Botox Aftercare: 7 Things You Should Never Do After Botox
Botox injections are the preferred, non-surgical method for temporarily banishing wrinkles and making the face look smoother and younger. However, just because it’s a minimally invasive treatment doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to your provider’s Botox aftercare instructions. Following your provider’s recovery guidelines can help ensure you have the best treatment outcome and minimize your post-injection side effects.
As important as it is to follow all the “DOs” on your Botox recovery checklist, it’s equally important to avoid the “DON’Ts.” Doing the wrong thing after your injections could make your recovery process longer and more painful than it needs to be. It could also cause your injections to migrate to unwanted areas and cause negative effects like asymmetry or eyelid ptosis. To avoid these unwanted symptoms, learn these seven things you should never do after Botox.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a well-known neuromodulator derived from the Clostridium botulinum toxin. It’s one of the most popular wrinkle-reducing treatments that doesn’t involve incisions or anesthesia. Botox has a paralytic effect on targeted muscles, which prevents them from entirely contracting. When injected in the proper amounts and the correct areas, Botox can temporarily smooth away wrinkles by relaxing the muscles responsible for creating expression wrinkles. Botox injections last up to six months on average, but you can keep getting reinjected to enjoy the benefits indefinitely.
Who Can Benefit From Botox Injections?
Anyone with frown lines, crow’s feet, or other wrinkles can potentially benefit from Botox injections. Botox can also help with medical problems like temporomandibular joint pain, eyelid spasms, chronic pain, and excessive sweating. However, its most popular FDA-approved use is for treating facial wrinkles. Follow your provider’s Botox tips to ensure the best possible treatment and recovery process.
In addition to treating existing wrinkles, regular Botox injections may also prevent new wrinkles or delay their development. That’s why people as young as their 20s sometimes choose to receive preventative injections.
7 Things You Should Never Do After Botox
Though the risks associated with Botox injections are lower than those associated with surgical wrinkle-reducing procedures, it is not a risk-free treatment. However, you can reduce your likelihood of experiencing complications if you take note of this list of what not to do after Botox.
1. Don’t Touch or Rub the Injection Sites
It can be difficult to leave your Botox injection sites alone, but you must do so for the first 48 hours after treatment. Rubbing the area can potentially cause the neuromodulator to spread to undesired areas. Depending on the initial injection site, This can lead to a drooped brow or eyelid.
Wash your hands thoroughly beforehand if you must touch the area to apply ice or cold compresses. You don’t want to cause an infection by introducing bacteria to the injection sites.
2. Don’t Exercise Vigorously Right Away
Immediately engaging in vigorous physical activities after Botox injections could cause you to swell, bruise, and experience more pain than you would otherwise. One of the top Botox tips is to take it easy for the first couple of days after treatment. You can still walk around and engage in light activities but don’t raise your heart rate.
3. Don’t Expose Your Newly Injected Skin to Excess Heat
Excess heat causes the blood vessels to relax and widen. Most of the time, this may not be a bad thing, but it is after getting Botox injections. Increasing your blood flow or pressure after your treatment could lead to excessive swelling. It could also have a negative impact on your treatment outcome. Therefore, you must wait at least 24 hours after your injections before going to the sauna, laying out in the sun, or relaxing in the hot tub.
4. Don’t Apply Makeup for the First 24 Hours
You should avoid applying makeup for at least 24 hours as part of your Botox aftercare routine. Putting makeup on too soon could increase your risk of infection. It could also increase your likelihood of swelling and bruising. After 24 hours, you can use gentle techniques to apply lightweight makeup to your face as desired.
5. Don’t Drink Alcohol or Smoke Too Soon After Your Injections
Drinking alcohol or smoking too soon after Botox injections can inhibit your body’s healing processes. Both can dehydrate the skin and lead to increased swelling and bruising. Additionally, alcohol affects blood flow and may cause Botox to migrate. It’s best to avoid both of these substances for at least 48 hours after your injections.
6. Don’t Scrub Your Face or Apply Harsh Skincare Products Too Soon
If you like to exfoliate with scrubs or use harsh skincare products, you’ll need to take a break from them after your Botox appointment. Only apply gentle, nourishing skincare products for the first few days, and don’t schedule a professional facial for at least a week.
7. Don’t Sleep On Your Stomach or Side
One of the top Botox tips recommends avoiding sleeping on your stomach or side. Sleeping in these positions inevitably puts pressure on your face. Therefore, you’ll want to sleep on your back for the first few days after Botox. You should also prop your head up with pillows or sleep in a recliner to keep your head elevated. This will help bring any swelling down faster.
What to Do If You Accidentally Do Something Wrong After Botox
If you forget and accidentally do one of these “wrong” things after your injections, try not to panic. Chances are, you’re probably still OK and won’t suffer any long-term effects. But if you notice that your pain, swelling, or bruising intensifies due to your misstep, it’s best to reach out to your provider immediately. They can examine the treatment site and let you know if action is required to ensure the integrity of your results.
How to Maintain Your Results
Besides following your provider’s Botox aftercare instructions, here are some additional things you can do to protect your results:
- Stay hydrated at all times. Proper hydration can keep the skin supple and elastic while reducing visible signs of aging.
- Avoid excessive UV exposure. UV rays cause free radical damage in the skin and can accelerate aging.
- Practice good skin care and invest in quality products that hydrate your skin without harsh ingredients.
- Eat a balanced diet of healthy foods that contain skin-nourishing ingredients.
- Minimize stress as much as possible in your life. Use Yoga and meditation to reduce stress levels further and enhance relaxation.
Of course, one of the most important things you can do to maintain your results is to consider scheduling regular touch-up injections. This is one of the best ways to prolong Botox results.
Popular Botox Treatment Areas
Now that you know how to facilitate optimal recovery after Botox, you may be wondering where you should have it injected. Botox is versatile and works well for many different parts of the face and body. Here are some of the most popular treatment areas:
- Between the eyebrows (to treat frown or “11” lines)
- Around the eyes (to treat bags, smile lines, and crow’s feet)
- Forehead (to treat horizontal forehead lines)
- Jawline (to create a slimmer-looking, more defined jaw)
- Chin (to minimize the appearance of a double chin)
- Nose (to reduce the appearance of “bunny lines” when you scrunch your nose)
- Eyebrows (to lift the brows and make you look younger)
- Neck (to minimize “turkey neck” or Platysmal bands and make the neck look slimmer)
- Upper lip (to reduce the appearance of “smoker’s lines”)
- Outer mouth corners (to soften “marionette lines”)
Botox also works great for certain non-aesthetic needs. It can reduce excessive sweating in people with hyperhidrosis and reduce jaw pain in people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.
Who is Not a Good Candidate for Botox?
Not everyone is a good candidate for Botox, even if they meticulously follow Botox aftercare instructions. You probably shouldn’t get this treatment if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a known allergy to Botox or any product derived from botulinum toxin
- Are younger than 18 years
- Have myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or any other nerve or muscle condition
- Have an active skin infection where you plan to get Botox injections
- Have a severe infection or illness
If you’re concerned about your candidacy, schedule a consultation with your provider. They’ll go over your health history and make sure your risk of complications from Botox is low before proceeding with treatment.
Rarely can people develop unexpected or alarming symptoms after injection, even if they were initially cleared as good candidates. If this happens to you, contact your provider immediately. In case of a severe reaction, seek emergency care immediately.
Schedule Botox Injections in Naperville, IL
Ready to improve your appearance with Botox injections? Santé Medical Aesthetics will give you all the Botox tips and aftercare instructions to help you get the best possible results. We are proud to be a leading provider of Botox in Naperville, IL. Visit us online or call (630) 586-6244 to schedule your complimentary Botox consultation at your earliest convenience.
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