Anti-wrinkle injections: aftercare, what to expect and how long results last

The questions I get asked most about anti-wrinkle injections are not about the treatment itself. They are about afterwards. When will I see it? What can't I do tonight? Why does one side look different on day three? How long before I need to come back? Here is what I tell every client in clinic, written down so you can check it at home.

The first 24 hours

The treatment takes about ten minutes and you can go straight back to your day, but a few things help the product stay where it was placed and reduce bruising.

• Stay upright for four hours. No lying down, no bending over for long periods, no face-down massage. Gravity and pressure can move the product in the first few hours.
• Don't rub or massage the treated areas for 24 hours. Gentle cleansing is fine from the evening; firm facials, face rollers and tight headbands are not.
• Skip the gym, sauna, steam and hot yoga for 24 hours. Raising your heart rate and body temperature increases blood flow to the face, which increases the chance of bruising and swelling.
• Go easy on alcohol for 24 hours, for the same reason, and because it thins the blood slightly.
• Make-up: leave the injection points alone for a few hours. After that, clean make-up applied gently is fine.
• Use your face. Frowning, smiling and raising your brows normally in the first hour or two is fine and some practitioners encourage it. You don't need to do anything special.

What is normal in the first week

Small red bumps at the injection points usually settle within an hour. Mild bruising, a little swelling or tenderness can last a few days and is the most common side effect. A mild headache on the first day is not unusual with forehead treatment.

Then, often, nothing. Anti-wrinkle injections do not work instantly, and the quiet first few days worry people. Most clients notice the first softening at 3 to 5 days. It is also normal for one side to respond a day or two before the other, or for the forehead to soften before the frown lines. Give it the full two weeks before judging the result.

Two weeks: the real result, and your review

The full effect shows at around two weeks. That is why every treatment with me includes a free review at two weeks. I look at how the muscles have responded, check the result is balanced and natural, and adjust if an area needs a little more. If a top-up is needed at that review it doesn't need another prescriber consultation.

Please come to the review even if you are happy. It tells me how your muscles respond, which makes your next treatment more precise.

How long it lasts

For most people, 3 to 6 months. The muscles slowly regain movement, so the lines gradually return rather than coming back overnight. How long you get depends on how strong the treated muscles are, how expressive you are, your metabolism, and how much was used. First treatments sometimes wear off a little sooner than later ones.

Things that tend to shorten the result: very frequent, intense exercise, a fast metabolism, and strong muscles that have not been treated before. Things that tend to lengthen it: regular treatment before the muscles fully recover, and consistent daily SPF, which slows the line-forming that the injections are holding back.

When to rebook

The best time to have your next treatment is when movement is returning but the lines have not fully re-formed, usually at three to four months. Waiting until everything is back means starting again from scratch each time. Going sooner than three months is not recommended and I will say so.

A practical note on how booking works here: anti-wrinkle injections are a prescription-only medicine, so before treatment you have a face-to-face consultation with a prescriber at one of the prescriber days we run in clinic. The consultation is free. You book that first, then the treatment with me. If you want a particular date, work back from it and book the consultation in good time. How anti-wrinkle appointments work.

Looking after the result between treatments

• SPF every day. Sun is the main cause of the lines you are treating.
• Retinol at night, introduced slowly, supports the skin itself rather than the muscles beneath it. The two work well together. Retinol guide.
• Wait two weeks after injections before microneedling, peels or facials on the treated area. After that, they can be combined, and many clients pair anti-wrinkle injections with a skin treatment plan.

When to get in touch

Serious problems are rare, but please contact me rather than wait if you notice a drooping eyelid or brow, double vision, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a rash or swelling that spreads. Mild asymmetry at day three is normal and nearly always evens out by two weeks. If you are unsure whether something is normal, message me. I would always rather hear from you.

General information only, not medical advice. Anti-wrinkle injections are a prescription-only medicine and are only carried out after a face-to-face consultation with a prescriber. Treatment at The Cosmetic Club is by Anna Beckwith, Registered Adult Nurse (NMC). Results and timings vary from person to person.