Dermal fillers are a great option to help restore a youthful look to your face because they quickly address natural signs of aging. Our patients have trusted dermal fillers to regain their self-confidence and enjoy looking into the mirror again.
But the treatment doesn’t after you leave our practice. There are some things you need to do–or avoid–to maintain the results of your filler treatment. Before you undergo this non-invasive cosmetic procedure, it can be helpful to understand the dos and don’ts of aftercare.
While we’ll give you more detailed filler aftercare instructions after each session, here are some basic post-treatment care tips that you should follow.
1. Icing
It’s not uncommon to experience swelling and bruising after your dermal filler procedure. To help minimize these post-treatment side effects, you should be applying ice to the treatment site. This will ease most of the discomfort that you feel and help control that natural inflammation. But be sure not to overdo it. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to remove the ice after 15 minutes.
2. Keep Your Head Elevated
When you’re not feeling well, the first thing you may want to do is lie down. However, that’s not going to be your best option after dermal fillers. Rather, you should keep your head elevated to further help reduce the amount of swelling that you experience. Aim to keep your head elevated for the first 24 hours following your treatment procedure.
3. Use Sun Protection
The UV rays from the sun can have a tremendous impact on the longevity of your dermal fillers. UV radiation will cause collagen and other proteins to prematurely break down. You want to avoid this at all costs.
To do so, it’s best to invest in using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is at least rated SPF 30 or higher. Adding sunglasses and a hat can further help to shield the sunlight from reaching your facial skin. Avoid tanning beds and direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day.
4. Take Pain Medications When Necessary
The discomfort caused by dermal fillers is manageable for most people. However, if your skin is extra sensitive, you may find the discomfort to be a little bit more than you can handle. In this instance, it’s okay to take pain medications to help soothe your discomfort. Just be sure to check with us to ensure that you’re taking pain medications that don’t thin out your blood.
5. Don’t Use Makeup
It’s very easy to get into the routine of putting on makeup every morning. However, you must avoid doing so for at least 24 hours following your treatment. Makeup could end up irritating your sensitive skin and lead to more unwanted inflammation.
6. Avoid Heating Your Skin
When you’re dealing with inflammation, adding heat to the mixture is a recipe for disaster. You should avoid any activity that heats your skin for at least 24 hours or more following your cosmetic procedure. Some common activities that can heat the skin include exercise, being out in the sun, and taking a dip in the hot tub.
Schedule a Consultation
Getting dermal fillers can be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. To ensure that you get optimal results, be sure to follow all of these post-treatment care instructions that we went over above. Ready to try dermal fillers in Pensacola, FL? Book an appointment with us at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery.
