SalonCompass

Aftercare

After Botox and Other Anti-Wrinkle Injections: The First Two Weeks

What is normal

  • Tiny red bumps at injection points, like mosquito bites — settle within 20–60 minutes.
  • Pinpoint bruises at some injection sites — can take 5–10 days to fade; more likely if you take fish oil, aspirin, or drank alcohol the day before.
  • Mild headache the first day or two (common after forehead treatment).
  • A feeling of "heaviness" or tightness as the product starts working around day 3–5 — most people find it settles as they get used to it.
  • NO visible result for the first 2–3 days — onset is typically day 3–5, full effect at day 10–14. Do not judge the result before two weeks.

What happens, and when

First 4 hours
stay upright, don't rub. Bumps disappear.
Day 1–3
nothing visible yet — normal.
Day 3–5
movement starts weakening.
Day 10–14
full result. This is when to assess and book a review/top-up if needed — not before.
Month 3–4
movement gradually returns; effect typically lasts 3–4 months.

Do

  • Stay upright for 4 hours after treatment.
  • Gentle facial movements (frowning, raising brows) in the first hour are fine and sometimes encouraged.
  • Normal skincare from the next day.
  • Photograph yourself at day 14 — that's your real result for comparing next time.

Don't

  • No rubbing, massaging, or pressing the treated areas for 24–48 hours (can migrate the product).
  • No lying face-down, face massage, or tight headwear for 24 hours.
  • No strenuous exercise, saunas, steam, or hot yoga for 24 hours.
  • No alcohol for 24 hours (more bruising).
  • No facials, microneedling, RF, or laser over the area for 2 weeks.
  • Don't judge or complain about the result before day 14 — and equally, don't accept a "review" appointment earlier than that.

When to get help

  • Drooping eyelid or eyebrow (ptosis), double vision, or one side visibly lower starting days after treatment — contact your practitioner; it's manageable and temporary, but needs assessment.
  • Difficulty swallowing, breathing, speaking, or general muscle weakness — extremely rare systemic spread; seek urgent medical care (A&E), do not wait.
  • Signs of infection at injection sites: spreading redness, warmth, pus.
  • Severe or persistent headache not settling with usual painkillers.

Medical review pending

A doctor has not signed this section off yet. It is drafted from Anna's practice and is waiting on medical review, so treat it as a prompt to get advice rather than the last word.

General guidance, not personal medical advice. When in doubt, contact your practitioner or a doctor.

Draft — Anna's voice pass to come

This guide is written but has not had its final pass, so it is not listed in search results yet. Everything on it is readable and unchanged in the meantime.

Written by · London-trained cosmetologist

Last updated