Botulinum toxin
BOTULINUM TOXIN PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Please review and adhere to the following pre-treatment guidelines in preparation for your botulinum toxin appointment. The following restrictions are in place to minimize the risk for any potential complications
- Patient must be in good health with no active skin infections in the treatment area
- Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages at least 24 hours prior to treatment. Alcohol may thin the blood which will increase the risk of bruising.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory / blood thinning medications ideally, for a period of two (2) weeks before treatment and for a few days following treatment. Medications and supplements such as Aspirin, Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, St. John’s Wort, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Vioxx, and other NSAIDS all cause thinning of the blood and can increase the risk of bruising/swelling after injections.
Schedule botulinum toxin appointments at least 2-4 weeks prior to a special event to avoid having bruising on the day of your event.
BOTULINUM TOXIN POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Please review and adhere to the following post-treatment guidelines in preparation for your botulinum toxin appointment. The following restrictions are in place to minimize the risk of any potential complications
- Do not raise your body temperature for 4 hours following treatment (no exercise, hot tubs, saunas, being out in the sun, etc.). It takes about 2-4 hours for the neurotoxin to bind to the nerve in order to start working and an increase in internal body temperature or sweating can make the neurotoxin treatment ineffective.
- Avoid touching or manipulating the treated areas for 4 hours. In addition, do not lie down within this timeframe. We want the neurotoxin to stay in the muscles that it was specifically placed to avoid poor outcomes like a dropped eyebrow or eyelid. This also includes no facials, chemical peels, or massages after treatment.
- Avoid wearing hats, visors, headbands or anything on the head that has the potential to move the neurotoxin
- It will take about 24 hours for all of the injection sites to heal. To avoid infection, avoid wearing makeup on the day of the treatment. The face can be washed like normal at night (at least 4 hours post-treatment).
- Neurotoxin treatments typically start to take effect around 2-10 days, but everyone is different. Please give the neurotoxin a full 2 weeks to take effect before deciding if you need more. Don’t love it or hate it for 2 weeks!
- Be sure to schedule a 2-week follow-up appointment so your injector can
assess your results and perform any enhancements if needed. It is not recommended to inject beyond 2 weeks post-treatment, so please ensure that you keep this appointment.
Neurotoxin appointments should be scheduled every 3-4 months to maintain the best results.
DermaL Filler
DERMAL FILLER PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
- The patient should be in good overall health. A full medical, surgical, and dental history must be performed on all patients for optimal results. The patient should not be taking any current antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or blood thinning medications for at least 2 weeks prior to the dermal filler treatment.
- Any vaccinations should be scheduled 2 weeks prior to or 2 weeks after the dermal filler procedure.
- If you develop a cold sore, blemish, rash, etc. prior to your appointment you must reschedule. Let us know if you are prone to cold sores – a pre- operative medication may help prevent cold sores after treatment.
- If you have a special event or vacation coming up, schedule your treatment at least 2 weeks in advance. Patients should not travel in the 48 hours following a dermal filler treatment in case of complications. Plan appointments accordingly.
- Avoid taking Aspirin, Motrin, Gingko Biloba, Garlic, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, or any other essential fatty acids ideally 2 weeks before dermal filler treatment and 3 days following the procedure.
- Discontinue Retinols or any prescription strength face creams 2 days before and 2 days after treatment.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours prior to treatment in order to prevent thinning of the blood, which will lead to an increase in bruising and swelling after your procedure.
Please try to come to your appointment with a clean, make-up-free face.
DERMAL FILLER POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
- Do not touch, massage, or manipulate the areas treated with dermal filler for at least 24-48 hours following the procedure. For dermal filler in the lips, avoid straws, smoking, and excessive lip activity for the next 48 hours. You can cause migration of dermal filler if the areas are manipulated, which could lead to poor results.
- Avoid Aspirin, Motrin, Gingko Biloba, Garlic, Flax Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, or other essential fatty acids ideally 2 weeks before treatment and for a few days following. These medications/supplements will thin the blood and can cause more bleeding, bruising, and swelling.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine 24 hours before dermal filler treatment. These will also thin the blood leading to an increase in bleeding during the procedure, and bruising and swelling afterward.
- Avoid vigorous exercise and heat/sun exposure for 24 hours following dermal filler treatment.
- Discontinue any Retinol or prescription-strength topical face creams 2 days before and 2 days after dermal filler treatment. It is best to wear no makeup or lipstick until the next day. Earlier use can cause infection.
- Expect some bruising and swelling around the areas that were injected. Arnica tablets can be taken to help. It is recommended to take sublingual 5 pellets three times a day. Ice can also be applied for 10-15 minutes at a time to help with excessive swelling.
- You must wait until your 2-week follow-up appointment before any enhancements. Do not love or hate your results for at least 2 weeks!
Please report any excessive pain or swelling, blanching of the skin, redness/irritation, warmth of the skin, blisters, dark excessive bruising, or anything that looks or feels unusual to your injector ASAP