Attempting to rest or sleep with your head slightly elevated is the safest and most comfortable option after BOTOX. Plus, this position can help reduce minor side effects, like swelling and inflammation. Our facial plastic surgeon will let you know how long to wait before it's safe to lay down on your face again.
For this reason, patients should plan to sleep on their backs with their heads slightly elevated for at least 1 – 2 nights after getting BOTOX injections.
After Cosmetic Botox, Be Sure to Sleep on Your Back
Sleeping on your stomach or side can cause Botox to migrate to other areas of your face. This can result in uneven results or even bruising. Sleeping on your back, however, minimizes the risk of it migrating and ensures it stays where it is supposed to.
Can I sleep on my side after having Botox®? Yes, provided you wait at least four hours before lying down. Botox® takes a few hours to settle into place, so lying down straightaway could cause it to migrate to other muscles in your face and increase the risk of complications.
However, BOTOX results are day by day, as it takes a few days to settle into place. Some patients may see the impact of their treatment as early as 3 – 4 days, but most people begin to see results in about 10 – 14 days.
Lying down too soon increases the chances of the Botox migrating to different areas of the face. Although this will not cause any long-term damage, it may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment. In addition, if the proteins migrate to different muscles, it can increase the risk of complications.
After getting Botox, it's typical to have redness, tenderness, and swelling. These side effects usually disappear in 1 day. Bruising is also common. You can apply a pack of ice for relief.
The first “true” results will be noticeable within 24 to 48 hours – when you'll see a softening of wrinkles. Why does Botox need a couple days to start working? Botox freezes your muscles by stopping the release of acetylcholine. It takes awhile for your body to “use up” the acetylcholine that's already circulating.
Ideally, avoid touching your face for 24 hours after your treatment. Use tepid water and a gentle cleanser to wash your face for 72 hours after treatment and gently pat dry. Your skin may feel drier than usual after Botox.
When injected properly by a medical doctor, you can expect to see results after your first treatment. It can take two to four days before the weakening of the muscle begins and movement is stalled. You can see the maximum results of your treatment anywhere from ten to fourteen days after treatment.
Botox Touch-Up After Two Weeks
Patients who undergo Botox injections should expect to see the full treatment results after 14 days. However, if patients notice minimal changes or no changes in their facial appearance within two weeks, a Botox touch-up can be performed.
The reason for this delay is due to the time it takes for the body to start reacting to the Botox after it's been injected. Because of this, we like to have our patients come back after two weeks to check on their progress.
Summary: For people who can't wait the three or four days for the wrinkle smoothing effects of botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to kick in, a new study shows facial exercise after the injections speeds the change in appearance by one day.