THE PRE & POST-CARE CODE: Your Essential Aesthetics Prep & Recovery Guide

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Your treatment is only half the story. What you do before you arrive and after you leave is the key to transforming a good result into a great one. This is your essential guide to prepping with purpose and mastering the art of graceful recovery.

The Pre-Care Protocol

FOR INJECTABLES (BOTOX & FILLERS)

• A week before, put blood-thinners like aspirin, vitamin E, and fish oil supplements on hold (after checking with your doctor, of course). It’s the simplest way to sidestep bruising.

• Give the rosé a 48-hour raincheck. Alcohol invites inflammation, and that’s one guest you don’t want at your appointment.

• Arrive as a clean canvas – hydrated and completely makeup-free.

FOR ENERGY-BASED TREATMENTS (LASERS, MORPHEUS8, HIFU) & MICRONEEDLING

• For two weeks prior, become a sun-avoidance purist. Tanned or sunburned skin is an absolute no-go.

• A week out, shelve your retinoids and AHAs. Let your skin barrier fortify itself in peace.

THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH

Always hydrate from within. Glowing skin starts from the inside, so water is your most underrated pre-treatment serum.

The Post-Care Prescription

THE GOLDEN HOURS (FIRST 24-48 HOURS)

• Cleanse and moisturise with the most gentle, fragrance-free products you own to avoid aggravating your skin.

• Apply sunscreen – this is non-negotiable. A high-SPF, mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen is your new best friend.

• No picking, rubbing, or excessive touching. Let your skin do its work undisturbed.

AFTER INJECTABLES:

Botox: Gently make the expressions you came in with for a few hours – it helps the product find its home. Stay upright for 4-6 hours post-treatment.

Filler: Be a back sleeper for a night or two, and postpone that facial for a fortnight. Avoid alcohol and excessive heat (saunas, high-intensity workouts…) for 24 hours post-injectables.

AFTER ENERGY-BASED TREATMENTS & MICRONEEDLING:

• Embrace the pink. Redness and swelling are simply signs that the regeneration process has begun.

• Hydrate and nourish. This is the time for the healing serums your clinic recommended. Hyaluronic acid will be your skin’s greatest ally.

• Avoid makeup for 24 hours. It will slow down healing and increases the risk of infection.

• Be patient with peeling. If your skin flakes, let it. You’re gently ushering out the old to make way for the radiant new.

THE LONG GAME

• Reintroduce your powerhouse actives like retinol only once your clinic gives the all- clear – typically after 1-2 weeks.

• View your treatment plan as a curated series, not a one-off event. Book your next session to build upon your beautiful results.

• If in doubt, always ask your doctor, aesthetician, or clinic. Don’t turn to TikTok – there’s a lot of misinformation out there. The pros always know best.