When Can You Drink Alcohol After Botox?

We get it, you want to go and show off your new line free brows – but, are there any potential problems if you drink alcohol after Botox? And if so, when can you drink alcohol after Botox? We asked an expert and found out…

What’s the Potential Problem With Botox and Alcohol?

Why can’t you have alcohol after Botox?

The main reason is, bruising.

‘Drinking alcohol can lead to bruising and swelling at the injection site as alcohol has blood thinning properties, and is also a vasodilator (a substance that makes your blood vessels wider) and that can make bruising worse,’ explains Katherine Russo, a Registered Cosmetic Nurse and specialist in cosmetic injectables at award-winning aesthetic practice Cosmetic Avenue.

However, there might be a small risk of some other issues from drinking after Botox.

‘The literature also suggests that vasodilation caused by alcohol consumption can speed up the absorption of Botox, reducing results – or, it may cause the Botox to spread to an undesired area – although this is debated topic,’ says a Katherine.

And there’s the human error risk of drinking alcohol after Botox! If you have a little bit more booze than perhaps you should, you might not look after your face as suggested in the hours after your appointment and forget the long list of things you shouldn’t do after Botox. ‘Particularly remember, you shouldn’t lay down for at least four hours after your injection and, do not rub your face for 24 hours,’ says Katherine.

If you’ve gone into wine-induced autopilot and end up scrubbing off your make up 6-7 hours after your jabs you might end up with effects a little bit outside of your desired area.

So, When Can You Drink Alcohol After Botox?

Ideally wait at least 24 hours after your shot just to minimise your risk of bruising.

Not drinking doesn’t mean you won’t end up with a bruise, ‘the most common side effect experienced after Botox is bruising,’ says Katherine. ‘But drinking alcohol too soon after your appointment will increase the chance of it happening.’

Can You Drink Alcohol Before Botox?

Nope!

‘In fact, drinking alcohol in the day before your appointment is more likely to cause bruising than drinking in the 24 hours after due to the blood thinning properties of alcohol,’ says Katherine. ‘At a minimum stay off alcohol for 24 hours before.’

Oops, I Already Drank Alcohol After Botox

If you’re reading this because you already had a glass (or two) of wine after Botox – don’t panic.

Been there, done that!

When I was having Botox in London I almost always went out afterwards as I’d already travelled an hour to get into town from where I was living and I wasn’t wasting that journey heading straight back home.

‘I’ve done it too and I was fine,’ says Katherine. ‘But, if I had an important event coming up and was worried about bruising, I just wouldn’t drink for 24 hours pre or post treatment to try and minimise my risk.’

What Happens if You Do Bruise After Botox?

If you do wake up tomorrow with a bruise, here’s what to do…

Most bruises after Botox are very small. That means, if you do get one, they’re usually very easily covered up with a good concealer.

While you shouldn’t rub or touch the area of your face that’s been treated at all in the 4-6 hours after treatment – and only touch it lightly for the first 24 hours, if you wake up in the morning and see bruising there’s no harm in gently dabbing a little concealer on the area – just make sure your finger or sponge is clean to apply it.

‘If I see bruising coming up quickly after the injections, I’ll send my patients to the chemist to buy some Hirudoid cream,’ says Katherine. ‘The active ingredient in this is Heparinoid which promotes healing by dissolving small blood clots under the skin – and it’s these clots that lead to bruising.’

See more advice on handling post-Botox bruising here.

Does Alcohol Affect Botox in Any Other Way?

Not directly, but have you heard about wine face?

This is the name given by naturopathic physician Dr Nigma Talib for the characteristics she commonly sees in people who drink a lot of alcohol (there’s a full post on it here), and one of the most characteristic signs of wine face, is exactly the problem that most of us turn to Botox to conceal – a deepening of the lines between the eyebrows.

In Chinese medicine, the theory is that this area represents the liver and if this is under strain – as it might be if you’re drinking regularly, or a little bit more than is good for you, then you might feel the effects of your Botox aren’t lasting quite as long as you might like.

‘Also, alcohol generally dehydrates the skin and long term, frequent alcohol intake ages you,’ says Katherine. ‘If you’re having Botox treatments for their anti-aging benefits, I would minimise alcohol intake full stop, not just around your appointments.’

Other FAQ’s About Alcohol and Wrinkle Jabs…

Can I Drink After Dysport?

The same rules apply.

Botox and Dysport are are both forms of botulinum toxin A. They just use slightly different configurations of proteins.

Dysport’s molecules are smaller which means it gets to work faster and, needs fewer injections to cover an area.

Fewer jabs might mean less risk of bruising, but you still want to be careful about not drinking 24 hours before, or after Dysport.

What About Xeomin and Alcohol?

Same rules apply again.

Of the three types of muscle-freezing injectables, Xeomin has the smallest molecule weight.

Again, it’s biggest potential side effect is bruising so keep off the booze for at least 24 hours before or after your Xeomin appointment.

Does Alcohol Cause Bruising After Botox?

Not per se – Bruising occurs when the small blood vessels under the skin are damaged and blood leaks out. That’s what causes the blue or purple mark.

Alcohol may make this worse as it causes the blood vessels to widen so more blood might collect in the area which will darken the bruise.

Can You Drink Alcohol After a Botox Top Up?

The 24 hour rule also applies after a Botox top up as, you’re still breaking the skin.

So, there you have it. The rules on drinking alcohol after Botox, if you have any other questions do let us know in the comments.

And if you are booking in for your jabs, you might also want to check out our post on the rules of exercise before and after Botox as well.

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