Botox Aftercare Essentials: What the Pros Recommend

Whether you’re preparing for your very first “baby Botox” appointment or are a long-time injectables devotee, here’s what top practitioners recommend to promote a quicker, more comfortable recovery. 

While it’s often confused with dermal fillers, Botox is actually not a type of filler. Both are cosmetic injectables used to help diminish signs of aging, but differ in how they work, what they can do for your skin, recovery time, and how long results last.    

Fillers have been used to augment facial appearance since the 1800s, starting with paraffin, but weren’t greenlit by the FDA until 1981, when a type of bovine collagen was approved.¹ Since then, collagen has largely been replaced by filler agents like hyaluronic acid for greater safety and efficacy. They’re generally used to “fill in” static wrinkles – those that are visible when your face is at rest– and plump skin for a smoother appearance. While there are options that last from 6 months up to two years (or even permanently), certain dermal fillers can also come with longer recovery times.  

Botox is newer to the aesthetics scene, but has been heavily researched for decades. Development of Botox began in the 1970s, and it was approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in the early 2000s.² It’s used to help soften the appearance of dynamic wrinkles – any lines that appear when you move your face – and has recently grown in popularity as a preventative treatment.³  Results generally last around three to four months.

Both can result in bruising, swelling, redness, tenderness, and discomfort, but the right filler and botox aftercare routine can help you soothe symptoms and minimize recovery time.

Following your provider’s post-treatment instructions is crucial for optimal results and recovery.  Avoiding tings like alcohol, caffeine, exercise, makeup, excessive sweating, lying down, and touching or rubbing the treated area for 24 to 72 hours are all commonly advised, including by organizations such as the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.⁴

From plastic surgeons to dermatologists, here’s what aesthetic professionals recommend to help their patients naturally optimize recovery and results after cosmetic injections.

“Arnica is a homeopathic herb derived from a plant in the sunflower family,” board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Melanie Palm XYZ tells Poosh, in an article featuring VitaMedica’s homeopathic Arnica Montana tablets. “It can be ingested orally in tablet form, as tinctures, or in teas… It is said to reduce swelling and inflammation, so it may help joint and muscle pain or menstrual cramps.” 

Taking arnica prior to and following treatments like Botox and filler, she goes on to share, may help keep bruises to a minimum.

In addition to bruising, oral arnica has also been shown to help reduce swelling. It is important to keep in mind that only homeopathic arnica – not herbal arnica – can use these claims. Consider starting homeopathic arnica the day of your appointment, and continue for five days following your treatment.  

Additional evidence points to arnica for safely supporting pain and wound healing, as well.^5,6

Applying arnica topically to the skin can also be beneficial following injectables. “In skincare, topical products with arnica (creams, gels, and lotions) are thought to decrease inflammation/swelling and soothe bug bites.” Try incorporating our soothing arnica cream, physician-formulated with vitamin K to help reduce bruising, swelling, and restore healthy-looking skin, into your-post treatment regimen.

Oral and topical arnica can be used together to reduce bruising, swelling, and discomfort from the inside out.

While sweat-inducing heat like saunas should be avoided post-treatment, applying ice or cold packs can be beneficial for helping to reduce swelling. In a Cleveland Clinic publication, plastic surgeon James Zins, MD, recommends placing an ice pack or cool compress on your injection site, but advises this should be done for no longer than 10 minutes at a time.⁷

He suggests wrapping the cold pack in a towel prior to application (this can help prevent skin irritation).

For an effective, easy-to-use cold therapy option, keep our therapy pack on hand in your freezer.

Bromelain is a powerful enzyme, found primarily in the stems of pineapples, has been observed to help balance inflammation, reduce bruising and swelling, and promote healing in clinical studies. 

Quercetin, a potent bioflavonoid derived from flowers, fruits, vegetables, and berries, has also been shown to help reduce inflammation and has demonstrated potent antioxidant effects. 

Taking both together can enhance the benefits of these natural powerhouses. 

“One of the best options to minimize swelling and inflammation after surgery is bromelain combined with quercetin,” plastic surgeon Raman Mahabir, MD, tells New Beauty Magazine, saying that this combination helps to balance the body’s naturally inflammatory response.  

In the same article, facial plastic surgeon Jill L. Hessler, MD, recommends pairing VitaMedica’s oral Bromelain and Arnica for post-surgical recovery support. 

Bromelain and quercetin, and their documented properties for supporting inflammation, bruising, and swelling, can also help soothe symptoms and promote optimal recovery following Botox and filler injections. Consider starting Bromelain with Quercetin the day of your treatment, and continue for five to seven days.