TikTok Trend Watch - Jelly Roll Botox

It seems there is always a new method or technique being introduced to perform injectables that can be placed in the body. It does not take much effort to search TikTok for examples of different types of injectables such as fillers and Botox. Some injectable trends come and go but one of the trends that looks to be continuing for a little while is known as “jelly roll Botox.” During this Botox treatment, an injection is made into the muscle under the eyes and the botulinum toxin used by the medical professional can be Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Jeuveau.

Let’s take a deeper look at jelly roll Botox to learn more about how it is performed and the changes it can make to the targeted area on the body.

Jelly Roll Botox – What is it?

Jelly roll Botox is when a neuromodulator is injected into the muscle located under the eye that is able to fold up when a person smiles. The section that folds up has the nickname “jelly roll,” and the injection relaxes the muscle and also shrinks the jelly roll which means the eye stays open at a wider size while a person is smiling.

While jelly roll Botox sounds like it is a new procedure, it actually dates back to the days when neuromodulators were first starting to emerge as being an option for medical purposes. In the 1980s, it was used to treat patients who had involuntary contractions in the muscle under the eyes. It did not start being used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes until the early 2000s.

Jelly Roll Botox – How Does it Work?

In general, the goal of any injection of botulinum toxin used for aesthetic reasons is to relax the movements of an overactive muscle. In the case of a “jelly roll” that is being treated, the medical professional is trying to relax the orbicularis oculi muscle as this muscle might contract in an overly exaggerated manner at the lower eyelash line or it might be genetically overdeveloped.

While botulinum toxin injections performed in small amounts can relax this muscle, there are multiple muscles that are needed for smiling and not all of them can be treated through the use of injectables. The medical practitioner needs to be conservative when placing an injection as too much of the injectable can cause the muscle to relax too much and even increase the existing amount of puffiness.

No matter the amount of botulinum toxin that is injected, the patient needs to have realistic expectations when it comes to the changes that can be made to the jelly roll. Plus, patients need to know this treatment is not able to address additional issues such as puffiness under the eyes or dark circles under the eyes.

Jelly Roll Botox – Who is an Ideal Candidate?

When meeting with the medical practitioner of choice, the doctor needs to examine the entire periorbital area before performing jelly roll Botox. It is not an ideal choice for someone who wants to address eye bags that have formed due to a lack of sleep. Instead, a surgical procedure such as blepharoplasty can better address the formation of bags under the eyes.

A patient who had a prior surgery around the eyes or the eyelids might end up with a lower eyelid lag. This lag can be a potential cause for dry eye as well as a functional or aesthetically unpleasing lag in the area of the lower eyelid margin.

Jelly Roll Botox – Items Patients Need to Know

Patients need to keep in mind that a cosmetic treatment performed close to the eye includes some possible risks including issues with closing the eyes, asymmetrical results, and drooping. There is also a risk of excessive scleral showing which is when there is an excessive amount of the white of the eyes being visible to others.

The thought of injectables around the eyes often makes patients think of fillers. While jelly roll Botox can be performed at the same time as a filler treatment, it is only helpful in situations such as using filler to fill-in any hollows around the eyes. If the two treatments are combined, the facial filler will likely be performed first in order to minimize any risk of the botulinum toxin being accidentally impacted by the filler.

No matter how well the treatment is performed, the patient will need to have a follow-up treatment at some point to maintain the results. A typical treatment can have results that last anywhere from one to three months so a person who decides to have the treatment needs to keep this in mind as they will have to pay per treatment/per visit to the doctor.

The doctor can also explain the benefits and drawbacks of the treatment so the patient will be able to make an informed final decision about having jelly roll Botox injected into the body.

- MA