PRE & POST CARE

Pre-Treatment Instructions:

• For optimal results, and to minimize the chance of bleeding or bruising at the injection site, please avoid all blood-thinning medications and supplements for one week prior to your appointment. This includes over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, and Aleve. Also avoid herbal supplements such as garlic, vitamin E, ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort and omega-3/fish oil capsules. If you have a cardiovascular history, please check with your medical provider prior to stopping use of aspirin or other prescribed blood thinning medications.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages 12 hours before or after your treatment to avoid extra bruising.
• Please consider if you have any upcoming events or pictures in the 2 weeks after your appointment as bruising can occur.
• Please eat something prior to your appointment. Getting light headed is no fun for you or the provider.
• For lip filler patients: Inform your provider if you have a history of cold sores around your mouth to receive advice on antiviral therapy prior to treatment. (Valtrex or acyclovir 500 mg, twice a day for 1-2 days before and 3 days after treatment)
• For all filler patients: You must have no sings or symptoms of any active infection including colds, flu, UTIs or any other infective process.

Post-Treatment Instructions:

• Botox Patients: No rubbing your face, putting your face in a face cradle for a massage, no exercise, and no hot saunas or baths for a minimum of 4 hours. Exercise may resume after 6-8 hours.
• Remember! It takes 3-7 days for botox to start to work and peak effect at day 14. Botox is expected to last 3-4 months but also know that after day 14 the medication is “wearing-off” so it is expected and normal that movement should begin to return around the 8 -10-week mark and then the next treatment is necessary around week 12-16.
• Touch-ups are scheduled between days 12 and 21 post-treatment. Additional units may be necessary for ideal results. There will be no touch-ups beyond the 21-day mark. If you feel you have more movement than you would like after day 21, increasing the dose at your next appointment may be appropriate. This is not considered a block failure, just that you may require more. Please let your provider know at the next appointment and we will adjust accordingly.
• Please know that not moving is not natural. Our goal is to block the motion that makes the wrinkle, not to necessarily be frozen. And you won’t be frozen for an entire 3-4 months. This is not how botox works.

• Filler Clients: No rubbing your face, putting your face in a face cradle for a massage, no exercise, and no hot saunas or baths for a minimum of 3 days. Exercise may resume after 24 hours or when you feel your swelling is improved.
• Avoid significant movement or massage of the treated area unless instructed by provider (i.e. Sculptra).
• Lip patients please know that filler will feel lumpy and bumpy for weeks. This is normal. If after 4 weeks a lump is bothering you or is visible, we will schedule a time for you to come in for it to be assessed.
• If you have swelling, you may apply a cool compress for 15 minutes each hour.
• You may use Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) for discomfort.
• Try to sleep face up and slightly elevated if you experience swelling.

Sculptra:

• Remember to massage your face 3×3 = 3 times a day for 3 minutes to avoid formation of collagen lumps and bumps. Your face will feel sore and bruisy and will improve each day.

Additional notes about dermal fillers:

Dermal fillers last, on average, 6-12 months. It is recommended at the time of your treatment to schedule your next appointment for optimal anti-aging benefits. The most typical side effects (bruising, swelling, redness) are temporary and will resolve. Lumps and bumps are normal and almost always resolve without intervention within 2-4 weeks. If after 4 weeks something is visible, we can schedule a time to be assessed.

Please call the office to notify us if you experience any additional side effects or if you notice bruising or pain is worsening, not improving as we would expect.

Pre-Treatment Instructions:

• Use your prescribed pre-treatment skincare regimen for 4-6 weeks prior to your appointment. We know medical-grade skincare preparation is critical to treatment safety and efficacy. Please understand that we may not be able to do your procedure without proper preparation for your own protection.
• Avoid sun tanning, sun exposure of self-tanners for 2 weeks prior to your appointment.
• Discontinue topical retinols 7 days prior to your appointment.
• Come to your appointment with no makeup on your face. We think you’re beautiful without it and we will just have to wash it off anyway 😉 Eye make-up is ok.
• Inform your provider if you have a history of cold sores around your mouth to receive advice on antiviral therapy prior to treatment. (Valtrex or acyclovir 500 mg, twice a day for 1-2 days before and 3 days after treatment)

Post-Treatment Instructions:

• Please use ONLY the provided post-care for 7 days after your treatment
• Avoid sun and over-heating for 7-14 days after your treatment. Please be fastidious about using provided SPF.
• Skin may appear red and swollen and have a mild sunburn sensation. This is a normal reaction. It can last from a few hours to days after treatment. Applying a cold compress for the first 24 hours will help minimize swelling.
• If feeling super dry, Aquaphor may be applied to dry areas
• Resume your usual skincare recommended by your aesthetician day 7 post-treatment. Retinol use may resume 7-10 days post-treatment.
• Subsequent treatments may be scheduled once healing is complete or 2-4 weeks after last treatment.

Treatment Specific Notes:

• Post-Peel can be very itchy. You may use 1% hydrocortisone cream to help with the itch and if you tolerate Benadryl (diphenhydramine), try 25mg of Benadryl every 8 hours. This may make you sleepier than usual. Peeling typically starts day 3 or 4 and lasts a couple days. Avoid picking!! Do not pull of the flaking skin. Let if fall off. Additionally, the amount of peeling does not reflect the efficacy of the peel.
  
• Post Microneedling: Redness will resolve in 1-2 days. Light flaking is not uncommon on day 3-4 but does not always happen. Results of microneedling are not visualized for 4-6 weeks and multiple treatments will be necessary for ideal results.
  
• Post Laser: Freckles and sunspots may turn slightly darker initially and then flake off within 7-14 days. This is a desired and normal reaction.
  

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the office.