POST CARE GUIDE

Botox and Neurotoxin Aftercare

Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, and Xeomin all soften dynamic wrinkles by relaxing the muscles beneath them. Little shows on the outside at first, yet the first 24 hours largely determine how cleanly your result settles. This guide covers the full recovery, from the treatment chair to your two-week peak: the 4-hour upright rule, the 24-hour pause on exercise and heat, what normal bruising and headache look like, when each product starts to work, and the symptoms that should prompt a call to The Spa by Sheena in Lubbock.

Download Post Care Guide (806) 701-5840

Your Botox and neurotoxin recovery at a glance

What happens, and when

Here is the path from treatment day to final result.

First 4 Hours

Stay upright

For the first 4 hours, sit, stand, or walk. No lying flat, no bending forward, no pressure on your face. This is the window when the neurotoxin binds to the nerve endings in the muscle it was placed in, and staying upright helps it stay there. A short walk is fine and even encouraged. Save the nap, the gym, and the face-down phone scroll until the four hours are up.

First 24 Hours

No sweat, no pressure

For the first 24 hours, skip strenuous exercise, hot yoga, saunas, and hot tubs. Raising your heart rate and body heat drives blood flow to the face, which can nudge product toward muscles you did not intend to treat. Hold off on facials, massage, and rubbing the injection sites during this window too. A normal day at work, light walking, and everyday activity are all completely fine.

Day 3 to 14

Watch it work

Movement starts to soften around day 3 and reaches full effect near day 14. Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin follow this pace; Daxxify can begin a day or two sooner. Do not judge the result before two weeks, because that early stretch is the toxin still taking hold. If anything looks uneven at the 2-week mark, that is the moment to book a touch-up assessment with your injector.

How to protect your result in the first 24 hours

How to Care for the Treated Area After Botox

Track your timeline

Jot down the date you were treated. Onset, the first softening of movement, arrives around day 3 for Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, and as early as day 2 with Daxxify. Full effect lands near day 14. Knowing your treatment date makes the two-week check meaningful: if you notice asymmetry, a heavy brow, or a line that did not relax, day 14 is when to book a touch-up assessment rather than reacting too early.

Manage discomfort with Tylenol only

A mild headache or a band of pressure across the forehead is common in the first day or two as the muscles shift from contracting to resting. If you want relief, reach for acetaminophen (Tylenol). Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen for the first 24 hours, since these thin the blood and can worsen bruising at the injection sites. Drinking enough water helps too. A severe or unusual headache that will not ease is different, so call us if that happens.

Sleep on your back (first night)

Sleep on your back the first night so nothing presses on the treated area while the neurotoxin sets. An extra pillow keeps your head slightly elevated and makes back-sleeping easier if you tend to roll over. Avoid sleeping face-down or pressed into the pillow on one side, which puts steady pressure on fresh injection points for hours. One night is enough. After that, sleep however you normally do.

Stay upright (first 4 hours)

Stay upright for the first 4 hours after your appointment. Sitting, standing, and a gentle walk all count. Avoid leaning forward, lying flat, or resting your face in your hands. During these hours the neurotoxin is settling into the targeted muscle, and keeping your head up helps it stay exactly where Becca or Angie placed it. There is no need to hold still; normal upright movement is good. Just save the workout, the nap, and the facial for later in the day.

Resume skincare (next morning)

The next morning, return to your normal skincare routine, and do not skip sunscreen; daily SPF protects both your skin and your result. If your regimen includes prescription retinoids, high-strength retinol, or exfoliating acids like glycolic or salicylic, wait a full 48 hours before restarting those active steps, since they can irritate skin that was just needled. Gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF are all fine to resume right away.

Cleanse gently (that evening)

That evening, wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild, non-abrasive cleanser. Use your fingertips only, with no washcloths, cleansing brushes, or spin devices that drag across the skin. Do not scrub, massage, or press on the injection points. The goal for the first night is simply to keep the area clean while leaving the product undisturbed underneath. Pat dry with a soft towel instead of rubbing, and skip any exfoliating or pore-stripping step tonight.

Small bumps, brief bruising, and what is normal

What's Normal: Botox & Neurotoxin Downtime

Normal, temporary, and part of the process.

No real downtime

Neurotoxin treatment is built to fit an ordinary day. You can drive yourself home and return to work, errands, and normal routine the moment you leave, with no recovery period beyond the first few upright hours. The one thing worth planning around is a possible pinpoint bruise. Many clients schedule on a Thursday or Friday so any small mark has the weekend to fade before the workweek. No bandages, no time off, and for most people no visible sign they were treated.

Mild headache

In the first day or two, the treated muscles begin a slow shift from contraction to rest while the surrounding nerves adjust. That can register as a mild headache or a sense of tightness across the forehead. Drink plenty of water and use acetaminophen (Tylenol) rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, which can add to bruising. This kind of headache eases on its own within a day or so. A severe, unusual, or lingering headache is not typical; call The Spa if that happens.

Mild redness

Faint pinkness or tiny red dots where the needle entered are the skin's normal response to a puncture. Blood flow briefly rises at each point as the surface begins to close, and the color typically fades within a few hours. If you would rather cover it, mineral makeup is fine after the first 4 hours. A cool compress held in short 10-minute intervals calms the redness faster on an evening when you have somewhere to be.

Injection site bruising

A pinpoint bruise forms when the needle nicks a tiny capillary on its way into the muscle. It is a cosmetic mark, not a clinical concern, and generally clears within about a week. To lower the odds of bruising, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, and vitamin E in the days before treatment, and skip alcohol on the day itself. Some clients use arnica gel to help a bruise fade, though results vary. Once the first 4 hours pass, concealer over the spot is perfectly fine.

Injection bumps

Small raised bumps appear at each injection point the moment treatment ends. These are simply the injected fluid, botulinum toxin reconstituted in saline, sitting just under the skin. They are not a reaction or a problem. They flatten as the fluid absorbs into the surrounding tissue, usually within 15 to 30 minutes, and most are gone before you reach your car. There is nothing to do here. Resist the urge to press or smooth them, which only risks moving product.

What to avoid in the 24 to 48 hours after injection

What to Avoid After Botox or Neurotoxin

Air Travel

Skip flights for 48 hours after treatment. Cabin pressure changes are a known risk factor for product migration and can affect how cleanly your result settles.

Alcohol

Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and 24 hours after treatment. Alcohol thins blood and significantly increases bruising at injection sites — it is the single most preventable cause of post-treatment bruises.

Lying Flat

Do not lie down or bend forward for 4 hours after treatment. Pressure and gravity in this window can drift the neurotoxin into unintended muscles, causing uneven results or eyelid droop.

Touching the Treated Area

No rubbing, massaging, or applying pressure to the injection sites for the first 24 hours. No facials, micro-needling, or face-down massage for at least one week.

Strenuous Exercise

Skip the gym, hot yoga, running, and HIIT for 24 hours. Elevated heart rate and blood flow during the binding window risk product migration. A walk is fine.

Heat

Avoid saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and very hot showers for 24 hours. Heat dilates blood vessels, increasing both bruising and the risk of product migration.

When to Call The Spa After Botox or Neurotoxin

Contact The Spa immediately if you experience:

Mild headache, pinpoint bruising, faint redness, and minor tightness at the treated area are all expected and settle on their own. Those are not reasons to worry. Call us right away, though, if you notice any of the following:

Severe or unusual headache that does not respond to acetaminophen.
Changes in vision — blurred vision, double vision, or a drooping eyelid that affects your sight.
Difficulty swallowing, breathing, or speaking — rare, but requires immediate medical evaluation.
Muscle weakness beyond the treated area — new weakness in the arms, legs, or facial muscles that were not injected.
Signs of an allergic reaction — hives, intense itching, rash, or swelling of the lips or tongue.

During business hours, call (806) 701-5840 and ask for your injector, Becca or Angie. For severe symptoms outside business hours, go to the nearest emergency room and let us know as soon as you are able. When in doubt, call — we would always rather hear from you.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help make your experience simple, transparent, and stress-free.

All four are FDA-approved botulinum toxin type A injections that relax targeted muscles to soften dynamic wrinkles. The differences come down to onset, duration, formulation, and spread.

Botox — the original. Most-studied, most-used. Onset 4 to 7 days, duration 3 to 5 months.
Dysport — faster onset (2 to 3 days), broader spread. Good for forehead lines and larger surface areas.
Daxxify — the longest-lasting. Average duration 6 months, sometimes longer.
Xeomin — filtered of accessory proteins. The right choice for clients who have built resistance to other brands.

We carry all four at The Spa by Sheena. Your injector recommends the right one based on your face, history, and goals — not what is in stock.

What's the difference between Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, and Xeomin?

Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin typically last 3 to 5 months per session. Daxxify averages 6 months and can extend further. The exact duration for your face depends on metabolism, dose, muscle strength, and how consistently you treat — clients who have been on a regular schedule for years often see results stretch longer.

Most clients at The Spa by Sheena book maintenance every 3 to 4 months for Botox and Dysport, every 5 to 6 months for Daxxify. The right cadence is the one where you book again at the first sign of movement returning — not after the lines are fully back.

How long does Botox last in Lubbock?

Standard Botox dosing by area:

Forehead lines — 12 to 24 units
The 11s (glabellar) — 20 to 30 units
Crow's feet — 12 to 24 units per side
Bunny lines — 4 to 6 units
Lip flip — 4 to 6 units
Masseter slimming or TMJ — 20 to 50 units per side

Stronger muscles need more units, and dosing varies by brand. Your injector calculates exact units at your appointment. We do not sell minimum packages — you pay for the units you actually receive.

How many units of Botox do I need?

Per-unit Botox pricing at The Spa by Sheena:

Botox — $14 / unit
Xeomin — $14 / unit
Daxxify — $7 / unit
Dysport — $5 / unit

Dysport units are smaller than Botox units, so you need more of them for the same effect — total Dysport visit cost is comparable to Botox. Daxxify uses similar unit counts to Botox at a lower per-unit price. on per-unit pricing every session. We do not bundle minimum packages.

How much does Botox cost per unit in Lubbock?

Initial softening shows at 4 to 7 days for Botox and Xeomin, 2 to 3 days for Dysport, and as early as 1 to 2 days for Daxxify. Full result lands at 14 days for every brand — the medication needs time to bind to the muscle receptors before reaching peak effect.

Do not judge your result before the 2-week mark. If anything still reads uneven at day 14, book a touch-up assessment — that is exactly what the window is for.

When will I see Botox results?

Botox is a quick pinch at each injection site delivered with an ultra-fine needle. Most clients describe the sensation as similar to a mosquito bite. The entire appointment takes 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish, with most of that time spent reviewing your goals — actual injection time is just a few minutes.

Topical numbing is available on request, but the majority of clients skip it and walk out the same day with no lingering discomfort.

Does Botox hurt?

Common and expected: minor bruising or swelling at injection sites that clears in 24 to 48 hours, occasional mild headache the day of treatment, small temporary bumps that resolve within an hour.

Rare: temporary asymmetry or eyelid droop, almost always due to product migration from rubbing or pressure too soon after treatment. These resolve on their own as the neurotoxin wears off over 6 to 8 weeks.

Serious side effects are extremely rare with proper injection technique. We screen for contraindications at every appointment and review your medical history before dosing.

What are the side effects of Botox?

Stay upright for the first 4 hours after Botox — no lying down, no bending forward, no face-down pressure. After 4 hours you can lie down normally; sleeping on your back the first night is still the safest call.

Also avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area, facials, hot yoga, saunas, and strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours. These restrictions prevent the neurotoxin from migrating to muscles you did not pay to treat.

Can I lay down after Botox?

No. We do not perform Botox or any neurotoxin treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding. There is not enough safety data for either, and ethical guidelines recommend avoidance. We resume treatments once you have finished breastfeeding — book a consultation when you are ready and we will pick up where you left off.

Can I get Botox while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Only if it is over-injected. Our approach at The Spa by Sheena is to soften, not freeze — you will still raise your brows, smile, and have natural expression. If you want a more relaxed look we can dose more aggressively. If you want subtle movement preserved we will dose lighter. The result tracks the conversation we have at your appointment.

Will Botox make me look frozen?

Yes — and it is one of the strongest long-term plays in aesthetics. Preventative Botox in your late 20s and early 30s relaxes the muscles that crease the skin before the wrinkles set in deeply. Most preventative clients use lighter doses (10 to 20 units total) less often than older clients.

The case for starting in your late 20s: every year you delay the dynamic wrinkle from forming is a year you do not need a more aggressive treatment to address it later. The case for waiting: if you do not see dynamic lines at rest in your 20s, you can hold off until you do. We will give you a straight answer at consultation.

Can preventative Botox stop wrinkles?

Yes — plan ahead. Schedule your Botox 3 to 4 weeks before the event. That gives your result the full 14 days to develop and any minor bruising another full week to resolve.

Do not book Botox for the first time the week of a major event. If you have never had it, your face's response is unknown, and that is the wrong moment to learn. First-timers should treat at least 2 to 3 months before the event so we can adjust dosing at a 2-week touch-up if needed.

Can I get Botox before a wedding or major event?

Not for cosmetic Botox. Insurance covers Botox only for specific medical indications — chronic migraines, severe muscle spasticity, and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) with proper documentation. We offer Hyperhidrosis Botox as a separate service for clients who qualify.

We accept HSA and FSA cards for treatments with a medical indication. If you are unsure whether your case qualifies, bring it to consultation and we will help you sort it out.

Does insurance cover Botox?

Botox relaxes muscles to soften dynamic wrinkles — the lines created by movement, like forehead lines, the 11s, and crow's feet. Dermal fillers restore volume to areas that have lost it — cheeks, lips, under the eyes, and the jawline.

They solve different problems and most clients use both. Botox softens and prevents the wrinkles that movement creates. Fillers replace structural volume and contour. If you are not sure which one you need, book a consultation — we will walk through your goals and recommend a plan.

What is the difference between Botox and dermal fillers?

First-time clients: book a complimentary consultation online or call (806) 701-5840 so we can review your goals and walk through which neurotoxin is right for you.

Returning clients: book your treatment directly through our online scheduler or call us. We treat six days a week — Monday through Saturday — at 8713 Milwaukee Ave #200 in South Lubbock.