Botched Botox, not two words we want to hear, or experience for that matter. Take it from Whitney Buha, who has been all over social media, even the Today’s Show regarding exactly this “Botox Gone Bad” or the medical term Ptosis, one of the most common side effects of botulinum toxin type A injection (Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, etc.).
While eyelid Ptosis (aka "botched botox"!) only occurs in up to 5% of patients, I can only imagine how many people wonder “if this happens to me, is there something I can do Pila, about a droopy eye or droopy eyebrow due to Botox?” “What are the causes?” “How long does it last?”, and more! Well, worry no more. I'm here to provide you with some tips to say bye, bye to Botox booboos!
How Does Botox Work?
To explain this Botox Gone Bad scenario, you have to understand how Botox Cosmetic works. Now, I'm not going to get too technical here, just enough for you to understand. Botox is a neuromodulator drug used to treat wrinkles, primarily dynamic wrinkles or expression wrinkles. The annoying wrinkles appear from facial expressions like smiling or squinting but fade when the expression stops.
When injected properly, Botox Cosmetic blocks signals from the nerves and relax the muscles responsible for fine lines and wrinkles, reducing these dynamic wrinkles and preventing them from becoming static wrinkles.
Why does Botox cause a droopy eye?
I hate to use the terms inexperienced or experienced injectors, because when many hear this, they think… Ok, I will screen my injector and ask questions like: “How long have you been doing this or how many patients have you performed this treatment on” and if it's lot, they think they’re experienced. While this is an important question, Botched Botox usually happens because an injector didn't pay attention or isn't knowledgeable about the facial anatomy and the proper injection placements of Botox.
A common reason is when too many units of Botox are injected at once. Either for forehead wrinkles or between the eyes (those 11’s just above your nose). If you're getting injections in your forehead, it can result in over-relaxation of the frontalis muscle. Or something more severe, like what happened to Whitney Buha, with an actual droopy eye, where some of the Botox seeped into the upper eyelid and paralyzed the levator palpebrae — the muscle that holds the upper eyelid up. If this muscle is paralyzed, the upper eyelid will droop.
Here are some other reasons for this bad Botox side effect, including when:
• Botox is improperly diluted
• Wrong-site of injection
• Improper evaluation during consultation
• One size does not fit all, so using a standard dose could overtreat or undertreat a muscle
• Post-procedure advice is not followed, causing Botox to spread to other areas
What to do if you have a droopy eye or eyebrow
Botox treatments can cause the brow to descend, causing crowding of the upper eyelids, giving the appearance of a droopy eyelid. So, the first thing you want to do is wait 14 days to ensure you are genuinely experiencing eye drooping. The reason is that it can take up to 14 days to see the full effects of Botox.
How To Treat A Droopy Eye Caused From Botox
Option 1: More Botox: What? I know when you hear that option, your first thought is probably, no way! However, sometimes injecting Botox into the Orbicularis Oculi muscle (the muscle that wraps around the eye to close it) can help the eyebrow lift without affecting the movement of the eyelids.
Option 2: Prescription eye drops such as apraclonidine (Iopidine) can help if the eyelids are drooping, not the brows.
Option 3: Try using some high-performance perfecting serums like The Rejuvenate Daily serum or the Atoxelene Daily Serum from Intraceuticals.
To help maintain lift and balance after Botox, incorporate Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Daily Serum and Atoxelene Daily Serum into your routine.
The Intraceuticals Rejuvenate Daily Serum delivers intense hydration and visible firmness with hyaluronic acid and peptides, helping to support a naturally lifted brow and refreshed appearance.
For those who prefer a non-invasive alternative to Botox, the The Intraceuticals Atoxelene Daily Serum offers a topical way to relax expression lines and enhance firmness. It works by subtly interrupting the communication between facial muscles and the brain, helping the skin appear smoother and more refined. Used consistently, it delivers visible lift and balance without injections — or perfectly complements them between treatments.
Used together, they keep the skin supple, hydrated, and visibly lifted — extending that post-treatment glow and refined look between appointments.
While Botched Botox can happen makes for some people to be uneasy about getting Botox Cosmetic injections, it's important to remember that Botox isn't the problem. Like a lousy paint job, the paintbrush and paint are not the problems; it’s a terrible painter. So if you feel that Botox injections are a good fit for your needs, make sure that you do your research and have chosen someone reputable and experienced.
The phrase “Botched Botox” can sound scary, but the truth is that most side effects are temporary and preventable. With the right injector and supportive skincare, you can enjoy smooth, lifted, and natural-looking results safely. When in doubt, ask questions, do your research, and treat your post-Botox care as an extension of your self-care ritual.
At Heaven on Earth, I’m here to help you restore balance, support your results, and keep your skin calm, hydrated, and radiant — so you always feel confident in your skin, both before and after Botox.
