Aftercare: What Not To Do After Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Clinical Director John
5 minute read
Back to blog
You want the smoother, fresher look without surprises. After anti-wrinkle injections the right behaviour in the first hours and days helps protect your result and reduces avoidable side effects. The common rules are simple: avoid spreading the product, avoid heat and heavy exertion, and be cautious with facial treatments and potent skincare for a short time. Below you will find clear, practical do-not rules, and plain signs that should prompt a call to the clinic.
Aftercare: What Not To Do After Anti-Wrinkle Injections, First hours to 24 hours
The first 4 to 24 hours are the most important for preventing the product from moving to nearby muscles. Avoid rubbing, massaging or pressing the treated area. Do not lie flat for extended periods for four hours after treatment, and avoid being face-down (for example on a sunbed or massage couch).
Do not have a hot bath, hot shower, steam room or sauna in the first 24 hours, as heat increases blood flow and flushing. Avoid heavy alcohol and strenuous gym sessions for 24 hours; both can increase bruising and swelling. Gentle walking is fine.
Do not have a hot bath, hot shower, steam room or sauna in the first 24 hours, as heat increases blood flow and flushing. Avoid heavy alcohol and strenuous gym sessions for 24 hours; both can increase bruising and swelling. Gentle walking is fine.
Exercise, heat and sweating
Avoid high-intensity exercise for 24 to 48 hours. Heavy exertion increases heart rate and blood flow which can raise the chance of bruising and spread of product. Saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and long hot showers should be avoided for at least 24 hours, and ideally 48 hours for higher facial doses.
Light activity such as gentle walking is safe. Avoid intense facial sweating for the same period. If you sweat heavily during a session at the gym, pause it for a day or two. These steps are about minimising movement and blood flow around the injection sites.
Light activity such as gentle walking is safe. Avoid intense facial sweating for the same period. If you sweat heavily during a session at the gym, pause it for a day or two. These steps are about minimising movement and blood flow around the injection sites.
Hands-off grooming and facials
Do not have facials, chemical peels, microneedling, facial massages or intense LED/laser procedures over treated areas for at least two weeks. These treatments move and heat the skin and could change how the product behaves locally. Avoid aggressive massage or facial cupping during this time.
Makeup can usually be reapplied after four to six hours if the skin is not broken, but be gentle around puncture sites. If you have prolonged redness, open wounds or pustules, delay makeup until fully healed.
Makeup can usually be reapplied after four to six hours if the skin is not broken, but be gentle around puncture sites. If you have prolonged redness, open wounds or pustules, delay makeup until fully healed.
Skincare, active ingredients and supplements
Avoid strong topical actives such as retinoids (retinol, tretinoin), high-strength vitamin C peels, glycolic or salicylic acid treatments over the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours. These can irritate freshly treated skin and increase sensitivity. Gentle cleansers and moisturisers are fine.
If you take blood-thinning medications or supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil or high-dose vitamin E, mention this during consultation. They can increase bruising risk. Do not stop prescribed medications without speaking to your GP first.
If you take blood-thinning medications or supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil or high-dose vitamin E, mention this during consultation. They can increase bruising risk. Do not stop prescribed medications without speaking to your GP first.
When to contact the clinic
Most mild bruising, redness or tenderness is normal and settles in a few days. Contact the clinic urgently if you experience severe pain, rapidly spreading swelling, signs of infection (increasing redness, heat, pus), visual changes such as double vision or drooping of the eyelid, or if one side of the face feels significantly weaker than the other.
If you are unsure about a symptom, a quick WhatsApp message to the clinic is better than waiting. If you see sudden visual problems or breathing difficulty, seek emergency care immediately. If you are considering treatment, a consultation is the safest place to start. The Gorgeous Clinic team are always here for you, 24/7 after treatments.
If you are unsure about a symptom, a quick WhatsApp message to the clinic is better than waiting. If you see sudden visual problems or breathing difficulty, seek emergency care immediately. If you are considering treatment, a consultation is the safest place to start. The Gorgeous Clinic team are always here for you, 24/7 after treatments.
