BOTOX® Guide: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do After Injections

Creases and folds in our skin are often referred to simply as wrinkles, and we usually get them in areas where our skin naturally folds up during facial expressions. Although these lines are a normal part of getting older, many people are frustrated when the changes start to appear—and aren’t always ready to embrace them. We might not be able to completely avoid wrinkles (after all, our skin is continually impacted by the environment, chemical changes because of aging, and various forms of internal and external stress), but there are options for minimizing them, such as BOTOX®. Fruitland, ID’s CT Derm team explains that neuromodulators such as BOTOX® are ideal for preventing or delaying the formation of wrinkles caused by facial muscle contractions.

What makes the treatment so popular? There’s no real downtime needed after a session, but there are some aftercare dos and don’ts that patients should be made aware of if they’re having injections for the first time and want to promote optimal results while minimizing or avoiding side effects or complications.

Worried about bruising or bleeding after your treatment? Fillers are actually more likely to cause bruising than neuromodulators, but there’s still a risk with BOTOX®. Read on for advice on what you should and shouldn’t do after your neuromodulator appointment:

Dos

Do Resume Your Usual Activities

There’s no need to take recovery time after BOTOX®. Patients can safely go back to their normal day-to-day activities immediately after injections, which is one of the major benefits of this lunchtime procedure. Results appear quickly, just days after the treatment.

Do Stay Upright

You need to avoid building pressure in the area where you were injected. Increased blood flow could cause the BOTOX®to disperse before it settles into the targeted muscles. Bending or lying down during the first three hours after the procedure could cause the medication to spread and make your skin more likely to bruise.

Don’ts

Don’t Engage in Intense Exercise

Avoid lifting heavy objects or other forms of exertion or strenuous activity that might cause straining for four hours after getting injections. Staying calm helps to keep the medication in the intended area. Increased blood circulation could cause it to move away from the area it is intended to work on.

Don’t Take Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or Blood Thinners

Certain medications and supplements—such as aspirin, Motrin, gingko biloba, flax oil, cod liver oil, vitamin A, and vitamin E—increase the risk of bleeding and bruising, so you should avoid them for up to a week after you’ve had BOTOX® (as long as it is medically safe to do so).

Don’t Sleep on the Injected Areas

Avoid placing pressure on your treated muscles when you go to bed. Try sleeping on your back instead of your face or side.

Don’t Have Skin Resurfacing or Injectable Treatments Too Soon

It’s best to refrain from having facials, facial or head massages, or professional massages, microdermabrasion, laser treatments, chemical peels, exfoliating scrubs, or injectable facial fillers during the first 24 hours after BOTOX®. These can all cause the medication to spread and become less effective. You should also avoid touching, manipulating, or rubbing your face for the first one to three days for the same reason.

Don’t Have Alcohol

In addition to avoiding alcohol a day before a BOTOX® treatment, patients should not drink alcohol for the first 24 hours afterward, as it thins the blood and increases the risk of bruising.

Don’t Get Sun or Heat Exposure

Stay out of environments that cause heat exposure, such as tanning beds, hot tubs, hot showers or baths, and saunas for the first 24 to 48 hours. You should also avoid sun exposure during this time. The heat encourages flushing and raises your blood pressure, leading to worse bruising.

Want to get started with wrinkle treatments to restore more revitalized and youthful looking skin? Learn more about considerations—including risks, costs, and aftercare for BOTOX®—by contacting CT Derm. Call 208-452-7450 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation and find out whether you’re a good candidate for this procedure.