3 Weeks After Receiving Botox, when Can I Massage my Face?

Hi Sandy,
Even though the full effects of Botox take anywhere from approximately three to five days for you to notice an improvement in your wrinkles, the Botox is completely taken up by its target (within the junction between your nerves and the muscles that they stimulate) within an hour of injection. So, I would avoid massaging the area, vigorous exercise, and/or lying down for the hour immediately following your Botox injections. Anything (including a facial and/or facial massage) after that hour should be completely fine.
Enjoy your Botox (and your facial)!

Three weeks following Botox Cosmetic treatment you certainly can rub or massage your face without any concerns for an adverse result.

The concern about facial massage after Botox Cosmetic treatment has to do with the binding and uptake of the toxin molecule, and not about when the maximum paralysis is visible.

Botox binds to the presynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction and is transported into the cell by endocytosis probably within about 1 hour of injection.

I recommend that patients not rub vigorously or massage over the areas of treatment for about 4-6 hours. I also ask that they remain upright, avoid lying down, and refrain from strenuous activity for the same period of time. That means that you should be able to rub your face or have a facial the day following your Botox Cosmetic treatment.

The full visible effect of the Botox Cosmetic treatment will not be visible for about 7 days afterward.

Best wishes, Kenneth Dembny