How to Prepare
For Injections:
Here is a list of medications to discontinue 7 days before any injectable treatment. Check with your doctor first since some of these drugs are necessary for medical reasons.
Aspirin, Excedrin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Aleve, Advil), St. John’s Wart, Omega 3 Fatty acids, Vitamin E, Ginko Bilboa, Ginseng, Garlic Pills.
If you need pain medication, Tylenol is fine to use.
NOTE: If you are on Warfarin/Coumadin or Plavix, stay on it! Just know that your risk for bruising may be increased.
Avoid drinking alcohol 1-2 days prior to your appointment to minimize the risk of bruising.
If you ever had a cold sore around your mouth or near the area you’d like injected, it is advised that you take an anti-viral medication such as Valtrex to avoid potentially exacerbating an outbreak. We can also prescribe you a prophylactic dose if needed.
You may take Arnica Montana tablets one day prior to and the morning of your injections. You can purchase Arnica at any Whole Foods or Trader Joes’. Do not use it if you have high blood pressure or heart problems.
Please be mindful that bruising is always a risk regardless of whether you follow all the recommendations provided. Although meticulous care will be taken to avoid the incidence of bruising, there are no guarantees that it will not occur. Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid doing any injectables close to an event, such as a wedding, where your appearance may be of the utmost importance to you. It is best to choose a date when you will have downtime in case you have noticeable redness, swelling, or bruising post-treatment.
If you’re planning on attending an important event, it is recommended that you plan to have your treatments 3-4 weeks prior to the event to allow healing time in case of prolonged swelling and/or bruising.
For Laser Treatments:
Whichever areas you plan on having treated, you are required to shave those areas the night before to ensure an effective treatment.
Please avoid direct sun exposure to areas to be treated for 2 weeks prior to the appointment. If any sun exposure or evidence of tanning is suspected, your aesthetician may have to postpone your treatment.
Please avoid any forms of exfoliation to areas you plan on treating (for example, the face), as well as stop the use of harsh chemicals such as glycolic, salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxides, and retinol for 3 days prior to your laser appointment.
Please inform your practitioner if you are taking any new medications, including antibiotics. There is a list of medications that are considered photosensitive and are considered a contraindication for laser therapy. We may have to postpone until after the cessation of photosensitive medication usage.
Please inform your practitioner of any changes to your health/medical history prior to your treatment.
What To Expect During Your Visit (Injections)
You will be asked to wash your face in order for your practitioner to assess your facial features and skin.
Pre-treatment photos will be taken at that time.
Your practitioner will formulate a plan that you can both agree on that works best for you.
A topical numbing cream will be applied to the areas to be treated for 20-25 mins prior to treatment. Ice packs are optional and are available to the patient if desired.
During the injection process, you may feel little stings or pressure. It may last a few seconds and is generally tolerable. Our fillers are premixed with Lidocaine; therefore, you may feel numbness in the tissues injected, even after the numbing cream fades.
You may see redness of the skin, mild to moderate swelling, and/or bruising may occur with every injection.
Gentle massage may be performed by your practitioner after the procedure to ensure uniform distribution and smoothness.
Ice may be offered post-treatment to help reduce swelling and discomfort and to help slow/heal possible bruising.
Post-treatment photos will be taken, and your results will be discussed with your practitioner.
You will be asked to wash your face in order for your practitioner to assess your facial features and skin.
Pre-treatment photos will be taken at that time.
Your practitioner will formulate a plan that you can both agree on that works best for you.
A topical numbing cream will be applied to the areas to be treated for 20-25 mins prior to treatment. Ice packs are optional and are available to the patient if desired.
During the injection process, you may feel little stings or pressure. It may last a few seconds and is generally tolerable. Our fillers are premixed with Lidocaine; therefore, you may feel numbness in the tissues injected, even after the numbing cream fades.
You may see redness of the skin, mild to moderate swelling, and/or bruising may occur with every injection.
Gentle massage may be performed by your practitioner after the procedure to ensure uniform distribution and smoothness.
Ice may be offered post-treatment to help reduce swelling and discomfort and to help slow/heal possible bruising.
Post-treatment photos will be taken, and your results will be discussed with your practitioner.
Post Care Instructions
After all, treatments involving injections:
You may take Arnica Montana as instructed by the manufacturer’s label. We can provide you with complimentary Arnica tablets as well: Place 4 tablets under the tongue 4 times a day.
For swelling or bruising, you may apply ice packs/cold compress to the affected area for 15 minutes every hour. Allow at least 1-2 weeks for bruising or swelling to go down. Certain areas may appear puffier than others and may appear asymmetrical. This is temporary. Allow time for your tissues to heal and for the product to settle. Treated areas will soon appear more natural over time.
Continue to avoid medications containing Aspirin products as well as alcohol to avoid bruising for another 24-48 hours. Tylenol may be taken if necessary.
Avoid working out or going to the gym for the first day after your treatment to minimize the risk of infection. You may resume all normal activity the following day.
Avoid squeezing, massage, or pressure on the face for at least a week. Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and jacuzzis for a week. No tanning or prolonged sun exposure to the treated area for a week.
We recommend that you avoid wearing make-up following a procedure to avoid bacteria that may subsequently cause infection to the treated area. You may resume wearing make-up in 24 hours.
After Botox:
You must remain upright for at least 4 hours.
Allow 3-7 days for Botox to activate. There is no need to move your facial muscles for it to work…it will kick in on its own.
After all skin & laser treatments:
Avoid extreme sun exposure and tanning/tanning beds following your treatment for at least a week. Wear SPF 30 or higher.
About your results:
Remember, 1cc of filler (1 syringe) is equivalent to 1/5 teaspoon, so many patients find that more product may be necessary to achieve their goals. This is perfectly fine! Injecting the product in layers gradually provides patients with a more natural appearance. Drastic changes overnight can be overwhelming, so remember…taking baby steps is totally fine.
Do’s and Don’ts Before Your Facial/Chemical Peel
Please avoid any forms of exfoliation, and stop the use of harsh chemicals such as glycolic, salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxides, and retinol for 3 days prior to your facial and/or chemical peel appointment.
Please avoid direct sun exposure to areas to be treated for 2 weeks prior to the appointment. If any sun exposure or evidence of tanning is suspected, your aesthetician may have to postpone your treatment.
Please inform your aesthetician of any changes to your health/medical history prior to your treatment.
Please avoid any forms of exfoliation, and stop the use of harsh chemicals such as glycolic, salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxides, and retinol for 3 days prior to your facial and/or chemical peel appointment.
Please avoid direct sun exposure to areas to be treated for 2 weeks prior to the appointment. If any sun exposure or evidence of tanning is suspected, your aesthetician may have to postpone your treatment.
Please inform your aesthetician of any changes to your health/medical history prior to your treatment.
Post Peel Instructions for Chemical Peels
Adverse experiences that may occur after your chemical peel:
It is common and expected that your skin will be red, possibly itchy, and/or irritated. It is also possible that other adverse experiences may occur. Although rare, the following experiences have been reported by patients after having a peel: breakout of skin or acne, rash, swelling, or burning.
Please call the office immediately should you experience any unexpected reactions after the procedure.
Realistic Expectations
Although most people experience peeling off their facial skin, not every patient notices that their skin peels after a procedure. The lack of peeling is NOT an indication that the peel was unsuccessful. If you do not notice actual peeling, please know that you are still receiving benefits of the peel, such as stimulation of collagen production, improvement of skin tone and texture, and diminishment of fine lines and pigmentation. Some reasons that may cause a patient to have minimal to no peeling are: having peels on a regular basis or short intervals between peels, frequent use of AHA’s, Retin-A, or other peeling agents, and/or severely sun-damaged skin.
Post Peel Instructions & Guidelines
Do not wash your face until the next morning after the peel.
Avoid strenuous exercise in the first 24 hours. If skin redness persists, avoid it for at least 2-5 days.
Apply sunscreen of at least an SPF 30 daily and avoid direct sunlight for 1 week.
Cleanse, moisturize, and use SPF products recommended by your skin care specialist.
Do not use any other products during this time.
In approximately 48 hours, the skin will begin to peel around the mouth. The peeling lasts for 3 to 5 days, with each day becoming less and less. Do not pick or pull the skin. Allow the skin to peel and shed at its own pace.
When washing your face, do not scrub; do not use a washcloth or any type of facial brush.
You can resume the regular use of anti-aging and exfoliating creams once the peeling has completely subsided. This means no flaking or irritation of the skin is apparent.
Wait until the peeling completely subsides before having any other facial procedure performed.
