Can You Drink After Botox®?

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

If you enjoy a glass of wine (or other drink of choice) now and then and you’re also considering Botox® treatment for the first time, you’re probably asking yourself: Can you drink after Botox?

Let’s set aside the uncomfortable truth that most medical professionals recommend little to no alcohol consumption, period. According to the CDC, alcohol can cause numerous health harms, including liver disease, heart disease, and cancer. A drink now and then won’t kill you — but it might not be recommended right after a Botox injection.

Here’s what you need to know about drinking alcohol (or not) after Botox and how long you should wait to imbibe.

Botox and Alcohol: What You Should Know

Botox is not known to interact with alcohol in a dangerous or life-threatening way, as is the case with alcohol and some other medications.

But most providers recommend avoiding alcohol soon after Botox treatment because alcohol can affect how the body responds to Botox treatment. Here’s why.

Alcohol Is a Blood Thinner

Alcohol thins the blood. This means it increases blood flow around the injection site as the body heals.

That sounds like a good thing, but more blood flowing through tiny blood vessels can increase the visible bruising and swelling that occurs after most Botox injections anyway. In other words, drinking right after Botox could make your results look “worse” for a period of time.

Alcohol Can Dehydrate the Skin

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it promotes dry skin. The area around a Botox injection site is especially vulnerable to this because it’s healing from a minor injury and needs additional nutrients and hydration.

Dry skin can interfere with Botox results by deepening the lines and wrinkles the treatment is meant to cover. Drinking plenty of water can help, but avoiding alcohol right after treatment is better.

Alcohol Can Lengthen the “Visible” Recovery Period

Because it may worsen bruising and swelling while drying out skin, alcohol use can lengthen the period after treatment when the results are not yet fully visible. Normally, swelling dies down within a few days and reveals smoother skin. Alcohol may delay that process.

Alcohol May Increase Feelings of Drowsiness or Dizziness After Treatment

It’s normal to feel a bit drowsy or dizzy after Botox treatment. Alcohol can magnify this feeling and could make everyday activities more difficult.

How Long Do Doctors Recommend Avoiding Alcohol After Botox?

Doctors generally advise patients to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after Botox treatment, but many recommend 48 to 72 hours to be safe. Similar recommendations apply after other cosmetic injections, such as dermal filler injections.

Some go even further and counsel patients to avoid alcohol for up to a week after treatment. By this time, the temporary side effects that commonly occur after Botox treatment (such as bruising and swelling around the injection site) should be gone, and any more serious complications would most likely have occurred already.

In other words, it’s unlikely that alcohol would have any direct, negative effects on the treatment results or any interaction with the medication itself. However, you should always follow your provider’s guidance and contact them (or another licensed medical professional) immediately if you develop any concerning symptoms. And to reduce the risk of serious complications, always work with a board-certified provider who has completed an accredited Botox training course.