Injectables, Aesthetic Medicine, Aftercare
If you think that the post treatment instructions are not important - think again! It never ceases to amaze me when clients have not been given aftercare advice before, but even worse, when they fail to appreciate their importance! Remember, what you do immediately after treatment can make all the difference between a mediocre result - and a fantastic one!
Tip #1- Don't bend down, lie down or manipulate the area for 4hrs
It takes up to 4 hrs for toxin to bind to their intended target, so we want the toxin to stay where we put it! This will help minimise the risk of developing an eyebrow or eyelid droop
How important ? - Essential!
Tip # 2- Take it easy....but not that easy!
Try to avoid straining, heavy lifting, sauna's or vigorous exercise for the rest of the day - You want to avoid increasing your circulation, as this can wash the toxin away or, increase your chance of bruising and swelling after dermal fillers treatment
Avoid Aspirin, Ibuprofen and alcohol - as these are blood thinners and can make bruising either more likely or more extensive.
Despite your best efforts, some of you will bruise no matter what you do - this is just basic physiology! If you are a bit of a peach, topical arnica can really help, or you can even take Bromelain supplements (available from Holland & Barrett). It's also really important that you stay out of the sun until the discolouration fades - this will prevent prolonged staining of the skin.
How important? - Really important!
Some swelling is to be expected but the amount you experience will depend on your own physiology, the injection technique used as well as the area treated. You can use cold compresses on and off for the the first 48hrs. It is really important you don't use ice - as this can make the filler go hard!
How important? - Great advice
Tip # 3 - Don't touch your face!
Your injector will have taken great pains to ensure your skin was a sterile environment. so don't go mucking up all their hard work!
After treatment your skin will be covered in microscopic puncture wounds which are just begging to let in all the bacteria from your dirty fingers - Did you know, researchers have found 30% of people have faecal matter (aka POOP!) on their hands? So to avoid a postoperative infection, please don't touch your face!
Retin-A, and Retinol products should be avoided for 2 days, and you will also need to avoid facials, peels, dental treatments and 'face down massages' for 2 weeks
How important? - Vital!
Tip #4 - Sleep on your back
It is recommended that you sleep on your back for the first two nights following treatment with dermal filler. This is because the filler takes time to integrate into your tissue and we want to avoid displacing it. This also goes for you massaging or manipulating the treated area. It may be tempting - but don't do it!
How important? - Great to know!
Tip #5 - Can I get your number?
The biggest piece of advice I can give is to. make sure you have your practitioners emergency contact details and how you can contact them out of hours!
What to do in the unlikely event of an emergency should be discussed with your before you leave the clinic - remember, a good practitioner will be on-call 24/7
Attention to detail
It the little things in life that can make a big difference, so following these words of wisdom will help keep you safe, optimise your results and minimise a complication!
Dr Sophie Gaskell - Coach Aesthetics.