Following the closure of aesthetic clinics for many months during lockdown, there were long waiting lists of individuals seeking appointments for Botox and dermal filler injections such as Botox for jaw clenching, sagging jowls Botox, or more.
Now that clinics work their way through these waiting lists as life returns to normal, it is important to consider that there may be complications to patient recovery now that did not exist pre-2020 as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Although the vaccine has a very high safety rating, there has been a quick turn around from clinical trial to nationwide delivery and so should be treated with caution when combined with other medicines.
On top of this, as time goes on, more and more younger people will be receiving several doses of the vaccine. These individuals match the age of the most common aesthetic treatment patients more closely, as opposed to the age of the most vulnerable groups (60+) that were targeted for the vaccine first.
Therefore, reports of side effects may increase as time goes on and so it is important that practitioners are cautious and stay aware of the global discourse in their industry surrounding patients and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Is it safe to have Botox after a COVID Vaccine?
Yes, it is safe to receive Botox either before or after your COVID-19 vaccine.
However, reputable clinics will advise that you wait at least two weeks surrounding your vaccine injection just to be on the safe side. This allows your immune system to fully adjust to the new materials in your body, whether it is Botulinum toxin or the COVID-19 vaccine, without being overwhelmed or pressured.
Dermal fillers side effects after Botox
The reason that most aesthetic clinics are cautious about treating patients either before or after they receive the COVID vaccine is because of reports that some patients have experienced adverse side effects upon receiving dermal fillers in close proximity to their vaccine.
Most reports come from patients receiving hyaluronic acid dermal fillers in conjunction with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Information is discussed in this report.
Some patients who received their aesthetic treatment within a few days of their COVID vaccine reported edema, soreness, and inflammation in and around the dermal filler injection site. In some cases, this swelling became very serious and needed treatment to prevent it causing health complications.
The reason that these side effects occur is because the body’s immune system creates a response when reacting to the hyaluronic filler when it is already busy dealing with the protein spike from the vaccine.
Because of this, the best practice should be to leave at least four weeks, either before or after, in between your hyaluronic dermal filler appointment and your vaccine appointment.
Moderna side effects with Botox
Unlike with hyaluronic dermal fillers, the Moderna vaccine appears to have no adverse reactions when injected before or after Botox.
To stand the highest chance of avoiding side effects, though, the best advice is to space your Botox appointment at least two weeks before or after your vaccine injection.
Advice for Botox and dermal fillers after COVID-19 vaccine
Overall, the risk of receiving adverse side effects following Botox or dermal fillers is low even after having a COVID-19 vaccine. Still, it pays to be cautious and patients should work with their aesthetic practitioner to ensure they receive a safe treatment.
When receiving any aesthetic injection, you should let your practitioner know your medical history including whether or not you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have recently been immunocompromised from other medicines or an infection so that they can be sure you are safely positioned to receive your treatment.
And finally, be sure to visit a qualified practitioner who keeps up to date with the latest and best information regarding patient safety, which we provide through our Botox courses and Botox training, so that you can always follow up with them should you encounter any issues post-treatment.
We also offer other cosmetic courses, such as our lip filler courses.
