I heard someone say they’re not allowed to nap after Botox. What’s that all about?

As a mother, surgeon, and cat lover, I’m a huge advocate of naps. In all scenarios. The reason this question is being asked is that some injectors will instruct patients to not lie flat for so many hours following Botox injections.

This is because laying supine, hanging upside down, or riding a roller coaster may encourage migration of the neuromodulator into an area that was not injected.

Botox, or any other name brand neuromodulator, works by softening the muscle contraction of the area it’s injected into. Aesthetically, it is common for Botox to be injected into the forehead to help with horizontal lines, around the eyes to help with crow’s feet, in between the eyebrows to help with 11 lines, etc.

After injection, we want the medication to stay right where it is injected. Why? Because if it migrates to nearby areas of the face (e.g. eyelid or mouth), it can cause weakened muscle contractions in areas we don’t want weakened.

Let’s say a patient has Botox injected into their forehead and in between the eyebrows to give them a softer appearance and less visible lines in those areas. If that Botox migrates into the upper eyelid, they may have difficulty fully opening the eyelid for the following 3 months.

Generally, I advise patients to not lie flat for 2-3 hours following neuromodulator injections.