Guidelines to follow before and after hyaluronic acid fillers?
- Discontinue use of blood thinners (even ibuprofen and aspirin) one week before your appointment. Avoid for 3 to 4 days after your treatment as they can cause severe bruising. Tylenol is ok for pain.
- Discontinue vitamins and other supplements that can affect the procedure and cause blood clotting or blood thinning.
- Eat pineapple one to two weeks leading up to your treatment as it contains bromelain, an enzyme that can reduce bruising.
- Take Arnica, a natural medicine, for 4 to 5 days leading up to your treatment in order to prevent swelling and speed up the healing process.
- Abstain from alcohol one week before your treatment and for 24 hours after your injections.
- Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated. This keeps the area plump.
- Use a cold compress, but do not ice the area! Ice may change the texture of the filler!
- Use A&D ointment or Neosporin for 48 hours following your injections.
- Avoid direct sun exposure and heat for 48 hours. No tanning, hot tubs, saunas, waxing, facial steams, or hot showers.
- Avoid working out or elevating your heart rate for 48 hours. Avoid sweating and keep your skin clean.
- No lipstick or makeup on the affected area for 7 days! Also avoid thick serums and retinols.
- Avoid activities that may move the filler around for 7 to 10 days. No massaging, facials, touching, or picking the affected area as it goes through the healing process and the fillers set.
Potential side effects?
- Itching
- Redness
- Minor pain
- Lumps
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Bleeding
What might prevent me from having these treatments?
- A skin concern or an infection
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Blood clotting issues
- Any severe allergies
- A history of anaphylactic shock
- An allergy to collagen or eggs
- An allergy to animal products
- An allergy to local anesthetics such as lidocaine
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- An allergy to any component that goes into making the filler