Should you prepare your skin several days before injections ?
Healthy skin generally requires no specific preparation before injections.
There is no need for a facial, peel or exfoliation to « prepare » the skin. On the contrary, having multiple treatments immediately before the session risks causing unnecessary irritation.
The priority is to keep the skin in good condition until the appointment. Significant irritation, an inflammatory flare-up or an infection in the intended injection area may mean treatment is postponed.
Should you stop retinol creams or acids before injections ?
Retinol, tretinoin and cosmetic acids do not always need to be stopped before injections. However, their use may be temporarily interrupted if the skin is irritated.
If there is redness, peeling or significant damage to the skin barrier, it is preferable to wait until the skin has recovered before performing injections.
Can you use a scrub or have a peel before injections ?
Any treatment likely to irritate the skin should be avoided immediately before injections.
A scrub, peel or certain dermatological treatments can cause redness, peeling or inflammation. The interval required before injections depends on the depth of the treatment performed and the condition of the skin. Stopping these practices a week before injections is sufficient.
After a procedure that damages the skin barrier, injections are performed once the skin has completely healed and there is no longer significant inflammation.
Can you have injections after sun exposure ?
Yes, injections can be performed after sun exposure if the skin is simply tanned. However, they must be postponed in cases of sunburn or significant irritation.
Sunburn causes skin inflammation : you must wait for complete healing before having injections.
It is therefore preferable to avoid significant sun exposure in the days before the appointment.
Can you have injections if you have a spot ?
This depends on its location and cause. An area with active infection or inflammation must not be injected.
A spot, folliculitis, a significant acne flare-up or an infection in the intended injection area may mean the session is postponed.
You should also avoid picking or squeezing a spot immediately before the appointment, as this can create a skin lesion and promote inflammation.
Can you have injections with a cold sore ?
No. Injections must be postponed if there is active herpes in or near the treatment area.
You must also tell the doctor about any history of cold sores, particularly before injections in the lips or around the mouth. The trauma caused by injections can trigger reactivation in some people.
Depending on the history and area treated, the doctor may prescribe preventive antiviral treatment.
Should you stop aspirin, anti-inflammatory medicines or anticoagulants before injections ?
A treatment prescribed by a doctor must never be stopped on your own initiative before aesthetic injections.
Anticoagulants, antiplatelet medicines and certain other medicines can increase the risk of bruising or bleeding at injection sites. They must therefore be mentioned during the consultation.
The doctor determines whether aesthetic treatment can be performed under these conditions. Preventing a bruise does not justify stopping a treatment needed for health without medical advice.
Can dietary supplements increase bruising ?
Some dietary supplements can alter platelet aggregation or clotting and increase bruising.
It is therefore useful to mention supplements taken regularly, just as you would medicines.
This particularly concerns certain products containing high-dose omega-3, ginkgo biloba or other substances that may interact with haemostasis.
Again, a product should not automatically be stopped without checking why it is taken and whether it can actually be discontinued.
Should you avoid alcohol before injections ?
It is preferable to avoid heavy alcohol consumption before the session, particularly to avoid increasing redness and bruising.
However, there is no need to follow a special diet or substantially change your eating habits before injections.
Can you exercise before injections ?
Yes, you can exercise before injections. Physical activity the day before is not a contraindication.
However, it is preferable to avoid exercising immediately before the appointment. Increased body temperature, heavy sweating or skin irritation are not favourable conditions for performing injections.
It is therefore advisable to leave an interval between exercise and the injection session.
Can you have a facial immediately before injections ?
It is preferable not to schedule an aggressive facial treatment immediately before injections.
A gentle treatment that causes neither redness nor skin damage poses less of a problem. However, microneedling, a peel, a laser or any other procedure likely to cause inflammation must be separated from injections by at least three weeks.
More precisely, the interval will depend on the treatment performed and skin recovery.
Why should you mention a dental appointment before hyaluronic acid injections ?
Recent or planned dental treatment must be mentioned before certain hyaluronic acid injections, particularly around the mouth.
Invasive dental treatment can cause transient bacteraemia, and some experts recommend leaving an interval between it and filler injections.
It is therefore useful to inform the doctor of deep scaling, an extraction, an implant or other dental treatment performed recently or planned in the weeks surrounding injections.
Should you mention previous injections ?
Yes. The doctor must know which products have already been injected, into which areas and, if possible, on what date.
This information is particularly important for fillers. A product may still be present in the tissues when the patient believes it has completely disappeared.
If the product name is known, it is useful to provide it. Photographs taken before and after previous treatments can also help explain how the face has changed.
Should you arrive without make-up on the day of your injections ?
It is preferable to arrive with clean skin and no make-up.
Before injections, the skin is carefully cleaned and disinfected in any event to reduce the risk of contamination.
There is therefore no need to apply a succession of serums, creams or heavy make-up immediately before the appointment.
What should you do the day before injections ?
No special preparation is needed the day before injections.
It is advisable to keep your usual routine if it is well tolerated, avoid treatments likely to irritate the skin, and avoid picking spots or small facial lesions.
Above all, check for any recent skin or health problem : a cold sore, infection, significant irritation, sunburn or acute illness. If any of these problems arises, it is preferable to notify the doctor before the appointment.
What is the best preparation before aesthetic injections ?
Preparation before injections mainly involves avoiding skin irritation and telling the doctor about medical factors that may change or delay treatment.
Healthy skin requires neither exfoliation, deep cleansing nor any particular treatment before the session. However, you must mention medicines and dietary supplements taken, a history of herpes, previous aesthetic treatments, recent dental care and any skin problem that has appeared before the appointment.
In Geneva, this information is checked before the session to determine whether hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, Skinbooster injections or another injectable treatment can be performed or should be postponed.
Article written by Dr Valeria Romano
Dr Valeria Romano supports each patient through a comprehensive approach to facial, body and intimate aesthetics, as well as skin and hair quality. Every treatment is based on a personalised medical assessment.
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