Pre/Post Care

BEFORE

If you have any allergies, most importantly anaphylaxis, this should be communicated before making  your appointment. Schedule appointments at least 48 – 72 hours before any special event where appearance is a factor. Some clinical treatments may cause redness and/or sensitivity,dryness especially on reactive/sensitive  clients or those new to treatments. 

AVOID

Make sure you avoid direct tanning, scrubs, AHAs, benzoyl peroxide, retinols 5-7 days prior and facial waxing/sugaring (shaving for men) 1-2 days or topical prescriptions for 5-7 days before your appointment. Botox/filler, and abrasive laser, 10-12 days before your appointment.  If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. 

AFTER

Avoid Sun Exposure/tanning beds *Very Important* 

Your skin has been scrubbed/peeled. A new batch of vulnerable skin cells are on the surface that can burn easily. UV rays (sun) can damage the skin and also leave scars and pigmentation. PLEASE DO NOT EVER USE TANNING BEDS PERIOD. I recommend  Tinted spf, self tanners and spray tans. The sun and UVA/UVB exposure is the number 1 cause of aging and skin cancer. 

Drink Water *lots* (This is not a tip to follow just after a facial)

Stay hydrated and to maintain that glowing skin & make it last longer. This is something you must do regularly. Your body needs adequate water intake every day to prevent dehydration and flush out toxins, which results in a clearer, brighter complexion. 

Avoid Makeup (if possible)

(24 hrs) Don't worry; it's just for a little while. Your pores have just endured heavy cleaning from and are now recuperating, so putting on makeup will block the pores and heavily damage your skin. You might notice that your skin after a facial feels "open", and putting anything on it will
go deep down to the epidermis layer and get trapped, possibly causing breakouts and other skin problems in the future. When you do apply makeup again, use fresh sponges or a clean brush. If you must, you can use light mineral powder if necessary after as it will not clog the pores. 

Avoid Face Wash (for the next 24 hours)

The chemicals in the face wash can be harmful for your skin. You may resume using your face wash after 24 hours, if you are unsure if your face wash is okay to use after the 24 hour period is over please check with one of the members of our staff.

Avoid Steam rooms or Saunas

We just cleaned you and steamed you, heating your face up is going to strip away your just paid for glow.

Don't touch your face

We just spent all this time cleaning your skin, try to avoid touching your skin to protect it from dirt and debris. Touching your face transfers dirt and bacteria from your hands onto your face, and it might result in new breakouts, especially on sensitive post-facial skin.

Do not use at home peels, Retin A, AHA’s or BHA’s (for at least 72 hours)

Give your skin a break from potent at home products after a treatment. Check with us if you're unsure of what you can/can't use.

Don't Pick! 

If there’s a pimple left behind, it’s usually because they’re not close enough to the
surface yet. Leave your pimple for a day—a deep-cleansing facial can make a few naturally surface within 24 hours

Clean items that will touch your face

After a facial treatment, it will benefit you to change or wash your pillowcases to avoid pressing bacteria into your skin while you sleep. Use only freshly-washed towels on your skin. Dab your skin rather than wiping it; dabbing it lightly will not irritate the skin, as it will be extra sensitive after the treatment. 

Remember! Protect your skin from the sun by applying sunscreen regularly, drink lots of water, and by keeping your skin clean. The recommended time to have your next facial will depending on your skin concern discussed with us, however, facials are recommended to be done once every 4-5 weeks for skin care maintenance and health.

PRE TREATMENT

• Avoid Accutane in the six months prior to beginning your treatment sessions.
• Do not use topical agents that may increase the sensitivity of your skin such as retinoids, exfoliants, topical antibiotics or acids 5-7 days prior to your treatment.
• Do not take anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, Motrin, or Advil for at least 3 days prior to your microneedling session. These will interfere with the natural inflammatory process that is critical for your skin rejuvenation.
• Avoid IPL/Laser procedures, unprotected sun exposure, or sunburn for at least 2 weeks prior to your procedure.
• No waxing, depilatory creams, or electrolysis to the area being treated for 5-7 days prior.  
• Do not shave the day of the procedure to avoid skin irritation. If there’s dense hair present in the treatment area, shave the day before you arrive for your appointment.
• If you’re prone to cold sores, take an antiviral agent for 2 days prior to and the day of the treatment.
• Avoid blood thinning agents for one week prior because bruising is a common side effect of microneedling.

DAY OF TREATMENT

Knowing what to expect on the day of your microneedling treatment will make this procedure as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible for you.

What To Expect At Your Appointment

• Your skin will be cleaned so it’s free of lotion, oil, makeup, powder, or sunscreen. If you wish, you can wash your face in the office upon arrival.
• You will be asked to inform your skin care specialist about any relevant changes in your medical history and of all the medications you’re taking.
• Your specialist will ask iif there are any cosmetic tattoos in the treatment areas.
• 30-45 minutes prior to your treatment, topical lidocaine will be applied to your skin.
• The microneedling treatment is an in-office procedure that typically takes up to 60 minutes to complete.

POST TREATMENT

As with any cosmetic skin treatment, it’s important to look after your skin following a microneedling procedure for best results.

• Do not take any anti-inflammatory medications for one week after the procedure.
• Do not use ice on your face, and avoid using arnica/bromelain. These may interfere with the natural inflammatory process that’s critical for your skin rejuvenation.
• Avoid sun tanning and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks. After 24 hours, always use sunblock (30 SPF or higher) and wear a hat if you’re outside.
• Use a painkiller, such as Tylenol, if you experience any soreness.
• Avoid strenuous exercises that cause sweating, jacuzzi, sauna or steam baths for 24 hours due to open pores, or up to 48 hours if inflammation exists.
• Avoid using makeup the first 24 hours.

Microneedling is a quick and non-invasive cosmetic procedure with minimal side effects. However, it’s quite normal to experience the following:

A sunburn-like effect is normal. Your skin may feel tight, dry or sensitive to touch. Treat the skin gently by washing it with a gentle cleanser, cool water, and using only your hands to pat dry no earlier than 4 hours after treatment.

Some redness may also be present and in some cases, patients may experience slight bruising that can last for 5-7 days and temporary swelling for 2-4 days.

Tips

• Avoid strenuous exercises that cause sweating as well as jacuzzis, saunas, and steam baths for up to 48 hours.
• Use only mineral makeup after 24 hours.
• Sleep on your back with the head of the bed elevated to minimize swelling or pain as needed.

Peeling may start 3-5 days after the treatment. You’ll notice skin dryness and flaking which is due to an increased turnover of skin cells. DO NOT pick, scratch, or scrub at treated skin!

Important information: You must allow the old skin to flake off naturally and keep it moisturized at all times. Talk to your skin specialist about which products to use.

You may start your regular skin care products again, once your skin no longer feels irritated. Most of our patients have noticed continued skin improvement over the months following their last treatment.

For best results: We recommend follow-up and repeat microneedling treatments every 4-6 weeks, with a series of 3-6  treatments depending on your personalized care plan.

• Avoid Aspirin/ibuprofen or any vitamins that my thin the blood 72hr before treatment
• Detox 24hr Prior to treatment (for lasting results, detox twice a week) 
• Avoid eating 2 hrs. prior and 2 hrs. after treatment (4 Hours of no eating) 
• Must eat after 4 hrs. or body will go into starvation mode and reject treatment.
• Drink plenty of water to facilitate the lymphatic system (2-3 bottles before & after treatment. Growing water intake up to a gallon per day.) 
• Limit  Alcohol,Carbonated drinks, coffees, and any teas that are not for the purpose of detoxing 
• Refrain from all breads, rice, pastas, sodas, cookies, candies and any other unhealthy foods during the duration of receiving treatments. 

• Drink at least 1 liter of water immediately following the appointment and throughout the week. This flushes out the toxins and fat. Do a minimum of 20 minutes of elevated heart rate cardio exercise. This is best to be done immediately after the treatment, and for three days following. This is to ensure the stored energy released by the cavitation process is burnt off. If  cardio is not your style, infrared sauna sessions may assist, as it has a similar effect on the body. 
• Overall maintaining a low calorie, low carbohydrate, low fat, and low sugar diet for 24 hours pre-treatment and three days post-treatment will help achieve the best results. This is to ensure your body utilizes triglycerides (a type of body fat) released by the cavitation process. We also encourage clients to stick to this diet as much as they can. Many find this to be a great starting point for maintaining a healthier lifestyle in the future. 
• Additional steps can be taken to achieve optimum results such as topically stimulating the treatment area following your session or using a body brush in the shower to promote movement around the area. Using moisturizer daily, and liberally massaging moisturizer on the treatment area is also beneficial. Do this daily to prevent fat and toxins from becoming stagnant and difficult to eliminate.