Most of the useful preparation for a dermal filler appointment happens in the forty-eight to seventy-two hours beforehand. Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin for forty-eight hours if medically safe to do so, avoid alcohol for twenty-four hours, arrive hydrated and having eaten, do not have active skin inflammation or infection at the treatment site, and bring a current list of your medications and supplements to consultation. Paracetamol remains acceptable throughout.
Seventy-two hours before
The week before a dermal filler appointment is a good time to raise any medication changes or new supplements with the injector, especially vitamin E, fish oil, turmeric, ginkgo, and ginseng, which can all increase bleeding tendency. None of these are dangerous, but they can increase bruise risk at injection points.
Do not stop any prescribed medication without speaking first to the doctor who prescribed it. Informing the clinic of what you take is enough for the injector to plan the appointment around it.
Forty-eight hours before
Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin for the forty-eight hours before a dermal filler appointment, provided it is medically safe for you to do so. These medications inhibit platelet function and increase the likelihood and size of bruises at injection points.
Paracetamol does not have the same effect on platelets and remains acceptable if you need simple pain relief. If you take low-dose aspirin as prescribed cardiac protection, do not stop it for a cosmetic appointment without your prescribing doctor’s advice.
Twenty-four hours before
Avoid alcohol in the twenty-four hours before a dermal filler appointment. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, thins the blood, and contributes to both bruise risk and increased swelling. A quiet evening before treatment usually produces a calmer appointment.
Skin preparation in the twenty-four hours before treatment is light. Avoid exfoliating treatments, retinol use in the immediate treatment area, or any in-clinic skincare procedure on the same day as filler, unless the treating clinic has specifically coordinated the two.
The day of your appointment
On the day of treatment, arrive hydrated and having eaten. A low blood sugar level at the start of an appointment can contribute to lightheadedness or a vasovagal response during injection. Bringing water to sip during consultation is sensible.
Arrive with the treatment area clean and makeup-free if possible. If you have come from work, the clinic has cleansing facilities, but starting with a clean face reduces preparation time at the appointment itself.
Medications and supplements to discuss
Medications and supplements to mention at consultation include blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, vitamin E, fish oil, turmeric, ginkgo, ginseng, St John’s wort, and any herbal teas containing similar compounds. If you take prescription medication, bring a current list.
Mentioning all of this is not a reason to be refused treatment. It is context that helps the injector plan the appointment, anticipate bruise risk, and flag anything clinically relevant. Transparency at this stage is what makes informed consent meaningful.
What to bring
A current list of medications and supplements, any relevant medical history you have not yet shared with the clinic, a photo ID if this is your first appointment, and one or two reference images if they genuinely help you describe what you are considering. Reference images are aids for discussion, not commitments to a specific look.
If you have had injectable treatment elsewhere and have clinical records from that provider, those records are useful at the first Core Aesthetics consultation. They are not required, but they can shorten history-taking.
What not to worry about
Common pre-treatment concerns that do not meaningfully change preparation include wearing makeup to work that day after treatment, drinking coffee on the morning of the appointment, and light exercise the day before. None of these are prohibited and none of them change the outcome of treatment materially.
The pre-treatment checklist is shorter than patients often assume. The essentials are: no NSAIDs for forty-eight hours if safe to stop, no alcohol for twenty-four hours, hydrated and fed on the day, and an honest medication list at consultation. Everything else is detail.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- Patients booked for a dermal filler appointment who want a clear pre-treatment checklist.
- Patients considering dermal filler who want to understand preparation before they book.
- Patients who take regular medications or supplements and want to understand what is relevant at consultation.
- Patients planning treatment around work, a holiday, or a social event.
This may not be for you if
- Patients under eighteen, for whom cosmetic dermal filler is not offered at Core Aesthetics.
- Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, for whom elective dermal filler is deferred.
- Patients with active skin infection, cold sore outbreak, or acute illness at the planned appointment time.
- Patients who have been advised to stop a prescribed medication solely on the basis of information on this page rather than advice from their prescribing doctor.
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop my blood thinning medication before dermal filler?
Do not stop prescribed blood thinning medication for a cosmetic appointment without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it. Inform the clinic at consultation and the appointment is planned around your medication, not against it.
Can I take paracetamol before a filler appointment?
Paracetamol is acceptable before a dermal filler appointment. It does not have the same platelet-inhibiting effect as ibuprofen or aspirin and does not meaningfully increase bruise risk.
How long before my appointment should I stop taking fish oil?
If it is practical to pause fish oil for five to seven days before a dermal filler appointment, this can reduce bruise risk slightly. Do not stop any supplement taken on medical advice without speaking to your prescribing doctor.
Can I wear makeup to the appointment?
Yes, though it is slightly easier if the treatment area is clean on arrival. The clinic has cleansing facilities available. Heavy makeup in the specific area being treated is removed before the appointment begins.
Do I need to stop exercising before dermal filler?
Routine exercise in the days before an appointment is fine. Heavy or prolonged exercise on the same day as the appointment, or immediately after, is avoided because it increases blood flow and can contribute to bruising or swelling.
Can I have dental work in the week before filler?
Dental work can seed bacteria into the bloodstream transiently. If dental work is planned within two weeks of a filler appointment, mention this at consultation and the timing is reviewed. It is not an absolute block but it is relevant context.
What if I have a cold or virus on the day?
Elective injectable treatment is not performed during active viral illness, active cold sore outbreak, or febrile illness. The appointment is rescheduled without penalty. Injecting during active illness is a suitability concern, not an inconvenience concern.