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If you’re a first time Botox patient you probably have a lot of questions.  

(Same for any other type of botulinum toxin — Dysport, Daxxify, Xeomin…they are all pretty similar, and the rules in this post will apply to all of them. I wrote about the difference between Botox and Dysport here if you’re curious to learn more. ) 

If you’ve picked the best injectors, your Botox appointment and aftercare will be easy. You’ll do exactly what they tell you, and your results will be great. You’ll get the youthful look you wanted and your crow’s feet will be a distant memory. 

But for the money you end up spending on these cosmetic procedures, you want the best possible outcome. And you’re going to get better Botox results if you’re doing the right things before your appointment too. 

Let’s dive in to what to avoid before Botox, and what you should be doing to get your best possible results. 

When to schedule your Botox appointment

Your planning starts when you make your appointment! You don’t want to schedule your Botox treatment immediately before any special event where you want to be photographed or to look your best. Bruising is always a possibility, no matter how good your injector is. So don’t plan on any social events in the days following your appointment. (You should also remember that you won’t see the full effects of your treatment for a week!)

Best case scenario, you would schedule so that you have a day or two of downtime, just in case. (I have never had downtime in my entire adult life, so if you’re like “how would I even do that”, I feel you.) But many people do choose to get their Botox injections on their lunch break, and most of the time it’s really fine. I’ve never had significant bruising from Botox, and I tend to bruise when I hit my hip on the counter (weekly).

When you’re picking a day, bear in mind that you won’t be able to do any strenuous exercise for a few days after your appointment. So if you’re an active person, schedule your appointment before a rest day to minimize the number of missed workouts. (I generally rest the day after the appointment and go for a light walk with no sweating on the second day, and return to my normal workouts the third.) 

Similarly: if you get regular facials, schedule your Botox so that you won’t have a facial for at least two weeks afterwards. It’s fine if you get a facial in the days before your appointment, though.

Another consideration when you schedule your appointment: you won’t be able to lay down or lean forward for four hours after your injections. So don’t schedule too close to bedtime. I’ve made this mistake before and it’s terrible.

So, now…what to avoid before Botox, one week out?

Week before your Botox appointment

Talking about what to avoid before Botox: a lot of what you need to watch out for is blood thinners.

• If you take prescription blood thinners talk to your doctor. You might be able to discontinue it for a week so that you can reduce your risk of bruising from your Botox treatment. But decide that with your doctor!! Your health is the most important thing. 
• Discontinue over-the-counter blood thinners like ibuprofen or Motrin. These types of medication thin blood in addition to relieving your pain, so they’re likely to lead to more facial bruising than you would have had otherwise. Stop using these painkillers if you can. If you need these anti-inflammatory medications, just minimize the use as much as you can, especially as you get closer to the appointment. 
• Check your supplements for blood thinners. Fish oil supplements, cod liver oil, and vitamin E can all thin the blood, and are out for the same reasons as above. 
• Order pain medication. You are allowed to use pain medication before and after Botox! The best choice for pain relief is Tylenol, which does not thin the blood and will not increase bruising. Tylenol is a brand name for acetaminophan, which may have other names in different countries. It is inexpensive and available in every drugstore.

• Order bruise cream if you don’t have any. If you are concerned about bruising or tend to bruise, you may also want to buy a product with arnica montana in it.  Arnica gel (like the one linked below) can help your body reabsorb the blood that causes visible bruises. If you’re stressing about the possibility of bruising, this might be a cheap purchase that gives you peace of mind. I bought it before my first Botox appointment, and I’ve never had Botox bruising, but I’ve gone through two tubes in three years between myself and my kids. Follow the directions on the product you purchase, but plan to apply 2-3 times per day if bruising appears.

• Order an ice pack. If you don’t have one at home, buy an inexpensive ice pack if you’re not a bag of peas type of girl. (If you are, no judgement here!) It should be a gel ice pack so that it will form to your face, and you need to wrap it in a towel to protect your skin. 

Two days before your Botox appointment

• Stop drinking alcohol, if you do. Alcoholic beverages will also thin your blood. So if you’re drinking, you’re more likely to bruise and experience discoloration. Take a few nights off from your glass of wine. (For your first appointment, plan on two days of no alcohol consumption. As you go on, you can experiment with one day and see if it works for you.) My fellow sober girls have this on lock already! 
• If you use tretinoin or any other kind of retinoid or retinol skincare, discontinue it two nights before and don’t use it again until two days after your appointment. Retinol and retinoid products are irritating, and you don’t need further irritation around your injection site. 
• In the days before your appointment, drink plenty of water. This will keep your body feeling well before the treatment and ensure you get the best appearance of your skin. Green tea is also a great choice to stay hydrated. 

​Day of your Botox appointment

What to avoid before Botox appointment, the day of? Not much. You’re almost done!

• Skip your workout. ​The day of your procedure, too much physical activity will get your blood pressure up and increase the risk that you will bruise. You can decrease that risk by not working out, or putting as much time as humanly possible in between your workout and your appointment. Remember — this is a small, safe procedure, but it’s still a medical procedure. You don’t want to rush this. 
• Eat and drink water. If it’s your first time getting Botox, you might be feeling a little stressed or nervous, and people do sometimes get lightheaded when they get cosmetic injections. You’ll get to your appointment feeling better if you’ve eaten. 
• Skip makeup or wash your face. ​Your risk of infection is extremely low with cosmetic Botox — most complications come when it’s used for a medical condition. But when there is infection in the treated area, it’s typically related to makeup. Either they didn’t wash it off before the injection, or they put makeup on right after. If you can skip makeup, do so. If you can’t, be sure to wash it off at your appointment. 

After your appointment

Listen to your injector! 

But now that you know what to avoid before Botox, I wrote about what to do after Botox to get maximum results here. 

Good luck at your appointment! Say hello to a more youthful appearance and goodbye to fine lines.