How to Prepare for Botox Side Effects

Botox has no long-term side effects you should worry about, but there are some short-term side effects to be aware of. If you prepare for these side effects, they should be minimal and pose very little inconvenience. As with any medical procedure, you should educate yourself fully beforehand so you can prepare for whatever results you receive.

Things You'll Need

• Makeup
• Ice pack
• Ibuprofen

Instructions

1. Talk to your doctor before the procedure about side effects you can expect. Most of the side effects are from the injections themselves and not from the Botox toxin, but you should make sure you are as informed as possible.

2. Request an ice pack for before and after the procedure from your doctor. This is usually part of standard operating procedure, but if one isn't provided you should ask for one. Icing the sites where you get Botox helps prevent swelling and bruising in the area.

3. Take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen before the procedure begins to help with swelling and soreness at the injection sites. A headache is also one of the reported side effects of Botox, so taking pain medication can prevent that as well.

4. Avoid strenuous exercise, lying down and massaging the Botox injection areas after the procedure. These activities can all cause the Botox to migrate into muscles that were not supposed to be relaxed and lead to droopy eyelids and other side effects.

5. Contact your doctor for guidance if you experience nausea or any other side effects.

Tips & Warnings

• Have some concealing makeup handy to cover up the small red dots that are often present after the Botox treatment. If you are planning on going out or returning to work following the procedure, the makeup can help hide the injection marks.

• Women who are pregnant and people with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS should not get Botox because they may be more susceptible to getting side effects from the treatment.

• Provide your doctor with a complete medical history before the procedure. You may be taking some drugs that interact with Botox, or there may be evidence that you might be allergic to Botox. Botox allergy is very rare, but it can be problematic if your have it.

• If you get Botox injections from anyone but a medical practitioner, there are many side effects your may be exposed to that you cannot prepare for. Improper sterilization techniques can lead to infection, improper dosage can cause illness and you may not even be getting the right type of Botox. Botox is a prescription drug that should only be administered by a licensed medical professional.