Non-Surgical Instructions

Filler Post-Treatment Instructions

• It is normal to experience bruising after the procedure, anywhere from mild to severe. This will subside over the next few weeks.
• Swelling after the procedure is to be expected and may result in lumps, bumps, and asymmetry, which will subside in the next few weeks. Keep in mind that we do not necessarily swell equally on both sides.
• ​It is not necessary to massage the filler; typically, it is massaged as needed during the injection process. Over-massaging the filler at home can hamper your end result.
• You may wear makeup 24 hours after the injections. Sephora/Ulta employees are great at showing people how to hide bruising! Dermablend is one example of makeup made to help hide bruising.
• Ice intermittently as necessary after the injections for the first 24-48 hours to aid with the swelling and bruising. Ice the area for 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off. Do NOT fall asleep with ice on the area. 
• If you have a concern with your result, we will not address this concern in the office for a minimum of two weeks for most fillers, three weeks for lip fillers, and four to six weeks for under-eye fillers due to the bruising and swelling specific to these areas.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office or email Sarah at [email protected].

BOTOX Post-Treatment Instructions

• You will start noticing the effects of BOTOX about 7-10 days after the injection, but the full effect takes 14 days.
• If you feel you may need an adjustment, please schedule an appointment for no sooner than 14 days after injection. In order to safely adjust your BOTOX, your results must be in full effect so that you are not over-treated in a particular area.
• Do not massage the area for 24 hours after injection.
• Do not exercise on the day you get your BOTOX.
• We recommend that you do not lie down for four hours after injection.
• Do not wear a hat on the day of injection, as this can push down the BOTOX.
• Do not get a massage with your head in a donut on the day of injection.
• Bruising may happen after BOTOX, and this will subside over the next few weeks.
• You may wear makeup after getting injected; just put your foundation on in an upward motion.
• You may resume all of your normal activities tomorrow.
• ​We recommend you wait at least one week after injection for any laser treatment to the area.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office or email Sarah at [email protected].

IPL Photofacial Post-Treatment Instructions

• Apply a cold pack intermittently after treatment: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, as much as possible for the first 24 hours. This will help reduce any swelling that may occur. Do not fall asleep with an ice pack on your face.
• Avoid any workouts, heat exposure, or hot water for the first 48 hours after treatment. Use lukewarm water in the shower.
• It is necessary to use a high-factor sunblock (SPF 30 at least) to protect the treated area from sun exposure for at least 1-2 weeks following treatment. Sun exposure or tanning after treatment can enhance pigment production and result in hyperpigmentation.
• Your skin may be sensitive during this period, but makeup can be applied as needed.
• Dark spots will get darker, then dry, scab up, and flake off. This takes about 7-10 days. Do not pick, pull, or peel the scabs off, as this may result in scarring. Keep the skin well moisturized twice daily so the scabs flake off when they are ready.
• Avoid any harsh scrubs. Use only gentle cleansers, like CeraVe or Cetaphil. Cleanse using your clean fingertips only in a circular motion. Cleanse your face twice a day.
• Avoid alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid), retinol, retinoids (like differin gel and tretinoin), or any anti-aging products for 5-7 days after treatment.
• Swelling and redness vary from patient to patient and depend on the condition being treated, but typically can last anywhere from three to seven days.
• Occasionally, bruising may occur, and this may last from one to two weeks.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at (407) 707-6905 or email Sarah at [email protected].

ResurFX Post-Treatment Instructions

• ​After treatment, you can expect your skin to be red, swollen, dry, and warm to the touch for three to seven days, depending on the depth of the treatment and normal patient variations.
• For the first 48 hours, you do not want to put any products on your face at all. The only thing you do is cleanse the first two days. No makeup, sunscreen, moisturizers, creams, or lotions of any kind unless specifically instructed by your provider. This will make your skin more likely to break out after treatment.
• Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser, like Cetaphil or CeraVe, twice daily using your fingertips in a circular motion. Do not scrub with a cloth or cleansing brushes.
• Your skin may get dry, peel, or flake off. Do not peel, pick, or pull off dry skin or scabs, as this may result in scarring.
• After 48 hours, you may resume wearing moisturizer, makeup, and other skincare products. However, you should hold off from using anti-aging products, retinol, and acids (like glycolic, salicylic, alpha hydroxy, etc.) for about one week after treatment, as they may irritate your skin.
• You may ice the area intermittently, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, for the first 24 hours after treatment to decrease the swelling as needed.
• You will be very sun-sensitive after treatment. It is important to avoid the sun in the first 1-2 weeks after treatment, especially in the first 48 hours when you are not able to wear sunscreen. After the first 48 hours, you may resume sunscreen, and we recommend SPF 30 or greater use every day and frequent reapplication. We also recommend that you avoid direct sun exposure the first 1-2 weeks after treatment.
• You want to avoid exercise and hot water for about three days. You may use lukewarm water in the shower.
• Dark spots may get slightly darker, then dry and flake off in about a week.
• If you have any questions or concerns, you may email photos or questions to [email protected]

Prior to each treatment:

• Avoid sun exposure and sunless tanner for at least six weeks prior to treatment. We cannot treat anyone with a sunburn or fresh tan.
• Completely shave the area to be treated prior to the treatment.
• No plucking, waxing, or tweezing of the area to be treated for six weeks prior to any laser treatment.
• Avoid topical retinoids (e.g., Retin-A, tretinoin, retinol) and products containing alpha hydroxy acids for two weeks prior to and one week after treatment.
• Please advise the provider of any changes in your medications, as some medications (e.g., antibiotics, Accutane/isotretinoin) can make you more sensitive to the laser.
• Please do not wear any lotions, creams, deodorants, make-up, or sunscreens to your appointment.

After each treatment:

• Avoid sun exposure to the treated area for eight weeks and wear sunscreen SPF 30 or more on a daily basis.
• You may notice that your skin is pink/irritated (similar to a sunburn) and the presence of red bumps on the recently treated area; this is completely normal. You may apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to calm the area twice daily for 2-3 days as needed.
• You may apply ice compresses after the laser treatment to reduce irritation and discomfort. Apply the ice pack intermittently—on for 20 minutes and then off for 20 minutes—for the first 24-48 hours as needed.
• Avoid hot baths/showers or heated jacuzzi tubs for one week after each treatment.
• If blistering, dark spots, or light spots should occur, keep the area moist with plain Vaseline or Aquaphor to protect it from the sun at all times, and let your provider know so that the settings can be adjusted.
• You may wear make-up after treatments.

Items You Need:

• Gentle Cleanser (ex. Hydrating CeraVe or plain Cetaphil)
• Aquaphor/Plain Vaseline
• Gauze/Washcloths
• Distilled White Vinegar
• SkinMedica Post Procedure Repair Complex
• Sunscreen- SPF 30+ with Zinc Oxide (preferably 12% or higher)
• Distilled Water 

What to Expect:

• Sunburn sensation for about 24 hours after the procedure.
• Redness, streaking, swelling, crusting, and darkening of the treated area for up to 14
  days. The skin should heal over in about 10-14 days.
• Pin-point bleeding, clear/yellow drainage, and itching.
• The treated area will be especially sensitive to the sun for about 6-8 weeks. However,
  you will remain more sensitive to the sun for up to 12 months after the procedure.
• After the procedure, itching typically peaks on days 3-4. You may take over the counter
  anti-histamines per the label instructions (if you are not allergic). Please note that
  Benadryl is sedating, and it is not recommended that you drive on this medication.
• Persistent redness/blotchiness/dryness for several weeks to months after treatment,
  which may be covered with tinted sunscreen or make up after 7-10 days.
• Although improvement can be seen after one treatment, typically multiple treatments are
  necessary for best results.
• You may notice improvement within 6-8 weeks, but the final results from the procedure
  take up to 12 months.

What to Do:

• For the first 24-48 hours, you may apply ice packs (covered with a moist cloth)
  intermittently for discomfort, pain or swelling. Apply 15 min on then 15 min off.
  Alternatively, you may use gauze soaked in ice water continuously applied to the face.
• Starting day 2, apply gauze soaked with a dilute vinegar solution and cool water 3 times
  daily x 4-5 days. 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to 1 cup of distilled cool water. You
  may mix this and keep this in the refrigerator for the day.
• Cleanse the area with a gentle, non-foaming cleanser 2-3 times per day in a circular
  motion with your fingertips only. Pat the area dry and then apply a layer of SkinMedica
  Post Procedure Repair Complex 2-3 times a day. Allow 5-10 min for the product to dry,
  then apply a layer of Aquaphor/Vaseline to the treated areas.
• Continue applying SkinMedica Post Procedure Repair Complex after cleansing 2-3 times
  a day for at least 2 weeks, then you can switch to SkinMedica’s TNS+. These products
  will assist in healing and skin repair.
• For the first 10-14 days, keep the treated areas moist with Aquaphor/Vaseline AT ALL
  TIMES.
• Once the scabs have sloughed off and there are no open areas, you may switch to a
  thick cream moisturizer (ex. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Vanicream) under a zinc
  oxide SPF 30+. You may need to repeat this several times a day as the skin will be dry
  and irritated.
• After 10-14 days when the skin is completely healed over, start applying sunscreen SPF
  30 or greater with zinc oxide every morning whether you plan on being outside or not.
• Minimize ALL sun exposure, particularly for the first 8 weeks after treatment. Your skin
  may remain more sensitive to the sun for up to one year. Sun exposure could result in
  permanent discoloration/scarring and may compromise your treatment results.

What NOT to Do:

• DO NOT pick, scratch, or rub the scabs or dry skin. This may result in infection, delayed
  healing, scarring, and/or discoloration to the area. Do not allow the treated area to dry
  out, it must remain moist at all times.
• Do not use any retinoids, retinols, alpha hydroxy acids, or skin care products for 2 weeks
  before treatment. You may resume slowly after 6-8 weeks as tolerated.
• Avoid exercise during the first two weeks as this will increase your swelling and risk of
  infection. Resume activity slowly.
• Avoid hot showers, hot tubs, swimming pools or lakes for at least 2 weeks. You may take
  a lukewarm shower, but avoid allowing the stream to run directly on the treated areas
  until it is healed over.

Please Note:

• You will arrive one hour prior to your scheduled procedure time for numbing.
• Please eat a meal prior to your procedure. You will be taking medications that may be
  harsh on an empty stomach.
• You must bring a driver with you on the day of your procedure (NO Uber, Lyft, etc.)
• Plan on being in the office for several hours on the day of the procedure.
• You must attend all post operative visits to be considered for a repeat procedure.
• If you have any questions or concerns after the procedure, you may email
  [email protected]. Sending pictures with your email is helpful.

Medications:

• Bring your medication with you to your appointment and ensure you eat a meal before
  you arrive.
• Valtrex- take one tablet twice daily. START 48 HOURS PRIOR TO PROCEDURE and
  continue until the bottle is finished.
• Zofran (ondansetron)- take one tablet one hour prior to your procedure.
• Valium- Take one tablet one hour prior to procedure. You will do this in the office.

• Avoid direct sun exposure for 5-7 days.
• For 72 hours (3 days) after the procedure, avoid vigorous activity, sweaty exercise, and indirect sun exposure.
• Apply sunblock/sunscreen daily, especially for the first five days. Apply in the morning and, if you are directly in the sun, every two hours.

Post Treatment Skin Regimen (5-7 days)

***No active ingredients for the first seven days. Patients on Retinol can resume after day seven.