Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of aging. Despite our best attempts to stay young, wrinkles will start to appear between the brows or at the corner of the eyes. Botox is a great treatment option that can smooth away wrinkles and help you look and feel younger than ever. If you’ve never had Botox, here’s a guide to what you can expect before and after Botox.
## Before Botox
Botox is a minimally invasive treatment option that doesn’t require a lot of preparation on your part. You don’t need to do anything special before Botox. However, there are a few things you can do before your Botox appointment that may give you better results:
Avoid taking pain medication such as aspirin for a day or two before your appointment. These medications act as a blood thinner, and can increase the risk of bruising during your injection.
Take a moment to relax. A Botox appointment is quick and easy, but it does involve needles. If you’re feeling stressed about your injections, take a few deep breaths and calm yourself. The more relaxed you are, the easier your appointment will be.
Avoid alcohol for a day or two before getting Botox. Just like certain medications, alcohol can also act as a blood thinner and increase the risk of bruising.
Start with a clean face. Cleanse your skin before your appointment and remove any makeup. Your injector will thoroughly clean the injection site during your appointment, so make sure your face is clean and bare.
## After Botox
You don’t have to change your routines after Botox. You can go right back to work, and you don’t have to plan for any downtime. But there are a few aftercare tips that can help you get the best Botox results:
Don’t vigorously rub or wash your face. Stay away from exfoliants for a couple of days and give the Botox time to settle into your muscles. Rubbing your face can spread Botox to other muscles and decrease the effectiveness of your treatment.
Don’t bend down or lay down for a few hours. Fight the urge to take a nap after your Botox appointment. Stay in an upright position to reduce the risk of bruising or other side effects.
Don’t do any strenuous exercise for 24 hours. You should skip the gym for a day or two and give yourself permission to rest. You can do some light stretching or exercises but avoid any activity that will work up a sweat. Increasing the blood flow to your face can spread Botox to nearby muscles and diminish your results.
Don’t drink alcohol for a day or two after your appointment. You avoided alcohol before Botox, and we recommend avoiding alcohol for a day or two after treatment as well. 
Don’t spend time in the sun right after your Botox appointment. Stay out of the sun for a day or two to decrease your risk of bruising.
## Botox in the Bay Area
If you’ve never had Botox, you’ll be amazed at the difference before and after Botox treatment. Follow these before and after Botox tips for the best results, and work with a skilled injector from Persimmon to get rid of facial wrinkles.

large_iStock-1151514002.jpg