Botox cosmetic treatments are a safe and effective way to fight wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet. In the hands of a trained and experienced professional, the injections take place quickly and provide beautiful results for a smoother, more supple-looking complexion. Just as important as the procedure itself, however, are the steps you take for Botox aftercare.
While the risks connected to Botox treatments are minimal, you can reduce the occurrence of more common effects – like swelling or bruising – by following a few easy to manage steps. Post-treatment recovery is straightforward, and aimed at allowing the solution to settle well under your skin.
Botox Aftercare
Here’s what you can do to help ensure a fast and painless recovery:
- Move Your Face (A Little)
To help settle the Botox into the injected muscles and decrease the risk of it shifting, gently exercise the treated areas on your face for the first hour after treatment. Without overdoing it, practice certain facial expressions, raising your eyebrows, and smiling to keep the affected muscles from feeling stiff.
- No Pressure
For the first 24 hours, you should try to interfere with the injection sites as little as possible. To minimize pressure on sensitive areas, avoid the following.
- Sleeping on your face
- Facial massages
- Pressing or rubbing too vigorously
- Wearing hats or headbands
Steering clear of these things will decrease the risk of the solution moving into an unwanted area of your face, especially toward the eyes, potentially leading to droopy eyelids. While this is an extremely rare side effect of Botox, it’s still best to take precautions to prevent it.
- Avoid Strenuous Activity
Raised blood pressure can encourage bruising and swelling in the hours after your treatment. As part of your Botox aftercare, avoid strenuous activity, lying down, and staying in overly hot environments, like saunas, for at least three hours.
- Limit Alcohol and Other Blood Thinners
Alcohol and blood thinners can make your face more susceptible to bruising during the first 24 hours after the injection. If you do experience some tenderness or a slight headache after Botox, ask your dentist about over the counter painkillers that can providing temporary relief without thinning your blood.
Botox aftercare may be simple, but it’s an integral part of your recovery. Following these few easy steps will help to ensure the best possible outcome for a fresher, rejuvenated complexion.
The calming, spa-like atmosphere at My Family Dentistry provides the perfect environment for your treatments. Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mullins.
This blog was originally published on May 19, 2016, but has since been updated.
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