Dermal filler aftercare is just as important as the injection itself. Using the right dermal filler aftercare products helps maximize the longevity of the results. Awareness of what to use and what to avoid will help you maintain a refreshed, radiant, and glowing appearance. In this article, you’ll find a guide to the aftercare products dermatologists recommend for optimal results and minimal side effects.
What are Dermal Fillers’ Benefits and Risks?
Dermal fillers, the second most common minimally invasive procedure are a gel-like substance injected into the skin. They result in achieving a smoother, fuller, and more youthful look. They may be natural or synthetic, absorbable (temporary), or non-absorbable (permanent).
Fillers are useful in age-related defect correction, such as wrinkles. They improve skin appearance, restore lost volume, and enhance body structures aesthetically.
However, they have adverse effects ranging from mild and common, such as itching, bruising, pain, and swelling, to severe but less common, such as skin necrosis (death), infection at the injection site, and blindness.
How to Avoid Bruising Before Filler Injection
Before undergoing dermal filler injections, you should be well-prepared to minimize the risk of bruising by avoiding certain medications and supplements that may increase bruising. Also, an experienced dermatologist should perform the procedure using the correct techniques.
Drugs and Supplements to Avoid
You should avoid these drugs and supplements before having a filler injection, as they are known to exacerbate bruising, such as:
- Supplements that increase the risk of bleeding and bruising, such as vitamin E, garlic, and ginkgo biloba in high doses, should be avoided for two weeks before filler injections.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, should be discontinued five days before treatment.
- If aspirin is not necessary for a particular condition, it is best to stop taking it one week before the injection.
- Antiplatelet medications, such as clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticlopidine, and anticoagulant medications, such as warfarin, enoxaparin and dabigatran. The patient should continue taking them; however, they should be aware of the increased risk of bruising.
Techniques to Minimize Bruising
Choose a board-certified dermatologist who follows proper injection techniques and avoids techniques that increase bruising, such as:
- Improper patient positioning.
- Using a large-gauge needle.
- Injecting into a blood vessel (vascular injection).
- Performing quick and large injections.
- Skipping ice compression after completing the injection.
Dermal Filler Aftercare Products
Sticking to proper aftercare instructions and using good aftercare products recommended by dermatologists can dramatically reduce the side effects.
Anti-inflammatory products and products that support healing help reduce bruising and swelling after filler injections, making them a crucial aftercare step. There are many products, and the most important components are:
Arnica Montana
Arnica is a herb used to treat bruises, sprains, muscle aches, rashes, pain, and wounds, as well as acne and boils. It’s unsafe when taken orally, so you should apply it as a cream to intact (not broken) skin. Arnica cream increases the blood flow to the applied area and reduces swelling and bruising. Creams typically contain 15% arnica oil, there is a study that shows that 20% arnica ointment is more effective in reducing bruising than a low concentration of vitamin K. Use it for two to three days before and after a filler injection.
Bromelain
Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes extracted from pineapple. It reduces bruising and edema and accelerates healing. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces inflammation, swelling, edema, and redness. Bromelain helps remove dead skin from serious burns. You should take it a day after a dermal filler injection.
Vitamin K Cream
Topical application of dermal filler aftercare products containing high-dose vitamin K cream reduces the risk of bruising and increases the healing rate. It reduces the accumulation of blood under the skin and also improves the appearance of visible blood vessels.
Aloe vera Gel
Aloe vera is known as the “burn plant”. It can heal burns, prevent sunburn, and reduce skin damage caused by cancer radiation. It is used to treat rashes, itching, cold sores, and psoriasis.
Centella Asiatica
It is a herb that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. Centella helps with wound healing by increasing collagen levels in the skin and improving skin hydration. You can find it in many wound-healing products, moisturizers, dermal filler aftercare products, and anti-aging creams.
Face Serums
There are several ingredients in the serums used in dermal filler aftercare products that help minimize side effects and improve healing, such as:
- Hyaluronic acid: Aids in skin repair, wound healing, and tissue regeneration and has anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, hyaluronic acid serum preserves skin volume, flexibility, and elasticity and inhibits free radicals caused by sun exposure.
- Growth factor serums: Help in wound repair, improve skin texture, and have anti-aging properties. Growth factors are responsible for collagen and extracellular matrix production.
- Retinol: Enhances the collagen-boosting effect of dermal fillers and maintains plump, glowing skin.
Copper, Vitamin A, C, and Zinc
Tissue healing involves an increase in cellular activity, which increases the metabolic demand for nutrients. If there is a nutritional deficiency, the healing will be slower. Some essential nutrients include:
- Vitamin A: An antioxidant important for tissue differentiation and the formation of epithelial and bone cells, which improves healing.
- Vitamin C: An antioxidant crucial for proper immune function and collagen formation, which is essential for maintaining skin and blood vessel integrity. It reduces bruising and improves wound healing.
- Copper: Supports wound healing and collagen production and inhibits oxidative stress in cells.
- Zinc: An important mineral that supports cell repair and growth and improves healing. It reduces the duration and severity of bruising.
Proper aftercare is critical to achieving the best results from dermal filler injections. By adhering to these recommendations and applying the best dermal filler aftercare products in your daily routine, you can minimize adverse effects, prolong the lifespan of the results, and preserve glowing, healthy skin. Always consult a qualified dermatologist for personalized recommendations to ensure your skin stays rejuvenated, smooth, and youthful for as long as possible.
Resources
https://www.fda.gov/media/147036/download
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3760599/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14653765/
https://www.drugs.com/npp/arnica.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320090
https://www.drugs.com/mtm/aloe-vera-topical.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5793244/
https://www.drugs.com/npc/bromelain.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4556990/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/centella-asiatica-for-skin
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8533685/
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/a12184650/amplifying-injectables/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.15644
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/a42804657/skin-care-after-injections-filler-dos-and-donts/
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