Wrinkle Relaxer Before and Aftercare: What You Need to Know

Wrinkle relaxers may only take a few minutes to administer, but a thoughtful treatment plan begins well before the first injection. Also known as neurotoxins or neuromodulators and commonly shortened to just "tox," these treatments use carefully placed injections of botulinum toxin type A to temporarily reduce activity in selected muscles. Depending on your goals, they may be used to soften expression lines, refine facial contours, relax an overactive masseter muscle, create a subtle lip flip, address neck bands, or help manage excessive sweating.

To learn more about the different neurotoxins and how they compare, click here.

Curious about pairing your tox with a VI Peel? Learn more about our ToxBooster treatment here.

Click here if you want to learn more about our lip flip treatment.

And if you would like to meet one of the newer members of the tox family, learn more about Jeuveau® here.

The good news is that wrinkle relaxers generally require very little downtime. A few simple precautions before and after your appointment can help make the experience more comfortable and minimize bruising and irritation.

Here's what to know before and after your wrinkle-relaxer treatment at Beautyfluff.

Before Your Wrinkle Relaxer Treatment

Share Your Medical History

Before treatment, your Beautyfluff provider will review your health history and make sure tox is appropriate for you.

Let us know if you:

• Are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

• Have a neuromuscular condition

• Have difficulty swallowing or breathing

• Have weakness in the muscles being treated

• Have an infection, rash, sore, or significant irritation near an injection site

• Have previously had an allergic reaction to a neurotoxin or one of its ingredients

• Have experienced an unusual reaction to tox in the past

• Have recently had surgery or another procedure in the treatment area

Certain neuromuscular conditions may increase sensitivity to the effects of botulinum toxin, while an active infection at an injection site is a contraindication to treatment.

If something has changed since your consultation, even if it seems minor, let us know. A quick conversation beforehand is always preferable to discovering something important after the injections have already been placed.

Review Your Medications

Give your provider an updated list of prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.

It is particularly important to mention if you:

• Take a prescription blood thinner

• Take aspirin or other antiplatelet medication

• Recently received an injectable antibiotic

• Take a muscle relaxant

• Take certain allergy, cold, or sleep medications

• Have recently received another neurotoxin treatment

Some medications can increase bruising, while others may affect neuromuscular transmission and potentially strengthen the effects of a neurotoxin.

Never stop a prescribed medication on your own just to prepare for an aesthetic treatment.

If reducing bruising is a priority, your provider may recommend avoiding nonessential aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, certain supplements, or alcohol shortly before treatment when it is medically appropriate for you. Always ask first.

Tell Us About Previous Tox

Let your provider know when you last received a wrinkle relaxer, which product was used, where it was placed, and approximately how much you received if you know.

Different neurotoxin brands are not interchangeable unit-for-unit, and the effects of receiving multiple botulinum toxin products within a relatively short period are not fully established.

This information also helps your injector understand what worked well for you last time—and what you may want to do differently this time.

Arrive With Clean Skin

Whenever possible, arrive with clean skin and little or no makeup over the treatment area.

Your provider will cleanse the skin before injecting, but arriving without heavy foundation, facial oils, or thick skincare products makes preparation a little easier.

If you are being treated for excessive underarm sweating, Beautyfluff may give you additional preparation instructions. Depending on how the area will be evaluated, patients may be asked to shave beforehand and temporarily avoid deodorant or antiperspirant. Follow the specific instructions given for your appointment.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Wrinkle-relaxer treatments are usually fairly quick.

Your provider will assess the way your muscles move naturally before deciding exactly where and how much product to inject. This is why you may be asked to frown, smile, squint, raise your eyebrows, clench your jaw, or make another expression before treatment.

The injections themselves may feel like a series of small pinches.

Immediately afterward, you may notice tiny raised bumps, light redness, tenderness, or small dots at the injection sites. These usually settle fairly quickly.

A wrapped cold pack may be used gently if needed for comfort or bruising, but avoid pressing firmly against the freshly treated area.

Wrinkle Relaxer Aftercare

One of the nicest things about tox is that aftercare is relatively simple.

Be Gentle With the Treated Area

For the rest of the day, avoid aggressively rubbing, pressing, or massaging the injection sites.

This includes facial massage, vigorous cleansing, or anything else that places significant pressure over freshly treated muscles.

You can still make normal facial expressions. There is no need to keep your face perfectly still.

If you need to wash your face or apply skincare later, simply use a gentle touch.

Take a Short Break From Intense Exercise

We recommend avoiding overly vigorous exercise shortly after treatment. For the rest of the day (or for the timeframe your provider gives you), skip the especially sweaty workout and give yourself a gentler evening instead. Normal walking and everyday activities are perfectly fine.

Be Thoughtful About Other Facial Treatments

Avoid scheduling a facial massage, aggressive facial treatment, or another procedure that places significant pressure over the injection sites immediately after your appointment.

If you have another aesthetic treatment planned, let us know. Your provider can tell you how much space to leave between appointments based on the procedures involved.

Makeup and Skincare

Makeup and gentle skincare can generally be resumed once the injection sites have closed and your provider says it is appropriate.

When you do apply products:

• Use clean hands and applicators

• Avoid rubbing or pressing heavily

• Skip anything that noticeably irritates the injection sites

• Remove makeup gently at the end of the day

There is no need for a complicated post-tox skincare routine. Your normal gentle routine is usually enough.

What to Expect Over the Next Two Weeks

Do not worry if you leave your appointment looking almost exactly the same.

Wrinkle relaxers need time to begin working.

You may start noticing a change within the first several days, with the effect continuing to develop over approximately two weeks. Clinical effects may appear anywhere from about three to fourteen days after treatment.

During that time, one area may begin relaxing slightly faster than another. A little temporary unevenness while the treatment is settling does not necessarily represent the final result.

Try to wait until the full effect has developed before deciding that you need more.

Your provider may recommend a follow-up around the two-week mark, particularly if this is your first treatment or if an adjustment may be appropriate.

Results are temporary. Many wrinkle-relaxer treatments last several months, although the exact duration depends on the product, dose, treatment area, your muscle activity, and your individual response.

A Few Treatment-Specific Notes

Most aftercare is the same regardless of where tox is placed, but certain treatment areas deserve a little extra attention.

Masseter Treatment

After the tox, the jaw muscles may temporarily feel tired or slightly sore. Some patients notice mild chewing fatigue, particularly with very chewy or tough foods. If your jaw feels tired, softer foods may simply feel more comfortable for a short time.

Contact Beautyfluff if you develop significant weakness, difficulty chewing normally, an unusual change in your smile, or another symptom that concerns you.

Lip Flip

A lip flip works by relaxing very small muscles around the upper lip.

As the treatment begins taking effect, you may temporarily notice subtle changes in movements that rely heavily on lip control, such as:

• Drinking through a straw

• Whistling

• Pronouncing certain sounds

• Drinking directly from a cup

• Applying lipstick precisely

These effects are generally mild when they occur.

Significant difficulty speaking or swallowing is not an expected cosmetic result and should be reported promptly.

Nefertiti Lift and Neck Treatment

When tox is used around the lower face or neck, pay particular attention to any unusual weakness.

Contact Beautyfluff if you notice meaningful difficulty swallowing, speaking, holding your head comfortably, or controlling nearby muscles.

Excessive Sweating

When tox is used for excessive sweating, the injection sites may feel mildly sore or bruised afterward.

Avoid rubbing the area aggressively immediately after treatment. Your provider will tell you when deodorant, antiperspirant, shaving, and your normal routine can be resumed if any temporary restrictions are needed.

What Is Normal After Treatment?

Temporary reactions may include:

• Small bumps immediately after injection

• Mild redness

• Tenderness

• Light swelling

• Bruising

• A mild headache

• Temporary tightness or heaviness

• Mild asymmetry while the treatment is still developing

Depending on the area treated, temporary weakness in a nearby muscle can also occur.

Most mild injection-site reactions settle on their own.

If you bruise easily, remember that a bruise may become more visible during the first day or two before it begins fading. It does not necessarily mean that anything has gone wrong.

When Should You Contact Beautyfluff?

Contact the clinic if you experience:

• Significant or worsening pain

• Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage at an injection site

• A significant rash or hives

• Unexpected facial weakness

• Pronounced asymmetry

• A noticeably drooping eyelid or eyebrow

• Persistent double or blurred vision

• Significant difficulty chewing

• Symptoms that feel unusual or concerning

Some unwanted effects can be evaluated or managed by your provider, so there is no need to wait until your next scheduled appointment when something does not seem right.

When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Care?

All botulinum toxin products carry a boxed warning because, in rare cases, toxin effects can spread beyond the injection site.

Seek immediate medical attention if you develop:

• Difficulty breathing

• Difficulty swallowing

• Difficulty speaking clearly

• Severe or widespread muscle weakness

• Loss of strength throughout the body

• Serious vision changes

• Another rapidly developing neurological symptom

These symptoms have been reported hours to weeks after botulinum toxin treatment and can be serious.

They are rare, but they are not symptoms to watch at home and hope will pass.

Follow Your Personal Treatment Plan

Wrinkle relaxers are not one-size-fits-all.

Your ideal dose and placement depend on your anatomy, muscle strength, facial expressions, treatment history, goals, and the product being used.

That is especially important for treatments such as a lip flip, masseter slimming, jaw clenching, neck contouring, or excessive sweating, where the treatment plan may look very different from a traditional forehead or frown-line appointment.

Always follow the instructions given directly by your Beautyfluff provider, even when they differ slightly from general advice online.

Conclusion

Wrinkle-relaxer aftercare doesn't have to be complicated.

Before your appointment, share your complete medical and medication history, let your provider know about previous tox treatments, and arrive with clean, healthy skin.

Afterward, be gentle with the injection sites, take a short break from vigorous exercise and facial pressure, and give the treatment time to settle before judging your results. A little redness, swelling, or bruising may happen, but most patients can return to their regular day with very little interruption.

At Beautyfluff, every tox treatment begins with an individualized assessment. We take the time to look at how your muscles naturally move, listen to what you want to change—and what you would rather leave alone—and create a treatment plan that still feels like you.

Book a consultation with Beautyfluff today to find the wrinkle-relaxer treatment that best fits your goals.