Deva Health, PLLC Jean J. Barry, MD

Botulinum Toxin/ Filler Treatment Instructions

______

Avoid planning any important work or social events for 2-7 days after treatments. If you bruise easily, you may need to plan for 2 weeks to heal. Most bruises can be covered fairly well with make-up, but not all. If you have an extremely important event like a wedding or a reunion, I would recommend having fillers done 3-4 weeks before the big day, as sometimes bruises can last for up to 14 days.

Before Treatment

To a large extent your results will depend on how well you and your doctor are communicating about what you want and expect. If you are both clear and realistic, treatments tend to go well.

Medications to possibly discontinue 7 days before treatment. Some of these may be needed for medical reasons so check with your doctor first. The reason to stop these is that they make your blood less likely to clot (“thinner”) which can cause bruising. If you are on warfarin/Coumadin or Plavix, stay on it!

Aspirin
Exedrin
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Aleve, Advil)
St. John’s Wart
Omega 3 fatty acids
Vitamin E
Ginko Bilboa
Ginseng

If you need pain medication, Tylenol is always fine to use.
Stop drinking alcohol 1-2 days prior to injections.
No garlic 1-2 days before injections.
Try eating pineapple 2-3 times for 1-2 days prior to injections (anecdotal evidence only). Bromelain supplements (pineapple extract) can have some serious side effects so we don’t recommend this.
Take Arnica Montana one-day prior or the morning of injections. You can find Arnica Montana at certain drugstores and often at WholeFoods. Don’t take if you have high blood pressure or heart problems.
Notify your doctor if you have ever had a cold sore near your mouth or nose.
Notify your doctor if you have a history of a neurologic disorder or autoimmune disease.

After Treatment

Some common injection-related reactions may occur, such as swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness, itching, and discoloration at the injection site. The intensity and duration of your filler or Botox side effects will depend on the treatment aggressiveness and your individual healing characteristics, but normally can last for one to two weeks after the treatment.

Remember it can take from 1-7 days for the results of cosmetic treatments to fully evolve (“settle in”). Unless something is really off, most minor problems will resolve in that time by just being patient.
Try to avoid alcohol for 24 hours after treatment.
No exercise except for walking for 24-48 hours after the procedure. Keep your heart rate under 100. Do not do any inversions in yoga or hot yoga.
No excessive sun or heat until any initial swelling and redness have resolved.
Avoid squeezing or massaging the treated areas for several hours after treatment as this could subtly change the results. (If you were treated with the injectible Sculptra, please disregard this note and massage as you were instructed.)
Proper and frequent use of sunscreen is always important. The sunscreen should offer broadband protection (UVA and UVB) and have a sun protection factor of SPF 30 or more. Wear a hat when outdoors.
No aspirin, Excedrin, ibuprofen, Aleve or Advil for 2 days after treatment. (Tylenol is fine.)
If you have swelling, apply cold compresses to the treatment area for 5-10 minutes every hour.
If you have any pain, you may take Tylenol as necessary.
Occasionally, a treatment can trigger an acne flare. These side effects usually resolve naturally within 1-14 days after the treatment. Call your doctor if you need medication for acne.

Please call our office at (978) 238-8172 is you have any questions or concerns about your treatment.