Preparing for Treatment
A small amount of preparation reduces bruising, improves comfort and makes the result easier to assess. None of it is complicated.
In the week before
- Tell the clinic about every medication and supplement you take, including anything bought over the counter
- Do not stop prescribed blood thinners on your own initiative — raise it and it will be discussed
- Where medically safe, fish oil, high-dose vitamin E and anti-inflammatories increase bruising
- Reschedule if you have an active skin infection, cold sore or breakout in the treatment area
- Tell us if you are unwell, or have had recent dental work or vaccination
In the 24 hours before
- Avoid alcohol
- Arrive without make-up on the treatment area if you can
- Eat something — treatment on an empty stomach is a common cause of feeling faint
- Bring details of any previous aesthetic treatment
Preparation is mostly about protecting the assessment, not the procedure.
Timing around events
Do not book treatment in the week before something you are photographed at. Swelling peaks around forty-eight hours and settles over one to two weeks, and the review that adjusts the result sits at two weeks. Working backwards from the event is the only reliable approach.
If you are unsure whether to proceed
Come to the consultation anyway. Assessment does not commit you to treatment, and a plan you take away and think about is a normal outcome.
All medications and supplements
Alcohol
Two weeks minimum
Active infection in the area
Before you book.
Should I stop my blood thinner before treatment?
Never on your own initiative. Raise it at consultation so it can be discussed and, if appropriate, coordinated with the doctor who prescribed it.
Can I wear make-up to my appointment?
You can, though the treatment area will be cleansed. Arriving without make-up on that area saves time.
What if I get cold sores?
Tell the clinic before lip treatment. It affects how and when treatment is planned.
How far ahead of an event should I book?
Two weeks minimum for injectable treatment, four weeks is better, and at least three weeks after the final session of a skin course.