Headaches and pain can hit you hard out of nowhere, especially when it’s inconvenient. Treating that pain can put you at risk of bruises if you’re planning on or recently had an injection. Let’s dive into why and what can be done.
What Should I Look Out For?
Botox Cosmetic advises in the fine print to tell your doctor about any and all medicines you take. This includes prescription and over the counter medicines, vitamins and supplements. They also specifically bring up mentioning aspirin-like products or blood thinners to your doctor as well as allergy or cold medicines, antibiotic injection, muscle relaxants, or sleep medicine. If it’s important enough for them to include in their legal-ese, you should be aware.
Patients are advised to avoid NSAIDs, aspirins, and even fish oils for about 3 to 5 days before any procedure involving injections. This is to reduce the risk of bruising. After all, the point of Botox is to look beautiful, right? So what are NSAIDs? The acronym stands for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. NSAIDs include ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. And these are the common brand names we recognize them as:
- Ibuprofen – Motrin® and Advil®
- Aspirin – Bayer®, St. Joseph®, Anacin®, Ascriptin®, Bufferin®, or Excedrin®
- Naproxen sodium – Aleve®
Is There A Safe Option?
Whether taking ibuprofen after a Botox treatment is safe or not is contested amongst doctors. Some say it is safe, while others state it can still cause bruising. It’s best to refrain from ibuprofen for a few days before the procedure. Although the chances of bruising are unlikely, in theory they can still happen. This is because ibuprofen, as well as aspirin, can thin your blood a little bit. This makes it more difficult for blood cells to clot and stop bleeds.
General agreed upon consensus is that Tylenol is the safest option for treating headaches when getting Botox injections. Tylenol is not an NSAID. It is acetaminophen and does not block platelet function. For this reason, Tylenol is OK before and after injections because it does not increase your risk of bruises or bleeds. It should be noted that while some varieties of Excedrin have acetaminophen, they are often mixed with aspirin. Meaning it is not safe with injection treatments.
Hopefully this clears up any questions about treating headaches while getting Botox. If you are concerned about bruising, please be sure to discuss this with us to determine your best treatment plan.
If you are interested in bringing your beauty out for the world to see, Adore Aesthetix is your expert in Botox and other medical spa procedures. Please call (303) 513-0196 or book an appointment to get started.
