The appearance of vertical lines after Botox is due to its unique utilization and weaving. The corrugator muscle is responsible for creating the inter-brow number “11” creases. Once these muscles are crippled, the brain recruits the orbicularis oculi to produce the same expression.
Unfortunately, there can be some adverse effects if Botox is not administered correctly. Ptosis, the medical name for droopy eyelids, is a common, adverse effect that occurs after Botox when the injected treatment spreads into the areas around the targeted injection site.
Eyelid ptosis can be treated with α-adrenergic eye drops. These eye drops cause contraction of the upper portion of the tarsal muscle, known as Müller's muscle, creating a 1- to 2-mm elevation of the upper portion of the eyelid, which is usually sufficient to make the eyelids more symmetric.
Although ptosis may persist for the whole duration of effect of treatment with botulinum toxin type A, it will usually settle more quickly and eyelid ptosis will often settle within 3 to 4 weeks and brow ptosis within six weeks.
Ptosis can occur as a side effect of Botox, but it is usually temporary. It is possible, however, that some people will suffer from permanent ptosis as a result of their age, genetics, or medical condition.
Actual cases of droopy upper eyelid after Botox injections are rare. Most issues of upper eyelid heaviness after Botox injections in the forehead area are due to over paralysis of the forehead muscle, causing drooping of the eyebrow. This, in turn, pushes the upper eyelid down.
It can be corrected by placing a small amount of Botox into the elevators in the outer forehead. Your surgeon should be able to explain what can be done to avoid the “Spock Brow” and the corrective measures used if it does occur.
Correction of ptosis is essentially surgical with few exceptions. The techniques most commonly used in adult ptosis are Levator repair (Anterior approach) and Muller's muscle-conjunctival resection (Posterior approach). Frontalis sling is seldom used in adult patients.
Heaviness in your eyebrows after Botox can be fixed in a couple of ways. If you didn't receive Botox in your frown lines or crow's feet or you received a low dose in these areas, more Botox can be placed here. This will relax the muscles that pull down on your eyebrows and make them look and feel less heavy.
The eyebrows can start rising even before the full effect of Botox on the forehead wears off. It might take 4-6 weeks, but the eyebrow will be back to it's normal position for sure. Sometimes, we can help the eyebrow to lift by giving Botox to the muscle that pulls it down, Orbicularis Oculii.
Treating hooded eyelids with Botox is a relatively simple process. The treatment involves injecting Botox into your lower forehead and the outer ends of your eyebrows. When injected, it will paralyze the muscle by effectively preventing nerve receptors that prompt muscle movement.
While Botox is generally safe and well-tolerated, you may experience some common side effects such as mild headaches, temporary pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection sites, or even flu-like symptoms. One possible side effect that you may have heard about is heavy eyelids, which can understandably cause concern.
After two to four weeks (on average), the effects of the Botox will wear off and your eyelid will look normal when you wake up without needing the eye drops.
Botox is a great tool for lifting heavy upper lids and sagging eyebrows. I see many patients in their 20's, 30's and 40's that are bothered by a slight drop of the brow and heaviness on the upper eyelids. When strategically placed, Botox lifts the brow and improves heavy upper eyelids.
When one muscle is injured, other muscles will quickly take over and assume the functions of that lost muscle. The same holds true for muscles that are paralyzed by Botox. Surrounding muscles will act more intensely to “pick up the slack”. This may cause new wrinkles to form in areas adjacent to the original wrinkle.
It is true that Botox and Dysport can contribute to the development of eye bags. Certain patients who are more susceptible to fluid accumulation may experience these issues. This includes individuals with sinusitis, allergies, or oculi muscle disorder.
"After receiving Botox, a patient may unconsciously attempt to re-create the facial expressions in the area where treatment has paralyzed their facial muscles, "said Dr. Becker. "What can happen is that other, nearby muscles compensate--this can have the effect of actually creating new wrinkles."
What is ptosis? Ptosis occurs when the upper eyelid of one or both eyes droops over your eye. The droop may be barely noticeable or the eyelid can sag to such an extent that it covers your pupil (the black dot at the centre of your eye that lets light in).
Botox injection can raise sagging eyelids by a few millimeters. So it is best for mild and moderate eye hooding, which are more common among younger than older patients. If you want more oomph to those eyes, you may talk to your dermatologist about combining Botox with other treatments.