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Botox under eyes – everything you need to know
Botox is a treatment that can be used to reduce or prevent dynamic lines on the face – including under the eyes.
For people with prominent wrinkles, under-eye bags or swelling – it can also be injected to treat twitching nerves, too – Botox is an increasingly popular option, with a global market worth almost USD seven billion in 2020.
But is getting Botox under your eyes the right thing for you? And what are the things you need to consider before getting it?
Find a clinic or practitioner near you and enjoy a risk-free booking process thanks to free in-clinic consultations and the option to pay in-clinic. Also, you can now split the cost of your treatment into four equal, interest-free instalments using Tabby.
In this article:
Fast facts
Best results
One treatment every three to five months
Duration of results
Three to five months
Back to work
Immediately
Full recovery time
One week
Price range
1,000 AED
Treatment duration
Up to 20 minutes
Comfort
No local anaesthetic required
Treatment type
Non-invasive
What is Botox under the eyes?
Botulinum toxin, or Botox, is a bacteria-produced protein that was traditionally used to treat patients suffering from overactive muscle movement, caused by disorders such as cerebral palsy.
Cosmetically however, it is now used to help eliminate, smoothen, and reduce unwanted lines and wrinkles.
When applied under the eyes, alone or combined with other treatments, Botox can be used to help with:
- Under-eye wrinkles.
- Eye bags.
- Crow’s feet.
How does it work?
The science
When Botox is injected under the eyes, the toxin blocks nerve signals to the muscles, which would normally tell them to contract. Preventing these muscle contractions can offer the area under the eyes a fuller and smoother look as a result, as it stops lines and wrinkles forming.
The phrase ‘we smile with our eyes’ has some truth to it: there are six main muscles around the eye that are used for making expressions – as well as focusing on everything from reading to watching TV. As a result, under-bags and wrinkles are especially common in this part of the face.
Before the treatment
At a consultation, you will be asked to perform some facial exercises. This is so they can assess how your muscles naturally move, ensuring the doctor injects Botox into the right places.
A full medical history will be taken as well to avoid any complications when performing Botox under the eyes. The instructions prior to treatment may include:
- Avoiding certain products – such as anti-ageing creams, retinoids, and glycolic acid.
- Stopping taking anti-inflammatories and any medication that may thin your blood (eg, aspirin).
- Not drinking alcohol and smoking at least seven days prior to your session.
During the treatment
- Your clinician will mark the injection areas and cleanse your face.
- Next, they’ll inject the Botox under your eyes with a fine needle. As there’s usually minimal discomfort, there’s no need for local anaesthetic, but a numbing cream may be used to make you even more comfortable.
- Ice and pressure are then applied to the injection sites to reduce swelling.
- The treatment generally takes up to 20 minutes, and you can return home straight away.
Aftercare
There’s no clinical recovery time needed after getting Botox under your eyes, but your clinician will usually provide you with some aftercare instructions, such as avoiding:
- Exercising for 24 hours.
- Touching, rubbing, or stretching the injected areas.
- Lying down for five hours post-treatment.
This is to make sure the Botox doesn’t move to neighbouring muscles.
You may also experience some mild side-effects, which can include:
- Bruising.
- Swelling.
- Redness.
- Numbness.
If you experience more severe symptoms, including any of the following, it may indicate an allergic reaction – so you should seek immediate medical treatment:
- Difficulty breathing, swallowing, and/or moving your jaw.
- Rashes.
- Severe swelling.
What else do I need to know about getting Botox under my eyes?
Are the effects of Botox injections under the eyes permanent?
Results seen from injecting Botox anywhere in the body are not permanent, but they do typically last for four to five months. After this time you can return to your chosen clinic to receive further injections.
How much do Botox injections under the eyes cost?
The cost of getting Botox under the eyes varies depending on the clinic itself and the experience and expertise of your chosen clinician, but treatments usually cost around Dhs1000. Other parts of the face can be more expensive to treat, as a greater number of units may need to be applied to the forehead, for example.
How can I find treatments near me?
You can use our online clinic locator and local listings tools to find the best qualified clinicians for you.
Alternative treatments
There are other options you can consider that may help reduce and eliminate lines and wrinkles under the eyes.
Dysport
Another injectable, Dysport is also a bacterial substance that’s applied directly to the muscles.
Pros:
- Slightly cheaper than Botox per-unit.
- Similar side-effects and recovery times.
Cons:
- More units are usually needed to complete the same procedure.
Fillers
An under-eye hyaluronic acid filler – or ‘tear-trough’ filler – can provide the extra volume to plump out those lines and wrinkles.
Pros:
- Quick to administer.
- Results last up to 12 months.
Cons:
- Possibility of the skin sagging once the filler wears off.
Laser surgery
Laser skin resurfacing removes the outer-most layer of skin on the treatment area, encouraging new skin cell growth and boosting collagen production for a tighter appearance.
Pros:
- Results last a long time.
Cons:
- More expensive.
- More downtime required.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion around the eyes uses a diamond-tipped exfoliating device to encourage new cells to grow and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Pros:
- Immediate results.
Cons:
- Downtime can include skin swelling and bruising.
Did you know?
- Dr Justinus Kerner first discovered botulinum toxin in the 1820s. However, it wasn’t used as a medical treatment until more than 100 years later, in the 1950s.
- Botox was first used as a cosmetic treatment by accident in the 1990s. Patients receiving it for under-eye muscle contractions later realised it helped reduce their wrinkles too.
FAQs
Use our clinic locator to book your treatment – and choose between paying online, paying in-clinic, or splitting payments into four equal instalments with Tabby.
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