Scuba Diving and Cosmetic Procedures: What You Should Know about Botox or Dermal Fillers

At Scuba Center Asia, we’re all about making your diving experience as safe and enjoyable as possible. But what if you’ve recently had Botox or dermal fillers? Can you still dive? The short answer is: yes! However, as with most things in diving, timing, and understanding how pressure impacts the body are key. Let’s dive deeper into what you need to know.

Can I Dive After Botox or Fillers?

You’ve treated yourself to a beauty boost, but now you’re wondering if it’s safe to head into the water. Good news—yes, you can dive after Botox or fillers, but only after giving it the appropriate amount of time to settle. Here’s what you need to know.

How Long Should You Wait After Botox or Fillers?

Botox works by temporarily paralyzing targeted muscles, helping to reduce wrinkles. However, after injection, the product needs time to bind to the muscle and take effect. It’s best to wait 24-48 hours before diving to prevent Botox from moving or causing issues underwater. What About Dermal Fillers?

Fillers are a bit trickier. Fillers consist of a gel-like substance, often hyaluronic acid, injected under the skin to restore volume or shape. Since they contain fluids, pressure changes can affect them. It’s best to wait 7-14 days after getting fillers before diving to let them settle fully.

The Science of Pressure and Cosmetic Injections

To understand why waiting is important, let’s look at how pressure changes affect injected substances like Botox and fillers. First you need to understand the basics of the diving physics, which divers learn already during their Open water course! How amazing is that!

In the table, you can see that as you dive deeper, the pressure increases. Because of this increased pressure, the volume of an object decreases, which makes it denser. In other words, if we take a balloon underwater, it will get smaller, and the air inside the balloon will become denser.

Pressure Changes Underwater: A Diver’s Reality

As divers, we’re always aware of the importance of pressure changes. The deeper you go, the greater the pressure around you becomes, and as you ascend, the pressure decreases again. This is the basics of scuba diving. The key to safe diving is to descend and ascent slowly. This helps manage how gases are absorbed in your body and avoid decompression sickness.

However, there is more to it. These pressure changes affect more than gases alone! Fluids and gels like Botox and fillers can also respond to shifts in pressure.

How Botox and Fillers React to Pressure

Botox: Botox is a neurotoxin that’s injected as a liquid solution. While it’s not highly compressible, it still needs time to settle in the muscle and start working. When you go scuba diving right after a treatment, pressure changes from diving could potentially affect how Botox spreads. This might result in uneven results or unintended distribution of the product.

Fillers: Dermal fillers are more affected by pressure changes because they consist of gel-like materials. One common ingredient in fillers is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in our bodies that helps keep skin, smooth and hydrated. This hyaluronic acid can hold water and can slightly expand or contract under pressure. If you dive too soon after getting fillers, the pressure can cause the filler to shift or create extra volume in unexpected places. This might lead to swelling or change in shape especially if the filler hasn’t fully settled into the surrounding tissue yet.

Volume Changes, Diving, and Cosmetic injections

When you dive, every 10 meters of depth doubles the surrounding pressure. This increase affects all gases and fluids in your body. With fillers, a rapid change in pressure (particularly during ascents or descents) can cause a temporary volume shift in the fluid. This is why it’s important to wait at least one to two weeks. This time allows your body to heal and stabilize the filler. It also reduces the risk of movement or side effects from pressure changes.

Risks of Diving Too Soon After Botox or Fillers

While most people don’t have serious issues diving after cosmetic procedures, there are a few risks to consider if you dive too soon:

• Bruising and Swelling: Pressure changes can lead to more bruising or swelling at the injection site, especially if your body hasn’t fully healed yet.
• Product Migration: Botox or fillers may shift from where they were injected due to pressure changes, resulting in uneven or distorted effects.
• Discomfort or Tenderness: You may feel mild discomfort or tightness in the treated areas, particularly if diving slows down your recovery.

Tips for Diving After Botox or Fillers

Once you’ve waited the recommended time and your body has fully recovered from the injections, you’re all set to dive! Here are a few additional tips to make your diving experience comfortable:

• Stay hydrated: Water helps keep your skin and body in top condition, especially after cosmetic treatments. Hydration is key both for your filler results and for your overall health as a diver.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen: After Botox or fillers, your skin might be more sensitive, so it’s important to protect it. A good reef-safe sunscreen keeps your skin healthy while also safeguarding the marine life you’re here to enjoy.
• Don’t rush your ascent: Always follow safe diving practices by ascending slowly to allow your body to adjust to the pressure changes.

What do the Professionals say?

Professionals like DAN insurance companies say basically the same about diving after Botox or fillers. “Botox injections relax the facial muscles to reduce wrinkles and usually need very little recovery time. You can dive once your doctor says there’s no risk of infection. Dermal fillers, which add volume to smooth out wrinkles, need more attention. The main concern isn’t the pressure underwater but how the pressure from your mask can shift the filler”. Quoted by https://www.dansa.org/blog/2022/01/21/women-s-health-diving

Beauty and Diving—A Perfect Combo

At Scuba Center Asia, we’re all about helping you look and feel your best, both in and out of the water. Whether diving into a new skincare routine or the stunning waters around Nusa Lembongan, we have tips to keep you safe and informed.

Always talk to your doctor or a diving expert if you’re unsure how your recent cosmetic procedures might impact your diving plans. And when you’re ready, we’ll see you underwater—feeling fabulous and diving smart!