One popular Botulinum Toxin aftercare instruction is to avoid exercising following your appointment. But why? Is it really necessary to abstain from your regular fitness regimen after your Botulinum Toxin injection? How does working out affect the results of the treatment?
Before we answer these questions, let us first learn more about the basics of this injectable and how it works.
Botulinum toxin or Botulinum Toxin is an FDA-cleared anti-wrinkle treatment that can improve or reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. It uses a neurotoxin protein that temporarily blocks the signal from a nerve to a muscle, preventing the facial muscles from contracting. This then smooths or relaxes the wrinkles.
Botulinum Toxin is the most popular brand of botulinum toxin injection. It is approved for treating moderate to severe frown lines (angry 11s), forehead lines, and crow’s feet or wrinkles in the corner of the eyes. Many turn to this injectable for wrinkle smoothing or cosmetic purposes, but providers also use it to treat excessive sweating, migraines, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Are you getting Botulinum Toxin for the first time? Check out our previous post for some helpful things you should know.
There are three reasons why you need to wait to exercise after getting Botulinum Toxin:
Working out (particularly aerobic exercise) gets your heart pumping, which is beneficial for your cardiovascular health. Increased blood flow to the muscles, however, could cause the Botulinum Toxin to diffuse away from the original injection site. This can then cause temporary paralysis in the surrounding muscles. Raised blood flow, furthermore, can contribute to further swelling in the treatment areas.
Another important aftercare instruction is to avoid touching or applying any pressure on the treated area for at least one day (up to three days) after the injection. Wiping away your sweat after exercise can cause you to unintentionally put pressure on the area. The same is also true for engaging in activities that require head or facial gear (like swimming or cycling).
Even light exercises like yoga and Pilates can cause changes in head position. The same goes for any routine that requires you to position your head below your heart. This can cause the Botulinum Toxin to diffuse or migrate to an unintended site. This is also the reason why injectors recommend patients to keep their heads upright (at least six hours after the treatment) and not lie or bend down.
Do take note: Botulinum Toxin is safe and effective for smoothing and relaxing facial lines and wrinkles. Just make sure to let your injector or aesthetic doctor know about your fitness routines or habits before your appointment. They may give you pre-treatment instructions or even modify your treatment plan.
The general recommendation is to avoid all exercise for at least 24 hours and wait for 3 more days before engaging in any rigorous or intense workouts. Some providers and aesthetic doctors may even recommend that you wait for at least a week (before exerting yourself) just to be on the safe side.
Keep in mind that your metabolism or level of physical activity significantly affects the results of Botulinum Toxin. Athletes, fit patients, or those with high metabolism are likely to notice a shorter period of results. This is mainly because their bodies break down or metabolize Botulinum Toxin faster than those who lead an inactive lifestyle.
Read our previous post about the 5 factors that affect how Botulinum Toxin lasts.
Your injector is likely to provide you with a list of the things you should do and shouldn’t do after your injection. Some of the things you need to avoid may include:
IncobotulinumtoxinA is another botulinum toxin injection that is also FDA approved for treating facial lines and wrinkles. It works the same way as Botulinum Toxin, blocking the signal from a nerve to a muscle, which then softens the wrinkles. Providers recommend IncobotulinumtoxinA if Botulinum Toxin doesn’t work or stops working for you.
Unlike Botulinum Toxin, IncobotulinumtoxinA does not contain any additives, providing a purified form of neurotoxin. It undergoes another purification step to make it free from accessory proteins. It is also said to work faster, as it doesn’t have complexing proteins that it needs to break free from before bonding to the facial muscle.
The absence of additives, furthermore, means that the body is less likely to develop an immune response to it. With both injectables, however, you need to avoid exercise or facial manipulation 24 hours after the treatment. But then again, IncobotulinumtoxinA binds faster to the muscles. This means fewer chances for the active ingredient to migrate, especially for those who like to move or work out.
Here’s what you need to know about this Botulinum Toxin alternative.
Want to learn more about Botulinum Toxin and how it can make you look younger and more refreshed? Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our Harvard-trained aesthetic doctor, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.
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