Can You Exercise After Botox or Will It Decrease the Results?

There is no good science available to support an answer on this topic, only common sense. It seems reasonable to limit the type of exercise that elevates cardiac output, potentially washing out some of the Botox that has been injected before it has a chance to work. Massage afterwards may increase the spread of Botox and changes in body position might also allow the diffusion of Botox, Dysport or Xeomin into adjacent muscles. These are all reasonable but unproven concerns.  I had the chance to ask these same questions to a few expert scientists not too long ago. They didn't know the answers, largely because it is extremely difficult to measure how long it takes a toxin such as Botox to enter the nerve cell.  Practically speaking, many of my patients do exercise afterwards and I have seen no adverse effects.

Hello,It is recommended to wait at least 24 hours post Botox treatment to commence your exercising routine. We see individuals’ contract and strain their muscles more frequently when exercising and an increase in blood flow through the muscles in the injected region may inhibit the full effect of your Botox treatment. It may also lead to potential bruising or swelling. However, there is no evidence suggesting that a regular exercise routine may lessen the effects of your Botox over time. Again, results vary per person. It is also recommended to avoid bending over, laying down, drinking alcohol and hot showers for the first 24 hours. Be sure to ask your physician/injector for post treatment instructions following Botox.

It is best to avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours after Botox. The rigorous activity increases blood circulation, which can increase the risk of bruising or swelling after treatment. I usually tell patients not to lie down or do any activity with their head down for three hours. By then, all the Botox uptake will have occurred, and chances of bruising are minimized. Light exercise is fine but save you vigorous exercise for the next day. Make sure you are working with an experienced, board-certified dermatologist. I perform all my own Botox treatments - it might not be surgery, but the procedure does require a tremendous amount of precision and expertise to ensure the best possible results.

Thank you for your good question. I usually advise my patients to refrain from vigorous exercise for 24-48 hours after any type of injectable treatment. This ensures the produce has time to "settle," and reduces the risk for side effects like swelling. I would ask your injector for specific guidelines. Make sure you are working with a very experienced, board-certified injector who can produce the best possible results for you.

I don't limit patient after botox.  We used to have limits (don't lay down for 4 hours, no excercise that day).  I now say "no limits"... though i do encourage them NOT to go straight to bikram yoga and stand on their head.  Otherwise, no limits.  Hope that helps!

Thank you for sharing you question. I tell patients to wait 6 hour before exercising just to be safe. Probably, nothing would happen, but it's better to be cautious. Also, make sure an experienced injector performs your treatment to avoid problems. Good Luck.

In the old days, it was unclear how long it took for the muscle/nerves to pick up the BOTOX, so doctors would tell their patients not to exercise etc. Now we know that it is picked up quickly. We recommend that the patients use the muscle that was treated( frown, smile or raise the forehead), several times over the first 30 min.  After that we have no restriction of activity. Regular exercise can deplete your zinc. If you find that your BOTOX is not lasting as long you may benefit from a zinc supplement.

Thank you for your question. It is advised not to work out immediately after having botox injected.

We recommend not to rub the treatment area, no lying down and no exercise for at least 4 hours after your treatment. Exercise can make you flush, a sign of increased circulation, which could cause the product to diffuse to adjacent areas. We want the drug to stay where it was intended until it has time to bind to the neuromuscular junction. Light exercise or a long walk is fine.

Hi Cory in Chi Town,
Thank you for your question.  Botox injection is an excellent treatment for facial wrinkles and works by temporarily paralyzing the targeted muscles.  However, Botox may shift or move following the injection and can potentially cause undesirable effects if it migrates to a different muscle group area.  For this reason, I typically recommend patients to avoid any extensive rubbing or massaging of the previously injected area, as well as to avoid vigorous exercising in the first 48 hours.  
Please consult an expert for the best cosmetic results.  I hope this helps.
Best regards, Dr. Karanetz. 

In theory, early exercise after Botox could cause increased bruising, swelling or spreading of the product.  Why push it?  I advise going easy for several hours, to let the Botox bind to the target cells and let the blood vessels seal up.  Nobody really knows, and I doubt that this will be an area of research.  Take off a few hours, then proceed!