Is it safe to rub the area that has just been injected with Botox?

Question

My doctor instructed me to rub upwards on my forehead after my Botox injections. This is opposite of what any other doctor has asked me to do. Is this a good idea?

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

I believe that the injected Botox should not be massaged, as it may make the material go to areas that were not intended to be paralyzed.  I think you will find that this is the majority position.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

I generally advise people to not rub the treated Botox area for a couple of hours after treatment. The risk is the spread of the Botox to muscles that were not targeted during treatment. Are you sure this was Botox?

Kristin M. Baird, MD · Answer

I do not recommend rubbing or massaging the areas treated with Botox for the first 24 hours. There is a potential for the Botox to spread to other areas not intended to be treated. For this reason I tell patients no facials within a day of Botox. Best wishes.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I recommend to avoid rubbing the area for 24 hours after Botox injections. Allowing the Botox to settle decreases the risk of product migration. Best,

Phillip Chang, MD · Answer

We recommend that our patients do NOT massage any of the injected areas post procedure. Reason being that you can actually move the Botox around (slightly) after it is injected. If placed properly, no massage should be done post procedure for Botox.

Jeffrey W. Hall, MD · Answer

In my opinion it is better to leave the sites that have been injected alone. You do not want to massage the area.

Henri P. Gaboriau, MD, FACS · Answer

I would strongly recommend against massaging the areas injected with Botox.  The main risk is the spread of the Botox to other areas with risks of Ptosis if the botox ends up in the eyelid muscle.

Jennifer T. Haley, MD, FAAD · Answer

It is not recommended to massage the area after injection.  A good injector will place the Botox where they want it to have an effect.  Any massage may cause weakness of adjacent muscles causing an undesired effect.

Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS · Answer

Botox will, on its own migrate up to 1cm from the injection site. Most of us plan this into our injections; massage can move Botox where we do not want it to go and therefore do not recommend massaging.Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACSGreen Hills Plastic Surgery

R. Scott Yarish, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The post treatment instructions that we give to all our patients state not to massage or manipulate injection sites for 48 hours after injection.  The Botox will settle in the necessary areas.  Enjoy your results!

Is it safe to rub the area that has just been injected with Botox?

Answers (13)

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