How Long After Botox Can You Lay Down?

If you are considering your first Botox treatment, it is absolutely vital that you keep a few things in mind to ensure that you get the very best out of the procedure, and to ensure that the final results are everything you desire. With this in mind, how long after Botox can you lie down?

To ensure that you get the very best out of your experience, we advise that you should not lie down for at least four to six hours after a procedure. As it takes a few hours for Botox to fully settle, 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, and if the proteins migrate to different muscles, it can increase the risk of complications.

If you find that you do need to sleep after a procedure, as some clients report feeling a little drowsy after Botox, it’s recommended that you stay upright and avoid any positions that will result in prolonged pressure to the face.

If you need to lie down for whatever reason, it’s best to lie on your back, and to avoid lying on your side or stomach if at all possible, as these positions increase the odds of the Botox moving to another area of your face.

I forgot and laid down after Botox, should I be worried?

If you’ve forgotten, or you just didn’t know, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Although we recommend not lying down for the first four hours after a treatment, this is more to ensure that the procedure is as effective as possible, and that you get the very best results.

There is no evidence to suggest that lying down too soon after a procedure will have any long-term negative impact on the patient.

Are there any sleeping positions I should avoid after having Botox?

In short – no. As long as you wait for the recommended four to six hours after treatment, you should be able to sleep in your favourite positions without any issues or complications.

Do I need to wait before washing my face after Botox?

As long as you are gentle and you are using a soft cleanser, you should be able to wash your face immediately after having Botox. However, if you opt to wash your face after a treatment, it’s important to use a soft, lint-free washcloth, and to avoid using any hot water or harsh cleansers. With this in mind, avoid using any masks or facial scrubs for the next two days, as this may irritate the skin.

It is also recommended that you avoid any facial massages or facial treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser treatments for at least seven days after having Botox.

Interested in having Botox? Visit our leading Botox Clinic in Bournemouth.

Can I wear makeup directly after having Botox?

We also recommend having nothing on your face for at least four hours after treatment. After this, you can certainly use makeup as usual, but it is recommended that any products are applied gently, as you should avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas for a few hours.

It’s also important to be aware that applying too much makeup or rubbing the injection sites too soon after a procedure can result in irritation and some discomfort.

Can Botox cause any side effects?

Here are some of the side effects known to be caused by Botox:

• A small amount of swelling, bruising, or redness. This tends to be temporary and will usually go away on its own within a few days.
• Some sensitivity or pain around the injection sites. Taking paracetamol before and after the treatment can help with this, especially if you already know that you are quite sensitive to pain.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness. Although this tends to be quite rare, and varies from patient to patient, it is nonetheless important to avoid alcohol to avoid exacerbating this symptom – especially if you are new to Botox and unfamiliar with how it will affect your body.
• Dry, sensitive, watery, or red eyes after Botox treatments around the eyes.

There are also patients who may experience side-effects such as flu-symptoms, nausea, muscle weakness, and allergic reactions, although these tend to be quite rare. If you have any questions or concerns, we highly recommend booking a consultation so that we can discuss the procedure with you further.

Is there anything else to avoid after Botox?

To ensure the absolute best results, here are a few more things to avoid directly after treatment.

Hot showers, baths, saunas, and sunbeds

There is no issue with showering directly after getting a Botox treatment, but you will need to watch the temperature. It’s best to avoid too much heat after getting Botox, as increased blood-flow to the face can cause the Botox to migrate. With this in mind, it is also important to avoid hot baths and saunas for the first few hours after your treatment.

Sunbeds must be avoided for at least seven days after treatment.

Exercise

Gentle exercise should be okay, but it is recommended that you avoid vigorous exercise directly after having a Botox treatment, or any type of exercise that involves bending over repeatedly or for extended periods of time, such as yoga.

Once the Botox has been injected, it takes a few hours for the proteins to diffuse into the muscles being treated. Vigorous exercise can result in the product being metabolized before the Botox has had a chance to finish its job, and will result in a much less effective treatment.

Additionally, the heat and friction from a good workout can cause the Botox to migrate from its intended site.

Facial massage and rubbing

Experts will often recommend exercising the treated muscles by having the patient pull natural expressions, such as squinting or frowning, as this will help work the Botox into the affected muscles. In spite of this, it is very important to avoid rubbing or massaging your face for the first few hours after a treatment, as this is another way that Botox can be made to migrate to another part of the face, and reduce the overall effectiveness of your treatment.

As a general rule of thumb, anything that squashes the face should be avoided for a few hours, at least until the proteins have had a chance to do their work.

Alcohol

Patients are usually advised to avoid any kind of alcohol for a day or two after treatment. Although consuming alcohol directly after a Botox treatment will not cause any long-term side-effects, it can exacerbate the dizziness and drowsiness experienced by some clients after treatment. This is especially important to note if you will be driving to and from the clinic.

Additionally, some clients will experience mild bruising from the needles that are used to inject Botox, and consuming alcohol after a treatment can make any potential bruising worse.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers

Botox treatments are mostly painless, owing to how fine the needles are, but if you are concerned about any discomfort, you can take paracetamol before and after the procedure. That said, it is recommended that patients avoid any anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen or higher-dose aspirin, as these types of painkillers thin the blood, and can make any bruising from the procedure worse.

Please note that it is very important to discuss any medication you may be taking at the time of the procedure with your doctor to avoid any potential complications.

Flying

This one may seem a bit odd at first, but it is recommended that patients avoid flying for the first forty eight hours after having a treatment. Although there is no evidence to suggest this causes issues, there are nonetheless concerns from clinicians that the change in air pressure may result in the Botox migrating from the treated areas of your face, and impact the final results.