Question
Hi, I'm new to this forum and have really learned a lot from reading all the posts. I'm 44 yrs old and had my first Botox injections (forehead and crow's feet) about a week and a half ago. Within a few days, my eyelids/eyebrows began to droop. People keep asking me what's wrong with my eyes. I've heard my eyes described as everything from "angry cat eyes" to "alien eyes" to "evil eyes" and even "stoner eyes". It's really embarrassing and I'd rather not explain that my droopy eyelids/eyebrows are an unfortunate side effect of Botox. I realize from reading various posts on this forum that this side effect will eventually subside...and believe me, I can't wait! My question is this: is this new look an exaggeration or is this how I would look if I never raised my eyebrows? In other words, I opted for Botox because I had a rather deep horizontal furrow/crease across my forehead. The crease/furrow looks much better, but now I have the droopy eyelids. I'm beginning to think that previously I was always raising my eyebrows subconsciously because I just naturally have droopy eyelids/eyebrows and that the weight on my eyelids just made me want to lift the brows, and that's how the furrow/crease got so deep to begin with. I'm now thinking about having an upper eyelid blepharoplasty and was wondering if others have gone this route after first trying Botox. My thought is that if I have a successful blepharoplasty, then I may be less likely to keep raising my eyebrows (and thus discontinue making the dynamic wrinkle across my forehead) and won't have to continue Botox or at least have it done less often. Thanks for any insights you can offer.

Answer
Hi, I'm new to this forum and have really learned a lot from reading all the posts. I'm 44 yrs old and had my first Botox injections (forehead and crow's feet) about a week and a half ago. Within a few days, my eyelids/eyebrows began to droop. People keep asking me what's wrong with my eyes. I've heard my eyes described as everything from "angry cat eyes" to "alien eyes" to "evil eyes" and even "stoner eyes". It's really embarrassing and I'd rather not explain that my droopy eyelids/eyebrows are an unfortunate side effect of Botox. I realize from reading various posts on this forum that this side effect will eventually subside...and believe me, I can't wait! My question is this: is this new look an exaggeration or is this how I would look if I never raised my eyebrows? In other words, I opted for Botox because I had a rather deep horizontal furrow/crease across my forehead. The crease/furrow looks much better, but now I have the droopy eyelids. I'm beginning to think that previously I was always raising my eyebrows subconsciously because I just naturally have droopy eyelids/eyebrows and that the weight on my eyelids just made me want to lift the brows, and that's how the furrow/crease got so deep to begin with. I'm now thinking about having an upper eyelid blepharoplasty and was wondering if others have gone this route after first trying Botox. My thought is that if I have a successful blepharoplasty, then I may be less likely to keep raising my eyebrows (and thus discontinue making the dynamic wrinkle across my forehead) and won't have to continue Botox or at least have it done less often. Thanks for any insights you can offer.

Answer
Dear M,
Before considering any type of surgery of the face, you must wait until the botox wears off--that could be four or five months. In other words, you need for your eyes to go back to the way they were the day before botox. If you have surgery now, your eyes will keep changing over the time the botox wears off, and you may have a surprised look or disfigured in some way when your brows regain their muscle tone. Everyone wants an immediate solution to this occasional side effect of botox, but you have to wait. If you don't, your immediate solution may become a long term problem.
There are also other reasons that people raise their eyebrows. It's a normal expression that you can't really control easily. But if your eyelids have dropped, you can have a plastic surgeon evaluate the extent of it. But please wait for four or five months to evaluate it.
J

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There is a product out there called Eye Magic which is a non surgical solution for droopy eyelids. You might want to try this before you get surgery if you would like to fix your droopy eyelids. I have a few friends who have used this product and it seems to work for them. Here is the website for Eye Magic:

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I am a 37 year old - and recently, 1 month ago, got Botox injections just above my eye --because I had deep creases in between my brows. I was quite self-conscious about it so I wanted to correct it without surgery. Four (4) days after the injections, I experienced severe pain - specifically behind my eyes. It lasted 2 1/2 weeks...to a high level of difficulty driving and concentrating at work. It was horrific. My left eye is droopy and swollen. Now, I am feeling a slight improvement...however, it is very slow! I have been crying every day. I am not kidding - EVERY DAY. As I type this, tears run down my cheeks. I have serious regret and fear of future problems (as I read other commentaries). I just can't believe I did this to myself. I wish I saw this website prior to getting the injections. I truly admire everyone expressing their feelings and experiences. It isn't easy writing this. As a footnote - I took 1/2 dose! I made a point of going EXTREMELY light on this....I can't even imagine what I would be going through if I did a full dose. God Bless everyone going through discomfort. My only suggestion is to DRINK LOTS OF WATER. I try to drink a gallon a day...to flush out my system. I do feel it has helped.

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Hi ,
I had Botox 3 times for frown lines and lines inbetween the brows...and the first time I had droopy fat looking eyelids too, especially like by the corners by my nose, just under the beginning of the eyebrow...causing the evil look too. I thought the same, perhaps this is what I look like without raising my brow, but I found out it is actually where the doctors inject it and how low they come to your actual eyebrow and where by your natural eyebrow arch. I think too... how low between your eyes they go.
I changed doctors and now have used her for the second and third visits..no more droopy eyes. Honestly, I look fabulous...love it. She doesn't even come close to injecting the Botox near the arch of my eyebrow like the first doctor.
I have had it done every six months and with each visit as the Botox wears off..the lines are almost gone. I think it is because we have now retrained our muscles and no longer talk with our eyes.
I think is the last Botox I will need for a spell....
Remember don't rub the injection site for a day....so it doesn't get redistributed...

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J: Thanks for the advice. You make a good point about the solution possibly becoming a long term problem. Yes, I do plan to wait until the Botox wears off before I have a consultation on the blepharoplasty (eyelid lift).
Cynthia: Thanks for the info on the EyeMagic eyelift product. For $14.95 + s&h, I think I'm going to give it a try. The pictures on the EyeMagic web site sure are impressive. I hope the company believes in "truth in advertising"
Lisa: I'm sorry to read about the difficulties you've experienced. Temporary aesthetic side effects are one thing, but the severe pain you described must have been horrible. I'm glad that you are experiencing some improvement and I hope the recovery continues. You mention that you had a 1/2 dose - do you know how many units that was? I had 70 units injected between the 3 sites and I've been wondering if I could have gotten away with less. Good luck with your recovery and I'll think of you when I say my prayers!
Oluwa: It's interesting what you say about the droopy eyelids side effect depending on where the doctor injects it. I've read that opinion elsewhere. I had a registered nurse (at the plastic surgeon's office) inject mine and when I went in for the followup and pointed out the eyelid droop, she just said, "Oh, you must be the kind of person that reacts that way!" Hmph! Well, I suppose she wasn't going to suggest that it had anything to do with her technique! I also asked her if she thought muscle atrophy or muscle retraining would occur with subsequent injections, so that fewer units would be needed in the future and she said "No, I don't think so". Hmph again!
Thanks everyone for the reply posts!

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Im' depressed. Sinces 3 weeks ago by submitted botox , I had in one eyes ptosis. I cried every day, and feel very shamed about myselft. I dont know if theses are temporary. Please let me know if it temporary and how approximately days and weeks will be gone?. What kind of Therepy I will need to do to to advance the process?
Please Help?
regards, s

Answer
Dear M, I guess just about everyone gets depressed when they get a bad cosmetic effect from the botox--just the opposite of what they hoped for.
Opinions vary on the recovery. Mine is, once you get botox, it has to run its course. It binds up the nerve transmitters near the muscles injected and temporarily paralyzes them. It can take a few weeks or a few months to get well. You can try to make yourself look a little better by not contributing to more eyelid swelling with diet, and you can put an ice bag on your eyelids to take some of the swelling down--it's usually worse in the morning. Some claim that a product called "Eye Magic" helps, some claim that drops and eye drops help. But nothing except time cures it. The botox has to wear off. It's not permanent, so don't worry about that.
It will be depressing, but you will get completely well if you wait.
J

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Dear J
Thank for your hope and recommedation. I really believed that somethime the doctor does not make the correct procedure, and they hided between the side effects.
In my case,on my 4th treatment, had never had this before. I knew this time, that something was going wrong. I know it was my fault, becuase I was looking for a cheapest prices. Now I prefered to pay more, and dont have to suffered.
Onces again, Thanks for you replies:
M

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The skill of the practitioner is critical to a consistent good look because the exact injection site, and the strength of the botox (how it is diluted) can determine a good or bad result. Even lying down shortly after the injections can render a poor result. Don't beat yourself too badly, because even the good practitioners have a bad result on occasion if they can't control some of these variables.
I hope you have a quick recovery,
J

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Just thought I'd give you an update on my droopy eyelid/eyebrow situation. It's been a little over six weeks since I received the Botox injections and I can honestly say that there is light at the end of the tunnel! I'd say that my eyelids/eyebrows are about 60-70% back to normal. The "angry/evil/alien" look is almost gone - hurray!
I tried the EyeMagic product and it does work, but I would only suggest it if you were going to use it in a situation where the lighting was very dark or if you didn't need to blink. When you blink, the tape-like application can be readily seen on your eyelids and it looks kind of creepy. However, if you had an appointment to have your picture taken and couldn't get out of it, then I'd suggest the EyeMagic product. As long as you keep your eyes open, your eyes looks good.
One more thing, over the past two weeks, I've noticed that the muscles in my forehead seem to contract spontaneously on a sporadic basis, but only for a few seconds. It's a weird feeling and it's kind of bittersweet to know that soon I'll have my normal-looking eyes back, but my horizontal forehead crease will probably be back too. I've also noticed that if I rub the area just above my eyebrows, this also seems to cause my forehead muscles to contract and make my eyelids/eyebrows look normal, but again, only for a few seconds. I still can't consciously contract the forehead muscles - weird!
I think at this point, I'd consider having Botox injected in the future for the crow's feet - no problems there. But I'd definitely seriously reconsider having it done for the forehead crease - in my case, the eyelid/eyebrow droop was not worth it. I think that when this wears off completely, I'm going to have a consultation for an eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid lift). If I opt to have that done, then I would think that I can just skip the Botox for the forehead, since in my case, it seems that my crease is a result of me raising my eyebrows to counteract the excess skin of my eyelids.
This has been an interesting experience and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this forum/web site. I've learned a lot! Best Wishes!