Botulinum toxin treatments eliminate wrinkles, giving patients an attractive and youthful facial appearance. This article explains what a patient should do to improve recovery after the procedure and the frequently asked questions on the anti-wrinkle treatment.
Botox is a drug prepared from botulin used for certain medical and cosmetic treatments. Botulinum toxin treatment involves injecting the neurotoxin into an intended site to relax muscles, eliminating wrinkles and lines. Although this anti-wrinkle treatment is not new, few people know what the procedure entails and how to recover after a successful procedure.Most patients are not sure when they can be free to lie down after undergoing treatment. They might feel the need to lie down to relax their bodies. It is advisable to avoid lying down immediately after the anti-wrinkle treatment. Read through this article to understand more about botox and what to avoid after the treatment.
How Long After Botulinum Toxin Treatment Can You Lie Down?
According to Bostini&Figus (2014), bending and lying down can make the toxin migrate from the injection area to the surrounding parts. To avoid this, patients should not lie down for the first 4 hours after the anti-wrinkle treatment. After four hours, you can lie down on your back to avoid pressing the injected area. After the anti-wrinkle treatment, it is important to sleep on your back. Laying with your face down would prevent the settling of the neurotoxin. Therefore, you can end up getting undesired results.
Apart from lying down, there are other practices that patients should do to recover after treatment. These practices include:
Wait for at Least 24 Hours Before You Exercise
Botox uses neurotoxin onabotulinumtoxinA, produced from a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This diluted toxin causes the contraction of muscles after injection, eliminating wrinkles. Biello, Oney& Zhu (2021) stated that exercising after receiving this type of injection can spread the neurotoxin to other areas of the face and may also cause bruising. Some cosmetic doctors may advise patients to take a few days before resuming exercises.
Avoid Wearing Make-up at Least 24 Hours After Injection
The makeup process involves rubbing the skin, which would harm recovery of the botulinum toxin treatment. Just as exercising, rubbing the skin can cause the spreading of the toxin to other areas.
Do Not Drink Alcohol for at Least 24 Hours before and after the Procedure
According to Small (2014), alcohol is a blood thinner. It can cause bruising, altering recovery in the injected area. To avoid bruising, one of the most common injection side effects, don’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after the anti-wrinkle treatment.
Avoid Touching Your Face 1-3 Days After Injection
Even though most people touch their faces without knowing it, try as much as possible to avoid it within this period. Touching your face is another action that can make the neurotoxin spread from the injected area. Also, you should avoid massaging your face after botulinum toxin treatment unless done by a professional aesthetic practitioner.
Avoid Exposure to the Sun or Heat for at Least 1-2 Days After Injection
The last thing you would want after treatment is bruising. High temperatures caused by the sun or heat can cause increased blood pressure in the body. High blood pressure would result in bruising. Patients should therefore avoid the following:
- Taking hot showers
- Tanning beds
- Saunas
- Direct exposure to the sun
- Hot bathing tabs
Using warm or cold water while taking a shower is advisable. Avoid beach activities for at least 1-2 days after treatment.
Don’t Take Any Painkillers Before and after the Injection
Botox treatment is not painful. The needles used to administer injections are thin and tinny. Most patients describe the anti-wrinkle procedure as a slight discomfort. Painkillers are blood thinners. According to King (2017), blood thinners increase bruising. If you feel any pain, consult the cosmetic doctor. Refrain from taking painkillers for at least 24 hours before and after the treatment.
Avoid Skin Treatments after Receiving Botox Treatment
Skin treatments involve dermal fillers, exfoliating scrubs, and facial massage. These practices can alter the settling of the neurotoxin, leading to its spread. This can lead to unintended results. It is advisable to give yourself ample time to recover and preferably take skin treatments at least a week after the anti-wrinkle treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Botox
What Are Possible Botox Treatment Side Effects?
Botulinum toxin injection is a safe treatment with minimal side effects that disappear 2-3 days after the procedure. Side effects of the treatment may include mild swelling, redness and bruising. Injections done near the eyes may make the patient experience some eye dryness for at most two days. People who are nervous about the procedure may experience dizziness.
Do I Need to Sleep in a Certain Position After Injection?
After waiting at least 4 hours after injection, you should not worry about your sleeping position. This 4-hour period allows the neurtoxin to settle fully in the injected area. How you sleep later would not disrupt it.
Will My Face Look Unnatural After Treatment?
Choosing an experienced cosmetic doctor to carry out the procedure is necessary. A good injection procedure will restore your natural appearance by making you look more youthful.
Conclusion
Before the date is set for you to receive the anti-wrinkle treatment, always make sure you have all the relevant information from your cosmetic doctor about what this procedure entails. Express all your concerns to the doctor to make him know your expectations. The doctor may ask you to make all kinds of facial expressions, like smiling and raising eyebrows, to assess the size of the wrinkles and how your muscles move. This information helps the doctor create a good treatment plan with the best results toward the patient’s expectations. Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions after the treatment.
References
Biello, A., Oney, R., & Zhu, B. (2021). Botulinum Toxin Treatment Of The Upper Face. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Bostini, G., &Figus, A. (2014). Botulinum toxin type a treatment in facial rejuvenation. In Minimally invasive procedures for facial rejuvenation (pp. 1-42). OMICS Group, Foster City (CA).
King, M. (2017). The management of bruising following nonsurgical cosmetic treatment. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 10(2), E1.
Small, R. (2014). Botulinum toxin injection for facial wrinkles. American family physician, 90(3), 168-175.
Ksenia Sobchak enjoys blogging on fashion, style, lifestyle, love and CBD areas. Prior to becoming a blogger, Ksenia worked for a renowned fashion brand. Ksenia is a contributing author to leading fashion, lifestyle and CBD magazines and blogs. You can bump into Ksenia at her favourite cafe in South Kensington where she has written most blogs. Ksenia is a staunch advocate of CBD and its benefits to people. Ksenia is also on the panel of CBD reviewers at CBD Life Mag and Chill Hempire. Her favourite form of CBD are CBD gummies and CBD tinctures. Ksenia is a regular contributor at leading fashion, lifestyle as well as CBD magazines and blogs.
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