Prior to any dermal filler injection, healthcare professionals record your medical history such as information about allergies, illnesses, surgeries, immunizations, and chronic diseases to determine whether there is a need for individualized instructions.

For patients that want to decrease the downtime, it is also suggested, before the treatment to stop the use of supplements such as vitamins and medication, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which increase the possibility of bruising.

Every healthcare professional follows a different set of protocols in their clinic. Nowadays, due to COVID-19, several precautionary actions have been taken such as temperature checks, sanitization processes, etc. Before the treatment, some healthcare professionals apply a numbing agent to the injection areas and give a stress ball to the patients that are queasier with needles. It is common also to inform the patients of the entire process that is going to follow, to be clear of what they are going to feel and what they should expect.

The treatment includes several steps.

Step 1 | Pre-treatment consultation At this step, health care professionals perform a facial assessment by evaluating the areas of concern. Record the medical history as well as the actual needs of the patient. And sometimes doctors may use a facial pen to mark the injection sites for the patient to understand the whole treatment process.

Step 2 | Facial Cleansing & Anesthetizing Before the injection, it is mandatory to proceed with facial cleansing by using an antibacterial solution. And sometimes, for the patients that cannot tolerate pain, a cold pack may be used to numb the injection area, or a numbing agent can be applied to minimize discomfort.

Step 3 | Injection The injection will last only a few seconds per point. Mild discomfort can be expected but this is tolerable. Depending on the treatment plan that has been confirmed at the facial evaluation step, the procedure can last between 10-30 minutes. Most of the time, there is no downtime, and you can go back to your normal life.

It is important to have realistic expectations based on the facial evaluation that you have done with your doctor and the goals that you have set together.

Patients need to discuss with their healthcare professionals the potential side effects. Generally, they need to know that after injection with dermal filler there is a possibility to have mild to moderate bruises. For specific areas, such as lips and around the eye, there is a possibility of a downtime period between 2-7 days. Overall, there is not really much aftercare. There are suggestions, just for caution, to avoid makeup, exercise, and alcohol consumption for the next 24 hours.

Sometimes, a touch-up treatment is needed to achieve the optimal result.

The lifespan of a dermal filler depends on several factors but the majority of the last 12 months. Of course, the duration is affected by the activity level of the injected area such as lips which are constantly in motion area, and generally, the metabolism of the patient – higher metabolism means that the body will “consume” faster in all aspects.

Most of the healthcare professionals suggest coming back after two weeks for a touch-up. The importance of this appointment is for the doctor to evaluate the injected area for any lingering side effects and to confirm that the filler treatment went as expected.