Exercising After Botox: How to Stay Active Without Compromising Your Results
One of the best things about Botox is that there’s virtually no recovery time. Generally, you can get a quick treatment and continue with your day as if nothing even happened!
HOWEVER, there are some exceptions. If your appointment falls right before you usually hit the gym, you might be wondering, “Can you workout after Botox?” Well, yes and no.
The simplest answer is:
Very light exercise after Botox is fine, but overexerting yourself could cause bruising or an infection, so you need to be careful.
Let’s get into more detail about the exercise dos and don’ts after Botox.
Why Use Caution After Botox Treatment?
When you get Botox, you receive a series of injections with a small needle. So, going straight to the gym and working out vigorously could cause some unwanted side effects.
Although exercise after Botox won’t damage the effects of the injections (the drug will still be fully active and effective), you could unintentionally complicate the recovery process.
For example, when you exercise, your blood pressure and heart rate increase, which could worsen bruising at the injection sites.
Another concern is an infection, since injections create small breaks in the skin. Gyms aren’t always the cleanest of places, so if you sweat a lot and then touch your face or forehead, you could introduce bacteria to one or more injection sites.
Can You Workout After Botox?
While you can technically exercise after Botox, we don’t recommend a heavy fitness session like running a marathon or doing CrossFit immediately afterward. It’s often best to wait or do something more gentle, like yoga or a long walk.
Some people get a slight headache after treatment, so you may not even feel up to working out after Botox. If this happens, you can treat the headache with a small dose of Tylenol (not ibuprofen or other NSAIDs) and take it easy for the day.
Some people feel uneasy with needles or medical procedures, even Botox, and may need time to recover mentally afterward. That’s completely fine. Listening to your body will help you have the best treatment and recovery experience possible.
How Long Should I Wait to Exercise After Botox?
We recommend waiting about 24 hours before exercising after Botox. After that, you can return to your regular exercise routine.
Are There Any Other Activities I Shouldn’t Do After Getting a Botox Treatment?
You can do most of your normal activities after you get Botox, but there are just a few things you should avoid for the best results:
- Massages (especially facial massages): Massaging your face can spread Botox into other muscles, causing it to affect the wrong areas of your face.
- Touching or rubbing the affected area: Similar to getting a massage, rubbing the treated area could move the Botox into unwanted areas and also increase the risk of infection. Do your best to keep your hands off the injection sites for at least a few hours after treatment.
- Putting on heavy makeup: Applying makeup directly to the Botox injection sites after treatment can cause an infection, so we recommend waiting 24 hours before putting any on. If you must wear it, gently applying a little bit of very light makeup is okay.
- Drinking alcohol: Alcoholic beverages can widen blood vessels near the skin’s surface and increase blood flow, which may amplify your risk of bruising after Botox.
- Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like aspirin or ibuprofen promote bruising, so it’s best to wait at least 24 hours after getting Botox before using these drugs.
Most other activities — like lying down after Botox and continuing your normal routine — are completely fine and won’t have any effect on your results!
Live in West Texas? Get in Touch!
If you live in the West Texas area and are interested in Botox for TMJ or cosmetic purposes, send us a message! We have the experience and expertise to guide you through the process and help you get the results you’re looking for.
Dr. Cuthbertson is a physician at Ear Nose & Throat Associates of Lubbock. He joined the team at ENT Lubbock from Houston, where he was chief resident of the prestigious Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery and has quickly built a reputation, not only as an extremely skilled surgeon, but as an approachable and compassionate clinician adept in the newest standards and technologies. Learn more about Dr. Cuthbertson.
Dr. Scolaro is a board-certified Otolaryngologist servicing the South Plains area. He has been practicing in Lubbock since 1990 and has earned a reputation as a skilled and experienced surgeon. He currently serves as the Medical Director for Covenant High Plains Surgery Center campuses, is a member of Covenant Health Partners and is an adjunct faculty professor for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Scolaro.
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