Why Aftercare Matters After Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Anti-wrinkle injections work by relaxing specific muscles, and the product needs a few hours to bind to the nerve endings in the area where it was placed. Most aftercare rules exist to keep it there during that window. Pressure, heavy massage and big changes in blood flow could, in theory, encourage a small amount of product to move toward neighbouring muscles, which is how side effects like a heavy brow or drooping eyelid can occur.
The good news is that aftercare is short and simple. Most restrictions apply to the first 24 hours, and life is back to normal well before the result is fully visible.
The First 4 Hours After Treatment
This is the period when following the rules matters most.
- Stay upright, sitting or standing, and avoid lying flat
- Don’t touch, rub, press or massage the injected areas
- Avoid bending forward for long periods, such as picking things off the floor repeatedly
- Don’t wear tight hats, headbands or caps that press on the forehead
- Skip makeup on the injection points
Some practitioners suggest gently moving the treated muscles, such as frowning and raising your eyebrows, during the first hour. Evidence for this is limited, so follow your practitioner’s specific advice on whether to do it.
In practice, the hardest rule for many patients is not touching their face. Small red bumps at the injection points can feel itchy, but they usually settle within 20 to 30 minutes on their own.
The First 24 Hours
For the rest of the first day, a few extra precautions help reduce bruising and keep the product in place.
Avoid: – Strenuous exercise, including running, spin, HIIT and heavy weights – Saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and very hot baths – Alcohol, which can increase the chance of bruising – Facials, facial massage, microneedling and peels on the treated area – Sleeping face down on the first night
Fine to do: – Normal daily activity, including work and walking – Gentle skincare with a mild cleanser and moisturiser – Light makeup after around four hours, applied gently
Many of these rules are precautionary. Exercise and heat increase blood flow, which may raise the risk of the product spreading or bruising, so it makes sense to wait a day even though serious problems are uncommon.
Days 2 to 5
After 24 hours, almost all normal activities can resume.
- Return to your usual exercise routine
- Use your normal skincare, though hold off on strong exfoliants on the treated area for a few days
- Small bruises, if any, may still be visible and usually fade within a week
You may start to notice muscle movement softening around days 3 to 5. Some people see changes sooner, others a little later. It is normal for one side to settle slightly before the other.
Days 5 to 14
The full effect usually develops gradually between days 7 and 14. Lines formed by expression become softer, and the treated muscles feel less able to contract fully.
Avoid booking facials, chemical peels or laser treatments on the same area during these two weeks unless your practitioner agrees. Pressure and heat-based treatments may interfere with how the product settles.
The Two-Week Review
Two weeks after treatment is the right time to judge your result. By then, the product has reached its full effect, and any asymmetry or areas of movement that remain can be seen clearly.
A review appointment allows your practitioner to:
- Check that both sides look balanced
- Assess any remaining movement in key areas
- Add a small top-up dose if needed
- Note the dose used for future treatments
Judging your result after only a few days often leads to unnecessary worry, since the product is still taking effect.
Anti-Wrinkle Aftercare Timeline at a Glance
| Time after treatment | What’s normal | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| First 30 minutes | Small raised bumps, mild redness | Rubbing or touching injection points |
| First 4 hours | Mild tenderness | Lying flat, pressure on the area, tight hats, makeup |
| First 24 hours | Occasional mild headache, small bruises | Strenuous exercise, saunas, alcohol, facials |
| Days 2 to 5 | Movement starts to soften | Strong exfoliants on the treated area |
| Days 5 to 14 | Full effect develops | Facials, peels, laser on treated area |
| Day 14 | Settled result | Nothing specific, attend your review |
Aftercare by Treatment Area
General aftercare applies everywhere, but some areas need a little extra care.
Forehead Lines
The forehead muscle lifts the eyebrows, so this area needs careful dosing. Avoid tight headbands, hats, caps and swimming goggles that press on the forehead for 24 hours. A slight feeling of heaviness in the forehead can occur in the first week and usually eases as you adjust.
Frown Lines
The frown area sits close to the muscles that lift the upper eyelid. Not rubbing the area and staying upright for four hours is especially important here, since product moving downward is the main cause of eyelid drooping.
Crow’s Feet
Take care when removing eye makeup for the first day, using gentle pressure rather than rubbing. Avoid tight goggles or sleep masks pressing around the eyes on the first night.
Masseter (Jaw Slimming and Teeth Grinding)
Masseter treatment is placed in the jaw muscle. Avoid chewing gum and very hard or chewy foods for the first day or two, and skip facial massage over the jaw. Chewing can feel slightly weaker for a few weeks, which is expected. The slimming effect develops over 4 to 8 weeks, far slower than for forehead lines, because the muscle gradually reduces in size.
Gummy Smile and Lip Lines
Only very small doses are used around the mouth. Expect a slight change in how your smile or lips move for the first few days. Avoid using straws excessively and pursing the lips for long periods on the first day.
Underarm Sweating
For hyperhidrosis treatment, avoid deodorant or antiperspirant for 24 hours and skip hot baths, saunas and heavy exercise for the first day. Reduced sweating usually becomes noticeable within a week.
Exercise, Alcohol and Heat: When Can You Resume?
These are the most common questions after treatment.
| Activity | When it’s usually fine | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and normal daily activity | Same day | Low impact on blood flow |
| Gym, running, spin, HIIT | After 24 hours | Raised blood flow may increase spread or bruising |
| Yoga with head-down positions | After 24 hours | Avoids pressure and blood rush to the face |
| Saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga | After 24 to 48 hours | Heat increases blood flow and swelling |
| Alcohol | After 24 hours | May increase bruising |
| Facials, peels, microneedling | After 2 weeks | Pressure and heat on the treated area |
| Flying | Usually fine, ideally after 24 hours | Minimal effect, mainly a comfort precaution |
Always follow your practitioner’s instructions where they differ, since dose, area and your medical history can change the advice.
Sleeping After Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Wait at least four hours before lying down after treatment. On the first night, sleeping on your back is ideal, since it avoids pressing the treated area into a pillow. If you naturally sleep on your side, a firm pillow on either side can help you stay in position. From the second night onward, you can sleep however you like.
Skincare and Makeup After Treatment
Keep skincare gentle for the first day. A mild cleanser and plain moisturiser are enough.
- Makeup can usually go on after four hours, applied with clean brushes and gentle pressure
- Avoid retinol, exfoliating acids and scrubs on the treated area for two to three days
- Wear SPF daily as usual
- Avoid at-home facial devices, gua sha and massage tools on the treated area for two weeks
Managing Mild Side Effects at Home
Most side effects after anti-wrinkle injections are mild and short-lived. Bruising, mild headache or temporary eyelid drooping can occur, usually resolving within a few weeks (British College of Aesthetic Medicine, 2024).
- Small bruises: Apply a clean cold compress, wrapped in a cloth, without pressing hard. Arnica may help if your practitioner agrees.
- Mild headache: Fairly common on the first day. Paracetamol is usually suitable, but check with your practitioner.
- Tenderness at injection points: Settles on its own within a day or two.
- Feeling of heaviness: Common in the first week, especially after forehead treatment, and usually eases.
What’s Normal and When to Contact Your Clinic
Knowing which category a symptom falls into helps you respond correctly.
| Symptom | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Small bumps, redness at injection points | Normal, settles within 30 minutes | No action needed |
| Mild bruising or headache | Common and temporary | Cold compress, follow aftercare |
| Slight asymmetry before day 14 | Product still taking effect | Wait for your review |
| Heavy brow or lowered eyebrow | Dosing or spread effect | Contact your practitioner |
| Drooping eyelid | Product affecting the eyelid muscle | Contact your practitioner promptly, eye drops may help |
| Double vision, trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing | Rare but serious | Seek urgent medical care immediately |
Eyelid drooping is uncommon and temporary, usually improving over a few weeks. A practitioner can sometimes prescribe eye drops that help lift the lid while it resolves. Serious symptoms affecting swallowing, speech or breathing are very rare but always need urgent medical attention.
Planning Treatment Around Events
Anti-wrinkle injections take up to two weeks to reach their full effect, so timing matters. Book treatment at least two to three weeks before a wedding, holiday, photoshoot or important event. This allows the result to settle fully and leaves time for a review and any small top-up.
Treating just a few days before an event risks the result not having developed yet, or a minor bruise still being visible in photographs.
How Long Results Last and Making Them Last Longer
Results typically last three to four months before muscle movement gradually returns. Regular treatment can stretch this interval over time, since consistently relaxed muscles tend to weaken slightly with repeated use. Some long-term patients find they can extend to four or five months between appointments.
Habits that may help results last:
- Wear daily SPF to protect the skin from further sun damage
- Avoid very frequent intense exercise in the first day after each treatment
- Book your next appointment as movement starts to return, rather than waiting until lines are fully back
Our guide on what anti-wrinkle injections are explains how the treatment works and which areas it treats in more detail.
Combining Anti-Wrinkle Injections with Other Treatments
Anti-wrinkle injections are often combined with dermal fillers, since one relaxes movement and the other restores volume. When both are planned, practitioners often treat with anti-wrinkle injections first and review volume needs at the two-week appointment, because relaxing the muscles can change how much filler is needed. Each treatment then follows its own aftercare.
If you’re unsure which treatment suits your concern, our comparison of dermal fillers vs anti-wrinkle injections explains which lines respond to each. For volume concerns, our dermal filler treatments in South Kensington start with the same full facial assessment.
Why Choosing a Qualified Prescriber Matters
In the UK, anti-wrinkle injections are a prescription-only medicine, so they must be prescribed by a qualified prescriber after a face-to-face consultation. A well-run clinic will review your medical history, give written aftercare, offer a two-week review and be reachable if you have concerns after treatment.
At our clinic, every anti-wrinkle treatment in South Kensington includes a consultation, written aftercare and a follow-up review, so you know exactly what to expect at each stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I stay upright after anti-wrinkle injections? Stay upright for around four hours after treatment, and avoid lying flat or bending forward for long periods during that time.
When can I exercise after anti-wrinkle injections? Wait 24 hours before strenuous exercise such as running, spin, HIIT or heavy weights. Walking and normal activity are fine the same day.
Can I drink alcohol after anti-wrinkle injections? It’s best to avoid alcohol for 24 hours, since it may increase bruising.
When will I see results? Most people notice changes after 3 to 5 days, with the full effect at around 10 to 14 days.
Can I wear makeup after treatment? Yes, usually after four hours. Apply it gently with clean brushes and avoid pressing hard on the injection points.
What should I do if my eyelid droops? Contact your practitioner promptly. Eyelid drooping is uncommon and temporary, and eye drops can sometimes help while it improves.
Why is a two-week review important? The product takes up to two weeks to reach its full effect, so the review is the earliest point to judge balance and decide whether a small top-up is needed.