In short: After anti-wrinkle injections, stay upright for about four hours; for 24 hours, avoid rubbing, strenuous exercise and saunas. Mild headache and bruising are common. If one eyelid or brow droops, phone Dr Vicky Bu on +44 7545 341600 straight away, including outside opening hours. Call 999 for drooping of both eyelids or difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing, which are rare but can start up to four weeks later.
This guide is for people who have already had anti-wrinkle injections, whether for frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet or another area. If you were treated elsewhere, phone your own clinic wherever this guide says to phone Dr Bu.
Aftercare timeline: what to do and what to avoid
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| First 4 hours | Stay upright, and avoid lying flat or bending over for long periods. Talking, smiling and normal expressions are fine. |
| First 24 hours | Do not rub, massage or press on the treated area, including with facial rollers. Avoid strenuous exercise (it can make a bruise worse), saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and long spells in strong sun. Wash gently, and keep make-up off the injection points for the rest of the day. |
| Evening of treatment | If you bruise easily, avoid alcohol, which can make bruising more likely. |
| First night | Optional: sleeping on your back avoids pressing on the treated area. |
| Days 1 to 14 | Ask your clinician before facials, facial massage, peels, microneedling or laser on the area. Watch for a drooping eyelid or brow, which usually shows within the first two weeks. |
| About two weeks | The effect is usually visible by now and can keep building for up to about six weeks; a review is commonly arranged. Mention any unevenness. UK product leaflets advise at least three months between treatments, so do not arrange a top-up or further treatment before then. |
| First four weeks | Know the rare urgent symptoms listed below, and tell any doctor you see that you recently had anti-wrinkle injections. |
| At one month | If you see no meaningful change after a first treatment, tell your clinician (routine, not urgent). |
These timings are precautions based on clinical experience rather than trials; see what the evidence says below.
If your treatment was in a different area
The precautions above and the urgent symptoms below apply to every area. Follow any area-specific instructions your clinician gives you.
- Jaw: in the weeks after treatment, your jaw may tire more easily with tough or chewy food; this is usually temporary. Phone Dr Bu if your smile changes or chewing or opening your mouth becomes difficult.
- Around the mouth: phone Dr Bu if your smile looks uneven or your lips feel weak.
- Neck: difficulty swallowing is an uncommon side effect of neck treatment, but do not treat it as expected: any difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing needs a 999 call. Phone Dr Bu if the lower part of your face feels weak.
What is normal after anti-wrinkle injections?
- Small raised bumps at the injection points usually settle within a few hours, and little visible change in the first few days is normal.
- Redness, mild swelling, tenderness, stinging or itching at the injection points is common and usually short-lived.
- Small bruises are possible and usually settle within about a week, although some take up to two weeks. Keep a bruise out of strong sun while it fades.
- A mild headache is common in the first days and usually settles on its own. Simple pain relief such as paracetamol is commonly used.
- A tight or heavy feeling in the forehead, eyelids or brows, slightly uneven brows or a raised outer brow can happen in the first fortnight; UK product leaflets list these as side effects, usually temporary. Slight unevenness is common and usually settles; mention any of these at your review, or phone Dr Bu sooner if they bother you.
When to phone Dr Bu, and when to call 999
The effects above are usually normal. For the symptoms in the first list below, phone Dr Vicky Bu on +44 7545 341600. The number goes to her directly, including outside opening hours (10:00 to 20:00 every day). If you are unsure where a symptom fits, phone her. For the urgent list, call 999.
Phone Dr Bu straight away
- A drooping eyelid or eyebrow on one side that is not getting worse, with no other symptoms
- Eyelid swelling; a dry, watery or irritated eye; mildly blurred vision
- After jaw or lower-face treatment: a change in your smile, or difficulty chewing or opening your mouth
- A headache that is getting worse, lasts more than a few days, or comes with eye or vision problems or being sick
- Redness that spreads, pus or a fever (possible infection)
- Any other change you are worried about
If you cannot speak to her straight away, go to A&E or call 999.
Urgent: call 999 (do not drive yourself to A&E)
- Drooping of both eyelids, a droop that spreads to the other side or gets worse, or new double vision
- Difficulty swallowing (such as food or drink going down the wrong way), speaking or breathing, slurred speech or a change in your voice
- New weakness away from the treated area, such as difficulty chewing when your jaw was not treated, or weakness in your neck, arms or legs
- Your lips, mouth, tongue or throat suddenly swelling, or wheezing and struggling to breathe (possible severe allergic reaction)
- A headache that starts suddenly and is extremely painful, or comes with confusion, a stiff neck, loss of vision, or numbness or weakness in your face or body
- Anything you think is life-threatening
If an eyelid or brow droops
A drooping eyelid or brow usually appears within the first two weeks, typically around day 5 for a brow and day 9 for an eyelid. It is usually temporary, often settling within a few weeks, although a brow droop can take around six weeks and some last longer. If the droop is on one side, is not getting worse and you have no other symptoms, phone Dr Bu on +44 7545 341600 straight away; if you cannot speak to her straight away, go to A&E or call 999. Call 999 if both eyelids droop, the droop spreads or gets worse, or it comes with double vision or difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing. Do not drive while your vision is affected.
The four-week window
Rarely, the effect spreads beyond the treated area and causes a serious reaction. This usually starts 4 to 8 days after treatment, but it can start as early as the next day or up to four weeks later. If you have any symptom in the urgent list, call 999 straight away; do not wait to see whether it settles. Tell the ambulance or A&E team when and where you were treated.
Reporting side effects
Tell Dr Bu about any side effect. Anyone, including patients, can also report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme online or through its app. The scheme cannot give medical advice, so get care first if you need it.
Medicines and keeping a record
If a doctor, dentist or pharmacist prescribes or supplies a new medicine for you in the weeks after treatment, tell them you recently had anti-wrinkle injections, as some medicines can increase the effect. Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of an aesthetic treatment without asking the prescriber. Keep a note of the date, the area treated, the name of the product used (the clinic that treated you can give you this in writing) and the clinic's contact details, and show it to any doctor or A&E team who sees you in the following weeks.
What the evidence says about these rules
The authors of a large 2025 Italian study, in which more than 5,000 patients followed only a 10-minute precaution, found no clinical trials of common advice such as staying upright or avoiding certain activities, and described that advice as largely anecdotal. Their patients had low complication rates, but without a comparison group the study cannot show the usual advice is unnecessary. The activity timings in this guide sit within the range of UK professional advice, which runs from about four hours to 48 hours; some clinics advise avoiding facial massage for up to two weeks, and your clinician may suggest longer.
- Moving your face is fine. One small randomised trial did test this: people who deliberately frowned and raised their brows for four hours saw the change about a day sooner, with no difference by two weeks or in how long it lasted. You do not need to keep still or exercise your face.
- Ice is debated. Early evidence suggests cooling may reduce how well the treatment takes, so ask your clinician before icing straight after treatment. For a later bruise, a cold pack wrapped in a cloth and held gently is commonly suggested.
- No special diet or creams. We found no evidence for avoiding particular foods, or that any skincare product extends the result, although daily SPF is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
How long after anti-wrinkle injections can I lie down?
About four hours: until then, avoid lying flat or bending over for long periods, a commonly advised precaution. On the first night, sleeping on your back avoids pressing on the treated area.
I lay down or rubbed my forehead too soon. Have I ruined the result?
It is unlikely. These precautions are based mainly on clinical experience rather than trials. Carry on with your aftercare, and phone Dr Bu straight away if one eyelid or eyebrow droops over the next two weeks.
When can I exercise or go to the gym after anti-wrinkle injections?
Wait 24 hours before strenuous exercise; walking and everyday activities are fine. Raising your blood pressure can make a developing bruise worse, and your clinician may advise a longer gap.
Can I drink alcohol after anti-wrinkle injections?
If you bruise easily, avoid alcohol that evening, because it can make bruising more likely. We found no evidence that a drink after treatment changes the result.
Is a headache after anti-wrinkle injections normal?
Yes: a mild headache is common and usually settles on its own, and simple pain relief such as paracetamol is commonly used. Phone Dr Bu if it is getting worse, lasts more than a few days or comes with eye or vision problems. Call 999 if a headache starts suddenly and is extremely painful, or comes with confusion, a stiff neck, loss of vision, or numbness or weakness.
When can I wash my face and wear make-up?
You can wash your face gently the same day, without rubbing. Many clinics suggest keeping make-up off the injection points for the rest of the day.
When can I have a facial or another skin treatment?
Avoid massage and pressure on the treated area for at least 24 hours. For facials, peels, microneedling or laser, advice varies and no research has tested the timing; some clinicians suggest waiting until after your review at about two weeks, so ask yours.
What should I do if my eyelid or eyebrow droops?
Phone Dr Bu on +44 7545 341600 straight away, including outside opening hours; if you cannot speak to her straight away, go to A&E or call 999. A droop on one side is usually temporary, but it should be assessed rather than waited out. If both eyelids droop, the droop spreads or gets worse, or it comes with double vision or difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing, call 999.
Which symptoms after anti-wrinkle injections mean I should call 999?
These reactions are rare. Call 999 straight away for drooping of both eyelids or a droop that spreads or gets worse, new double vision, difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing, slurred speech, new weakness away from the treated area, sudden swelling of your lips, mouth, tongue or throat, or a sudden, extremely painful headache. Problems from the treatment spreading usually start 4 to 8 days afterwards, but can start sooner or up to four weeks later. Do not drive yourself to A&E, and tell the team you recently had anti-wrinkle injections.
Can I fly after anti-wrinkle injections?
We found no evidence that flying affects the result; some practitioners suggest waiting 24 to 48 hours in case of minor side effects. Rare urgent symptoms can appear up to four weeks after treatment, so wherever you are, get emergency help straight away if one appears.
Related reading
Questions after your treatment
At My Timeless, every contact route goes to Dr Vicky Bu herself. For any symptom in the urgent list above, call 999 first, at any time. For anything else that worries you, phone her on +44 7545 341600 straight away, including outside opening hours; if you cannot speak to her straight away, go to A&E or call 999. For questions that are not urgent, you can also message her on WhatsApp or WeChat (Vickybxf1999), or use the My Timeless contact page; if you cannot reach her, NHS 111 can help and can arrange an interpreter.
Sources: NHS advice on headaches, allergic reactions and NHS 111; MHRA and UK Health Security Agency guidance; Save Face; GMC guidance; UK product leaflets; published studies. Checked October 2026.
This article is general information for people who have already had treatment and does not replace individual medical advice. Reactions, recovery and results vary between individuals. Dr Vicky Bu is a dentist registered with the General Dental Council (GDC 309759), not a registered medical practitioner.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Vicky Bu (GDC 309759) · Last updated: 2026-10-19
