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Will Massage 2 Hours After Treatment Affect Botox?

asked 1 year ago by Lacey mediagirl in England
Latest answer by Renita Lourdhurajan, MD, DNB
Question viewed 932 times
Tags: between eyebrows, 1 day post-op, massage

I have just had my first Boxtox treatment done between my eyebrows. I was advised not to lie down for 4 hours but nothing was mentioned about applying pressure on the area. I have since been massaging the srea and have heard a crackle under the skin. I am now concerned, as I have read that this could encourage the Botox to travel to unwanted areas of the face. What will be the outcome of this massaging. I am worried I have ruined the treatment!

19 answers to Will Massage 2 Hours After Treatment Affect Botox?

Will Massage after Botox Affect results?

Hi Lacey. Based on our experience, it is possible to affect the dispersion (how far it spreads) of Botox by having a facial or massage immediately after injections. This is why we recommend not doing anything to the area for at least several hours. As the other practitioners have mentioned, this is not based on scientific study, but experience.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

Do not massage the face after BOTOX

Yes, there is a chance of making the toxin spread a little bit with massage. It is best not to handle the treated area at all, except for gentle application of sunscreen/ makeup.

Renita Lourdhurajan, MD, DNB
India Dermatologist

Don't bend or massage the botox area for four hours after injections

This is the suggestion, but it has never been studies so don't stress and just wait and see. You might have a most wonderful result despite not adhering to the suggested restrictions post Botox injecions. What's done is done and you can't change it now, but you may not have anything to worry about.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox instructions

You most likely have not ruined your treatment, however it is not recommended to massage the treated areas for up to four hours following Botox injections.

Andrew P. Giacobbe, MD
Buffalo Plastic Surgeon

Just don't do it next time

Lacey, Most dermatologists tell patients not to rub the area or massage for about four hours after injection. I know of no controlled study and think that we just fear that the product might be moved with rubbing to area where it is not wanted causing lid droop. That being said, I am sure that many people unconsciously rub their eyes all the time and have no ill effects. If you have a problem it will be temporary and you will not do the same thing again.

Jo Herzog, MD
Birmingham Dermatologist

www.brookwooddermatology.com

Massaging after botox is not advisable...

In response to your question, it is not advisable to massage after botox injections. Patients are recommended to wait 24 hours before putting any pressure on the area. Massaging the injection site can cause the botox to travel in unwanted areas such as the eyes. If it does travel to the eyes, you may get a droopy eyelid for a few weeks - it will resolve as the Botox effects weaken. For best results you should always follow your plastic surgeon's instructions as... more

Andrew Miller, MD
Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.associatesinplasticsurgery.com

Don't massage your Botox

Massage after Botox injections may cause the Botox to migrate and possibly effect other muscles. Dysport is known to migrate more than Botox, even without massage. Thus, don't massage, just leave it alone. Botox can take days to weeks to become fully effective.

Todd C. Case, MD
Tucson Plastic Surgeon

It can, here's what I'll tell most patients

Generally, because such small needles are used and Botox is injected into the muscle, there is not much disruption to the skin surface. That being said, it is safest to avoid rubbing the treating areas (no creams, facial massages, etc.) for 3-4 hours after Botox treatment . Manipulation or rubbing of the muscles a short time of injection can potential spread the Botox into areas that you do not want. Most importantly, the eyelids, causing the unfortunate eyelid droop. Also, any strenuous... more

Manu Gujrati, MD
San Jose Facial Plastic Surgeon

Best Way to Avoid Complications After Botox Injections

Hi Lacey, Now you've done it, you have gone and broken your head...just kidding. No more massaging. Hopefully you will be able to open your eyes tomorrow to be able to read this. Your Botox should be wearing off around the time you get through reading all of the responses that busy physicians have taken their valuable time to reply to your honest but ridiculous question here on RealSelf. I hope that you are fine, and in the future,... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox and massage/lying down

While there are many post-procedure guidelines after Botox treatment, most of these recommendations (including lying down, avoiding exercise, etc.) are not backed by scientific evidence. Massaging the area unlikely affected the outcome of your injections, but it is advisable not to perform any massage on the treated areas, especially within the first few hours after treatment.

Alison Stallings, MD
Tarrytown Dermatologic Surgeon

Activity advice after Botox

I have also heard recommendations to "work the treated muscles" and not to lie down after your Botox treatment. Bottom line: These are all urban myths with no scientific evidence of truth. Although it would make sense not to have a facial immediately after Botox or fillers, again there is no scientific study about this subject. Yoash Enzer, MD

Yoash R. Enzer, MD
Providence Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.doctorenzer.com

Massage and Botox

Historically, it is advised to stay as upright as possible for up to 4 hours after Botox is injected into the face -- particularly in the instance of having a massage (or a facial massage), you don't want the Botox to inadvertendly spread into different muscle areas. In addition, if you are lying down for your massage, the massage "pillow" that your face is pressing against could potentially have a negative effect on the Botox treatment. more

Deborah Sarnoff, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox aftercare

It is recommended not to lie down or massage the treated area for several hours after botox injection. These are just general guidelines and no in-depth study has been done to establish these instructions. I ask my patients to follow some simple after injection instructions which do include not massaging the area. It is, however, unlikey that you have caused any harm to your treatment.

Elizabeth F. Rostan, MD
Charlotte Dermatologist

Should not manipulate area immediately after Botox injection

I have used Botox for over 20 years to reduce unwanted lines and wrinkles and marvel at the amount of misinformation and urban myth surrounding its use. Botox is a solution that will be rapidly absorbed by the tissues within which it is injected. I typically massage the Botox solution immediately after its injected so I can direct where that absorption occurs...this limits the migration of the solution IMHO. I do not require patients to refrain from lying down,... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Recommendations after Botox

As this is the first time you have had Botox, you are understandably concerned. However, please relax. The Botox is absorbed over minutes to hours and then does not move or have a distant clinic effect. The massage you are doing will not matter. All of the recommendations people give about not laying flat, etc are not based on any scientific reality. In fact, after your injections, you can just go about your daily business without worries. Good Luck. more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Harm from Massaging the Area after Botox Injection

Within 20 to 90 minutes after it is injected, Botox or Dysport (botulinum neurotoxin type A) can be detected inside the motor nerve endings. Therefore the muscles and nerve endings take up the Botox or Dysport very quickly before they can spread far from the injection site. Obviously, it is important not to "vigorously" touch or rub the area for the first few hours after the treatment as you could conceivably spread its effect to unwanted muscles. After a few hours there should not... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

Massage after Botox is not recommended

Massaging the area shortly after injections can displace the Botox into areas that are not desirable. For example, if the glabella is massaged after injections of Botox, the Botox may spread to the eyelid muscles and cause droopiness of the upper eyelid. I don't recommend massage of injected area within the first 3-4 hours of injection.

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

It seems that common sense is not so common.

There is no truth to the lying down thing. We also in the past thought that it was important to work the treated muscles-no it isn't. Please understand that mostly the agent is rapidly absorbed by the tissues into which it is injected. However if is possible to milk some of the solution into places it does not belong by rubbing the treated area. In the future, please keep your hands off the treated area. If you can't seem to do that, consider wearing... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

The first hour after BTX-A treatment is the most important

Most of the BOTOX® [and this is also true of other formulations of BTX-A] is either taken up by the nerve endings on the muscles or else washed away by natural blood flow through the treated area during the first hour after treatment. As a practical matter, it is important not to massage or rub the treated area hard during the first hour, because you might move the BTX-A out of the treated area, or move it into some other area [notably the upper eyelid] where it might cause unwanted... more