Medications and Supplements Before Aesthetic treatments

Why Medication Disclosure Matters

The consultation includes a structured medication history because several medication categories affect how the body responds to aesthetic treatment:

Bleeding risk. Medications that thin the blood or affect platelet function increase post treatment bruising. Some are clinically essential and cannot be paused; others are optional and may be paused before treatment.

Healing response. Some medications slow tissue healing, which affects how the treatment integrates and how recovery proceeds.

Immune response. Medications affecting immune function can affect both infection risk and the body’s response to the injected product.

Drug interactions. Some medications interact with the products used in aesthetic treatment, particularly anaesthetic agents in the treatment products.

The disclosure is for safety, not judgement. Patients sometimes hesitate to mention specific medications (psychiatric medications, hormonal treatments, recreational substances). Full disclosure supports the practitioner’s clinical decision making. The information is documented in the clinical record and treated as confidential medical information.

Blood-Thinning Medications

Blood thinning medications increase bruising and bleeding risk at injection sites. The category includes:

Warfarin (Coumadin). A common anticoagulant. Cannot be paused without explicit prescriber agreement; aesthetic treatment proceeds with awareness of elevated bleeding risk.

Novel oral anticoagulants (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran). Similar; cannot be paused without prescriber agreement.

low dose aspirin (75-100mg) for cardiovascular protection. Sometimes can be paused for 7 days before treatment with prescriber agreement; sometimes cannot. Discuss with prescriber.

Clopidogrel and other antiplatelet agents. Similar to aspirin in cardiovascular use. Cannot typically be paused.

For patients on blood thinning medications that cannot be paused, aesthetic treatment is still possible but with adjusted technique (smaller needles, slower injection, more attention to bruising), aftercare focused on bruising management, and patient acceptance that bruising is more pronounced.

The critical rule: do not stop blood thinning medication without explicit agreement from the prescribing practitioner. Stopping these medications carries serious risks (stroke, blood clot, embolism) that significantly outweigh the aesthetic treatment bruising consideration.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Common anti inflammatory medications affect bleeding through platelet inhibition. The category includes:

Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Brufen, Advil).

Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

Diclofenac (Voltaren).

Celecoxib (Celebrex).

Meloxicam (Mobic).

For non essential use (occasional pain relief, minor inflammation), these can be paused for 48 to 72 hours before aesthetic treatment to reduce bruising risk. Resume from 24 hours after treatment if needed.

For essential use (prescribed for chronic inflammatory conditions, post surgical recovery, ongoing pain management), continue as prescribed and discuss with the prescribing practitioner whether any short term modification is appropriate.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) does not affect bleeding through this mechanism and does not need to be paused. It is the alternative for patients who need pain relief in the days before treatment.

For topical anti inflammatories (Voltaren gel, Nurofen gel), these have systemic absorption that is much smaller than oral. They are generally fine to continue but worth disclosing at consultation.

Supplements That Affect Bleeding

Several common supplements have mild anticoagulant effects:

Fish oil (omega-3, EPA, DHA). Mild but documented anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours before treatment if not clinically essential.

Vitamin E (high dose supplements above ~400 IU). Mild anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours before treatment.

Garlic supplements (high dose). Mild anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours.

Ginkgo biloba. Mild anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours.

Ginseng. Mild anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours.

Turmeric (high dose curcumin supplements). Mild anticoagulant effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours. Culinary turmeric is fine.

Green tea extract (high dose). Mild effect. Pause for 48 to 72 hours.

Most of these supplements are not clinically essential and can be safely paused for the short pretreatment window. For patients taking them as part of a broader prescribed regime (post cardiac event, immune modulation), discuss with the prescribing practitioner.

Hormonal Medications

Hormonal medications generally do not require pausing:

Oral contraceptive pills. No specific impact on aesthetic treatment. Continue as prescribed.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). No specific impact. Continue as prescribed.

Thyroid medication. No specific impact. Continue as prescribed.

Oestrogen progestin combinations. No specific impact.

Diabetes medications (metformin, insulin). No specific impact, but disclose diabetes status as it affects healing.

While hormonal medications do not typically affect aesthetic treatment, they are documented in the medication history because they support context for the broader clinical picture.

For patients undergoing fertility treatment, the hormonal injections involved do not interact with aesthetic treatment but disclosure supports clinical context.

Mental Health Medications

Mental health medications generally do not require pausing:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine. Some studies suggest a mild bleeding risk effect. Discuss with prescribing practitioner about whether any modification is appropriate; typically no change is needed.

Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): venlafaxine, duloxetine. Similar to SSRIs.

Mood stabilisers: lithium, lamotrigine. No specific impact on aesthetic treatment.

Antipsychotics. No specific impact, but disclose for clinical context.

Anxiolytics: diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam. No specific impact.

Disclose all mental health medications at consultation. The consultation may screen for body image considerations or treatment decision pressures that are part of broader clinical context. Disclosure supports honest assessment.

Do not stop psychiatric medications without explicit prescribing practitioner agreement. Sudden discontinuation of many mental health medications has serious clinical risks.

Cardiovascular Medications

Cardiovascular medications often interact with aesthetic treatment:

Blood pressure medications: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics. No specific impact on the procedure but disclose the underlying cardiovascular condition for clinical context.

Statins for cholesterol: no direct impact. Disclose for context.

Angina or arrhythmia medications: disclose for clinical context. The underlying condition may affect anxiety management during the procedure.

For patients with significant cardiovascular history, the consultation may include additional screening to ensure aesthetic treatment is appropriate. Some cardiovascular conditions are stable enough that aesthetic treatment proceeds normally; others may warrant deferral.

Do not stop cardiovascular medications without explicit prescribing practitioner agreement. The cardiac risks far outweigh aesthetic treatment considerations.

Antibiotics and Recent Infections

Antibiotics and recent infection history affect timing:

Active infection of any kind: aesthetic treatment is deferred until the infection is resolved. Active infection in the face area is a hard contraindication for adjacent injectable treatment.

Recent course of antibiotics: typically requires 1 to 2 weeks of separation from completion of antibiotics to aesthetic treatment, depending on what the antibiotics were for.

Current course of antibiotics: aesthetic treatment is deferred until the course is complete and the underlying infection is resolved.

Prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures: discuss timing relative to the dental procedure (see dental work guide).

long term low dose antibiotic therapy (for skin conditions, urinary tract conditions): typically does not require pausing or specific timing modification, but disclose for clinical context.

Where a patient is unsure whether they have an active infection, the conservative response is to defer treatment. Active infection is the most consistent contraindication for aesthetic treatment.

Topical Skincare Actives

Topical skincare actives affect skin sensitivity in the immediate window before treatment:

Tretinoin (prescription retinoid). Pause for 48 hours before and 48 hours after treatment.

over the counter retinol. Pause for 48 hours before and 48 hours after.

Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic). Pause for 48 hours.

Beta hydroxy acid (salicylic). Pause for 48 hours.

Vitamin C (high concentration L ascorbic acid). Pause for 24 to 48 hours.

Hydroquinone. Pause for 48 hours.

Other topical actives that produce visible skin response (peeling, redness, sensitivity): pause for 48 hours.

The principle: arrive with the skin in a calm baseline state. Active ingredients produce skin sensitivity that makes injection more uncomfortable and post treatment recovery more pronounced.

For patients on prescription topical regimes (acne medications, melasma treatment), the prescribing practitioner can advise on whether pausing is appropriate.

Recreational Substances

Recreational substance use is part of comprehensive medication disclosure:

Alcohol: covered in detail in the dedicated alcohol caffeine guide. Pause for 24 hours before treatment.

Cannabis: pause for 24 hours before treatment if used socially. For medicinal cannabis prescribed for specific conditions, discuss with prescribing practitioner.

Illicit substances: disclose for clinical context. Some affect bleeding, healing, or interact with anaesthetic agents.

Nicotine (cigarettes, vaping): does not require specific pausing for aesthetic treatment, but disclose. long term nicotine use affects skin healing and ageing.

The disclosure is medical information and is treated as confidential. The practitioner is not in a position to comment on lifestyle choices outside the aesthetic treatment scope, but the information supports clinical decision making.

How Disclosure Works at the Consultation

The medication history at consultation typically covers:

All current prescription medications, with dose and frequency.

All current over the counter medications, including for occasional use.

All current supplements and vitamins.

Any recent course of medication in the past 4 weeks.

Any planned changes in medication in the next 4 weeks.

For patients with extensive medication lists, bringing a written list to the consultation supports accuracy. Patients sometimes forget specific medications when asked verbally.

The disclosure is documented in the clinical record. The practitioner uses the information to:

Identify any contraindications.

Calibrate technique and aftercare.

Assess bleeding risk and plan accordingly.

Identify drug interactions that might affect the procedure.

For patients on complex medication regimes, the consultation may include explicit discussion of which medications need to be paused, modified, or continued.

How This Operates at Core Aesthetics

The medication history at Core Aesthetics is taken at consultation by Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse, NMW0001047575, and updated at each subsequent appointment for any changes since the previous visit. The information is documented in the clinical record and treated as confidential.

Where medications affect the aesthetic treatment plan, the practitioner explains the implications and works with the patient to determine the appropriate approach: continuing the medication and adjusting technique, pausing the medication with prescribing practitioner agreement, or deferring treatment until the medication situation changes.

The practitioner does not advise on whether to start, stop, or change prescription medications. That is the prescribing practitioner’s responsibility. The aesthetic treatment consultation works with the medication picture as it is.

For any medication question that crosses scopes (whether to pause a specific medication, whether a specific prescription change affects aesthetic treatment timing), referral to the prescribing practitioner is appropriate.

Clinical accountability and how this preparation guide is reviewed

The pretreatment guidance in “Medications and Supplements Before Aesthetic treatment” reflects how Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575), prepares patients during the consultation phase at Core Aesthetics. Preparation matters more than most patients realise. Many of the variables that shape the day of treatment experience, bleeding tendency, hydration, skin condition, medication interactions, are decided in the days before the appointment, not on the chair. Results vary between individuals, but preparation reduces the variability that’s within a patient’s control. The recommendations on this page are framed around what an AHPRA-regulated practitioner can and cannot tell a patient to do, and what the published evidence supports for aesthetic treatment preparation.

Specific to medications before aesthetic treatments: the timing windows on this page are typical, not absolute. Some patients metabolise medications, alcohol, or supplements faster or slower than the average, body composition, age, liver function, and concurrent prescriptions all matter. Patients on prescription anticoagulants must not stop them before cosmetic treatment without checking with their prescribing doctor first; the bleeding risk from aesthetic treatments is far smaller than the clotting risk from stopping anticoagulation unsupervised. The skin quality before aesthetic treatments page covers adjacent considerations in more detail.

Patients reading this page who want to verify Corey Anderson’s AHPRA registration can do so directly on the AHPRA public register at ahpra.gov.au using registration number NMW0001047575. The Core Aesthetics clinic operates from 12A Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166, Tuesday to Saturday, by consultation appointment. All new patient treatment at Core Aesthetics follows a structured clinical consultation, consistent with the September 2025 AHPRA cosmetic procedures guidelines. Treatment may be scheduled for the same day as consultation or at a subsequent appointment, depending on clinical assessment and individual circumstances. Patients with questions about the content on this page can raise them at consultation; the practitioner is happy to walk through any clinical reasoning that the written content does not fully capture. Results vary between individuals, and the consultation is the appropriate place to discuss what those individual variations mean for a specific person’s treatment plan.

One additional point on preparation: arriving to the appointment relaxed and well hydrated reliably improves the experience. Patients who arrive anxious, hungry, dehydrated, or running late often find the procedure itself more uncomfortable than it needs to be, not because the treatment is different, but because the body’s autonomic state is different. The clinic builds buffer time into the schedule so patients who arrive anxious can settle before treatment begins. Patients researching the topic in more depth may find the cosmetic treatment planning consultation page and the patient safety aesthetic treatments page useful as further reading; both are written and reviewed under the same clinical accountability framework as this page.