Wrinkles and fine lines are nobody’s best friend.
No matter how regular your skincare routine is, they show up on your face eventually, like an uninvited guest, and make you look older than you actually feel.
This is why many turn to Botox for wrinkles to smoothen those annoying fine lines and creases on your skin.
Botox is extracted from Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria. This toxin has the magical ability to paralyse the muscles temporarily. Other than aesthetic treatments such as smoothening wrinkles, botox is also used in treating chronic migraines, heavy underarm sweating, and eyelid and neck spasms.
The beauty of this cosmetic surgical procedure is how quick, straightforward and painless it is. Moreover, you can go back to your regular routine without taking a day off. However, the results of your treatment will depend on your aftercare process and how well you take care of yourself.
This article will focus on how you can prioritise the self-care process post-Botox surgery in the form of the following ten tips. Let’s dive right in!
10 Practical Self-Care Tips You Need To Follow After A Botox Surgery
1. Sit Up
Your doctor may advise you to sit and stay upright for at least three to four hours right after Botox surgery. To avoid spreading the toxin, avoid lying down or bending down to pick something up.
2. Avoid The Booze
To celebrate a rejuvenated and fresher-looking face, don’t pop the champagne just yet! It is best to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
Drinking alcohol may possibly lead to bruising at and around the sites of injection because alcohol thins the blood and widens blood vessels.
3. Don’t Strain Yourself – Skip the Gym
After getting Botox for wrinkles, doctors advise you to stay away from physical activities, including working out at the gym. You risk getting unwanted facial freezing when you indulge in strenuous physical activities right after getting Botox treatment. This is because the treatment can spread out to untargeted muscle groups.
4. Ditch The Spa
Who doesn’t love to pamper their face and body time and again? (We know you do!)
Visiting the spa for a day of pampering right after a Botox surgery is certainly not the best idea. Steam, sauna and massages must be avoided as they cause heat and raise blood flow to the face. This can dislodge the injections thereby reducing the effect before they set into the muscles.
5. Take a Break from Makeup
If you have received a Botox injection on your face, it is best for you to avoid applying makeup. Applying makeup on the injected area can rub the skin and in turn dissipate the toxin.
6. Give the Skin Treatments a Miss
While your skin recovers, it is best to steer clear of any skin treatments like facials, facial massages, exfoliating scrubs, and dermal fillers. Refrain from services using lasers, radiofrequency, microdermabrasion or dermabrasion until your doctor gives you the green light.
7. Avoid Exposure to Sun and Heat
Exposing the treated area to direct sunlight raises your blood pressure, thereby flushing your skin. This flushing may lead to bruising in and around the treated area.
Your doctor may advise you to avoid sunlight exposure for at least 48 hours after Botox surgery. In addition to skipping sunlight, you may want to stay off hot baths, tanning beds, and hot tubs till your doctor gives you the go-ahead.
8. Don’t Put Pressure on the Injected Area
In your aftercare routine, make sure you avoid touching, rubbing or pressing the treated area. Your doctor may advise you to avoid doing this for one to three days. Avoid sleeping on the injected area to let the toxin effectively settle in your muscles.
9. Cold Compress for Relief
Experiencing swelling, soreness and discomfort on the injection sites is completely normal. To relieve the pain and swelling, gently apply a cold compress. Remember not to put any pressure on the cold compress!
10. Practise Gentle Skin Cleansing
Following a simple and regular skin routine can make a lasting change post-treatment, especially if you take Botox injections time and again.
Make it a point to use a gentle cleanser in your skincare routine, if Botox is injected into your face. A mild cleanser avoids further skin irritation while cleansing your skin.
To Sum Up
It doesn’t matter if you have received the Botox treatment for the first time or are a seasoned veteran in Botox injections. What matters is understanding your skin and following a self-care routine to maintain the desired effectiveness of the surgery.
The aftercare practice makes all the difference in reaping the full benefits of this cosmetic procedure and how you look and feel for days after surgery.
