How to Prepare for My Filler Appointment : The Do’s and Don’t of Our Favorite Volume Loss Treatment

Hi my name is Caitlin and I am an aesthetic RN here to help you learn more & prepare properly for all of your aesthetic procedures! Filler is one of my absolute favorite procedures to perform because of the instant results, which means super happy patients almost immediately. The idea of getting filler or adding it into your aesthetic regime can be intimidating and scary, so let’s break it down to help you understand it more! Knowledge is power!

To begin, let’s discuss what filler actually is. Filler is injected into various treatment areas to restore volume loss (think wrinkles, fine lines, hollowness) or add volume to areas that the patient may desire additional volume that they never had (think higher cheekbones or fuller lips). Overall, the goal is to create a fuller, smoother appearance. Filler typically lasts between 6 and 12 months for most patients. The FDA approves of filler as a temporary medical procedure due to the fact that they are made of products that the body naturally breaks down.

Temporary filler can be made up of any of the following ingredients: 

• Hyaluronic Acid

• Calcium Hydroxylapatite 

• Poly-L-lactic acid

The FDA also approves of filler for the following uses:

• Correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and skin folds

• Increasing fullness of lips, cheeks, chin, under-eye-hollows, jawline, and the back of hands

• Correcting acne scars on the face

Now, when considering using this corrective / temporary treatment, you should also be made aware of the risks and complications associated with it. We split these risks into two categories: common & uncommon. The reason for that being, if you’re going to receive a filler treatment, you should know there are some side effects you almost cannot avoid post procedure - these fall into that “common” category. 

Common Side Effects of Dermal Filler Procedures:

• Bruising (we will discuss ways to prevent this)

• Redness & swelling 

• Pain & tenderness

• Itching / rash 

Uncommon (but known) Side Effects of Dermal Filler Procedures:

• Inflammation such as swelling or redness may develop near the dermal filler injection site following injections if the patient has recently experienced a viral or bacterial infection, vaccination, or dental procedure

• Raised bumps in or under the skin that persist after two weeks post procedure and with at-home care of massaging with warm compress that may end up needing to be removed with filler dissolver, oral antibiotics, or surgically removed 

• Infection 

• Delayed onset infection (weeks post injection) 

• Sores at the injection site

• Reactivation of herpes (cold sores)

• Visible white or yellow patches (20% of cases)

• Allergic reaction to the product

• Localized Necrosis and/or sloughing, with scab and/or without scab if blood vessel occlusion occurs.

• If unintentional injection into a blood vessel occurs, there can be serious complications such as vision abnormalities, blindness, stroke, temporary scabs, permanent scarring of the skin

Now that we have discussed all of the scary possibilities - because yes your injector should make you VERY AWARE of all of these before ever touching a needle to your skin - we can move on to how to specifically prepare yourself at home before your procedure to have the best possible outcome :) 

For filler specifically, I think it is best to approach the preparation by beginning a week ahead of your scheduled appointment. This gives you plenty of time to make the proper decisions, prepare wisely, and in the end if you feel as though you are not ready - to reschedule or discuss further with your injector beforehand! 

The Week of Filler Prep:

One Week Before Injections:

• Avoid blood-thinning over-the-counter meds such as advil, aspirin, motrin, ibuprofen, and aleve

• Avoid supplements such as St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, primrose oil, garlic, gensig, and vitamin E

• ONLY WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS PERMISSION CAN YOU STOP TAKING A DAILY PRESCRIBED MED. YOUR OVERALL HEALTH COMES BEFORE COSMETIC PROCEDURES. (I am also an ER RN part-time. Do not end up there because you stopped taking a blood thinning medication that you NEED.) 

Two Days Before Injections:

• Avoid topical products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A), Retinol, Retinoids, Glycolic Acid, or any “anti-aging” products. These break down the skin and allow for bleeding and irritation of the injection site to be a much bigger risk.

• Avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing, or using hair removal cream on the area to be treated.

24 Hours Before Injections:

• Avoid alcoholic beverages

• Try to avoid caffeine as well if possible, at least on the day of (yes - this does thin your blood!)

Morning of Injections:

• Have ice packs in the freezer ready for the next few days. At Purra, I always send my filler patients home with an ice pack to hold on their injection site immediately to prevent bruising. Your injector may not do this, but even if they do - you’re going to want to be applying ice frequently.

• Please continue to avoid coffee :) 

• Try not to do any intense workouts right before your appointment as this also increases risk of bleeding & bruising 

Let’s also go over a few things you should be prepared for after your treatment:

• Clear your schedule post-injections as you will be advised to relax, not wear make-up on the injection sites, and not do anything that could cause irritation to the skin such as being in a hot environment or strenuous workout

• Strenuous or intense work-outs should not be done for 48 - 72 hours post injections

• Please avoid hot environments such as steam rooms, saunas, & hot tubs for at least 72 hours after 

• If you do experiencing itching / rash like symptoms you can take antihistamines such as benadryl if you are not allergic & have cleared it with your injector

• A warm compress can be used to massage out little lumps or bumps that you can feel after 3 days. Use a warm washcloth and gently massage the area. Please also contact your injector about this prior to doing so.

• Use a gentle cleanser on treated areas for a minimum of three days to decrease risk of irritation and infection 

• Continue to avoid substances or medications that thin the blood such as alcohol, caffeine, and NSAIDs. If pain is occuring 24 hours post injections - contact your injector to see if taking tylenol or ibuprofen would be appropriate at that time.

• Lastly - track your progress! Take lots of pictures as your filler begins to settle in and swelling goes down to keep your injector updated! Sometimes, additional filler may be needed after two weeks of letting original injections settle. Be sure to keep your injector updated & informed on how you are feeling! 

If your injector does not schedule a follow-up two weeks post injections with you automatically, make sure you share with them photos or videos of your injection site once you hit your two week mark. This will allow us to know that the filler has settled properly, swelling is gone, and assess our work! Our priority is always to make sure that you are happy with your new lips, cheeks, jawline, or whatever else it may be! 

Trying out a new aesthetic procedure can be intimidating, and sometimes, even a little scary. It is important to feel educated and have a complete understanding of what you are thinking about getting done. It is also important to feel confident in your injector and that they have the correct background and training to perform these procedures. Always ask questions & remember consultations are key! Set up a consultation first to make sure your injector knows your concerns, can listen to what you desire, and set realistic expectations for you. 

Filler is a beautiful product that can be used in so many unique ways that leave you looking flawless and NATURAL. I love using it & having it readily available for those who are good candidates and feel confident in using it. 

Have any questions? Ask me below! 

xoxo Caitlin Travis, BSN, RN

Dermal Filler Appointment With Purra MedSpa:

We are located in Dillsburg, PA.

Book an Appointment. 

Call Us: 717-502-1566.

Copyright © Caitlin Travis, 2024.

*The information in this blog is not medical advice and may not be factually accurate. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult with a physician before attempting any tips in this blog post and to get the most up to date factual data about any procedure or treatment.