DERMAL FILLER
- millhouseclinics
- Aug 11, 2024
- 4 min read
Treatment Preparation
Now that you have had your consultation with one of the practitioners here at Millhouse Clinics it is time to start preparing for your recommended treatment.
We will cover how to prepare for your Dermal Filler appointment - before, during and after your appointment.
Please familiarise yourself with our policy for all appointments at Millhouse Clinics.
Preparing for your Dermal Filler Treatment
Pre-Treatment Advice
If able to, please stop any medication 3 days prior that can increase your risk of bleeding e.g. Aspirin, fish oil, ibuprofen. Do not stop medication if recommended to do for a medical reason. Please discuss with our practitioner who can provide advice.
Avoid taking anti-inflammatories (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) for 3 days prior to treatment (unless this has been prescribed by your doctor) as this increases the risk of bruising.
Alcohol, fish oils, St. John’s Wort, Gingko Biloba and Vitamin E should also be avoided for 3 days prior to treatment to lessen the risk of bruising.
If you are prone to bruising, taking arnica orally for a few days prior to treatment may lessen the risk.
If you are unwell on the day of your appointment, contact the practitioner to reschedule.
Avoid sunbeds and tanning for 1 week before and after treatment.
Ensure your practitioner is informed if there are any changes in your medical history or medication taken before receiving any treatment.
If you suffer from cold sores and are choosing to have lip filler, please ensure you start taking anti-viral tablets 2 days prior to the procedure.
Avoid using ‘active skincare’ products e.g. Retinol, AHA/BHAs, for 3 days pre procedure.
Avoid heavy exercise 24 hrs prior to your appointment.
Avoid heavy alcohol consumption 24 hrs prior.
If you wear glasses and are having nose filler/non surgical rhinoplasty, please ensure that your glasses do not sit on your nose in the midline or wear contact lens for 7 days minimum
On The Day Advice
Arrive make up free if possible.
Take paracetamol and a non-drowsy antihistamine 1 hour prior to your appointment.
Please arrive on time for your appointment.
Ensure you have eaten and drank water before your appointment, if you are prone to fainting please inform the practitioner.
Post-Treatment Advice
It is advisable that you do not touch the area for a minimum of 6 hours, ideally 12 hours.
Take regular paracetamol over the next 24 hours and then as required after this. Avoid ibuprofen as can cause increased bleeding.
Avoid heavy alcohol consumption for 24 hours afterwards.
Do not apply make-up for approximately 24 hours.
Avoid heavy exercise 24 hours post treatment.
Avoid restarting ‘active skincare’ products e.g. Retinol, AHA/BHAs, for 2 days post-treatment.
Avoid facials/sun beds/chemical peels / laser resurfacing for 7 days.
Arnica tablets/gel can be used to help reduce bruising or the application of vitamin k oxide cream.
If you have had a local nerve infiltration injection please do not consume any hot or cold drinks until your sensation has returned to normal. You must also be careful when eating so that you do not risk biting your lip.
What happens during your treatment
We will go through your medical form to see if there have been any changes since signing it.
We are required to take before and after images, we will ask on your consultation form if we can use the images plus any other media taken during your treatment for advertising use.
The area will be numbed using a cream and then cleaned. Dermal filler contains a numbing agent to provide the client a comfortable experience.
The treatment will take around 30-60 mins to complete.
You are advised to avoid alcohol, vigorous exercise, sun bathing, and extremes of heat or cold for 14 days post treatment. These activities have been found to increase and prolong swelling. If necessary you can apply a cool compress to the area to reduce any discomfort or swelling. Swelling may worsen in the first 24 hours, and then should settle within the first few days. Cold packs can be helpful in reducing swelling. As a consequence of swelling, the product may feel harder or lumpy and you may notice some asymmetry. The final result may be judged at 2 weeks. You may be advised to massage the area by your practitioner.
Bruising may take a few days to appear, arnica can be helpful in clearing bruising. It is advisable to avoid aspirin and alcohol for 12-48 hours after treatment. Tenderness should settle as swelling goes down.
Athletes should be aware some ingredients in the product may show a positive in ‘anti-dope tests’.
Please contact your practitioner if redness, tenderness, itching or swelling worsens after 3 days, rather than settling. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.
Dermal filler administration can result in anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) which in itself is life threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the tongue, eyelids, lips, hoarseness of the voice, stomach pain, nausea or diarrhoea. If you have any of the above symptoms please report to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department or call 999 for an ambulance.
Common expected side effects
The above advice should help to minimise this but the following side effects can be expected to occur:
Bruising
Swelling
Redness
Tightness
Itchiness
Discomfort
These side effects can last between 1-14 days. This means leave plenty of time for yourself to recover before any big events e.g. wedding, birthday, holidays. Your discomfort should be able to be managed with paracetamol alone. If not or any worsening symptoms, please contact the clinic immediately for advice, even if out of hours. You will be given an emergency number to contact in this instance.
If you are unsure about what has been explained in this article and want to ask questions please do not hesitate to contact the clinic.
We look forward to seeing you for your appointment.