Aftercare instructions
Aesthetic Treatments
Ville Männistö | ville@exop.fi | tel. +358 44 983 40 30
Botox aftercare instructions
After a botulinum treatment, the treated area may experience mild redness, slight swelling, and occasionally bruising. Small bumps may appear at the injection site, but these should disappear within a few hours after the treatment.
Some patients may experience a mild headache or dizziness.
All of the above symptoms are normal and temporary after-effects of the treatment, which usually subside on their own within a few hours. Bruising may take about a week to disappear.
Immediately after Botox treatment
- Stay upright or in a sitting position for 4–6 hours after the treatment. Avoid lying down during this time.
- Avoid touching the treated area for at least eight hours.
- The treated area can be cleaned and make-up can be applied a few hours later, but preferably not until the day after the treatment.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, excessive sweating, and sauna for at least two days.
- Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning painkillers (e.g. aspirin and ibuprofen) during this time.
- If you are taking prescription medications, do not discontinue them without your doctor's permission.
In the following days
- Do not press or massage the treated area during the first week after treatment.
- Avoid strong chemical peels and skin care products containing retinol or acids for a few weeks. Otherwise, you can treat your skin normally, but very gently and with mild products.
- Other aesthetic treatments or facial massages can be performed on the treated area no sooner than one week later.
Follow-up treatment
- The treatment result will gradually develop over the following days and weeks.
- The result can be reliably assessed no earlier than two weeks after the procedure.
- The result can be maintained by repeating the treatment every 3–6 months.
If you have any questions or concerns after the treatment, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your safety, comfort and confidence are my priority.
Botox and alcohol
Botox and alcohol are not a good combination. You should avoid drinking alcohol immediately after treatment. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. For this reason, drinking alcohol right after a Botox treatment can increase bruising and swelling in the injection areas. In addition, alcohol can slow down the normal healing of the tissue. It is generally recommended that you avoid alcohol for at least 24–48 hours after Botox treatment.
Why you should avoid alcohol:
- increases the risk of bruising and swelling
- may worsen side effects, such as headaches
- slow down recovery from treatment
- thins the blood and increases the risk of bleeding
“Drinking alcohol immediately after treatment could, at least in theory, affect how well the results of botulinum toxin treatment turn out.” – Ville Männistö
Filler aftercare
After a filler treatment, you may experience mild redness, swelling, tenderness, slight pain, itching, tingling, or small bruises in the treated area. If you are prone to cold sores (herpes simplex), the treatment may sometimes trigger another outbreak.
After lip filler treatment, swelling can be quite significant, especially in the mornings.
All of the above symptoms are normal and temporary, and they usually subside on their own within a few days. Lip swelling can last for a week. The final result will be visible and can be assessed only 2–4 weeks after the treatment.
Relieving swelling and discomfort
- In the first few days, you can use a cold pack to reduce swelling if you wish. Wrap the cold pack in a clean cloth and hold it lightly on the treated area for 15 minutes at a time, 4–8 times a day.
- Do not press the cold pack too hard. Avoid freezing the skin.
- If you feel tingling or the treated area swells, you can buy an over-the-counter allergy medication from the pharmacy, such as cetirizine, and take it as directed.
Immediately after filler treatment
- Change your pillowcase.
- Avoid touching the treated area for at least eight hours.
- You can clean your face and apply makeup the day after the treatment.
- You can care for your skin as usual, but gently and with mild products.
- Other aesthetic treatments (such as chemical peels, botulinum toxin or filler treatments, IPL or laser treatments) can be performed no sooner than two days after.
During the first week
- Avoid exposing the treated area to extreme temperatures, such as sauna, direct sunlight, tanning beds, or frost, until the redness and swelling are completely gone.
- Avoid swimming, heavy exercise, and excessive sweating for the first three days.
- For the first five days, do not mechanically exfoliate the skin. Do not use AHA or BHA products.
- Also, avoid skin care products containing alcohol for five days.
- It is good to avoid strong chemical peels for four weeks.
- Do not use products containing active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, or retinoids (such as retinol and tretinoin).
- Avoid massaging and pressing the area for at least four weeks.
If you have any questions or concerns after the treatment, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Hyaluronidase aftercare
Most of my patients can return to their normal daily activities immediately after the treatment. The initial effect of the treatment often becomes visible within a few hours.
It is completely normal for the treated area to experience mild redness, tenderness, or swelling after filler dissolving. Bruising is also quite common. These usually disappear within a few days, at the latest 1–2 weeks after the treatment. Especially in the lips, all after-effects can be quite intense at first.
Swelling and bruising may slightly increase during the first few days. If you wish, you can relieve swelling with a cold compress. Wrap the cold pack in paper or a clean cloth and hold it on the treatment area for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time.
Change your pillowcase to a clean one.
"A recovery period of at least one month should be allowed between filler removal and any new filler treatment."
- Ville Männistö
During the first few days
- In the first few days, your body's own, naturally occurring hyaluronic acid may temporarily disappear from the treated area. This will correct itself within a few weeks.
- The gel-like hyaluronic acid used in filler treatments is permanently broken down.
- Do not rub, press, or apply pressure to the treated area to prevent the hyaluronidase from spreading to unintended areas.
- Wait 12 hours before applying makeup to the treated area.
- When cleansing your face and applying skincare products and makeup, use gentle motions. Avoid pressing or rubbing vigorously.
Activity and lifestyle
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after the treatment. You can resume light daily activities immediately after the treatment.
- Avoid the following for 14 days after the procedure:
- facial massage
- microneedling or microdermabrasion
- laser and radiofrequency treatments, as well as other energy-based treatments
- active anti-aging skincare products
- Avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours, as it may increase the risk of bruising or swelling. Protect the treated area from the sun and avoid UV radiation until redness and swelling have completely subsided.
Managing discomfort
- If you feel tenderness or tingling, you can take paracetamol if needed. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, as they may increase the risk of bruising.
- If redness, tenderness, itching, or swelling worsens after the third day, please contact me.
- Sometimes swelling and the effect of hyaluronidase can together cause temporary asymmetry in the treated area. Please be patient — the final result will become visible about two weeks after the treatment.
Seek immediate emergency care or call 112 if you experience
- shortness of breath or wheezing
- difficulty swallowing
- swelling of the tongue, eyelids, or lips
- hoarseness
- severe abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea
Your safety and well-being are my top priority.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding your treatment.