Immediate Post-Treatment (First 4-6 Hours)
Stay upright: Avoid lying flat, bending over, or leaning your head forward for long periods to prevent the product from migrating to unintended areas.
Do not touch: Refrain from rubbing, massaging, or applying any pressure to the treated area.
First 24 Hours
Avoid strenuous exercise: High-intensity workouts or activities that significantly increase heart rate and blood flow should be skipped for at least 24 hours to prevent the Botox from spreading or increasing bruising risk.
No alcohol or blood thinners: Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning medications (like aspirin, ibuprofen, or fish oil supplements) for 24 hours to reduce the risk of bruising at the injection site.
Avoid excessive heat: Stay out of saunas, hot tubs, or tanning booths.
First Few Days & Beyond
Eat soft foods: For the first 3 to 5 days, sticking to softer foods to allow the masseter muscles to relax and adjust without strain. In particular, Avoid tough or chewy items like gum, steak, or hard candy.
Avoid other facial treatments: Wait at least one to two weeks before having facials, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion.
Important Considerations
Normal side effects: Mild tenderness, slight swelling, bruising, or a “heavy” feeling in the jaw are normal and usually subside within a few days.
Sometimes, there is an increase in pain in the first week, until the botox more evenly spreads in the second week to relax the masseter.
Results timeline: Initial results (eased clenching/tension) may be felt within a few days, but optimal therapeutic results typically take 2-4 weeks to appear as the muscle gradually relaxes.
When to contact your doctor: If you experience severe pain for longer than a week, notable asymmetry, difficulty swallowing or speaking, or signs of infection (fever, spreading redness), contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Follow-up appointments: If there is continued pain and pressure and lack of improvement of your symptoms, then consider a follow up appointment in 2 to 3 weeks to reassess.
