Botox works by temporarily relaxing muscle tension. It is used to soften expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes, or to slim a square jawline by injecting it into the masseter (chewing muscle). The procedure itself is short, but the quality and safety of the result depend on how you take care of yourself before and after. Understanding Botox precautions and side effects properly can reduce unnecessary worry and may also shorten recovery.
What Should Generally Be Checked Before the Procedure
Before getting Botox, you should first review the medications you are taking. Aspirin and anticoagulant drugs can raise the chance of bruising, and photosensitizing drugs can affect skin reactions, so you should generally inform your medical team beforehand. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, a separate consultation on whether the procedure is suitable should come first.
Avoiding heavy drinking and intense exercise for a week before the procedure is also generally recommended. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and can widen the area of bruising, and right after intense exercise, increased blood flow may cause the injected Botox to spread slightly outside the intended area. Following just these two points can noticeably change how quickly you recover right after the procedure.
Right After the Procedure and During Recovery: Reactions You May Actually Notice
After a Botox injection, temporary redness, slight swelling and stinging at the injection site may appear. These mostly settle within a few hours and recover naturally within two to three days at the longest. Bruising may also occur when the needle passes through a small blood vessel, and it is absorbed within two weeks.
On the day of the procedure, you should avoid saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses) and intense exercise, because heat can affect how Botox spreads within the muscle. Limiting alcohol for three days and saunas or jjimjilbang for seven to ten days after the procedure is generally recommended. After this period, most daily activities are possible.
The effect of Botox does not appear immediately after the procedure. It usually takes three to seven days for muscle relaxation to fully settle, and for square jaw Botox, it often takes four weeks or more before the reduction in masseter volume becomes visible. Results may differ depending on your muscle mass, skin condition and lifestyle.
Can You Get Botox and Filler on the Same Day?
Botox and filler work by different mechanisms. Botox relaxes muscle, and filler adds volume to tissue. Because the principles do not overlap, having both on the same day can be done safely. However, when both are applied to the same area at once, the distribution of the filler may differ from what was expected, so generally having Botox first and adding filler seven to 14 days later is more favorable for designing the result. If you need to do both on the same day because of time constraints, the order and interval are designed differently for each area.
Filler side effects more often come from injection technique than from the product itself. The glabella (between the brows), the nose and the nasolabial folds in particular are higher-risk areas where blood vessel distribution is complex and caution is needed. Key criteria for judging a safe procedure are whether genuine filler is used (officially imported products approved by the Korean regulator, KFDA), whether blood vessel distribution is understood before injecting, whether hyaluronidase (a filler-dissolving enzyme) is always kept on hand for emergencies, and whether the person performing the procedure is a physician.
Meet the Medical Team at Repic Clinic in Gangnam
Repic Clinic in Gangnam is located on floors B1 and B2 at 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and five physicians provide aesthetic procedures including Botox and filler. Before a procedure, individual data is gathered with Meta View (measuring epidermal and dermal thickness) and Mark-Vu (measuring the location of sagging), and the physician designs the treatment plan personally.
Head physician Dr. Yong-Heon Ha is a full member of the Korean Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Laser Medicine and of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology.
Dr. Seung-yong Shin is a full member of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology and has experience as a Main Medical Staff for Juvederm, Chaeum and Ulthera.
Dr. Kang Mijeong, drawing on her background in family medicine, is a full member of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine, the Korean Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Laser Medicine and the Korean Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Dr. Kim Hyojin is a physician with a background in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, bringing a diverse clinical background to the clinic.
Dr. Seung-won Lee is a full member of the Korean Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Laser Medicine and the Korean Society of Anti-Aging Medicine and provides care across anti-aging procedures.
Types of Botox Procedures and Pricing Information
The Botox procedures offered at Repic Clinic in Gangnam fall into three broad types. The exact areas and dosage are explained individually at a consultation.
- Before the procedure: tell the clinic what medications you take; avoiding alcohol and intense exercise for one week is recommended
- On the day of the procedure: no saunas, jjimjilbang or intense exercise
- Three days after: avoiding alcohol is recommended
- Seven to ten days after: limit saunas and jjimjilbang
- When effects appear: relaxation begins within three to seven days; for the square jaw, the change is seen after four weeks or more
FAQ
Q. Is it safe to get Botox and filler on the same day?
Yes, having both on the same day is possible. Botox relaxes muscle and filler adds volume, so their mechanisms do not overlap. However, applying both to the same area at the same time may affect how the filler is distributed, so having Botox first and adding filler seven to 14 days later is generally more favorable for predicting the result. When both are done on the same day because of time constraints, the order and interval are designed differently for each area.
Q. When can I use a sauna after Botox?
Limiting saunas and jjimjilbang for seven to ten days after Botox is generally recommended, because heat can affect how Botox spreads within the muscle. The basic rule is to avoid alcohol for three days after the procedure and intense exercise on the day of the procedure. Detailed guidance for each procedure is provided separately during the consultation.
Q. When do the effects of square jaw Botox appear?
Square jaw Botox works by injecting Botox into the masseter (chewing muscle) to gradually reduce muscle volume. Muscle relaxation takes three to seven days to begin, and it often takes four weeks or more before the reduction in masseter volume becomes visible. How long the effect lasts and when it appears may differ depending on your muscle mass and lifestyle.
Related official information
You can find more details on the official website.
Repic Clinic official website →
※ This content is for general information only and does not replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before any procedure. Results, downtime and side effects vary from person to person.
