According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 4 million Americans get Botox yearly. That makes it the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure around.
People have fallen in love with Botox because of how effective it can be when it comes to eliminating facial wrinkles. You can make yourself look younger and more refreshed after getting Botox just one time at a wellness and med spa in St. Pete, FL.
But you should learn what not to do after Botox before you have Botox injections. This will allow Botox recovery and ensure you look your absolute best when you’re all finished healing.
So, what are some things you should avoid doing as part of your Botox aftercare process? We’re going to walk you through a few of them below.
Continue reading to discover what not to do after Botox.
Touch Your Face
The good news for those who will be undergoing Botox is that your face is going to heal very quickly following your injections. As long as you practice good Botox care, the injection site should heal quickly and produce great results.
There will, however, be some initial redness and swelling that may take place at the injection site. You might also feel some tension in your facial muscles.
These things might tempt you to touch your face and even rub it to get some relief. But doing either of these things could slow down the healing process and even harm how your face looks when you’re all healed up.
You’ll want to avoid touching your face at any point after Botox injections. Of all the things on this list of what not to do after Botox, this one might be the thing that will be hardest to do. But it’ll be imperative for you to keep your hands away from your face.
One of the best ways to avoid touching your face following injections is to keep your hands busy. Do you have a hobby like knitting or art? Then, now is the time to engage in it!
Rub Your Eyes
You will need to do more than just avoid touching your face after getting Botox. You’ll also need to try not to rub your eyes at all, even if they itch because of the swelling that might take place around them.
If you’re constantly rubbing your eyes after getting Botox, it may cause even more irritation. It might also increase your chances of getting an eye infection.
If you can’t resist the urge to rub your eyes, you might be able to get away with putting drops in your eyes to stop them from itching. But you might want to talk to your doctor before you do this to be sure they’re okay with it.
You should also talk to your doctor about when you can go back to using products like this eye creme. They’ll be able to provide additional insight on when it’ll be safe to use them again.
Take a Nap
Since there will be quite a few things you can’t do after getting Botox, you might think that taking a nap will be a good idea. This will, after all, prevent you from doing many things you’re not supposed to do while healing from Botox.
But unfortunately, taking a nap is one of the worst things you can do following Botox injections. You might end up bruising your face and possibly even putting yourself in a position where you’ll need medical attention as soon as possible.
Generally speaking, you should avoid lying down for at least four hours after getting Botox. You might also be advised not to lie on your side when you eventually lie down and sleep at night if you can avoid it.
You’ll feel stuck in a nightmare if you fall asleep right after having Botox done and see what your face looks like when you wake up. On the other hand, napping might make the time pass by faster and let you inch closer to see the final result of your getting Botox. But it could come at a considerable cost if you lie down directly on your face.
If you really need to nap, try propping yourself on many pillows or sleeping in an upright but comfy armchair.
Go Exercise
After getting Botox, you might feel like heading to the gym to work on tightening up the rest of your body to match your face. But working out right after Botox is another big mistake you should try not to make.
If you’re like most people, you probably make all kinds of silly faces when you run on the treadmill or lift weights in the gym. And while it’s okay to make these faces under normal circumstances, it’s not a good idea to make them right after having Botox done. Botox might not be able to settle into your muscles and nerves if you spend an hour making these faces.
You should try not to do any working out at all for at least 24 hours. You might also want to wait even longer than that to get back into the gym to ensure your Botox settles like it’s supposed to.
Sit in the Sun
Sitting in the sun isn’t going to be great for the skin on your face, even if you haven’t gotten Botox done recently. The sun’s UV rays can wreak havoc on your skin and lead to you developing fine lines and wrinkles.
Sitting in the sun will be especially bad for those who have just had Botox. The UV rays from the sun might do even more damage than usual if you’re not careful.
You might be under the impression that your skin will be fine in the sun if you slather it with great sunscreen. But why risk it after getting Botox? You’ll be better off hanging inside than subjecting your skin to the hot sun.
Hang Out in the Heat
It isn’t enough for you to simply stay out of the sun after getting Botox. You should also make it your mission to keep out of the heat entirely, even if you aren’t right in the sun.
Exposing your face to heat after Botox can drag out the healing process. It can also cause dark spots on your face in some cases.
If you have no choice but to be outside following Botox injections, you should do your best to cover up your face with a hat and hang out in a shady area where it’s nice and cool. But even then, you’ll risk your face being affected by the heat.
For this reason, you should park yourself inside if you can and avoid spending any more time in the heat than you have to. The less heat you surround yourself with, your Botox injection site should heal quicker.
Climb Into a Sauna or Hot Tub
Sitting outside in the sun isn’t the only way to expose your face and your Botox treatment to heat. You might also inadvertently do it by climbing into a sauna or a hot tub for even a few minutes.
It isn’t smart to subject your face to all the heat from either of these things. You’re also going to find that your blood pressure will usually go up rapidly when you sit in a sauna or hot tub, which isn’t great for your Botox recovery.
Drink Alcohol
Were you thinking about heading out with friends for a drink to celebrate your first Botox treatment? If you were, you should think again.
When you drink alcohol, it can thin your blood and increase the chances of your injection site bleeding more than it should after getting Botox. You can also cause your face to swell and make your skin more sensitive than it should be.
It would be a great idea to save the celebration for some time. Then, you’ll be in a much better place as far as your Botox recovery is concerned, and as long as you practice good Botox maintenance, you’ll be able to look your best for your night out with friends.
Use NSAIDs
NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. After getting Botox, you might get the urge to reach for them if your face is bothering you.
But this is definitely what not to do after Botox. But, unfortunately, it’s also what not to do before Botox because they can thin your blood.
You should try not to take NSAIDs for two weeks before getting Botox and up to three months after getting it. Otherwise, you might be subjected to painful side effects that could affect your appearance.
You’re welcome to discuss this aspect with your doctor if you’re unsure if you’ll be able to make it three months without using NSAIDs. After that, they might clear you to use them in some instances. But overall, you should do your best to abstain from using them.
Wash Your Face
You may look forward to washing your face after getting Botox. But if you do it right away, you could cause complications at your injection site and wish you had waited a little longer to wash up.
You should be prepared to avoid washing your face for at least six hours following Botox injections. And even then, you shouldn’t wash your face with your usual antiseptic soap. Instead, you should use a mild cleanser, along with lukewarm water.
After your first day with Botox, you can increase the number of times you wash your face each day to twice. But you should continue using the same mild cleanser and be extra careful when washing your skin.
If you notice any swelling, redness, or other skin issues that look like they have been caused by your washing your face, you might want to switch to a different cleanser or contact your doctor to see what they would recommend you do next. They’ll be able to tell you how to practice Botox maintenance while washing your face.
Apply Lotions and Ointments
There is a chance that your face might start to feel dry after getting Botox. This might make you want to throw some lotion, ointment, or something else on your face.
You might also have a skincare routine that includes excellent products you use every morning or night to make the skin on your face glow. And you might feel apprehensive about not continuing this routine.
Either way, you should avoid putting any lotions and ointments onto your face until you get the go-ahead from your doctor. If you ignore this advice, it could cause complications with your Botox treatment and alter how your face looks. So it’ll be worth waiting a few days to return to using lotions and ointments on your face.
Know What Not to Do After Botox Treatments
Within days of getting Botox, you’ll see what all the hype is about. Then, you’ll be blown away by how better your skin looks once Botox takes hold.
But while you’re waiting for your face to heal, you should know what not to do after Botox. By avoiding everything on this list, you should get the best possible results from Botox injections. Then, you’ll wonder why you didn’t decide to get them sooner.
St. Pete Wellness & MedSpa can provide you with Botox. We can also offer fillers, micro-needling, laser hair removal, and more.
Contact us now to schedule an appointment.