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Should Botox Be Administered While You Are Lying Down or Sitting Upright?

asked 10 months ago by marcyd in Mount Pleasant, SC
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 516 times
Tags: injection, technique

I've had 2 different doctors administer Botox. One indicates it is not acceptable to give the injections to a patient that is lying down. The other indicates it is okay to inject in a prone patient. Does it matter?

21 answers to Should Botox Be Administered While You Are Lying Down or Sitting Upright?

Position doesn't matter as much as just not getting enough Botox when you need it.

Less than optimal results is from not buying enough botox to adequately do the job rather than what position you received the botox in. If it is very cheap botox then you are probably not getting FDA approved Botox or too few amount to correctly do the job right. Expect to pay about $300 per area. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

How should Botox be administered?

We don't believe the patient's position matters with regards to outcomes; however, for aesthetic purposes, we find having a patient in an upright position to better evaluate animation is the better option.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Proper positioning for Botox injections

The positioning of the patient is upto the physician's discretion. I haven't heard of any advantages in treating patients in either position and don't see any great rationale for injecting patients in either way except for personal comfort. In fact, it used to be of general practice to instruct patient to not assume a reclining position for several hours after having Botox injections. I personally treat all my patient sitting upright or with their back in... more

Ted Brezel, MD
Long Island Dermatologist

Botox

It really doesn't matter, usually just based on the Dr administering preference. I prefer all my patients sitting up, as this is how I examine them.

Hannah Vargas, MD
Kansas City Facial Plastic Surgeon

Position only matters for evaluation

Injecting the patient is different than from evaluating the patient. It is important to evaluate the patient when they are sitting upright. However, when it comes to actually inject them, whatever position that makes the patient most comfortable is what is important. Though it is better to avoid a completely supine position, if a patient undergoes a fainting episode, that position should be assumed. Gone are the days when patients are unable to sleep or lie down till hours after the... more

Hassan Galadari, MD
Dubai Dermatologist

Position for placement of botox

The insertion sites of botox are related to your muscular and bony landmark anatomy and doesn't change with position. Many doctors have been trained to inject aesthetic fillers with the patient sitting or reclining at a 45 degree angle but not less, so that they can see the effects of gravity and a more natural position of the folds and creases, which do change if one were to lie down. There has been no study to indciate if the injection of botox in a patient who is lying down... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox may be injected with the patient sitting up or lying down.

The position of the patient during the injection does not affect the efficacy or safety of the Botox. However, the evaluation and marking of the patient should be performed in the sitting up position.

Leyda Elizabeth Bowes, MD
Miami Dermatologic Surgeon

Positioning During Botox Injection

I prefer to evaluate and mark a patient while they are sitting up, then inject in a reclined position. I do not think that lying down during the injection increases the risk of diffusion. I do have patients sit up immediately after the procedure and advise them to avoid lying down or taking a nap for 3-5 hours after treatment.

Lauren Fine, MD
Chicago Dermatologist

Patient position during Botox Injection

Patient position should not have an affect on Botox Cosmetic results. Most plastic surgeons and dermatologists have the patient recline in the chair a little. Choose whatever position that is most comfortable for you. Best of luck. Dr. Chaboki

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox administration

I prefer to inject botox with the patient sitting up. Be that as it may, some may find it easier for the patient to be lying flat.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Should botox be administered while lying down?

It is usually ideal to have a patient sitting up for injection or slightly reclined back. There is documented diffusion, seemingly greater with Dysport than Botox, so positioning is just to minimize that risk

Lori A. Brightman, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Sitting or laying down for Botox injections

I dont think it matters- whatever you and your doctor are comfortable with is the best position for injections. I inject with the person seated and most of my colleagues do as well. However, some of my friends inject laying down (the patient, not the doctor) and they get great outcomes The key to success with any injection is to know the anatomy and use the right dose but I dont think it matter what position you are in.

Kenneth Beer, MD
Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

www.palmbeachcosmetic.com

Botox Administered? Sitting Up or Lying Down

I administer Botox for facial treatment while my patient is sitting up, after I examine them, also in a sitting position. When I am treating the underarms, my patient is in a supine (lying down) position.

Anifat Balogun, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lie down of sit up for botox

It all depends on what your doctor prefers. I do all of mine sitting up unles it is at the time of surgery and then the patient is supine>

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox injections

For all injections I like my patients to be in a seated position as this is what appears naturally during day to day interactions and will give to the best landmarks for your injection. For fillers lying down would be problematic. For Botox or Dysport less problematic but still preferable to have the patient sitting upright .

Shawn Allen, MD
Boulder Dermatologist

I personally like my patients sitting up.

However, this is not set in stone. I think there is room for more than one opinion on this issue. At the end of the day, the real question is: Did your doctor do a good job with the treatment.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Up or down for BOTOX injections

In the old days, we injected with the patient sitting up, and urged patients not to lie down for 12h after the injections. We feared that the BOTOX would diffuse and flow to different areas. Nowadays, we are not concerned about this and want the patient in the most comfortable position possible.

Barry Resnik, MD
Miami Dermatologist

www.drresnik.com

Botox can be safely administered either sitting or lying down.

Botox can be safely adminstered both sitting and lying down. I do recommend applying pressure immediately after treatment in either case to prevent possible buising.

Mark Taylor, MD
Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

www.gatewaylasercenter.com

Positioning for Botox

One of the disconcerting things that I see routinely is all of the social engineering related to Botox injections. The 'injector' has an elaborate list of do's and dont's related to the treatment. They are designed to all do the same thing, defer blame for a poor result onto the patient. (i.e. You didn't get a good result, it must be that you moved the muscles too much or you exercised too quickly after treatment.) I tell my patients;... more

Joseph Campanelli, MD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox Lying Down or Sitting Up?

Doesn't matter. I have done it both ways and I want my patients comfortable during the injections. Most prefer not to be sitting up. Prone is lying face down--hard to inject the face in this position.

Albert Dabbah, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Does position matter for Botox?

Traditionally speaking, BTX is often administered while sitting up, but it probably does not matter. I have personally seen physicians recommend that they prefer a slight recline when administering. My way of looking at it is this. GI docs will sometimes use BTX for anal sphincters to treat fissures. Are the patients sitting up? No, they are on their belly in the OR and guess what? The BTX is not going all over their body or colon. We treat sweaty armpits,... more