Dysport Aftercare: 6 Best Practices
Dysport aftercare is crucial to getting the results you want.
Our providers have come up with a list of recommended best practices for taking care of your skin after your injections, which helps ensure you get optimal results every time. If you follow our Dysport aftercare tips, you’ll be less likely to experience side effects and more likely to love your results. It’s a real win-win.
What should I know about Dysport?
Dysport doesn’t get as much attention as its sister cosmetic injectable, Botox, although it’s only slightly newer to the market. Both medications are known as “neuromodulators,” meaning they can impact the body’s ability to send messages between nerves.
When injected into the muscles under the skin, both Botox and Dysport slow down and eventually stop the brain from telling those muscles to move. Without movement, the skin above the muscles relaxes, making them appear more smooth and fine line and wrinkle-free.
So, where do Dysport and Botox differ?
The main difference between the two is what target areas they’re most effective at treating. Although some studies report that Botox and Dysport provide essentially the same results, others say that Dysport is more effective than Botox for treating forehead lines and crow’s feet. Ask your provider which injectible will be more effective for helping treat the areas that cause you the most concern.
You can expect your Dysport injections to last about three to four months before slowly wearing off. With regular use, you’ll get a better idea of when to schedule your follow-up appointment to get ahead of the return of fine lines and wrinkles.
What are some Dysport aftercare best practices?
So, onto best practices for Dysport aftercare. Your provider will give you even more specific instructions, but these general tips can help you achieve the best possible results.
- Don’t touch injection sites post-Dysport injections.
Although we understand how tempting it can be to excitedly look in the mirror and touch your face after receiving Dysport, we recommend you do what you can to fight the urge. Touching your injection sites, especially in the first four hours after leaving our office, can negatively impact your results.
Think about it this way — our skin care providers use all of their knowledge to create a customized Dysport injection plan that helps you achieve your desired results. They’ve mapped out your areas of concern and injected the medication specifically into those target muscles, reducing fine lines and wrinkles where you want it most.
When you touch your skin, there’s a chance that you may accidentally cause the Dysport to move out of those muscles and into other areas of your face. This unintentional Dysport migration can lead not only to subpar results but also other, more concerning issues like drooping of the eyelids.
You might experience slight discomfort after receiving injections, but we have your best interests at heart when we tell you to avoid touching your face.
Wait a few hours post-treatment, then gently place an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth to avoid direct ice-to-skin contact is key) on the irritated areas.
Do what you can to avoid touching your face for at least four hours after your Dysport injections. After that, we recommend using only light pressure. For example, gently pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it after the shower or washing your face for a few days.
- Know your potential side effects.
Another crucial part of Dysport aftercare is having a general awareness of the potential side effects you may see. This knowledge can help you separate expected side effects from more significant red flags.
Although Dysport is considered very safe when injected by licensed, trained professionals (like our knowledgeable skin care providers at Skin Pharm), all medications come with the potential for side effects.
The good news is that most of the side effects after having Dysport injected are mild and short-lived. These are all side effects you’d expect after having any type of injection, especially in a sensitive area with relatively thin skin. Some of the more common, expected issues at the injection sites include:
- Redness
- Sensitivity
- Swelling
- Tenderness
You’re more likely than not to have at least one of those short-lived responses, which is more a result of the actual needle than the Dysport itself. Depending on how reactive and sensitive your skin is, these side effects shouldn’t last for more than a day or two, and most start to fade after just a few hours.
You may see bruising as another possible side effect, especially if you’re already prone to easy bruising (make sure to tell your provider that before your injections, as well).
It’s also worth noting that garlic may increase your chances of bruising after your treatment — it sounds strange, but garlic has blood-thinning properties, so it’s often best to avoid garlicky foods after Dysport treatment.
If you experience bruising after your appointment, it can last up to two weeks. To help reduce the potential for bruising (as well as minimize swelling), you can apply an ice pack. However, always wrap your ice pack in a washcloth or cover so that it doesn’t directly touch your skin, and try to wait a few hours after your injections to use it. Don’t use ice packs for more than 15 minutes at a time.
With all that said, there is always a possibility that you may develop more severe side effects to Dysport (especially if it’s your first time getting the injections). Difficulty swallowing, speaking or breathing, muscle weakness, tightness in the chest or an allergic reaction involving hives should be reported immediately or trigger you to seek emergency medical attention.
- Give your provider your full medical history.
Make sure your provider is aware of your full medical history. You should include any medications, even over-the-counter, that you take regularly.
Dysport may be relatively safe, but it is still a drug, which means there is always the potential for a medication reaction to occur. Plus, some medications (like blood thinners, aspirin and Ginkgo Biloba) can increase the potential for specific side effects like bruising. Sometimes, our providers may ask you to contact your primary care provider for clearance before performing your injections.
Be sure to trust your provider’s advice, too. Even though Dysport is a non-invasive treatment, any recommendations are all for your own safety and comfort.
For instance, your skin care provider might advise you to avoid fish oils, certain painkillers or vitamin E. Such substances can contribute to negative effects after injections, so it’s always better to listen to your Skin Pharm provider and stay on the safe side.
While this may seem like extra work, it’s about keeping you safe and getting you your desired results.
- Don’t take a nap right away.
Sounds silly, but it’s true! Like treating yourself to Dysport injections, napping can be an excellent form of self-care. We completely support you visiting our office as part of your “me day!” However, once your appointment is over and you head back home, fight the urge to hit the couch and take a quick nap.
Napping, or anything that involves you lying flat for long periods of time, should be avoided for at least four hours after your appointment. Like touching your face, lying flat can accidentally cause the Dysport to shift in the muscles. This movement is caused by the extra pressure this position puts the muscles under.
Plus, how often do you wake up from a nap in the same position you fell asleep in? You and your skin care provider worked hard to find just the right places to create optimal results, so try to stay upright.
- Avoid makeup, too.
If you’re in the majority of people who end up with at least some redness or bruising after your Dysport injections, don’t pick up that foundation just yet. Although it may be hard to let your skin go bare after your appointment, it’s best to let your skin work itself out without covering it up. Plus, applying foundation (and other all-over facial cosmetics like BB or CC cream) requires pressure, whether you prefer to do it with your fingertips, a blender sponge or a brush.
Avoid sun exposure as much as possible within the first four hours after receiving Dysport treatment. If being in the sun is unavoidable, make sure to properly protect your skin with sunscreen. SPF will help shield your skin from sun damage, and while your skin should remain mostly untouched after treatments, SPF will not impact the success of your Dysport.
However, we need to reiterate: make sure to avoid makeup immediately after treatment. Use sunscreen if absolutely necessary, but otherwise, don’t indulge yourself in foundations, concealers and blushes. Wait for your skin to fully recover before applying beauty products.
It shouldn’t take your skin too long to heal from your injections, so take a deep breath and show your natural face to the world (or stay inside and let your skin heal — no judgment from us!).
- Don’t head straight for the gym, either.
If you took the day off to get your Dysport injections and are trying to make the most of it, your to-do list might include hitting the gym. Working out is great for keeping you looking and feeling your best, but in terms of Dysport aftercare, you’ll want to reschedule your gym time or personal trainer appointments for another day.
The reason for skipping a gym session is twofold. We’ve discussed the potential risks of overdoing it in the few hours after your injections — you don’t want your Dysport to migrate into other parts of your face.
But exercise also has one additional drawback: it increases the blood flow throughout the body, including the skin. More circulation to your injection sites increases the likelihood of bruising as well as Dysport migration. In general, strenuous activity should be avoided for the first day or two after injections — but most of all, make sure to avoid heart-pumping workouts.
Instead, we recommend exercising your facial muscles in the first few hours after receiving Dysport treatment. You certainly don’t want to exert yourself in order to keep the injections from spreading, but you can practice smiling, scowling, yawning and other facial expressions immediately after treatment. Doing so can help you get used to the Dysport while also allowing it to show results more quickly.
Instead of heading to the gym, head to your couch and binge-watch your favorite series while exercising your facial muscles (while sitting up, of course — no napping).
To sum things up...
Appropriate Dysport aftercare is the key to minimizing side effects and maximizing results. When you follow the above tips laid out by our amazing skin care providers, you’ll be able to heal quickly and get the results you’re looking for with minimal effort!
Peer review
This article was medically reviewed by Chelsie Rogers, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant with 6 years of experience in cosmetic dermatology.
SOURCES:
Botulinum Toxin in Aesthetic Medicine: Myths and Realities | Dermatologic Surgery Journals
