Exercise after anti-wrinkle injections: how long should you wait?
How long should you avoid exercise after anti-wrinkle injections, and why 24 hours?
A muscle relaxant is a prescription medicine that is injected into a muscle in small amounts. In the first hours after injection, the medicine binds to the nerve endings in that muscle. While that is still happening, it is sensible to avoid anything that could move the medicine to a muscle where it is not intended.
Intensive exercise increases blood flow and blood pressure, you sweat and you touch your face more often, for example to wipe away sweat. Some sports also put pressure on the face, such as swimming goggles, a helmet or a towel, or put your head lower than your heart. In theory this increases the chance that the medicine spreads, with a rare result such as a temporarily drooping eyelid or an uneven eyebrow.
To be honest, the scientific evidence for this advice is limited. It is mainly a precaution. Because waiting 24 hours takes little effort and reduces the risk of an unwanted effect, most doctors keep to this advice.
What can you do on the day of treatment?
You do not need to sit still for the rest of the day. Most daily activities are fine.
- A gentle walk, even a longer one, is usually fine on the same day. Your heart rate barely rises.
- Desk work, grocery shopping and light household tasks are no problem.
- Talking, smiling and frowning normally are fine; you do not need to keep your face still.
- Cycling at a relaxed pace to home or work is usually fine, as long as you do not sprint or push hard.
How long should you wait with each activity?
The table shows common, cautious waiting times after a muscle relaxant treatment. If your doctor gives you different advice, follow that advice.
| Activity | Usual waiting time |
|---|---|
| Gentle walking, normal work | same day |
| Lying flat, bending forward | 4 hours |
| Touching or rubbing the treated area | 24 hours |
| Intensive exercise (running, gym, spinning, HIIT) | 24 hours |
| Yoga with head-down poses, heavy strength training | 24 hours |
| Swimming | 24 hours |
| Alcohol | 24 hours |
| Sauna, steam room, hot yoga, sunbed | 24–48 hours |
| Facial massage, facial, peel, microneedling | 1–2 weeks |
| Intensive exercise after a filler | 24–48 hours |
Why should you stay upright for the first 4 hours?
This advice is also meant to prevent the medicine from moving in the first hours. When you lie down or bend forward for a long time, for example to lift something from the floor, there is extra pressure and blood flow in the face. In addition, a pillow presses against the treated area when you lie on your side or stomach.
After 4 hours you can lie down as normal. You can sleep as usual that night, although some doctors advise sleeping on your back on the first night if possible.
What about sauna, massage and alcohol?
Heat widens the blood vessels and increases blood flow. That is why it is advised to avoid the sauna or steam room and hot yoga for 24 to 48 hours.
Do not massage or rub the treated area for the first 24 hours, including when removing make-up. A facial with massage, a peel or microneedling is best planned 1 to 2 weeks later. A back or neck massage is usually fine after 24 hours, as long as you are not lying face down in a headrest that presses on the treated area.
Alcohol slightly thins the blood and can increase the chance of a bruise at the injection sites. It is therefore better to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after treatment.
How long should you avoid exercise after fillers?
After a filler treatment, for example in the lips, cheeks or chin, it is usually advised to avoid intensive exercise for 24 to 48 hours. The reason here is slightly different. Exertion and heat can increase swelling and the chance of bruising, and in the first days the filler has not fully ‘settled’ yet.
After lip filler, also avoid pressure on the lips, such as from a sports mouthguard or a diving mask. Sauna and sunbed are usually discouraged for 48 hours after a filler.
What if you exercised too soon?
If you did exercise within 24 hours, this is usually no reason for concern. For the vast majority of people nothing unusual happens. The effect of a muscle relaxant becomes visible after 2 to 5 days and is complete after about 10 to 14 days.
If you notice anything unusual in that period, such as a drooping eyelid, a clearly uneven eyebrow or difficulty swallowing or speaking, contact your doctor. A drooping eyelid is unpleasant but temporary and usually resolves within a few weeks.
How does Zalat Clinics handle aftercare?
At Zalat Clinics in Rotterdam-Zuid, the treatment is performed by a BIG-registered doctor and you receive aftercare advice that fits your treatment and your sport. If you exercise a lot or have a competition shortly after treatment, mention this during the free consultation. A free check-up follows after two weeks, and the doctor can be reached via WhatsApp if you have questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go for a walk after a muscle relaxant treatment?
Yes, a gentle walk is usually fine on the same day. Your heart rate and blood pressure barely rise. Just avoid intensive exertion, such as running or steep hill walks, for the first 24 hours.
Can I go back to the gym the day after treatment?
Usually yes. After 24 hours you can resume your normal training after most treatments. If your doctor has advised a longer waiting time, follow that advice.
Does the effect wear off sooner if I exercise a lot?
That is not clear. Some people who train very intensively notice that the effect lasts a little shorter than the average of 3 to 4 months, but the scientific evidence for this is limited. You do not need to give up exercise because of it.
Does the same advice apply after treatment for teeth grinding?
Yes, after treatment of the jaw muscles it is also usually advised to avoid intensive exercise for 24 hours. Do not massage your jaw for the first 24 hours and preferably avoid chewing gum or very chewy food that day.