BOTOX® Aftercare FAQs

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Summary of Content – Botox Aftercare Instructions

Click on the links below to jump to each section:

1. Is there anything I should not do after BOTOX?
2. Can I exercise after Botox?
3. Are there any possible Botox side effects?
4. Can I drink alcohol after Botox?
5. What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to BOTOX^®?
6. Am I allowed to touch my face after having the anti-wrinkle injection?
7. Are Botulinum Toxin injections long-lasting?
8. Can I keep having anti-wrinkle injections?
9. What happens when BOTOX^® wears off?
10. Can I wear makeup after BOTOX?
11. What if my BOTOX^® results are not what I expected?
12. Can I fly after BOTOX?
13. What should I do if I have any concerns after my anti-wrinkle injections treatment?
14. Can I sleep after BOTOX?
15. Can Botox cause low, heavy eyebrows?
16. How soon after the treatment can I have a facial?
17. How long after Botox can you lay down?
18. Where can I find the best Botox in London? 

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The thing to keep in mind about BOTOX^® is that there really is no downtime. The procedure is quick, non-invasive and proven to be safe. Procedures take an average of 20 minutes, after which you can go about your normal activities.

Discover our top frequently asked questions:

1. Is there anything I should not do after BOTOX®?

Botulinum Toxin is a quick and safe procedure that has very little impact on usual activity on the day of injection. We deliver tiny injections to relax the action of the muscles that create excessive movement. These movements create ‘dynamic wrinkles’ over time. Here’s what not to do after Botox – we recommend the following precautions to allow the anti-wrinkle injections to work optimally in the targeted muscles:

• No rubbing or massaging of the injected area for 4 hours after treatment, including facials.
• No strenuous exercise for 24 hours after treatment.
• Keep upright for 4 hours — no lying on your front.
• Avoid headwear that is tightly fitted across the forehead.
• Reduce excessive alcohol consumption or medically necessary blood-thinning medication before the treatment to prevent bruising.

2. Can I exercise after Botox?

Patients can resume normal daily activities immediately following treatment. Light exercise after Botox can be performed after 4 hours but it is recommended that strenuous activities are avoided for 24 hours.

After 4 hours you may perform light exercise such as:

• Walking
• Jogging
• Upright yoga (avoid any positions that leave you lying flat or upside down)
• Gardening

It is recommended that you wait 24 hours before attempting any strenuous exercise after Botox, including:

• Weight training
• Cross-training
• Long-distance running
• Yoga (positions where the body is inverted)

3. Are there any possible Botox side effects?

In most cases, there will be no side effects to BOTOX^®. However, because everybody’s physiology is different, people can be affected in different ways. A small minority of people reported the following side effects.

• Bruising — For the majority of patients, the area of injection will appear no different. For a small minority, some minor bruising may occur.
• Bumps — A few minutes after treatment small bumps may be visible on the skin. These will disappear very quickly.
• Headache — True BOTOX^® allergies are exceedingly rare. Temporary headache is the most commonly reported symptom following anti-ageing injectables, though the numbers of patients who report headaches is very small compared with the number of treatments performed. Any headache can be treated with usual painkillers.

4. Can you drink alcohol after Botox?

Some practitioners advise limiting alcohol in the first 24 hours and for the day prior to treatment. This is because alcohol can thin the blood much like an aspirin, and abstaining can help prevent bruising.

5. What are the symptoms of a reaction to BOTOX?

Generally, BOTOX^® injections side effects are rare and recovery is swift. Your practitioner is available should you have any questions or concerns over minor side effects such as bruising and headache.

6. Am I allowed to touch my face after having anti-wrinkle injections?

Yes. Your face will not feel overly sore or tender. Treatment will not prevent you from washing or continuing with your normal skincare regimen. However, you are advised to avoid rubbing or massaging your face for up to 4 hours after your last treatment.

7. Are BOTOX^® injections long-lasting?

Although some people experience longer-lasting results, scientific evidence shows that the effect of Botulinum Toxin injections usually last 12-16 weeks.

8. Can I keep having anti-wrinkle injections?

Yes. BOTOX^® does not ‘build up’ or accumulate in your system. We recommend scheduled treatments at about 12-16 weeks. Once the effects have worn off it is safe for you to top up treatments in the same area. It is also perfectly safe to have multiple treatments in different areas at the same time.

See an amazing Botox before and after result achieved for one of our lovely patients:

9. What happens when Botox® wears off?

Once the treatment wears off, your muscles will function as they did before the injectables. This means that the wrinkles you smoothed or reduced will slowly begin to appear again. You will simply witness old wrinkles reappearing, and no new wrinkles should emerge.

10. Can I wear makeup after Botox?

Yes. Ideally, avoid make-up for an hour or so. However, mineral make-up can be applied immediately after BOTOX^®. Again, it is recommended that you do not apply too much pressure during these activities in order to ensure that the injectable treatment does not disperse from the treated area.

11. What if my BOTOX^® results are not what I expected?

The results of Botulinum Toxin injections usually show through from 3-5 days to two weeks post-treatment. We review the technical and aesthetic results after this time in a follow-up session.

If you would like to see results from real patients please take a look at our before and after anti-wrinkle injections gallery.  

Book a Botox Consultation at our Clinics in London and Buckinghamshire

12. Can I fly after Botox?

Ideally we’d recommend you not to fly 4 days after you’ve had your Botox treatment.

13. What should I do if I have any concerns after my anti-wrinkle injections treatment?

Our practitioners are always available at the clinic if you have any concerns regarding the aesthetic outcome of your treatment.

14. Can I sleep after BOTOX^®?

Botulinum Toxin injections consist of a safe, naturally purified protein. A course of treatment has little impact on usual day-to-day activity and will not affect your sleeping patterns. To allow the BOTOX^® injectables to settle, you should avoid putting pressure on the treated area or laying on your front for around four hours.

15.Can Botox cause low, heavy eyebrows?

Too high a dose or incorrect placement can over-relax the frontalis muscle, causing the eyebrow to lower, or droop. This is why it’s essential you see a qualified practitioner to avoid such risks.

16. How soon after the treatment can I have a facial?

We advise not having a facial for at least 2 weeks after having your Botox treatment done.

17. How long after Botox can you lay down?

We normally recommend you wait four hours before you lie down. This is to ensure the Botox doesn’t migrate or encourage bruising.

18. Where can I find the best Botox in London?

Right here! The Cosmetic Skin Clinic has been named as one of the best clinics in London to get Botox treatments in 2021, according to Tatler‘s Annual Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Guide. We have a 5-Star Trustpilot rating and a 96% patient satisfaction rate.