3 things to note before getting injections
This article discusses three important things to consider before getting any type of injection, including aesthetic injections. The article provides useful information for individuals considering injections as a cosmetic.
Why Prep Matters
What you do in the week before an injection often matters more than the injection itself. I’ve seen beautifully placed filler bruise more than it needed to — not because of technique, but because the patient didn’t know what to avoid beforehand. I’ve seen swelling that alarmed people turn into a canceled shoot and a stressful week. None of it had to happen.
This is not a scare list. It’s a practical prep guide built from what actually comes up in our consultations — the questions patients wish they’d asked before, not after. Read it once, keep it for next time.
Pre-Injection Essentials
- Blood Thinners
- Pause aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E ~1 week before (when medically appropriate)
- Alcohol
- Skip for 24–48 hours before your appointment
- History
- Share full medical history, allergies, and prior procedures
- Calendar
- Plan around swelling — it peaks in the first 24–48 hours
- Injector
- Choose on credentials and clinical judgment, not price
Pause Blood Thinners Before You Come In
Aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, and certain herbal supplements (ginkgo, garlic, high-dose turmeric) can increase bleeding and bruising risk. Discontinue them about 7 days before your appointment when medically appropriate. Cardiac aspirin is the exception: never stop without your prescribing doctor’s approval.
If you take aspirin for a cardiac condition or any prescription blood thinner — do not stop it without talking to your prescribing physician first. We work around medical necessity. What we’re clearing is elective supplementation and over-the-counter pain relievers that most people don’t realize they can safely pause for a week. Alcohol falls into the same category: it dilates blood vessels and should be skipped for at least 24–48 hours before your appointment.
Tell Us Everything — Even the Embarrassing Parts
This one matters more than people expect. Prior filler (especially from other providers) changes anatomy in ways that are invisible on the surface. Knowing what product was used, where, and when helps us plan safer placement. Prior procedures — threads, energy devices, surgeries — all affect tissue and healing, and prior allergic reactions to lidocaine or any injectable tell us how to modify your protocol before we start.
Medical history is not just a form to fill out — it’s a clinical conversation. Tell us about autoimmune conditions, recent illness, skin infections near the treatment area, and any medications you’re taking. None of this disqualifies you; most of it just means we adjust. A good consultation should feel like the beginning of a plan, not an interrogation. If it doesn’t, that’s worth noticing.
Choose Your Injector Before You Think About Price
Filler and neurotoxin injections are medical procedures. The person holding the needle works in proximity to blood vessels, nerves, and tissue planes that require anatomical knowledge and real clinical judgment. A board-certified or licensed medical professional with documented injection training and a clear protocol for complications is not the premium option — it’s the baseline.
We turn patients away when a treatment isn’t right for them. I’d rather tell someone their anatomy isn’t suited for a particular technique than perform it and watch it fail. That kind of honesty is what you’re looking for in an injector — someone whose first priority is your outcome, not the sale. Here’s what we look for when evaluating injector credentials, if you want a framework before your first consultation.
| Phase | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week Before | Pause fish oil, vitamin E, ibuprofen, aspirin (if medically OK) | Blood thinners, NSAIDs, high-dose herbal supplements |
| 48 Hours Before | Hydrate well, sleep, eat nutritious meals | Alcohol, strenuous exercise that raises blood pressure |
| Day Of | Arrive without makeup if possible, eat beforehand, hydrate | Heavy moisturizers, active skincare on treatment areas |
| 24–48 Hours After | Ice gently if needed, keep upright, light activity only | Strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, direct sun exposure |
| First Week After | Let swelling resolve naturally, attend follow-up if scheduled | Pressure on treated areas, hot yoga, facials, RF treatments |
| Ongoing | Protect with SPF, maintain hydration | Skin-damaging habits that accelerate product breakdown |
Do
- 1 Week Before
- Pause fish oil, vitamin E, ibuprofen, aspirin (if medically OK)
- 48 Hours Before
- Hydrate well, sleep, eat nutritious meals
- Day Of
- Arrive without makeup if possible, eat beforehand, hydrate
- 24–48 Hours After
- Ice gently if needed, keep upright, light activity only
- First Week After
- Let swelling resolve naturally, attend follow-up if scheduled
- Ongoing
- Protect with SPF, maintain hydration
Avoid
- 1 Week Before
- Blood thinners, NSAIDs, high-dose herbal supplements
- 48 Hours Before
- Alcohol, strenuous exercise that raises blood pressure
- Day Of
- Heavy moisturizers, active skincare on treatment areas
- 24–48 Hours After
- Strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, direct sun exposure
- First Week After
- Pressure on treated areas, hot yoga, facials, RF treatments
- Ongoing
- Skin-damaging habits that accelerate product breakdown
Day Of: Three Small Things That Make a Real Difference
Come without makeup if you can — it saves time and reduces the number of things on your skin before we start. Eat beforehand: low blood sugar during a procedure can cause lightheadedness, and it’s entirely preventable. Hydrate. Not just the day of — well-hydrated tissue tends to swell less and recover more comfortably. These aren’t rituals. They’re small, practical steps that change the clinical experience.
Post-Procedure: The 48-Hour Window
The 48 hours after an injection are when most avoidable problems happen. Skip strenuous exercise — elevated heart rate increases blood pressure and pushes more fluid into already-inflamed tissue. Avoid saunas, steam rooms, and direct sun exposure for the same reason. Skip facials and any device-based treatment on or near the treated area. If you bruise, that’s normal — it resolves. Cold compresses (wrapped, not applied directly) can help in the first few hours.
Swelling from dermal fillers typically peaks at 24–48 hours and largely resolves within a week. Neurotoxin (Botox) takes 7–14 days to show its full effect — don’t assess your result before then. If something feels off — unusual firmness, asymmetry that’s more than the normal healing window, or any visual changes that concern you — contact your provider. Most things are easily addressed early.
Days 1–2
Peak Swelling
Normal swelling and possible bruising, especially with fillers. Ice gently, stay upright, avoid heat and exercise. Do not massage treated areas.
Days 3–5
Bruising Resolves
Most bruising fades significantly. Neurotoxin is still taking effect — don’t assess results yet. Avoid active skincare ingredients (retinol, acids) near injection sites.
Days 7–10
Initial Results Visible
Filler settles into final placement. Neurotoxin results are now visible. A follow-up touch-up, if needed, is typically scheduled around Day 14.
Week 2+
Full Assessment
Resume all normal activities and skincare. If asymmetry or unexpected results remain, this is the window to contact your provider for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I stop ibuprofen before injections?
Is it really necessary to skip alcohol before filler?
What should I tell my injector about prior treatments?
Can I work out after my injection appointment?
How do I know if I’m choosing a qualified injector?
Is swelling after filler normal?
When will I see the final result of my Botox treatment?
The Prep Is Part of the Treatment
Injection outcomes aren’t purely a function of what happens in the room. The prep you do beforehand, the honesty you bring to your consultation, and the care you take in the first 48 hours afterward are all part of the result. Most of what goes wrong with injectable treatments is preventable — and most of it is preventable before the appointment begins.
See also: When thread lift results go wrong — what to know · Botched aesthetic treatment — what are your options
“The patients who have the smoothest experiences are almost always the ones who come in prepared. Not because they’ve read everything online — but because they asked questions, shared their history honestly, and gave their body the conditions to heal well. That’s the part I can’t do for you. But I can make sure you know what it looks like.”
Individual results vary. Content is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Natalya Borakowski, NMD. Last updated April 2026.
