avoid touching the injection site, stay upright for 4-6 hours, refrain from exercise and high-temperature environments for 24 hours, avoid wearing makeup for 6-8 hours, and steer clear of alcohol and excessive massage on the treated area. Wait patiently for the effects to gradually appear within 3-7 days.
No Touching Zone
It is advisable for the patients to avoid touching the site of injection after a injection. The skin surface shows hardly any notice of injury, but there’s small heals required by the punctures made from needle touch. Infection implies touching this area would harbor bacteria, augmenting the scope of infection. However, incidental rubbing by hands would affect the distribution of botulinum toxin, so it may reach unintended places and lead to asymmetries or side effects.
Most people instinctively touch the treated area to see if anything has changed. These changes, however, isotropic the effects of the Botulinum toxin because almost all people do not see the effect immediately; touching the area would be very unprofitable feedback. It would probably just do the opposite, affecting good absorption of the toxin. You are likely to feel some tightness or a slight bit of pain in that treated area. This is normal and nothing to get too alarmed about. Laying around trying to confirm this by touching it, however, is not advisable.
This no-touch rule also applies to things. For instance, do not press your phone on your cheek while you’re on a call and prevent pillows from direct contact on the treated area. Sleeping on the back on the first night may help avoid face contact with the pillow and reduce the risk of affecting the diffusion of the toxin.
However slight itching and even swelling does happen there; do not scratch or rub it. Where there is continuing pain, the doctor can be seen for a possible cold compress, but do not treat yourself with home remedy and do not use any topical agent to this area, which may cause irritation.
Skip Workouts
Do not engage in any kind of exercise for about 24 hours after undergoing the injection, especially high-intensity activities. Strenuous exercises increase blood circulation and can lead to an uneven dispersion of the botulinum toxin, which could, in turn, affect its final result. Therefore, avoid activities causing movement of facial muscles such as those yoga poses with head inversions or jumping.
Even walking which usually seems harmless would still raise pressure on that area which has been treated. May I suggest smoothing out gentle standing stretches and refrain from any kind of vigorous head or facial movements if you feel the urge to move around?
Also be mindful of sweating. Sweating after exercising could irritate the injection site, while wiping the sweat off with a towel could further add pressure on the skin. Therefore, it’s all advisable to pause not only workouts but also doing the fast-paced household chores during this time.
Once after a few days of not exercising, again introduce low-intensity workouts and look for discomfort. In case of redness, swelling, or pain in the face after exercising, discontinue immediately and consult your doctor.
No Makeup Time
Keep the face free of makeup for 6-8 hours after the injection of botulinum toxin. The skin at this time is too sensitive for makeup and may give rise to irritation or infection. Also, chemicals from the makeup products may use the tiny needle punctures to even enter into the skin, increasing the risk of inflammation.
Apart from that, the tools employed in applying the make-up such as brushes and sponges will make the face an avenue for bacteria, if not sanitized properly. Pressure on the skin using these tools or hands while applying makeup may inhibit the normal diffusion of the toxin.
That is why even makeup removal on the day of injection needs to be done very carefully. If you have to remove the old makeup before going to the clinic, do this with a non-irritating alcohol-free product, try not to rub very hard onto the skin, and wipe the area gently, not roughly cleaning it to avoid too much pressure.
It is advisable to wait at least 24 hours before normal makeup routines are resumed. Ensure the treated area is free from signs of redness, swelling, or any other abnormal reactions. In the meantime, use light foundation products to allow the skin to breathe well.
Avoid Heat
Do not expose yourself to high-temperature places such as saunas, steam baths, hot yoga classes, or the sun for the next 7 days after having the injection. Exposure to heat would increase circulation in the skin, which would lead to the fast metabolism of the toxin, hence it won’t last as long as it’s supposed to.
Be careful about the temperature of the water when washing your face, since hot water is also totally out of the question. Warm water is good enough to cleanse without being irritating to the treated area. For swelling, alleviate with cold compresses instead of warmth—warm compresses increase inflammation and pain.
Stay away from heat, especially in the kitchen, while cooking. If I have to spend more time in cooking in this kitchen, then ensure I remain well ventilated when heat is unavoidable or use a cover to reduce direct exposure of heat.
Say No to Alcohol
Abstain from alcohol during the first days following the injection. Alcohol increases blood circulation and reduces the skin’s resistance to outside-associated injury, it poses a high risk of bruising or swelling at the position of injection. Even a small quantity of alcohol can trigger adverse reactions with prolonged recovery.
Alcohol can also prevent the body from using its natural repair mechanisms and can lead to the imposed delay in the area being treated. Immediately drinking alcohol after the injection can cause some mild unsteadiness, reddening of the face, or even some discomfort, making the healing process less effective.
In addition to that, alcohol may worsen adverse reactions. If the wound becomes red or itchy, drinking alcohol may exacerbate these symptoms. Wait until complete healing before drinking alcohol, no matter how little it may be.
Be Patient
Effects of the botulinum toxin are not immediate but usually take up to three to seven days to develop fully, with peak effects seen about 14 days later. During such time, patients are advised against off-label treatments such as applying heat to the treated area or massaging the area in an effort to “speed up” results, which could upset the new healing process.
A bit of tightness or stiffness in the treated area in the early days is to be expected and is evidence that the toxin is working. Do not overworry or overthink; rather, keep your calm and positive mind.
If after such, all results appear as barely perceptible, there is no need to rush into the next injection. Most doctors will advise about one month from now to see results and possibly schedule any further treatments. Be patient to be as natural and as good as possible