Is It More Beneficial to Sleep on One's Back After Botox Treatment?

Thank you for your question. I typically focus my aftercare on restricting activities that make you hot, sweaty or flushed: Examples include strenuous activities, alcohol, saunas, hot baths, etc… This will increase your chance of bruising. If no bruising, by the next day, the you should be good to go. If there is, then I recommend another day to make sure the bruise is not getting worse. I am not as worried about the not laying down after four hours or sleeping on one side versus the back..

I usually recommend that when you're sleeping, it's better to sleep on your back and keep your head elevated with several pillows to help diminish the swelling. 

Since we don't know of any studies that have been undertaken on this subject, it's safe to say that there is no right or wrong answer on this one.  As long as you are not lying down immediately after treatment (give it a few hours) you should be fine laying on your back or stomach. 

 After a BOTOX treatment, I advise patients not to lie on their bellies for 4 hours. That's the only restriction I suggest. This is to prevent touching or rubbing your face, and possibly moving the BOTOX into an unfavorable location.
Enjoy your BOTOX, and best regards.

Dear Susue
There isn't a scrap of evidence that sleep position has anything to do with the effectiveness of a BOTOX treatment. So don't lose any sleep over this. Sure, the fashion magazine will tell you to sleep on the back and there is something to so called "pillow lines." However, it is also very difficult to change one's sleep habits. So don't let anyone make you feel bad because you sleep on your side and not your back.

Hi Susie,
As you know, we all look a little better on our back with our face looking up. Conversely, gravity's effects are magnified when we are facing downward (just ask any actress or actor, or woman for that matter).
I do not believe that how you sleep will effect your Botox treatment, but we do tell patients not to lay down for at least 3 hours after Botox injections to minimize the chance of migration of Botox to the upper eye lid muscles which would result in difficulty opening the eye lid.
Be well, and pleasant dreams.
Dr. P

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs Kvad. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids as described above. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.I have not found that changing the position in which a patient sleeps affects the results of a Botox treatment.Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

How you sleep the night of your Botox treatment makes no difference whatsoever. I would only advise you not to lie down for one hour after the Botox injections. After one hour, you can do whatever you want.

Hello,
I don't think anyone has ever shown in a convincing way that it makes a difference. Relax and enjoy the effect of your botulinum treatment.

Interesting question.  Although I am skeptical that any particular body position significantly affects Botox effects or longevity following injection, I do not believe anyone really knows the answer to your question.  I would not spend too much time or energy worrying about it.
Good luck.