Ptosis – drooping lid.
A temporarily drooping upper eyelid or lowered brow after botulinum toxin – rare, through diffusion into the wrong muscle. Resolves within weeks.
Ptosis after Botox explained: lid ptosis vs. brow ptosis, how it happens, frequency, what helps (eye drops, time)
A closer look.
Two forms are often confused. Brow ptosis occurs when the forehead is treated too strongly or too low: the frontalis can no longer lift the brow and the lid looks heavy. True lid ptosis is rarer and occurs when substance diffuses from the glabella region into the lid-lifting muscle – usually visible within the first two weeks.
Both forms are temporary: brow ptosis eases after four to eight weeks, lid ptosis usually after two to six weeks. For lid ptosis, eye drops with apraclonidine can lift the lid by one to two millimetres until the effect wears off. The frequency with experienced practitioners is below one percent.
Prevention: glabella injection points at least one centimetre above the brow edge, an adjusted dose in the forehead, staying upright for four hours afterwards and not massaging the area. Anyone with a low-set brow before treatment deliberately gets little or nothing in the forehead.
This lexicon entry is general information and does not replace the medical consultation required under German law (§ 630e BGB).
At a glance.
A question about Ptosis (drooping eyelid)? Send us a short WhatsApp message – we usually reply the same working day.
Ask via WhatsAppFrequently asked questions.
Will the lid stay like this forever?
No. Both forms resolve completely as the substance is broken down.
What to do if it happens?
Tell the practice. For lid ptosis eye drops can be prescribed; otherwise patience helps.
Sources and further reading.
- NHS: Botox injections – patient information
- DGBT – German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy
- BfArM – Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
- European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- § 630e BGB – duty to inform before treatment (German Civil Code)
- AWMF – German clinical practice guidelines
External links open in a new window; their operators are responsible for their content. Medical responsibility for this page: Katayoun Mostaghimi, specialist in general medicine. Last updated: 2026-10-05.
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