Can you work out after getting botox? Here’s the right answer.
In today’s modern era, society has become incredibly strict about specific beauty standards, making many people head toward exercising to stay fit and appear younger. While on the same page, many anti-aging cosmetic procedures are also on the rise. Non-invasive aesthetic processes like botox, micro-needling, dermal fillers, skin lightening, chemical peels, etc., are ordinary and allow people to look youthful in minimal downtime.
Among all such aesthetic processes, botox is widely prevalent among men and women regardless of age. It has several benefits that can help you appear young in 5-8 sessions. However, post-botox care can restrict your physical activities to some extent.
This article answers all your questions about working out post botox — when you can start exercising again? What exercises can you do? What activities should you avoid? How does exercising affect your botox results?
Let’s get started without any further delay.
Contents
- What Is Botox?
- How Do Exercises Affect Botox Treatment Areas?
- How Can Exercise Affect Your Botox Treatment?
- How Long After Botox Can You Work Out?
- What Exercises Can You Do After Botox?
- What Exercises Should You Avoid After Botox?
- Can You Exercise Before Your Botox Appointment?
- What Facial Exercises Should You Do Post-Botox?
- Can You Work Out After Botox— Final Verdict
What Is Botox?
Botox is a common injectable treatment used to address wrinkles. It contains botulinum toxin, injected into the targeted muscle using small-gauge needles.
The toxin temporarily paralysis the muscle and tighten it to minimize the appearance of wrinkles while preventing the formation of new ones. The botox treatments make your skin look smooth, youthful-looking, and healthy.
Moreover, botox is a minimal-downtime treatment that takes less than 20 minutes and doesn’t impact your workout schedule much.
Most dermatologists ask patients to avoid most forms of exercise for 24 hours post-procedure so they get desired results.
Read along to learn everything you want to know about exercising after getting a botox treatment.
How Do Exercises Affect Botox Treatment Areas?
Working out and doing strenuous physical activities after botox can be problematic because it can negatively affect outcomes.
Exercising Increases Blood Flow:
Strenuous workout regimens are suitable for your cardiovascular health as they increase blood flow, but they damage your botox treatment.
Puts Pressure On The Botox Site:
The doctors recommend not touching your face for the first 4 hours post-botox as it can put pressure on the treatment site and cause discomfort.
The same is the case for exercising and other physical activities that require wearing additional gear like swim/ski goggles and cycling helmets. Also, wiping sweat off the face puts unwanted pressure.
Exercising Causes Too Much Tension In Facial Muscles:
Like hard workouts, mild-impact activities like jogging, yoga, and pilates also cause tension in the facial muscles.
For instance, you will observe yourself breathing with an open mouth and exhaling heavily.
Furthermore, changing the head position and tilting downwards/sideways is common in these exercises. It can cause botox to migrate and create unwanted paralysis in neighboring muscles.
How Can Exercise Affect Your Botox Treatment?
Increased blood flow, the tension in facial muscles, and pressure from exercising can affect your botox treatment in the following ways.
Reduce Effectiveness:
As discussed above, the injectable can diffuse to the nearby muscles if you exercise too soon after getting botox.
Due to this, the neurotoxin will not work effectively, and the wrinkles and fine lines will be unaffected.
Swelling/bruising:
Increased blood flow can result in swelling and bruising of the site.
It increases the recovery time, and you will have to spend more time away from your workout regimen and restrict yourself.
Cause Droopiness
As exercise involves moving your head constantly to adjust to new positions, the botox injectable can get whisked away from the original site.
It can paralyze the surrounding muscles since they come in contact with the botulinum toxin, causing your eyelids to droop or making your facial features asymmetrical.
How Long After Botox Can You Work Out?
The well-known rule is to avoid ALL exercises for at least 4 hours after your botox appointment, including bending over and lying down.
If you are wondering, can you work out 12 hours after botox, the answer is still a no. If you wish to play safe, do not engage in workouts, even low-impacted physical activities, for up to 24 hours after getting botox injections.
Furthermore, to get the most impressive results, many doctors may suggest you refrain from high-impact physical movements for one week following the procedure.
What Exercises Can You Do After Botox?
When you get back into exercising, once you have refrained for the time recommended by your injector, make sure not to put too much pressure on your face and discontinue if you observe swelling and bruising.
Here is a list of exercises that are suitable after 24 hours of your appointment:
- Mild Yoga with no tilting and inversion
- Light housework or gardening
- Slow walking
- Facial exercises
What Exercises Should You Avoid After Botox?
Here is a list of exercises that you must avoid at all costs up to 24 hours after getting a botox treatment:
- Abs exercises
- Yoga and Pilates
- Cardio (cycling, rowing, aerobics, and anything that is sweat-inducing)
- Weightlifting
- Running
- Swimming
Can You Exercise Before Your Botox Appointment?
Working out before arriving at the clinic for botox injections doesn’t pose any risks or threats to the aesthetic procedure.
However, your heart rate will be higher than normal levels, which can cause ugly bruising and injection pain.
Therefore, practitioners suggest avoiding working out at least one hour before your botox treatment.
What Facial Exercises Should You Do Post-Botox?
Although it is told not to put pressure on your face post-botox, it is also necessary to incorporate some facial exercises in the aftercare routine.
Such facial exercises facilitate the effectiveness of botox and help exhibit results a bit faster.
Some of the recommended facial exercises include:
- Smiling
- Raising your eyebrows
- Frowning
Try incorporating facial exercises that DON’T involve touching the face in your routine after getting botox injections.
Can You Work Out After Botox— Final Verdict
Botox is an anti-aging cosmetic procedure that helps one appear younger and healthy. It tightens the skin, eliminating all fine lines and wrinkles.
Make sure to follow your dermatologist’s advice for post-treatment care and refrain from your workout regimen for at least 24 hours post-botox.
Although it may be difficult for many fitness freaks not to visit the gym for a day, it’s necessary as exercising can cause swelling, bruising, and drooping.
Furthermore, include facial exercises in your aftercare to improve the results. Contact your injector right away in case you experience any unusual symptoms post-treatment.