Botox Aftercare

If you’re considering. or have just gotten Botox® injections (or maybe some other type of injections, like Dysport®) you may have questions such as: Is it OK to apply makeup? To wash your face? etc. Here we will walk you through everything you need to know as it relates to proper Botox and related wrinkle relaxer aftercare.
Before we get into what you should and shouldn’t do after Botox and other wrinkle relaxer treatments, it’s important to know how you’ll feel post-procedure. In the immediate aftermath of your injections, you might experience some mild side effects:
• Bruising: The most common side effects of Botox injections are small, light bruises — especially in the laugh line area, where there are a lot of blood vessels. “Bruising occurs when the injection inadvertently hits a minor vein, which bleeds a little bit underneath the skin,” Dr. Zins explains.
• Swelling: You can reduce swelling by holding a cool compress or an ice pack wrapped in a towel to your injection site. This should only be done for 10 minutes at a time.
• Headaches: Some people say they get a headache right after having Botox injections. But because there are so many possible causes of headaches, Dr. Zins it’s hard to say for certain whether the two are related.
While the side effects that can happen post Botox / injectable treatment are really quite mild, it is still important to be aware of them.
Botox Recovery Time
You’ll probably leave your provider’s office with an ice pack or a cool compress to tackle immediate side effects like redness, swelling and soreness, and to prevent bruising.
But for the most part, you’ll get your injections and be on your way — no negative side effects to be found.
Typically, you come in, you have the treatment performed and you go about your business. There’s no downtime afterward because of pain or any other issues.
It’s also worth noting, you won’t immediately see the ultimate effects of your Botox injections and it can take anywhere from a few days to a week to appear.
What Not To Do After Botox
For the most part, you can go back to your regular life almost immediately after your injections. While there’s a lot of internet chatter about what you should and shouldn’t do after being injected, if your injections are done properly by an experienced provider, almost no special aftercare is required.
But there are a few best practices to abide by:
- Don’t lie down immediately post treatment. Try to stay upright for three to four hours after Botox.
- Don’t massage the area. Botox is liquid, and liquid can spread, although only by about half an inch. Still, that can make a difference in the way it settles, so don’t massage or rub your face for 12 hours after Botox.
- Avoid certain substances. It’s best to skip happy hour on your Botox day, and avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. They can raise your blood pressure, which may promote bruising.
In general, most lists of post-Botox do’s and don’ts are based more on your comfort than on the likelihood of something going wrong.
There are a lot of myths out there, as far as aftercare is concerned, but most of the untoward effects we might see with Botox are the result of poor technical injection, not because the patient has done anything wrong and thus it is critical that you identify an experience provider.
Can You Touch Your Face After Botox
Touch, yes; rub, no. For the first 24 hours or so, avoid rubbing the spots where you’ve been injected as this could cause the Botox to move slightly from its intended location.
Can You Wash Your Face After Botox
It is OK to wash your face after you’ve received injections — just be sure to do so lightly at first, so you don’t diffuse the Botox or contribute to any bruising or swelling.
Is It OK To Exercise After Botox
Some providers say you should avoid physical activity for at least 24 hours after you’ve gotten injections, but there’s little evidence to show that physical activity affects how your Botox settles.
That said, exercise can raise your blood pressure, which can increase bruising, so you may want to avoid it for a few hours if you tend to bruise.
Is It OK Apply Makeup After Botox
There’s no set timeframe to how long you should wait after injections to apply makeup, lip balm or anything else you’d normally put on your face.
Makeup can really be used anytime post procedure, but it’s best to wait until the injection site has fully closed (which only takes about 15 minutes). That said, you may also want to wait until any swelling or irritation has gone away.
When applying makeup just be careful with your application, making sure you don’t harshly rub the area where you’ve been injected.
Is It OK To Smile After Botox
After your procedure, you might feel a little nervous about moving your face. But feel free to be as expressive as you usually are as moving your face is not going to affect Botox.
While some providers claim that moving your face after getting injections can actually enhance the effectiveness of your Botox, studies show mixed results. In one study, 68% of participants felt that performing facial exercises sped up the results of their injections.
We don’t have any data to prove that moving your face will make Botox absorb faster or better but rest assured it is OK to move your face as you normally would.
Complications And Side Effects To Look Out For
Botox is generally considered very safe, and serious side effects are rare. But seek medical attention immediately if you experience:
- Blurred vision or other vision problems.
- Numbness or paralysis.
- Severe upset stomach.
- Shortness of breath.
- Signs of a urinary tract infection, like blood in your urine.
- Slurred speech.
- Trouble swallowing.
It’s more common — though still considered rare — to experience issues like a drooping of your eyelid or eyebrow.
There is both science and art involved in administering Botox injections. If your provider inadvertently injects into a muscle, you may see these untoward effects. For example, drooping problems are almost always the fault of the provider and not related to anything a patient does after being injected. This drives home how important it is to choose the right person to perform your Botox injections.
It’s worth noting that because the effects of Botox injections are temporary, so are most complications.
Once the Botox is stopped, the muscles will relax and go back to their normal size and function.
- Do your research. No need to book an appointment with the first injector you find. Hit up Google for a full rundown of options and reviews, and review their past client photos and recent work.
- Ask for recommendations. Turn to people you know and trust, and ask: Where did they get their injections done? What was their experience like? What did they like or dislike about it? Do you plan to use the provider in the future?
- Always listen to your instincts. If you have an uneasy feeling about a possible injector — even if there’s no obvious, logical reason for it — trust your gut and start the search anew.
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