The benefits botox brings to the table are in no short number, and ease is certainly one of them! Treatment takes less time than a lunch break, is minimally invasive, and lets you go on with your day as you would with no downtime after.
It’s a procedure that takes minutes for a result that lasts months. And yet as convenient as it is, there are considerations to keep top of mind while you wait for botox to take effect.
Here we’ll look at a few common inquiries we get from clients when it comes to balancing facial appointments and other daily affairs around botox treatments. We’ll review certain activities that can interfere with newer, “unsettled” botox and what you can do to keep your treatment working in the weeks and months ahead.
Can I get a facial after botox?
So, it’s time to schedule your next botox treatment and your next facial. Or perhaps you’ve already got the botox taken care of and you’re planning a facial to complement the wrinkle care.
Either way, we certainly wish we were your complexion!
The bright news is that with proper timing in place, facials and wrinkle relaxers will work just fine together. The key here is that they be kept apart at least two weeks if you’re getting a facial after botox.
Because wrinkle relaxers take time to fully activate, scheduling a facial after botox needs to be at least two weeks out from time of treatment. Why? It prevents the risk of disrupting the botox as it goes about its work.
If your provider happens to be saying otherwise, then it may be time to seek out another provider.
How about a facial massage?
In many ways, the same considerations apply. Because massage involves manipulating muscles and skin, it opens up the door for treatment to migrate where it shouldn’t. It also increases blood circulation, which further promotes treatment migration – which we don’t want.
One complication this avoids is what’s known as ptosis, or unintended “sagging,” along the lid and brow of the eye. While the condition itself is temporary and exceedingly rare, scheduling your massage in advance of botox or two weeks out ensures your treatment remains seamless while active.
How about facial treatments before botox?
When it comes to scheduling ahead of your botox treatment, there is much more versatility! This is because the treatment isn’t at risk of disruption. Though there are a few smaller exceptions!
Anything that irritates the skin shouldn’t be done immediately before getting botox. This includes skin resurfacing with fractional or C02-based lasers as well as chemical peels, or anything abrasive to skin
Provided the treatment in question has no recommended downtime and does not irritate, you’re perfectly safe to schedule preceding treatments the day of.
Why does botox take two weeks?
Watching fine lines resolve after treatment is an experience that borders on the status of miracle. But it takes time.
Wrinkle care is all about targeting select facial muscles (the ones causing wrinkles to form), helping them contract less – and relax – with use.
This relaxing effect on the muscle is what releases subtle strains in the skin above. So why doesn’t botox take immediate effect once it’s administered? Mainly because it hasn’t yet settled where it needs to.
Botox works at the intersection of neurons and muscles in a space called the synapse. Dialing in a bit further, botox works by interfering with specialized proteins which are responsible for prompting the muscle to contract.
So when factoring for how long it takes for botox to kick in, this is what ultimately informs your treatment’s activation time.
Getting the most out of your botox
Your skin and the care you give it are investments! In this sense, it pays to look after your treatment just as much as your complexion. Here’s what you can do to ensure you’re getting the best preventative effects from botox in the weeks and months following treatment.
Know before and aftercare – Following treatment, you’ll want to avoid lying down for at least 4 hours, and vigorous exercise for the next 12 hours. Both promote blood flow and may put your botox at risk of migrating outside the targeted muscle groups, reducing its effectiveness.
Time your treatments – The body takes an average of three to four months to fully metabolize treatment before needing a refresh. Regular cadencing with botox maintains the life of your results and ensures you aren’t reverting to facial movements that promote wrinkling in the first place.
- Note: Adding to all the other reasons to treat wrinkles at Peachy (and there are plenty), we give you the option of setting future appointments while you’re in – so that coming in for botox is as painless as getting it.
Stay out of the sun and use SPF – UV rays have a detrimental effect on skin. Limit daily exposure with broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and accessories (like an umbrella!), and staying out of the sun when possible. These practices all work in tandem with botox to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Make room for collagen care – Topical retinoids are an invaluable addition to any skincare routine. Retinoids like tretinoin promote cell turnover and collagen growth within skin while simultaneously curbing collagen and elastin breakdown. This means finer lines and fewer of them – and like botox there’s a wealth of research backing the effectiveness and safety of FDA-approved retinoids.
Here we’ve covered timing considerations around botox and facials, as well as what you can do to ensure your botox goes on working safely and effectively for the long term.
If you do have something on the books you’re unsure about or have other questions of timing around botox, consider coming by! We keep consults complimentary for precisely this reason – and there’s no expectation to set a follow-up if you aren’t intending to get treated right away.
We keep consults pressure-free and focused on the goals you’ve set for your skin, so that you can decide what treatment, if any, is right for you.
