Contact Us
If you had microneedling to refresh your skin, you may want to know how soon Botox injections are safe. Microneedling helps skin look fresh. Botox helps smooth out wrinkles. They both make skin look young. Doctors recommend waiting at least 7 to 14 days after microneedling before getting Botox injections.
This article tells you what microneedling and Botox do, how long you must wait between them, and answers questions patients ask. You will get advice from skin experts and facts from medical research to help you choose the right treatment plan.
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling helps your skin look fresh and smooth. A special tool with tiny needles gently pokes the top skin layer. These small pokes tell your skin to heal itself. The skin then makes two important things called collagen and elastin. Collagen keeps skin smooth, and elastin makes skin stretchy.
Microneedling helps with many skin problems:
- Fine lines and wrinkles: Collagen fills lines and makes skin smooth.
- Acne scars and other scars: Collagen helps scars look softer and less noticeable.
- Large pores: Makes skin around pores smoother.
- Dark spots and uneven color: Helps skin look the same color everywhere.
- Loose skin: Makes skin tighter and less saggy.
Doctors also call microneedling “collagen induction therapy.” That is because it helps your body make more collagen. Before treatment, doctors use a cream to numb your skin.
What is Botox?
Botox is a special medicine that helps remove wrinkles. Doctors inject Botox with a thin needle into face muscles. It relaxes muscles that make lines on the skin. These lines form because face muscles move many times, like when you smile or frown.
Botox helps with these skin problems:
- Forehead lines and lines between eyebrows.
- Lines at eye corners, called crows feet.
- Wrinkles along the nose sides.
- Lines around mouth and chin.
- Lines on neck and other face areas.
The injection takes only a few minutes. You can go back to your normal day right after Botox. You will want to remain upright for 4 hours after your injections, and avoid touching or rubbing the injected areas. It is also recommended to avoid strenuous exercise for about 12 hours.
Wrinkles start to smooth in about 3 to 7 days. Botox effects last for 3 to 4 months. After that, face muscles start moving again, and lines slowly come back. Most people get Botox 3-4 times each year.
Can We Do Microneedling and Botox at the Same Time?
No, microneedling and Botox should not be done together. Doctors say wait at least 1 to 2 weeks after microneedling before Botox injections. This waiting period allows your skin to heal fully, prevents possible side effects, and ensures you get the safest and best results from both treatments.
Reasons to Avoid Doing Botox and Microneedling Together:
- Skin Needs to Heal: Microneedling makes tiny holes in the skin. Skin takes a few days to heal these holes. Injecting Botox into unhealed skin can cause redness or infection. Waiting gives your skin time to repair itself fully.
- Accurate Botox Placement: Botox injections work best on calm, healthy skin. Swollen skin after microneedling makes it difficult for doctors to inject Botox exactly where needed. Microneedling done too soon after Botox can also move Botox into the wrong areas, causing uneven results.
- Fewer Side Effects: Doing Botox right after microneedling can increase bruising, redness, and swelling. Waiting between treatments helps skin recover fully from microneedling. This careful spacing reduces side effects and irritation.
When Can I Get Botox Before or After Microneedling?
Experts generally recommend doing microneedling before Botox. Microneedling causes mild redness and tiny holes in your skin. If you get Botox first and microneedling right after, microneedling needles can move Botox into the wrong places.
Needles moving across new Botox areas can spread Botox unevenly. Botox must stay exactly where doctors inject it to relax the correct muscles.
Doing microneedling first lets your skin heal naturally without problems. After your skin heals, doctors inject Botox into healthy skin for best results. This order works best: microneedling makes new collagen, then Botox relaxes muscles exactly where needed.
A trained doctor sometimes does both treatments in one visit (microneedling first, Botox second). Waiting helps your skin recover fully from microneedling before you get Botox. This careful way lowers side effects and gives the best results from both treatments.
How Long After Botox Can I Get Microneedling?
Doctors advise waiting 2 weeks after Botox before microneedling. Botox takes about 7 to 14 days to settle fully into muscles. If microneedling happens too early, Botox can move to the wrong places. This movement can weaken Botox effects and cause uneven skin appearance.
After 14 days, Botox stays safely in place. Microneedling done then will not disturb Botox placement. The skin will handle the treatment better, and both treatments will give the best results. This careful timing helps Botox relax muscles evenly. It also ensures microneedling safely boosts collagen in calm, healthy skin without problems.
Microneedling or Botox Which Treatment is Best for You?
Microneedling and Botox treat different skin concerns. See this quick comparison:
| Aspect | Microneedling | Botox |
| How it works | Tiny needles create micro-injuries, boosting collagen naturally. | Injections relax facial muscles to stop wrinkles forming. |
| Primary benefits | Improves skin texture, reduces scars, lines, pores, and spots. | Smooths dynamic wrinkles like forehead and eye lines. |
| Onset of results | Gradual: full results in about 4 to 6 weeks, often needs multiple sessions. | Quick: visible improvement starts in 3 to 7 days, full results by day 14. |
| Duration of results | Lasts several months after multiple sessions. | Temporary: lasts around 3 to 4 months. |
| Downtime | Mild: skin sensitive and red for 1 to 3 days. | Minimal: slight redness or bruising for a few hours or days. |
| Ideal use | Improves overall skin, texture, scars, lines, without injections. | Quickly smooths wrinkles from facial expressions, but does not improve skin texture. |
Microneedling treats skin surface issues, and Botox treats wrinkles caused from facial movements. You can use both treatments together if you have uneven texture and expression lines. Younger people with scars but no wrinkles usually need microneedling only. If your main concern is expression wrinkles, Botox is the right choice.
Talk to a skin specialist to choose the best treatments for your needs.
If you’re in the Solana Beach or San Diego area and considering microneedling, Botox, or both, Doctor Doctor and our experienced team are here to help. We can answer your questions and create a personalized treatment plan for you. Contact our clinic today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward healthier, younger-looking skin!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is microneedling or Botox safe for sensitive skin?
Microneedling is usually safer for sensitive skin because it helps your skin heal naturally with little redness that heals fast. Botox can still be safe, but it may cause more swelling or bruising around the injection spots. Always tell your provider if your skin is sensitive so they can do your treatment safely.
Can I use skincare products right after microneedling and Botox?
After microneedling, wait 2-5 days before using regular skincare products, using gentle cleanser and moisturizer until healed. After Botox, avoid strong products and rubbing injection sites for at least 24 hours. Gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and daily sunscreen protect skin.
Does microneedling hurt more than Botox injections?
Microneedling can feel slightly more uncomfortable than Botox. Microneedling involves many small needle pokes, but numbing cream makes it easier. Botox injections feel like tiny, quick pinches and usually hurt less. Both treatments are manageable, and any discomfort only lasts a short time during the procedure.
Does microneedling affect Botox or make it wear off faster?
Microneedling can affect Botox if done too early after injections. Needling the skin shortly after Botox can move it away from the correct muscle areas, causing uneven results or reduced effectiveness. Waiting about 2 weeks after Botox prevents this issue. When timed correctly, microneedling does not shorten Botox results or make them wear off faster.
Are there other treatments I should use carefully with microneedling or Botox?
If you plan other skin treatments like dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, or chemical peels, timing matters. Wait about 2 weeks between these treatments and microneedling or Botox. Spacing treatments properly lets each one heal fully. Always discuss your full treatment plan with a professional for the safest results.
What should I avoid after microneedling when planning for Botox?
After microneedling, avoid harsh skincare products, retinol, acids, makeup, and direct sunlight for a few days. Keep skin moisturized, clean, and protected with sunscreen. Wait until redness and peeling completely disappear before Botox injections.