If you’re considering getting a botox application or have just had one done, one of your first concerns will be recovery. Luckily, botox aftercare is much simpler than most other cosmetic procedures, and you shouldn’t run into any problems down the line as long as you follow some simple tips.

As always, you should aim to do plenty of research to ensure that you can make well-informed decisions with regards to cosmetic procedures and treatments, be they surgical or non-surgical. Thankfully, our team of Cosmetic Consultants here at Pirk have done the heavy lifting for you, by writing up this exhaustive guide on what to expect from a healthy botox aftercare regime.

In this article, we’ll outline what a good botox aftercare regime looks like by going through the following points:

• Botox Recovery Process
• Botox Recovery Time
• Botox Aftercare Regime Tips and Recommendations 
• When Should You Seek Medical Attention? 
• When Can You Expect to See Results From Your Botox Treatment?
• How to Find a Botox Specialist

Botox Recovery Process

Botox treatment is a relatively straightforward procedure, and you should be pretty much back to normal on the day after. Normal symptoms include some pain and swelling on the treated area, a reddening of the skin, minor eye discomforts like dry eyes and drooping eyelids, a slight headache and other minor discomforts. Most of these are totally normal and should disappear within four hours of your botox application.

Typically, you won’t feel too bad after a botox application, and should be able to function at work if you have to. However, we still recommend taking the rest of the day off if you can: a botox treatment is still a medical procedure, and rest is crucial to proper recovery. There are also some tips to keep in mind, such as making sure you stay upright immediately after your procedure and avoiding strenuous physical activities. Be sure to consult your botox filler specialist for more information about what to expect from your recovery process.

And before we move on, it’s important to note that while the focus of this article is on botox for cosmetic purposes, it’s worth noting that botox can actually be used to treat medical conditions, including migraines, muscle spasms, sweating, etc. Treatment procedures may differ when done for non-cosmetic problems, and may require a different course of recovery. It’s possible that you’ll feel lightheaded after your botox administration, so you might want to bring someone with you on the day of your procedure to make sure you get home safe.

No matter what sort of procedure you’ve had, it’s important to seek immediate medical help if you notice unusually severe side effects, or if they last longer than your specialist says they should.

Botox Recovery Time

As botox procedures are non-surgical, you shouldn’t take too long to recover at all. As mentioned, you may experience some symptoms that cause you mild discomfort, but these should disappear over the next few hours after your botox treatment. The majority of botox specialists highly recommend that their patients avoid activities that will raise their blood pressure for at least four hours and preferably the whole day. For an hour after your botox procedure, patients should generally also avoid lying down to prevent the botox from spreading to other areas of the face.

As with all medical procedures, recovery time will vary from individual to individual depending on factors like age, health, procedure type, and many more. It’s important to speak to your specialist both immediately after the procedure, during your recovery period and within your botox aftercare regime in order to make sure you’re on track.

If your symptoms don’t seem to be getting better over the next few days, it’s best to get in touch with a medical professional.

Botox Aftercare Regime Tips and Recommendations

Have a Friend Accompany You

While you shouldn’t feel too out of it after your botox session, it’s always best to have someone you trust accompany you to the clinic. First of all, this is so that you have someone who can help you ask questions and note down your botox specialist’s recommendations if you don’t feel up to it in the moment. Your friend can also drive you home or accompany you on public transport if you feel a little lightheaded after your procedure.

Immediately Get Help for Unexpected Side Effects

While exceedingly rare when it comes to botox applications, unexpected side effects are possible when you get any sort of cosmetic procedure. If your symptoms last longer than they should or are so intense as to be unbearable, get medical help immediately.

Some rare but possible complications include infections (which can happen with any sort of injection), visual impairment, intense allergic reactions and difficulty breathing. As always, trust your gut: it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Don’t Lie Down Right After

You’ll want to stay upright for at least an hour, and preferably more, after your botox application, no matter how tempting it might get to lie down in bed if you start feeling side effects. This both ensures that the botox on your face does its job, and to prevent the botox chemicals from diffusing into the rest of your face and causing complications.

Avoid Strenuous Activities Immediately After Your Treatment

If you’ve just had a botox procedure, you’ll want to keep your blood pressure from getting too high, as this can intensify symptoms around the areas where you’ve been injected. This means refraining from intense physical activities. As much as possible, avoid playing sports, going to the gym or going for a run for four hours at the very least. Preferably, you should spend the rest of the day resting and relaxing.

It’s also important to avoid stressful situations immediately after your botox application. If you can, don’t go back to work. If you absolutely have to, try to take it easy. Breathing exercises and meditation are also good ways to calm yourself and lower your blood pressure.

Avoid Saunas and Other Hot Places

You’ll also want to avoid going to saunas, taking hot baths or just going to warm places in general in the hours after your botox application. These can also increase your blood pressure, possibly leading to swelling and pain in the area where you’ve had treatment. You also want to avoid spending too much time in the sun (which can get quite intense in Australia).

Keep the Injection Sites Clean

In order to reduce the risk of infection, you’ll want to keep the area where you’ve had botox injectables administered as clean as possible. This is because injections create open wounds, which are opportunities for unwanted bacteria to get in.

If possible, you’ll want to avoid washing your face at all immediately after your botox application.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

Botox injectables are generally very safe to administer, and have been performed countless times all over the world. But like any procedure, botox applications may be accompanied by their own unique risks. Symptoms like swelling, a little pain and drooping eyelids are all normal, but if they last longer than a few days or don’t seem to be getting any better, get medical attention. You’ll also want to pay your doctor a visit if you’re experiencing symptoms you recognise as allergy symptoms.

It’s also important to seek medical attention immediately if you experience complications like anaphylaxis or trouble breathing, severe visual impairment, symptoms of an inflection on the injection site and disruptions to your bladder. These can cause lasting damage and even death if left untreated.

If you have concerns about your botox aftercare regime or something post-op, you can check out our Cosmetic Hub for more information on your botox procedure and how to respond if any complications do occur during your treatment. As always, go with your gut: if something feels off, it’s better to see a doctor and discover that nothing’s wrong than to ignore potential complications until it’s too late.

When Can You Expect Results From Your Botox Treatment?

Botox takes some time to work its magic in your facial muscles. As mentioned, its primary effect is that of loosening the muscles on your face, a process that takes around two weeks to become obvious.

As you might expect, there’s some variance between different individuals and different procedures as to how long the effects of botox take to show up. You can consult with your botox specialist or our Pirk Cosmetic Consultants or even explore our Cosmetic Hub for more information on what to expect from the results of your botox treatment.

How to Find a Botox Specialist

If you’re thinking of getting a cosmetic procedure done but aren’t sure where to start or whether botox is best for you, we’re here to help. Reach out to us to make an inquiry with our Cosmetic Consultants here at Pirk. From here, our Cosmetic Consultants will promptly schedule a Discovery Call with you to gain a deeper understanding of what you’re looking for from your ideal botox specialist. Filling out our Typeform and completing our Discovery Call will help us effortlessly pair you with a suitable botox specialist and facility within your vicinity, ensuring that your surgeon sourcing process is free from guesswork and copious hours or research.

Give us a call today via the phone number 1300 114 426, or shoot us an email at hello@pirk.au.

The information presented on the Pirk website is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we collaborate with qualified surgeons and specialists, we are not medical specialists, and the content provided is of a general nature. It is strongly recommended to seek personalised professional advice tailored to your specific situation.

If assistance in finding a qualified surgeon is needed, Pirk can offer support. This content does not constitute personal advice, diagnoses, or treatment plans. By reading our blogs, you acknowledge and accept these terms. For further assistance or clarification, please contact us at hello@pirk.au.