Filler Appointment Prep Checklist: Medications, Makeup, and More

Dermal filler injections can do a lot with a little. A few syringes placed with intention can soften nasolabial folds, lift marionette lines, refine a jawline, or bring life back to tired under eyes. The best results, and the smoothest recovery, start before you ever sit in the chair. Preparation is not about fussing, it is about managing variables that affect swelling, bruising, longevity, and safety.

This guide pulls together what I ask my own patients to do before facial filler treatment, the why behind each step, and the small judgment calls that separate a routine visit from a great one. It aims at hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, RHA, Revanesse, and Teosyal, as well as biostimulatory products like Radiesse and Sculptra. If you are planning lip fillers, cheek augmentation, under eye fillers for tear troughs, chin or jawline contouring, temple or forehead fillers, or a full liquid facelift, the principles are the same, with a few nuanced differences noted where they matter.

What matters most in the week before your appointment

Filler injections disrupt tiny blood vessels and stretch tissues, which is why bruising and swelling happen. Your goal is to make your blood less eager to leak, your skin less reactive, and your schedule forgiving. I also care about product selection and technique, but those decisions rest on a face that arrives calm and ready.

If you bruise easily, have a history of swelling, or are targeting bruise‑prone zones like tear troughs and lips, the pre‑work pays off even more. Plan ahead so your calendar gives you at least a week, ideally two, before a major event, headshots, or travel. Even a subtle filler treatment can look puffy on day two, then improve steadily. Most patients look presentable by day three to five. Full settling takes two to four weeks, longer with biostimulatory fillers or in high‑movement areas like the lips.

Medications and supplements: what to pause, what to keep

Blood thinners and anti‑inflammatories amplify bruising. That does not mean everyone must stop everything. You have to balance the benefit of less bruising against the risk of stopping a necessary medication. Never stop a prescription anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug without your prescriber’s explicit approval. When safety and aesthetics conflict, safety wins, and we adjust expectations.

Over‑the‑counter products are a different story. Nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen increase bruise risk. So do high‑dose fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, St. John’s wort, and turmeric supplements. If you can pause them, it helps. For most people, avoiding them for 5 to 7 days pre‑treatment meaningfully reduces bruising and swelling. Acetaminophen is fine for headaches in that window.

Prescription retinoids and topical actives deserve a quick look too. Many patients arrive with a sensitized barrier from nightly retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, or at‑home peels. Red, irritated skin is more reactive to needles and antiseptics. I typically advise pausing strong topicals two to three nights before your filler appointment, particularly if we are treating perioral lines, nasolabial folds, or under eyes where skin is thin. If you are stable on a gentle retinoid and your skin looks calm, a shorter pause is reasonable.

If you suffer from frequent cold sores and plan lip enhancement, prophylaxis matters. Lip fillers and perioral injections can trigger a herpes simplex outbreak even if you have been quiet for years. A standard approach is valacyclovir or acyclovir starting the day before treatment and continuing for a few days. Share your history during the dermal filler consultation so a prescription can be set ahead of time.

A final medication nuance rarely mentioned: spironolactone and other diuretics can make you more prone to dehydration. Hydration status affects swelling and your sense of tightness after cheek fillers or temple fillers. It is not a reason to stop the drug, but it is a reason to drink water and avoid heavy alcohol in the days before your appointment.

Alcohol, caffeine, and salt

Alcohol dilates blood vessels and thins the blood. A couple of glasses of wine the night before can be the difference between a faint shadow and a deep purple bruise that lingers for a week. Avoid alcohol for 24 to 48 hours before injectable fillers if you can. Caffeine the morning of is usually fine and can even keep headaches at bay, but if you are sensitive to jitters or palpitations, go easy.

Salty restaurant food and late‑night snacks show up as morning puffiness. That facial edema can complicate precise dosing for under eye fillers, nasolabial fold fillers, and marionette line fillers. Aim for lighter, lower‑sodium meals the day prior.

Makeup, skin prep, and what to wear

Your injector wants a clean canvas, not a sticky layer of primer and setting spray. Come with bare skin if possible. If you are coming from work, light daytime makeup is fine, just expect a full cleanse on site. Waterproof eyeliner and heavy mascara are a nuisance when we treat tear troughs; you do not need eye makeup for a filler appointment.

Avoid self‑tanner on the face for a week before. It can mask undertones we use to gauge vascularity and bruising. Skip facial waxing, threading, or dermaplaning for 2 to 3 days before to avoid extra irritation. Microdermabrasion and medium to deep chemical peels should be scheduled well apart from filler treatment. Mild, well‑healed neuromodulator injections, like Botox or Daxxify, can be done in the same visit or a week apart, depending on your plan.

Choose a top with a loose collar and avoid turtlenecks. A zip or wide neck protects fresh injection sites when you change later. Tie back long hair. If you wear a mask in the clinic, bring a clean one. A mask edge rubbing lip fillers is a recipe for irritation.

How to think about product choices

Patients often arrive set on a brand. Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, RHA, Revanesse, Teosyal, Radiesse, Sculptra, and others all have roles. The real question is the behavior of a given gel: its lift, spread, cohesivity, water attraction, and how it performs in moving or thin tissue. Lips need softness and stretch, not a stiff, heavy HA. Under eyes respond better to low‑hygroscopic hyaluronic fillers placed deep and conservatively. Cheek enhancement can benefit from a product with more lift and structure. Jawline fillers reward firmness and defined placement along bone. Temple fillers must respect vascular anatomy and often do better with a cannula and a product that does not swell much.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible with hyaluronidase, which adds a margin of safety for high‑risk zones like the nose or tear troughs. Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers, like Radiesse, offer excellent lift in the lower face and hands, and can be diluted for biostimulatory effects, but they are not ideal for superficial tear trough corrections. Poly‑L‑lactic acid fillers, like Sculptra, build collagen gradually and are best for diffuse volume loss rather than fine contouring. The best fillers for face work depends on your goal, anatomy, and tolerance for swelling, not the logo on the box.

If you want natural looking fillers, signal that early. A “subtle fillers” approach modifies syringe count, injection depth, and placement. It also sets expectations: many of my patients choose staged sessions two to four weeks apart rather than a single “big” day.

Timing with your life

Dermal filler results evolve. Initial swelling can exaggerate lips and under eye bags. Cheeks may feel firm for a few days. Biostimulatory products show delayed gratification, with collagen gains over weeks to months. If you wonder how much are dermal fillers worth relative to downtime, factor in that first 48 hours. Book dermal fillers when you can take it lightly for a couple of days: no hot yoga, no deep tissue massage, no long‑haul flights where you cannot ice and elevate.

For events, the rule I give is conservative. For lips and tear troughs, schedule at least 2 weeks before photos. For cheek fillers, chin fillers, and jawline contouring, 1 to 2 weeks is usually fine. For Sculptra and diluted Radiesse, leave 6 to 8 weeks to appreciate the true effect. If you have a history of prolonged swelling or you bruise easily, pad those windows by a week.

The anatomy talk you deserve

Even safe dermal fillers carry risks. The ones you can see coming, like bruises, tenderness, and asymmetry, are usually manageable and temporary. The ones that matter most are rare but serious: intravascular injection and vascular compromise. The face is dense with vessels, particularly around the nose and glabella, nasolabial folds, and angular artery area. No injector can reduce risk to zero, but training, technique, product choice, and vigilance control it.

You can help by choosing a setting that takes safety seriously. Ask who will inject you and how often they treat the area you care about. A dermatologist, plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or seasoned dermal filler specialist in a medical spa with physician oversight is a good bet. Do they have hyaluronidase readily available for hyaluronic fillers? Do they use aspiration, cannulas where appropriate, and small aliquots with slow injection? Do they discuss anatomy and aftercare, not just price per syringe? If yes, you are in the right place.

Day‑of protocol in the chair

After photos and consent, your face gets cleansed with an antiseptic like chlorhexidine or alcohol. For lips, perioral, and nose, I prefer a two‑step cleanse, since we are close to the mouth and nostrils. Numbing is tailored. Topical anesthetic takes 15 to 30 minutes. Many hyaluronic fillers contain lidocaine, which helps as we go. Dental blocks are an option for sensitive lip augmentation, though they can distort anatomy, so we use them selectively.

We plan entry points and vectors. Cannula or needle is not a religious choice; it depends on the task. Cannulas reduce the chance of penetrating a vessel and give beautiful planes in cheeks, jawline, and nasolabial folds. Needles remain the tool of choice for precision, tiny boluses, and certain ligament lifts. The right tool plus the right layer wins.

Most sessions for facial rejuvenation fillers use 1 to 4 syringes across multiple zones. Some faces need more. A syringe is 1 milliliter, roughly a fifth of a teaspoon. That visual is helpful: the big changes you see online often come from careful placement, not volume alone. Expect to spend 30 to 60 minutes in the room, longer for full face planning or if you combine areas like lips, chin augmentation, and marionette lines. Pricing varies widely by region and product, but in many U.S. cities, dermal filler cost ranges from 600 to 1,200 dollars per syringe for hyaluronic acid fillers. Biostimulatory products can be similar per vial but may require a series.

What swelling and bruising really look like

The day of treatment, you will look slightly fuller where we worked. Cold compresses help. Do not over‑ice – 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off for the first hour or two is plenty. Lips love to swell. Expect your lip fillers to appear bigger the evening of and the morning after, then settle over 48 to 72 hours. Tear trough fillers can make you feel puffy, especially after sleep. Cheeks and jawline usually read as sculpted early, then soften as edema resolves.

Bruises range from faint yellowing to a blue coin. They change color over days as the hemoglobin breaks down. Arnica can help some patients, though evidence is mixed. If you are photodocumenting your dermal fillers before and after, take photos in the same light, at the same time of day. It will keep you sane when day two looks odd and day seven looks great.

Nodules and lumps need context. Early small bumps are usually gel sitting in tissue and will soften with massage per your injector’s guidance. Visible bumps near the surface, especially in thin, mobile areas like the lips or tear troughs, often resolve on their own in two weeks. True inflammatory nodules are uncommon and more likely with biostimulatory fillers or delayed hypersensitivity reactions. They require follow‑up.

The two times you should call

Two red flags should prompt immediate contact with your injector or clinic. First, blanching, mottling, or dusky discoloration of the skin near injection sites, especially if paired with increasing pain or coolness, suggests vascular compromise. This can appear during the appointment or within hours. Timely hyaluronidase for HA fillers, warmth, massage, and medical management are critical. Second, an outbreak of fever, chills, or increasing redness and tenderness days later could indicate infection. It is rare, but it warrants evaluation.

Everything else, from asymmetric swelling to a stubborn bruise, typically resolves with time and gentle measures. That said, if you are worried, reach out. A five‑minute check‑in now beats a week of doom‑scrolling.

Makeup after fillers and the first 48 hours

The barrier is breached at dozens of points. Until those micro‑channels close, you want to keep bacteria away. I advise avoiding makeup on the treated areas for at least 12 hours, ideally 24. If you must apply, use fresh, clean brushes or disposable applicators and avoid pressing on fresh injection sites. Tinted SPF is a better choice than a heavy foundation the next morning.

Skip intense workouts, hot yoga, saunas, and steam for 24 to 48 hours. Heat increases vasodilation and swelling, and sweat introduces bacteria. Sleep with your head slightly elevated the first night, especially after under eye or lip treatment. Do not massage unless instructed. With certain fillers or techniques, light shaping can help; with others, manipulation can move product into an unintended plane. When in doubt, leave it alone.

Alcohol can wait a day. So can long dental appointments with a wide open mouth that pulls at perioral injections. Facials, microneedling, and laser treatments belong on a different week’s to‑do list unless your provider intentionally sequences them.

A short, practical checklist for the week leading up to fillers

Pause nonprescription blood thinners like ibuprofen, naproxen, and high‑dose fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, turmeric, and St. John’s wort for 5 to 7 days if your doctor approves. Use acetaminophen if needed. Avoid alcohol for 24 to 48 hours pre‑treatment, and keep salt modest the day before. Hold strong actives like retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, and scrubs for 2 to 3 nights prior if skin is sensitive. Skip facial waxing or dermaplaning 2 to 3 days before. For lip enhancement if you get cold sores, start antiviral prophylaxis as prescribed. Arrive with clean skin, tie back hair, wear a loose‑collared top, and bring a clean mask if you will wear one home.

Honest expectations about longevity and maintenance

Temporary fillers are not one‑size‑fits‑all in duration. Hyaluronic fillers last differently by area because of movement and blood supply. Lips are busy and often metabolize HA in 6 to 9 months. Nasolabial folds and marionette lines can hold 9 to 12 months. Cheek fillers often look good for 12 to 18 months. Tear troughs, if treated conservatively with a suitable HA, can look nice for a year or more, though small touch‑ups are common. Jawline and chin augmentation vary by product and anatomy but typically sit in the 12 to 18 month range.

Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers in structural areas can last 12 to 18 months. Sculptra’s collagen stimulation develops over 8 to 12 weeks and maintains for 18 to 24 months after a series. Semi permanent fillers and permanent fillers exist but require careful patient selection; I do not recommend permanent fillers for most faces given aging changes and the need for reversibility.

Your personal metabolism, exercise habits, and smoking status affect longevity. So does the amount placed: a conservative approach may look more natural but will likely need more frequent maintenance. Most patients settle into a pattern of touch‑ups at 6 to 12 month intervals, with larger refreshes every 12 to 18 months. A visit plan that alternates filler appointments with skin quality treatments like light resurfacing or biostimulatory sessions usually yields the most balanced, youthful look.

Cost and how to budget intelligently

“How much are dermal fillers?” depends on geography, brand, and the injector’s expertise. As a rough benchmark in many metropolitan clinics, hyaluronic fillers run 600 to 1,200 dollars per syringe, with some premium products priced higher. Cheek enhancement might use 1 to 2 syringes per side in a single session or staged. Lip augmentation often starts at 0.5 to 1 syringe. Tear troughs rarely exceed 1 syringe total in cautious hands. Jawline contouring can range widely, from 2 to 4 syringes or more, depending on definition goals.

Package pricing can make sense, but do not let dermal fillers FL it push you into more volume than you need in one sitting. The best dermal fillers strategy spends on placement and skill rather than squeezing every drop into a single day. A detailed plan at your dermal filler consultation, with staged options and expected maintenance, protects both your look and your budget.

Cases and nuances by area

Lips: Swelling can be dramatic. Small asymmetries often appear in the first week then settle. Good lip enhancement respects the white roll, philtral columns, and vermillion border. Overfilling the border creates a shelf. Smokers’ lines benefit from micro‑aliquots or skin‑boosting HA rather than heavy volume.

Tear troughs: If you wake puffy, skip morning salt and come hydrated. Thin‑skinned patients with festoons or prominent malar edema are not ideal candidates for under eye fillers. Alternative strategies include cheek support, biostimulatory improvement of skin quality, or surgical consultation. When appropriate, tear trough fillers with a low‑swelling HA, placed deep and sparingly, can be transformative, but they punish imprecision.

Cheeks: A little lift changes everything. Cheek augmentation subtly softens nasolabial folds and marionette lines by restoring midface support. Placement along the zygomatic arch and deep medial fat pads beats surface balloons. Expect a firm feel for a few days.

Jawline and chin: Definition requires product and plan. Men often need more volume and favor straighter angles. Women often prefer a cleaner mandibular line with a tapered chin. Treating pre‑jowls with marionette line fillers and careful placement anterior to the jowl can light up the contour. Bruising along the jawline is common but easy to cover after 24 hours.

Nasolabial folds and marionette lines: Folds are a symptom, not just a site. Correcting midface support first prevents an overfilled smile. When lines persist, a soft, flexible filler layered superficially finishes the job.

Temples and forehead: These areas live near important vessels and require experience. Temple fillers restore a youthful sweep but must be placed thoughtfully to avoid visible bumps and vascular events. Forehead fillers are niche and not for beginners. Consider the balance of neuromodulators and conservative HA where indicated.

Nose: Non surgical fillers for nose refinement can camouflage a dorsal hump or lift a tip. The area is vascularly risky. Choose an injector with significant experience, prefer reversible HA, and accept small, conservative changes. Avoid glasses pressure on the bridge for a few days after.

A short aftercare checklist for the first 48 hours

Ice in short intervals for the first few hours, keep the head elevated when resting, and sleep slightly propped the first night. Avoid makeup over treated sites for 12 to 24 hours, strenuous exercise and heat for 24 to 48 hours, and alcohol for 24 hours. Do not massage unless your injector instructs it, and keep skincare simple: gentle cleanse, bland moisturizer, broad‑spectrum SPF. Watch for unusual pain, blanching, or spreading redness; contact the clinic promptly if concerned. Plan a follow‑up in 2 weeks for assessment and fine‑tuning if needed.

When to combine treatments and when to separate them

Combining neuromodulators with fillers is common. Treating dynamic wrinkles in the glabella, forehead, or crow’s feet can prolong the smoothness of dermal fillers for wrinkles nearby by reducing motion. Sequence depends on your priorities. Many injectors do both on the same day. For laser and energy devices, spacing matters: aggressive resurfacing can redistribute fresh filler if done too soon. As a rule of thumb, place fillers first, then wait at least 2 to 4 weeks before deeper laser work. Light, non‑ablative treatments can be closer, but your provider should map this for you.

Microneedling, RF microneedling, and threads each have timing considerations. Threads before filler can guide lift, but they complicate cannula paths if too fresh. If you are building a plan for face volume restoration and skin quality, ask for a year‑long roadmap rather than isolated visits. It keeps the big picture coherent.

Picking the right setting and staying realistic

A dermal filler clinic with sterile technique, emergency protocols, and a calm, honest culture sets the tone. Beware of deals that push too much volume in one area or brand certainty for every face. There are many safe, FDA approved fillers, and the best dermal fillers for you match your tissue, goals, and risk tolerance.

Realistic goals also prevent the overfilled look. Age changes involve bone, ligament, fat compartments, and skin. Fillers are powerful for soft tissue augmentation, smoothing, and contour. They cannot fix laxity alone. If your lower face sags, small lifting procedures or skin tightening may need to enter the chat. A non surgical facelift with a thoughtful blend of volumizing fillers, smoothing fillers, and lifting strategies can outperform a syringe count, but it still has limits. Good injectors tell you when to stop.

Final notes from the chair

Preparation is not a ritual, it is a set of smart choices that nudge outcomes in your favor. Pause what raises bruising if you can. Arrive with calm skin. Hydrate well, skip the wine, and give yourself a few quiet days. Speak up about cold sores, medications, and timelines. Choose a filler injector who explains trade‑offs and has hyaluronidase at the ready. Trust the process enough to let swelling pass before judging. Photos help. So does patience.

Done well, cosmetic filler injections do not announce themselves. They make people look at you and say you look rested or sharper, not newer. That is the goal of aesthetic fillers and the mark of a plan shaped to your face rather than a template. Prepare well, ask good questions, and your results will show it.

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Pub: 28 Jan 2026 11:34 UTC

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