eyelid is seen a result of uneven injection of botulinum toxin formula, further injections can reverse them.
- Brow lift: the cosmetic doctor may perform a brow lift using fillers to correct the droopy eyelid. According to Werner et al. (2014), injecting dermal fillers like hyaluronic acid under the eyebrow’s tail can counteract the excessive relaxation of frontalis muscles, making the features more symmetrical.
- Eye drops: eye drops can be prescribed by your cosmetic doctor three times a day. Upon application, it signals the eyelid muscles to contract and raise the lid for temporal relief.
- Massaging eyelid muscles: another way to reverse droopy eyelid after excessive relaxation by Botox formula is to exercise the frontalis muscles or wake them up. Most experts recommend the affected eyelid be massaged using the back of an electric toothbrush for a few minutes. It is helpful in not only stimulating the muscles but also reducing the time required to dissolve the migrated Botox toxins.
What is Botox?
Botox is a popular brand representing botulinum toxin injections primarily used for cosmetic concerns.According to Berry (2021)), the Botox formulainhabitsthe nerve cells that send electrical signals for facial muscles to contract. As a result, the muscles relax, softening the accumulating facial wrinkles and fine lines like horizontal forehead lines, crow’s feet, nasolabial folds, and frown lines. It will take around 3 to 5 days to see the changes in the cosmetic treatments, but it might take 14 to 30 days to see the full result.
The treatment lasts 3 to 6 months, depending on factors like the patient’s body metabolism, the amount of botulinum toxin injected, depth of facial wrinkles, and the skills of the aesthetic practitioner. After receiving your anti-wrinkle injection, you may experience some minor bruising and swelling. However, these side effects resolve a few hours or days after the appointment. Botulinum toxin injections are FSA-approved cosmetic treatments when performed by an experienced and qualified practitioner. An untrained cosmetic doctor may unintentionally place toxins wrongly, causing complications such as droopy eyelid, frozen looks, prolonged swelling or bruising, or even triggering infections like cold sores.
According toRodrigues et al. (2020), neurotoxins can be used to treat conditions that affect the muscular system. Although the primary use of the anti-wrinkle treatment is cosmetic, it as is regarded safe by FSA to treat the following muscular disorders:
- Chronic migraine
- Cervical dystonia (neck spasms)
- Overactive bladder
- Excessive sweating
- Excessive production of saliva
How Droopy Eyelid Develops After Botulinum Toxin Treatment
The scientific name of the droopy eyelid is ptosis. Unlike congenital ptosis, where a person is born with a droopy eyelid, ptosis can also occur after a bad injection of botulinum toxin. The condition is common when inexperienced cosmetic doctors unintentionally inject neurotoxins too close to the frontalis muscles. The muscles are responsible for maintaining the eyelid’s normal position. However, the botulinum toxin formula can prevent the contraction of frontalis muscles,making it unable to control the raising or lowering of the eyelid.
On the other hand, botulinum toxin used to soften forehead wrinkles can migrate to the frontalis muscles causing the eyebrow to descend or crowd the upper eyelid. Although an untrained cosmetic doctor is to blame in this case, sometimes patients’ anatomy or disobedience to the aftercare tips can cause the migration of the botox formula to the eyelid muscles. According to Borba,Matayoshi& Rodrigues (2021), droopy eyelid can be caused by the following reasons:
- Injection of too many units of botulinum toxins or improperly diluted toxin
- Wrongly placed injectable
- Migration of the Botox formula due to negligence of patients to follow post-procedure advice or shallowly injected toxin.
- Poor facial assessment by the practitioner since some patients may have excess eyelid skin too close to the forehead muscles. When treating forehead wrinkles, the doctor may inject the toxin too close to the eyelid skin without necessarily knowing it’s the extension.
- Procedures previously done can change the anatomy of the muscles around the eye, including the eyelid tissues. This can make the patient more susceptible to droopy eyelids after softening the Botox treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Botox
How Can You Prevent a Drooping Eyelid After Botulinum Toxin Treatment?
Some patients suffer from sagging eyebrows or droopy eyelids after getting botulinum toxin treatment. There are effective ways to prevent this particular condition from occurring, including:
- Visit a board-certified cosmetic doctor or a plastic surgeon since. In most cases, droopy eyelid is caused by wrongly placed or excessive injection of the neurotoxin
- Be honest with your medical history to the cosmetic doctor. Patients who have a health history of allergic reactions to Botox formula or had previous facial surgery are more susceptible to developing a droopy eyelid after an anti-wrinkle injection
- Adhere to all doctors’ aftercare tips and precautions to prevent migration of the Botox formula to eyelid muscles.
Is Botulinum Toxin Treatment Worth the Risk?
The likelihood of having serious complications like droopy eyelids or infections after the anti-wrinkle treatment is minimal. The procedure is quick and provides effective results when performed well. In addition, it is an approved cosmetic procedure by the FSA. It is also regarded safe when administered by a qualified cosmetic doctor.
Conclusion
Botox is a famous brand representing a botulinum toxin used for medical or cosmetic concerns. It primarily helpssoften facial wrinkles, but it can have mild effects like a droopy eyelid when injected wrongly. This side effect is rare and occurs when untrained cosmetic doctors inject excessive Botox formula too close to the frontalis muscles responsible for maintaining the eyelid position. Fortunately, the condition can be reversed by injecting more toxins to even the result, using your doctor’s prescription for eye drops, or trying some common massage on the affected muscles.
References
Berry, M. G. (2021). Botulinum Toxin in Clinical Practice. Springer International Publishing.Boshell, B. J. S. Botox® Injection: Not Just for Celebrities’ Furrows and Wrinkles. FALLING OVER NEW COLORS, 51.
Borba, A., Matayoshi, S., & Rodrigues, M. (2021). Avoiding complications on the upper face treatment with botulinum toxin: a practical guide. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 1-10.
Rodrigues, F. B., Duarte, G. S., Marques, R. E., Castelao, M., Ferreira, J., Sampaio, C., … & Costa, J. (2020). Botulinum toxin type A therapy for cervical dystonia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11).
Werner, M., Ford, T., Pacik, P., Ferrara, M., & Marcus, B. (2014). Botox for the Treatment of Vaginismus: A Case Report. J Women’s Health Care, 3(150), 2167-0420.
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.
- Striking the Right Balance: Planning Your Post-Filler Facial Care - February 26, 2024
- Eyes on the Price: Understanding Under Eye Filler Costs Across the UK - February 21, 2024
- Balancing Beauty and Health: Lip Fillers and Antibiotics - February 20, 2024