Experiencing a droopy eyelid following a BOTOX® treatment is not normal! If you experience serious ptosis after receiving BOTOX, meaning one eye is 2 mm to 3 mm lower than the other eye, it’s important for you to be assessed by an oculoplastic surgeon. If your ptosis is severe, and you have confidence in your treating physician, there is no harm in letting that doctor assess you. However, while things can happen, this degree of ptosis is very unusual. If you have any concerns about your doctor, it is highly recommended that you consider getting a second opinion.
Iopidine Ophthalmic Drops May Help
Oculoplastic surgeons are trained to assess and follow upper eyelid ptosis. They are familiar and have experience treating upper eyelid ptosis. A prescription for Iopidine (aproclonidine ophthalmic solution) can be helpful in this circumstances. This medication is a glaucoma medicine that can elevate the eyelid a couple of millimeters. The drops can also be used to assess the severity of the ptosis and predict the likely time frame for the resolution of ptosis. Dr. Steinsapir recommends trying the drop twice a day for a week. If the drop is working to open the eye, then it is likely that the ptosis will resolve in 4-6 weeks.
What if the Drops Don’t Work?
If the drops do not cause a change in the position of your upper eyelid, you have a more profound BOTOX-induced upper eyelid weakness. In these cases, the ptosis can last up to three to four months―in very rare cases, this might last even longer. If the drops are not working, don’t keep using them. Instead, try the drops approximately every fifth day or so. Use them twice a day when they work. The drops in no way speed up the final resolution of the upper eyelid ptosis and only appear to be effective when the BOTOX effect is mild.
How Can I Avoid This Kind of Problem?
The incidence of upper eyelid ptosis in the hands of an experienced injector is very, very small. Less experienced injector are more likely to perform a treatment that causes ptosis. It’s important to carefully research a doctor or nurse’s credentials and their track record for successful injections. Looking at one series of eight patients, for example, presented to Dr. Steinsapir in Los Angeles, only one of them had their actual dose of BOTOX recorded in his medical chart. Years ago, when doctors were still trying to understand the best method of BOTOX treatments, upper eyelid ptosis was reported in as many as 5 percent of cases. The incidence of upper eyelid ptosis in the hands of experienced injectors is much less than 1percent. For example, Dr. Steinsapir has treated only three mild cases of ptosis in his last 3,500 treatments.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir trained alongside the inventor of BOTOX and has performed thousands of BOTOX treatments in Los Angeles since 1988 and recently patented his Microdroplet BOTOX technique. He is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Southern California where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in BOTOX, which can be a vital part of your minimally invasive treatment plan.
Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.



