From the Research
There are no specific eye drops recommended for managing lip ptosis after Botox injections. Lip ptosis (drooping of the lip) is a different issue than eyelid ptosis and requires different management approaches. If you're experiencing lip drooping after Botox, the best course of action is to contact your injector immediately. Treatment typically involves waiting for the Botox effects to naturally wear off over 2-4 months, as there is no medication that can reverse or speed up this process 1. Some practitioners may recommend facial exercises to help stimulate muscle function, though evidence for their effectiveness is limited. In some cases, additional strategic Botox injections to opposing muscles might be considered to balance facial symmetry, but this should only be done by an experienced provider. Lip ptosis occurs when Botox spreads to unintended muscles around the mouth, affecting your ability to smile or move your lips normally. Unlike eyelid ptosis, which sometimes responds to alpha-adrenergic eye drops like apraclonidine, lip muscles don't respond to topical treatments in the same way due to different muscle physiology and innervation patterns.
Key Considerations
- Lip ptosis is a complication of Botox injections that requires a different approach than eyelid ptosis
- There is no medication that can reverse or speed up the effects of Botox on lip muscles
- Treatment typically involves waiting for the Botox effects to wear off, with some practitioners recommending facial exercises or additional Botox injections to opposing muscles
- The most recent and highest quality study on the topic does not provide evidence for the use of eye drops in managing lip ptosis after Botox injections 2
Management Options
- Contact your injector immediately if you're experiencing lip drooping after Botox
- Wait for the Botox effects to naturally wear off over 2-4 months
- Consider facial exercises to help stimulate muscle function, though evidence for their effectiveness is limited
- Additional strategic Botox injections to opposing muscles may be considered to balance facial symmetry, but this should only be done by an experienced provider 3, 4, 5