Botox is a drug made from a sometimes life-threatening toxin bacterium Clostridium botulinum which causes food poisoning called botulism. It is sometimes used by medical experts in small doses to treat health problems, and also helps in safely and effectively smoothening of facial wrinkles and fine lines, and improving a person’s appearance temporarily for some time now.
Botox treatment today is one of the best skincare treatment techniques to fight against the signs of ageing and prevent lines from forming.
The commonly done areas for the Botox treatment include the eyes, mouth, forehead and temples, and the neck. Botox is the non-surgical, anti-ageing injectables delivering noticeable results with no downtime. In this botox treatment, the muscles beneath the skin are put at rest to relax and stop contracting, to minimize the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles by softening them to bring out a more youthful and healthy look.
Taking Care of Your Skin After Botox
Botox is one of the most trusted and reliable anti-ageing cosmetic skincare treatments worldwide. It is a safe and effective way to rejuvenate your appearance when administered by a professional or expert. Nonetheless, as with any procedure, comes certain instructions and precautions you should follow after undergoing Botox treatment. To get long-lasting results with great efficacy, then you must be sure to follow these essential botox aftercare instruction tips and precautions post botox treatment.
Botox Aftercare Instructions
The goal of Botox aftercare is to encourage and achieve optimal anti-ageing skincare treatment results by minimizing the risk of bruising and preventing the spread of it to other areas.
On the day of getting the Botox treatment done, it is advised to:
- gently exercise your face
- avoid touching, rubbing, or physically pressurizing the affected area
- leave the treated area alone
- relax for a day post-treatment
- maintain a normal heart rate
Best Practices for Botox Aftercare
Listed below are some best practices for aftercare after a Botox procedure.
- Return to your normal activities
Botox injections don’t require any recovery time. Therefore, you won’t have to take off your work or miss those important events to attend to. You can resume your usual activities immediately after the process.
- Wait 24 hours to exercise
Don’t perform activities that involve straining, heavy lifting, or vigorous exercise (even if it is a part of your daily routine)for at least a day after the treatment. Your doctor might suggest waiting for several days after this anti-wrinkle skincare treatment.
Physical activity increases blood flow which potentially could spread the toxin to unintended areas and reduces its effectiveness at the injection site. It also increases the risk of bruising if the injected drug is misled or spread to the areas other than the targeted, injected site.
The person treated with Botox injectable should certainly avoid exercising as it contracts the muscles, which may decrease the toxin’s effectiveness.
However, it’s safe to do minimal facial exercises like:
- smiling
- frowning
- raising your eyebrows
- pouting
- faux chewing
These minimal facial movements can help the effects of Botox show up sooner.
- Go makeup-free
Take a break from makeup for at least 24 hours if you received a Botox injection in your face. Applying makeup will rub the skin, potentially dispersing the toxin and reducing its efficacy as an anti-aging skincare treatment.
- Sit up
Sit up for the first 4 hours after getting Botox. Bending or lying down might spread the toxin and promote bruising.
- Ask your doctor about medications
Consult your doctor before getting started with your medicines’ prescription as some of them might increase your risk of bruising. Seek consultation and be sure before getting started with them again.
Aftercare precautions
Botox aftercare also includes some precautions. On the day of your procedure, here’s what you should keep in mind for this anti-aging skincare treatment.
- Don’t drink alcohol
It is suggested or asked by doctors or experts to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before getting Botox treatment since alcohol only increases the risk of bruising. This holds even after the procedure. After getting injected with Botox, wait at least 24 hours before consuming alcohol.
- Don’t touch your face
Don’t massage or manipulate the injected area to avoid spreading the toxin. Don’t touch your face for at least 1 day after getting the Botox treatment. Some doctors suggest waiting for 3 days. Avoid touching the Botox treated area of your body, be it your face or any other body part. This includes aesthetic facials or professional massages on the treated areas. It’s best to schedule your next facial session or massage for several days later.
- Avoid any other skin treatments
Botox needs some time to settle into the muscle. For the first 24 hours, avoid any skincare treatments like:
- Dermal Fillers
- facials
- facial massages
- exfoliating scrubs
Getting these skin treatments too soon after getting the botox treatment may reduce the effectiveness of your injections.
- Don’t sleep on the treated areas
Try to sleep your face up and avoid sleeping on the injected areas to minimize the physical pressure and letting the Botox settle into your muscles. Also, avoid sleeping within 4 hours after your procedure.
- Stay out of the sun
Avoid extensive sun exposure for at least 72 hours. Try wearing sunblock (SPF 30 or higher) when out in the sun as excessive heat can promote flushing and increased blood pressure, which may lead to bruising of the treated area.
It’s also best to avoid other forms of heat exposure, such as:
- tanning bed
- saunas
- hot tubs
- hot baths or showers
When to see a doctor
After getting Botox, it’s typical to have swelling, redness, and tenderness. These side effects usually disappear within a day. Bruising is also common. If the swelling and irritation pertain you may apply a cool compress for 15 minutes each hour for relief. The bruising should go away in about 2 weeks.
But if you notice any of the following effects, get medical help:
- muscle weakness
- weak bladder control
- vision changes
- trouble swallowing
- difficulty speaking and breathing
These side effects are very rare but still seek immediate medical attention.
Takeaway
Botox is an anti-ageing skincare treatment procedure that can be done in a doctor’s office. There’s no downtime involved in the process which means one can go home right after the treatment, but the best practices for Botox aftercare are still needed to be followed to achieve optimal-lasting results.
Botox at Clinic Dermatech
If you’re not sure what you can or can’t do after getting Botox, talk to an expert or doctor at Clinic Dermatech. They can provide specific or customized aftercare tips based on your treatment, treated area, age, skin type, and your lifestyle.
It is not necessary to look your age, the virtue is to age gracefully. So if you’re considering Botox treatment, call Clinic Dermatech to fix an appointment and get yourself ageless beauty. Clinic Dermatech is present in 20 locations across 13 cities in India. These are Delhi NCR (New Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad). Agra, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kurukshetra, and Mumbai.
