Here’s What NOT to Do After Botox or Filler Injections
Among the many benefits of injectables is that there’s little to no downtime or aftercare needed following these non-invasive treatments. But that doesn’t mean that anything goes. By following some simple do’s and don’ts, you can avoid unwanted side effects and ensure the best possible results.
What NOT to Do After Botox or Filler Injections
Botox and other neuromodulators work to smooth or prevent wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles into which they’ve been injected. Fillers work by adding instant volume to specific targeted areas. Proper before and aftercare can minimize swelling and bruising and help ensure the injectable stays in place, for the best possible results.
Here’s what not to do after your Botox or dermal filler treatment:
Don’t Spend Too Much Time in the Sun
Excessive heat can contribute to redness and swelling, and may also increase bruising. Blood pressure tends to rise as the body is exposed to hotter temperatures, sending more blood to the skin’s surface. Stay out of the sun and other hot places (including tanning beds, saunas and steam rooms) for at least 24 hours after your treatment.
Don’t Head Straight to the Gym
Working out increases blood flow, which makes redness, swelling and bruising more likely. In addition to raising your heart rate, strenuous exercise and impactful movement contracts muscles in the body and face. This makes it more likely the neurotoxin will spread to adjacent muscles, dispersing to areas for which it was unintended. Within the first 24 hours, stick to light walking only.
Don’t Take a Yoga Class
Yoga might seem like a good alternative to a tough workout, but bending over or lying prone increases risk of bruising and can also spread the neurotoxin. Keep yourself upright for at least 4 hours after your Botox or filler treatment.
Don’t Take a Nap
The upright rule also applies to napping. Not only does lying down encourage bruising or the spread of neurotoxin, but falling asleep with pressure on your face can cause Botox or filler to move to unwanted areas of the face.
Don’t Use Makeup
It may be tempting to cover redness by applying makeup immediately after your treatment, but this puts you at risk for less-than-ideal results. Applying makeup entails rubbing your skin, which can spread the neurotoxin, and it leaves you susceptible to infection. Each injection site is a tiny puncture wound which needs time to heal and close. Wait 24 hours before using makeup to keep bacteria from entering these wounds.
Don’t Use Facial Tools
Facial tools such as dermal rollers improve blood flow to the skin, which makes them beneficial. However, any use of facial tools should be avoided after injection. More blood flow means increased risk of redness or bruising, while the pressure can push your Botox or filler to unwanted areas. It’s best to wait at least 12 hours before any type of facial massage.
Don’t Get a Massage
For the reasons above, don’t schedule a massage or facial the same day as your treatment. To reduce swelling or migration of the injectable, avoiding pressure on the face is critical. Before lying face down on a massage table and resting your face on the ‘donut,’ or enjoying a facial massage, wait at least 24 hours.
Don’t Rub or Touch Your Face
Facial tools and massage aside, it’s best to avoid any touching of the face, or any area in which you’ve received injections. Rubbing or touching can be irritating and leads to greater redness or bruising. It can also cause neurotoxin to spread from its intended area. Your hands also carry bacteria which can lead to infection. For at least one full day, stay hands off as much as possible.
Don’t Take Blood Thinners
Blood thinners include aspirin, NSAID pain relievers and even alcohol. Avoiding blood thinners in the 24 hours following your treatment helps prevent bruising or bleeding at the injection site.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
Like blood thinning medication, alcohol should also be avoided after injection. Alcohol can dissolve the small clot that forms under the skin’s surface after your injections, which increases risk of bruising.
In general, cosmetic injectables are quick and easy procedures which can provide dramatic results with minimal downtime and aftercare needed. But by following the above simple tips, you’ll heal even faster and may benefit from better results.
Don’t Get a COVID Vaccine Right Away
While there are reports of negative interactions between COVID vaccines and both Botox and fillers, all cases included nothing more serious than swelling. However, there is a possibility that getting an injectable too close to a COVID vaccine can have a negative impact on the duration of results. To avoid possible adverse reactions or limitations to results, it’s best to get your COVID vaccine 2 weeks before your injectables, or two weeks after.
Additional Things to Avoid For Dermal Fillers
Don’t Go to the Dentist
Do go to the dentist, just not within 24 hours after dermal fillers. Fillers in the lips, around the mouth and the nasolabial folds are at risk of being displaced during dental work. In addition, researchers suspect dental work immediately after receiving dermal fillers can put you at greater risk for bacterial infection.
Don’t Wear Glasses
After any type of lip filler in or around the nose, cheeks and eyes, it’s best to avoid wearing glasses. This includes sunglasses, ski or swim goggles. Eyewear can put pressure on the nose, temples and cheeks, which might result in a small indent where filler was placed.
my Sanders Bekanich, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Bekanich her medical degree at Oregon Health and Sciences University. She then completed residencies in both General Surgery as well as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency at University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Dr. Bekanich has a passion for assisting patients in their journey to help transform their lives and feel like themselves again.
Great reminder that alcohol is off the table when getting a Botox injection treatment!