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So you’re asking, can I eat after Botox?

The super short answer is yes, but not everything. 

(So that’s not really a short answer at all.)

To get the best results from your botox injections, you’re going to want to avoid certain activities in the hours after your appointment. You can mostly go about your normal activities without any issues, but there are a few things you should avoid to get your best possible results. 

Read on to find out what to avoid and maximize the length and effectiveness of your treatment! 

Why do I need to skip all these things after Botox?

In the hours immediately after getting Botox (or Dysport, or Xeomin, or Daxxify, or whatever) you want to avoid anything that either

• increases blood flow to your face or
• Increases your circulation overall.

Either of these situations might put you in a position where the actual toxin – the Botox that was injected–gets moved away from where your injector put it. This will reduce your effects of Botox overall, and you won’t get the best possible results. 

Most of these activities are only limited for a few hours to a few days. It’s a small time commitment to ensure you get optimal results from your treatment plan. 

A lot of these are small or annoying changes to your usual life that may not seem worth it if they only slightly decrease the effectiveness of your skin treatments. But, like, if you pay for 50 units of Botox, you should take every precautionary measure to make sure you actually get the effects of 50 units of Botox, you know? 

(Because you know we’re all about getting the most value out of the money we spend on these botulinum toxin injections!)

No-brainer things to avoid

Okay, this one is not even a sacrifice: don’t rub the treated area. If it itches, don’t scratch it. Don’t push down on it. Don’t move or fold the skin. 

Your goal is to avoid moving the skin or the muscle, so that toxin doesn’t get “squeezed” into a different area. Your injector chooses your injection site very carefully, so moving the tox into another area may hurt your results. 

You’re going to get the best results possible from leaving the tox exactly where your injector put it, and that means not touching your face. 

You also already know not to schedule Botox within two weeks of microneedling. The same is true of Botox and dermal fillers in the same area (so, like a lip flip and filler in the upper lip). Because Botox needs to settle in, you’re potentially messing up the full effect of the treatment on the injected areas. Some people even say you shouldn’t get any kind of filler or chemical peels in any area after Botox. For what you’ve paid, you can wait two weeks to do the next cosmetic treatment. 

Foods to avoid after Botox

Okay, now tell me: can I eat after Botox?

So, for the best results after Botox, you’re avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, sugar, and salt.

For 1-2 days, avoid spicy foods that bring that feeling of heat to your face can dilute your toxin in the process. Spicy food can dilate your blood vessels, creating more opportunities for the Botox to be moved away from the site. Alcoholic beverages can do the same — if you drink alcohol, avoid it for a day or two. Alcohol works in your body the same way as spicy foods, making your vessels dilate. Alcohol also makes you more likely to bruise when you drink before or after your injections. 

Sugar and salt ​are best avoided just for the day of your treatment if you’re prone to swelling after an injection. Sugar and salt draw water into the body and can make that swelling worse. 

So, can you eat after Botox? Yes, with a few limitations.

Avoiding heat after Botox

We’re using “heat” really generally here! For the first few days after your treatments, you’re limiting heat exposure and trying to keep your body temperature down. 

 First, you’re going to avoid direct sun exposure, because at the same rate that those UV rays are degrading your skin, they’re also degrading the toxin! You’ll get your best and longest-lasting Botox results if you limit your exposure to direct sunlight and always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

But more generally — you want to limit anything that might get your blood pressure up. 

That includes strenuous exercise. Avoid anything that gets your blood pumping in the first few days after your treatments, and opt for lighter workouts like walking or Pilates. (No hot yoga!) 

And finally, you want to avoid exposing your body to heat — that means hot showers, saunas or steam rooms, and hot tubs are all out. The increased blood circulation associated with this heat, or vigorous exercise, will cause more toxin “spread” and can dilute your tox, leading to a less effective treatment.  

Also, if you’re into facial exercises or face yoga, you’ll skip those for two days as well. They may not break a sweat, but it’s the same issue as facial massages — you don’t want to move the toxin. 

Sleep after Botox

Try not to schedule an appointment too close to bedtime! Best practices are to keep your head upright and not lean forward for about four hours. That means no sleep for four hours. I learned this one the hard way after booking an 8PM appointment. She said I had to stay up for 4 hours when I am FIRMLY a 9:30 bedtime type of girl. Never again!

Once you do go to bed on that first night, you should try to sleep on your back. I know that for some people this is completely impossible! But side sleeping does run the risk of the toxin running out the correct place where the healthcare provider put it. So if it’s remotely possible, try to sleep on your back. If you need to sleep in an armchair to do that, it may be a good idea–it’s only 3-4 times per year! If that’s too much for you, just try to stack up as many of the other aftercare things as you can

I forgot and laid down after getting Botox

First: give yourself some grace. It was just a mistake. 

The truth is that your Botox is going to turn out fine. If it’s slightly less than perfect, it’s going to be fine. You’re trying to protect your investment in your more youthful appearance, but if you mess up nothing bad is actually going to happen. 

If you accidentally fall asleep, or watering the garden turns into a slightly more strenuous physical activity than you intended, it’s not the end of the world. The Botox can’t actually run out of your face and hurt you in some way. 

Whatever happened, continue to try to do your best with the directions for the next couple days. It’s not all or nothing — if you can avoid most of these things, you’ll be fine. 

And remember, if you’re even bothering to ask, can you eat after Botox, you’re doing better than a lot of other people.

Avoiding side effects after Botox

Post-Botox treatments, some people will experience some unwanted side effects. The overwhelming majority are mild: bruising, swelling, or soreness or pain. These potential side effects are pretty small. The risk of bruising can be reduces if you pick an injector with years of experience, who is less likely to hit a blood vessel. For swelling and pain, your best bet is an ice pack. Avoiding aspirin and ibuprofen is best, because those blood thinners can make you more likely to bruise at the injection sites. Tylenol doesn’t thin the blood, if you need a pain medication. 

There are some more severe adverse reactions, including headache and flu-like symptoms. Drinking plenty of water, sticking to a healthy diet, and using Tylenol if you need a painkiller can help here too. 

Very serious side effects are extremely rare and typically come from Botox in the neck.

And one last thing — wait a full two weeks for a touch-up, if you think you need one. You want to be sure you’re seeing the full effects of your tox before you pay for more! 

Pin this post for your next tox appointment!

Can you eat after Botox?