Massage, sun, aftercare... guidelines after a Botox injection

In aesthetic medicine, Botox injections are a very common procedure and especially popular with patients for their effectiveness. Non-invasive, they leave no scar, cause no significant pain and deliver a noticeable rejuvenation of the face. The main goal of this technique is to correct the various facial wrinkles (forehead, brow tails, corners of the lips, frown lines, neck bands, and so on). Despite the considerable experience now available with this well-known and frequently performed procedure, a few precautions still need to be taken after botulinum toxin injections in order to optimise the results and recovery. Massage, sun, aftercare… here are all the guidelines to follow after a Botox injection.

What you need to know about how Botox works

Thanks to Botox injections, it is possible to rejuvenate the face without resorting to plastic surgery. This procedure is indicated to treat the relaxation of the facial muscles whose repeated contraction causes the appearance of expression lines, described as dynamic. The principle of Botox injections is to act on the direct source of these wrinkles by blocking that contraction rather than acting on the wrinkles themselves. The injections thus produce a deep effect, with relaxation of the muscles beneath the skin (procerus and corrugator). This process then helps to prevent existing wrinkles from deepening further and new wrinkles from forming.

The injections are carried out in small doses in areas carefully targeted by the practitioner. From the very first days, the patient can already see the results of the session. The procedure produces an almost immediate fresh-faced effect. The final results of botulinum toxin on the muscles, however, are only optimal a few weeks after the procedure. As the results obtained are not permanent (generally 4 to 6 months), several treatment sessions are needed to maintain the effects of the product and stabilise the results achieved. It is advisable to wait between 3 and 6 months between the first two injections. Subsequent injections can then be spaced 6 to 12 months apart. The protocol to follow is determined according to each patient, the area to be treated and the correction to be carried out. For a particularly subtle result, some patients turn to Baby Botox, a micro-dosing technique for botulinum toxin.

The right habits to adopt after a Botox injection

After a botulinum toxin injection session, certain specific instructions should be followed in order to maximise the effects of the active ingredient used and to limit the risk of any complications, even though these are relatively rare.

Daily life after a Botox injection

After the procedure, it is strongly advised not to lie down during the few hours that follow the injections (for at least 6 hours). The lying-down position may indeed make it easier for the botulinum toxin to spread to other parts of the face and therefore fail to produce the expected results, or even prove counterproductive. Massaging and excessive handling of the face are also not advised for 48 hours, for the same reasons. Marked pressure on certain treated areas encourages the product to spread to unwanted areas of the face. For the same reason, it is therefore best not to keep your head down for too long. The practitioner, however, may perform massage immediately after the procedure in order to direct the botulinum toxin appropriately towards the targeted areas and harmonise the final result.

During the first three days following the Botox injection, it is also recommended to strongly contract the injected muscles three times a day for at least 5 seconds. This allows the products used to penetrate deeply into the area to be treated in a natural way, reducing the risk of spread caused by mechanical pressure.

Medication and exercise

Taking aspirin and anti-inflammatories is not recommended in the days before the injection. These are indeed blood-thinning medications that can encourage bruising. Drinking alcohol should also be avoided on the day of the injection, as it dilates the blood vessels and increases the risk of bruising. As for physical activity, it is advisable not to do intense exercise in the hours following the injection: exertion speeds up blood circulation and encourages the Botox to spread to unintended areas. In practice, gentle activity such as walking can be resumed quickly, while strenuous sessions (running, fitness, weight training) should be postponed for around twenty-four hours, to give the toxin time to settle properly into the targeted muscles. As a benchmark, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends waiting at least two hours before any strenuous physical activity after a botulinum toxin injection.

Travel and social and professional life

There is no specific travel contraindication after a Botox injection. After this procedure, there is also no need to isolate yourself, and professional activity can be resumed quickly, although aesthetic reasons may prompt a patient to put it off for a few days. The patient is therefore immediately free to resume most daily activities, provided, however, that the usual precautions are observed and, in particular, that sudden movements affected by gravity are avoided.

Heat

Having a Botox injection during the summer months will have no major consequences on the result of the procedure or on recovery. This toxin is in fact very resistant to heat (up to 85°C). For the patient’s wellbeing, however, it is advised not to expose oneself to natural and/or artificial UV rays for a minimum of 24 hours. In the first few days after the injection, it is also best not to go to a sauna or hammam, in order to stabilise the treated areas as much as possible. In the same spirit, it is best to leave a few days between other facial aesthetic treatments — microneedling, a chemical peel for the face or a laser treatment — so as not to disturb the areas that have just been treated.

Common symptoms after botulinum toxin injections

Botulinum toxin injections may cause localised redness at the injection sites. These minor effects generally do not last beyond 3 to 6 days. Any bruising and swelling that may occur around the eyes also fade after a few days. Finally, some patients may experience headaches in the 24 hours following the injections.

What results can you expect after a Botox injection?

On average, the results are visible after 7 to 10 days. If necessary, a touch-up can be considered 15 days after the injections. The patient can enjoy the effects of botulinum toxin for 4 to 6 months. This duration will, however, vary depending on the skin and facial expressions of each individual. Thanks to Botox injections, the face will then regain a more youthful appearance as well as smoother skin, with the signs of ageing largely softened. The features will be more relaxed and the face will no longer take on a sad or tired look.

The results obtained will nevertheless depend on the wrinkles treated. Botox is in fact only effective on expression lines and early wrinkles. As a result, to treat deep wrinkles it is better to turn to another option such as hyaluronic acid injections.

Indications and contraindications for Botox injections

For many years, Botox injections have been recognised as a therapeutic solution against the expression lines of the upper face. This technique treats frown lines (between the eyebrows), crow’s feet (around the eyes, an area that can also be treated with eyelid surgery when the laxity is more pronounced), neck lines (bands) and forehead lines. Botulinum toxin is also recommended for people suffering from excessive underarm sweating: this is one of the medical indications for botulinum toxin injections against hyperhidrosis, with the product acting directly on the sweat glands. The patient can enjoy an optimal result after about ten days. Some patients may feel the benefits of the product immediately after the session.

This procedure, on the other hand, is strongly not advised in cases of pregnancy, breastfeeding, neuromuscular disease, allergy or hypersensitivity to the components of Botox. It may also be potentially dangerous for people who have recently taken anticoagulant medication.