How long should I wait before laying down after getting BOTOX? Is it okay to go to the gym right after my appointment? These are some common questions we hear from BOTOX patients at our Eugene, Oregon, practice, along with many others.
There are 2 things to know to get the most out of your BOTOX treatments. First, choose a qualified injector who listens to you. Hillary Jewell, our board-certified nurse injector, has the technical skill and attention to detail that produces consistently excellent results. Second, it’s important to closely follow the post-injection care instructions your injector provides.
In this blog post, we’ll explain some of the most important aftercare tips that BOTOX patients should follow to avoid complications.
Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours: One of the benefits of BOTOX treatments is that there is really no downtime. Patients can resume their normal daily activities after their appointments with little discomfort or visible swelling or redness. Returning to work or having lunch with friends is fine. But don’t plan on doing Zumba or any other strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours after treatment. The increased blood flow associated with exercise could cause the neurotoxin to spread to areas where it’s unwanted.
Don’t rub or massage the treatment area: Again, the goal is to avoid toxin migrating to unintended areas. Rubbing, massaging, or even just applying significant pressure on the treatment area can produce unwanted results, such as a drooping eyelid. For example, holding a phone up to your ear for long periods of time. Make sure to clean the screen of your cell phone as this is a large surface area that harbors bacteria.
Take a break from makeup for a day: Applying makeup may cause you to rub the treatment area inadvertently. as mentioned above for why that’s not a good idea. Keeping the skin clean and avoid dirty brushes, sponges ect is a must!
Stay sitting up for the initial 4 hours after the injections: Another way BOTOX can disperse from the targeted area is if you bend over or lie down during the first few hours after your treatment. We recommend staying upright for 4 hours after leaving our practice.
Skip alcohol that night: Drinking alcohol before and after BOTOX injections can increase bruising. We ask patients to avoid alcohol for 24 hours both before and after their injections.
Don’t sleep on the treated area: You can probably already guess why this is important. That’s right, putting pressure on the injection sites before the BOTOX is absorbed into the muscle can cause it to move beyond the desired location. This is important to remember if you get injections to minimize crow’s feet.
Avoid sun exposure: Being out in direct sunlight may cause some patients’ faces to flush and increase blood pressure, which can promote excessive bruising. We recommend staying out of the sun for 24 to 48 hours after your treatment.
Most patients see their wrinkles and lines start to soften within 7 days of their appointments, and the results can last between 3 and 4 months. To maintain the results, we encourage patients to schedule follow-up injections before they begin to see lines re-emerge. We often combine BOTOX injections with dermal fillers to address wrinkles in other areas of the face.
If you want to discuss cosmetic injectables or other nonsurgical treatments at our medical spa in Eugene, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (541) 683-3234 to schedule an appointment.
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