Botox® Aftercare FAQs: Dr Rekha Tailor Answers Your Most Common Questions
Posted on 26th July 2019 by Dr Rekha Tailor
If you’ve had Botox®, or are considering having the , you’ll want to know how to care for yourself afterwards. Proper Botox aftercare is important to achieving the best results and minimising potential side effects.
Dr Rekha Tailor has specialised in aesthetic medicine since 2005. On this page, she shares her insights into:
You’ll receive full Botox® aftercare instructions after having treatment with Health & Aesthetics, but the expert advice below will give you a good idea of what to expect.
You can find out more about .
If you want to find out how long it takes to recover from having Botox view our .
Click on the links below to view a full list of questions related to Botox aftercare::
Potential side effects after having Botox®
Although they are very rare, there are some adverse effects associated with having Botox. After you’ll receive full Botox aftercare instructions, including a list of potential side effects. They include:
If you experience any of the above after having Botox®, speak to your practitioner immediately.
An allergic reaction to Botox® is very rare. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, this could be an indication of an allergic reaction and you should seek medical help immediately:
If it’s the sites are red and tender this might be a sign that the area has become infected. But don’t worry—this is extremely unlikely to happen if your Botox® was administered by a reputable clinic with qualified staff.
They are the same as having Botox® for cosmetic reasons. Some patients may also experience neck pain, although—as with other side effects—this is very rare.
Is facial redness normal after Botox®?
Yes. Light redness at injection points is one of the most common short-term effects. It often looks similar to tiny pinpricks and fades within a few hours. Keeping the area clean, makeup-free, and free from pressure will help it settle faster.
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Yes. Light redness at injection points is one of the most common short-term . It often looks similar to tiny and fades within a few hours. Keeping the area clean, makeup-free, and free from pressure will help it settle faster.
They are very similar to those that come with having Botox® as a facial treatment. You can find out more in of our page .
Bruising is one of the most common side effects of having Botox® treatment. It sometimes happens where the needles are inserted into the skin. However, unless it’s excessive, it’s nothing to worry about and is a natural part of the healing .
This varies from person to person, but if you do experience bruising after Botox®, you can expect it to last for around a week.
If you’re concerned about the amount of bruising you have, .
Yes, some swelling after Botox® treatment is normal.
Ways you can reduce swelling include:
If you’re worried that the swelling is excessive, speak to your Botox® clinic.
Yes, you may experience on your forehead around four or five days after having treatment. It can last for five or six days.
There are certain medications, supplements and vitamins you should stop taking before having Botox® treatment, as they can cause any swelling and bruising to worsen. These include:
If a doctor has prescribed you any of these medicines, you must check with them first that it’s safe to stop.
When you come to Health & Aesthetics for your consultation, we will take a full history from you, including any current medications and supplements you’re taking.
If you experience after having Botox®, it’s usually mild and temporary. The feeling may be due to anxiety, sensitivity to the injection process, or a brief reaction to the treatment rather than the Botox® itself.
To help relieve dizziness:
If the dizziness persists for more than a few hours or is by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rash, or severe headache, your practitioner or seek medical advice immediately.
No, there is no scientific evidence that Botox® causes hair loss.
No, there is no scientific evidence that Botox® causes hair loss.
No, there is no scientific evidence that Botox® causes tiredness.
If the Botox® has been injected too low in the forehead, it can cause the muscle to overly relax and ‘push down’ on your upper eyelids. However, this effect isn’t permanent and will wear off in three to four months.
Choosing a qualified and experienced practitioner will help avoid having negative results such as droopy eyelids.
It’s not advisable to have Botox® injections when pregnant because there have been no large-scale, long-term studies to assess the effect Botox® has on a developing baby.
However, as the amount of Botox® administered is small and won’t easily move to other areas of the body once injected, the risk of it harming your baby is extremely small.
No, it isn’t to reverse the effects of Botox®. So, if you’re unhappy with the results, you’ll need to wait around 10–12 weeks for the effects to wear off.
Choosing a highly experienced and qualified Botox® practitioner will ensure you’re happy with your results. However, if you’re not satisfied for any reason, speak to your practitioner, as they may be able to do some corrective work.
What to do and what to avoid before and after having Botox®
To ensure you get the best possible results from your Botox®, there are a few do’s and don’ts you should follow after having the treatment.
At Health & Aesthetics we recommend not applying any pressure to the area as this can move the Botox, this includes pressing ice onto the area. Instead we suggest you take arnica tablets to help reduce the risk of bruising and also to help any bruising to settle
You can take paracetamol before and after the procedure but avoid medications such as Can I take ibuprofen before having Botox®?
You should avoid taking ibuprofen before having Botox® as the is an anticoagulant. This means it can prevent blood from clotting properly, which can increase the risk of .
You should also avoid taking ibuprofen for at least four days before having Botox® treatment.
You should avoid lying down for at least four hours after your Botox® treatment. Once that time has passed, you can sleep on your side without affecting your results. Botox® needs a few hours to fully settle into the targeted muscles, and sleeping too soon may cause it to migrate slightly, which can affect your final .
For the first night, if possible, try to sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated. This helps reduce swelling and ensures the Botox® stays in the intended areas. After 24 hours, you can safely resume your normal sleeping position.
You can sleep in any position after having Botox®, but you should avoid lying down for at least four hours following the .
We recommend not lying down for at least four hours after having Botox®. Not only will it help any excessive swelling but it will stop the Botox® migrating to other parts of the face and causing muscle in those areas, a rare but possible side effect of having the treatment.
Yes, as heat can increase the chance of you suffering bruising where you were at the injection site. You should avoid hot showers, baths and hot tubs for 24 hours after having Botox®.
After having Botox®, you should wait at least four hours before you use a sunbed. This is because lying down for extended periods immediately after the procedure could cause the Botox® to move to other muscles in the face, away from the muscles that were injected.
Although exposure to UV light won’t affect the results of your Botox® treatment, it’s the number one cause of wrinkles. So, if you want your skin to look for as long as possible, avoid using sunbeds and use a strong sunscreen if you’re out in the sun.
You can go out in the sun immediately after having Botox®. Sun exposure can cause wrinkles though, so be sure to wear a strong sunscreen.
It’s best to avoid strenuous aerobic exercise for 24 hours after having Botox®. Strenuous exercise can result in bruising and, in rarer cases, cause the Botox® to move to other areas of your face and temporarily paralyse the muscles there.
For the same reason, you should avoid doing yoga for 24 hours—the inverted positions can cause Botox® move to other muscles in the face.
It’s possible that the Botox® may shift from where it was injected to other areas of your face. However, the risk is very small, so unless you’re bending forward repeatedly or for substantial periods of time (for example, if performing yoga moves) straight after having Barbie Botox (Traptox)®, you should be fine.
Certain studies have shown that doing facial exercises after having Botox can speed up the effects of having the treatment2.
It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol for a day or two before and after the procedure. As alcohol increases fluid retention and thins the blood, it can worsen the mild bruising that often occurs where the needles are injected.
Drinking alcohol is highly unlikely to have any long-term detrimental effects on the results of your treatment.
Yes, the caffeine in coffee shouldn’t cause any problems with your Botox® treatment.
We advise our patients to avoid flying for 24–48 hours after treatment. There are concerns that the changes in air pressure in an aeroplane cabin can affect the results of Botox® by moving the substance to other muscles in the face.
Yes, Botox® injections won’t affect your ability to drive. If you would prefer to take public transport home after your procedure, there are excellent public transport links from our Elstead clinic, which is just on the outskirts of Farnham. You can .
You can gently wash your face straight after having Botox®. However, for seven days after the procedure you should avoid facials, massages and other treatments that put direct pressure on the face.
Yes, you can continue your regular skin care routine, including your face to and moisturise it. However, it’s best to wait at least six hours— 24 hours—before massaging or rubbing the skin.
It’s best to wait at least seven days before having facials or a microdermabrasion. You should also avoid chemical peels, laser treatment and for at least seven days.
No, it should have no effect, especially if it happened several hours after having the procedure. However, rubbing your face immediately after having Botox® isn’t recommended, in case it causes the Botox® to move away from the injected part of your face and into other areas.
Yes, as long as you wait two weeks first. Having Botox® can influence the shape of your eyebrows, so allow two weeks for the part of your face to fully heal and show the full .
Waiting two weeks before having waxing, or any form of hair removal treatment is .
We recommend not applying make-up for at least four hours after having treatment. After this time you can return to your usual make-up and skincare .
What happens when Botox® wears off
After around three to four months2, you’ll start to notice the areas you had treated with Botox® gradually returning to how they looked before having treatment.
Most people’s results last for 10–12 weeks. Following proper Botox aftercare can help maintain your results for as long as possible.
You shouldn’t be able to feel Botox® off but you’ll gradually notice its effects subsiding and wrinkles starting to reappear.
No. If you feel your wrinkles look more pronounced after Botox® treatment has worn off, it will most likely be because you’ve become used to your face looking smoother.
Further frequently asked questions on Botox aftercare
You should start to see the effects of Botox® around two to three days3 after having the treatment. You’ll gradually notice the effects become more pronounced until the full results appear after about 14 days.
You’ll be able to resume most of your regular activities . The only things you’ll be told to avoid immediately after treatment are:
You’ll be advised to avoid these activities for up to 24 hours after .
To help work the Botox® into your facial muscles, you can exercise those areas of your face (for example, by raising your eyebrows or pursing your lips).
Yes. Four hours after the treatment, you can begin to exercise the treated by making facial expressions such as frowning, or raising your eyebrows. This will help to work the Botox® into your facial .
Light swimming is usually fine after 24 hours. Avoid vigorous swimming or submerging your face repeatedly immediately after treatment, as pressure changes and rubbing from goggles can affect the injection sites.
Avoid facial massages for at least seven days, as pressure on the face can move the Botox®. Full-body massages are generally fine as long as your face isn’t being pressed or rubbed.
What next?
You can find out more information about having Botox® by browsing our .
If you’ve had or are planning to have , we have a , and an aftercare guide specifically for lip fillers: .
Disclaimer
Please be aware that results and treatment experiences may vary from patient to patient, taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history. You’ll receive full Botox aftercare instructions after having .
If you have a question about Botox that hasn’t been covered above, please get in touch with the clinic on or .
Dr. Rekha Tailor, and Medical Director of Health & Aesthetics, is an esteemed Medical Aesthetic Practitioner and General Practitioner, educated at Manchester Medical School. With a career spanning NHS hospitals and general practice, she shifted to full-time aesthetic medicine in 2005. Known for her natural and gentle approach, she is a member of the British College of Aesthetic and the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her dedication to excellence is reflected in numerous awards, highlighting her clinic as a leader in aesthetic treatments.
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Please be aware that results and treatment experiences may vary from patient
to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
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