Things To Know:
Pre and Post treatment skin conditioning with certain products is usually required for best results. Thats why Alastin Nectar and Alastin Smoothe and Protect are included with your treatment purchase. It is recommended that you start using the Alastin Nectar twice daily 2 weeks prior to your treatment.
Generally 1-2 treatments will be needed per area depending on intensity of treatment. If multiple treatments are needed they are usually spaced 12 weeks – 24 weeks apart. A maintenance treatment of lighter settings are usually recommended once a year.
Our typical pain management protocol is done with topical anesthesia. Topical lidocaine/tetracaine is provided to all patients. It will be applied 1hrs prior to the procedure. Please let your provider know if you are allergic to either of those medications.
Some individuals may need Nitrous Oxide. This gas can help calm nerves and quell pain slightly. It can be decided upon anytime along the process, but does require an extra cost of $75 per session.
Before Your Treatment:
- Do not wear makeup on the day of treatment.
- Excess hair should be shaved the night prior. Men should be cleanly shaved.
- No sun-tanning or self-tanners 4 weeks prior to treatment (Includes spray tans, tanning lotions, tanning beds, sun exposure, etc.)
- Avoid treatments that may irritate the skin for 1-2 weeks prior to treatment (waxing, depilatories, etc.)
- Notify clinic with any changes to your health history or medications since your last appointment.
- Skin types IV-VI or Skin Types I-IV with a history of melasma or PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) may need to be treated 4 weeks prior with a Pigment Control Cream or Hydroquinone. Stop any product containing hydroquinone 3 days prior to treatment.
- Avoid skin irritants for 7 days pre treatment and 14 days post treatment. Skin irritants include products containing tretinoin, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic/salicylic acids, etc.
- A week before your procedure stop taking: aspirin, ibuprofen, Excedrin, Motrin, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, flax oil, cod liver oil, fish oil, vitamin A, vitamin E and other essential fatty acids. Also, avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol a few days before your treatment. If you must take pain medication, Tylenol is your best choice.
- Its also recommended to take Arnika Forte complex 1 week prior and 1 week after your treatment to minimize bruising and inflammation. This can be purchased in office.
- Collagen peptide powder is also helpful in healing and collagen production post treatment (either Juven or Vital proteins collagen powder is recommended).
- Prophylactic antibiotic treatment may be prescribed for 3 days prior to treatment and 4-7 days post treatment. Please let your provider know if you have a history of acne, folliculitis, recent infections, or a history of staph/mrsa infections. Patients should contact their provider immediately if there is any indication of infection such as excessive swelling, redness, undue pain, or any other unusual symptom.
- History of herpes or cold sores may require an anti-viral prescription prior to Treatment.
After Your Treatment:
- Redness is normal and expected. Redness generally increases in intensity the first few days after treatment with day 1-3 being most intense. Redness can persist for up to 7-10 days depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment.
- Immediately after treatment, swelling is common and expected. For the rest of the day after the treatment a cold compress or clean ice packs will help to relieve the swelling. If using a cold compress make sure that it is done with distilled or bottled water.
- To avoid further swelling, you may choose to sleep in an upright position the first night after the treatment. The first morning post treatment is when swelling is more prevalent, especially under the eyes. Swelling may last 2-4 days depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment.
- Make sure you have several clean pillow cases at home to change out daily for the first few days after treatment.
- Make sure you have 5 clean face cloths ready after the treatment.
- We will apply Alastin Nectar followed by Alastin Soothe and Protect immediately after the treatment.
- Do not wash your face the rest of the day after treatment. You may re-apply Alastin Nectar and Alastin Soothe and protect if needed.
- Pinpoint bleeding may occur. This can last for up to 12 hours depending on the treatment depth and may be isolated to certain treated areas
- The treated area may be extremely warm for 12-24 hours after the treatment. Clean Cool packs or compresses may provide comfort during this time.
- Do not massage or touch the treated area(s). Avoid rubbing and massaging the treated area for at least 24 hours
- Post treatment discomfort may be relieved by over the counter oral pain relievers; i.e. Extra Strength Tylenol.
- Itching may be experienced during the healing phase and is completely normal. Oral Benadryl may help itching but can cause drowsiness. DO NOT scratch the treated area as scarring and pigmentation complications can occur.
- After skin is healed, your skin will continue to build new collagen for up to 2-3 months. It is important to be on a skin care regime to maintain healthy skin and optimal results. Your treatment provided will discuss this with you.
- No strenuous activity. Any activity that elevates your blood pressure and heart rate can cause bruising. You should avoid running, weightlifting, Pilates, yoga, aerobics, cycling, climbing, sun, heat exposure and sex for the first 72hrs after your procedure.
- For at least 24-72 hours post treatment avoid: alcohol, caffeine, niacin, high sodium foods, spicy foods, and smoking.
- Tiny scabs may appear after 2-4 days and stay for several days following the treatment if done on the face. If done on the body, the scabs could take up to 2 weeks to slough off. The scabs should not be touched or scratched even if they itch and should be allowed to flake off naturally.
- DO NOT PICK, RUB, OR FORCE OFF ANY SKIN DURING THE HEALING PROCESS, THIS COULD RESULT IN SCARRING, PIGMENTATION COMPLICATIONS AND INFECTION!
- The patient should use a high-factor mineral based sunscreen (minimum 30 SPF- We recommend Alastin mineral SPF) and protect the treated area from sunlight exposure for at least one month after their treatment(s). Excessive tanning of any sort (sun exposure, tanning beds, and artificial tanning lotions) is not allowed in the treated areas during the entire course of the treatment.
- Make-up may be applied on day 5 post treatment if necessary.
- Restart Pigment Control regimen if prescribed 1 week post treatment.
- Blisters are rare, but when they do occur, may be treated with a prescribed antibiotic ointment, or burn treatment cream as per provider's discretion.
Post Care Protocol:
Fist 24 hours: cold compress with distilled or bottled water or clean ice/cool pack. Do not use Vinegar soaks the day of the treatment, only distilled water soaks. Vinegar soaks are to be started the next day.
Day after: Use a gentle cleanser (Alastin is recommended). Remove previous days application of topicals with cool moist cloth prior to re-applying Alastin nectar and Alastin soothe and protect again. Repeat as often as needed for comfort. Patients should sleep in a modified upright position along with a clean pillow case and linens the first night. Make sure you have a few clean pillow cases and wash cloths ready
• Vinegar soaks are recommended the day after the procedure and for 1-2 days after that. Vinegar soaks can be used for persistent discomfort: Mix 1 tsp. of white distilled vinegar to 16 oz. of distilled water. 16 oz. is the size of normal water bottle. Have this prepared and ready in for refrigerator.
•Remove excess products on face prior to vinegar soaks with cool moist cloth, after vinegar soak soak, reapply post care, and repeat as needed.
Days 1-3 Post Treatment
• AM Routine: cleanse skin with Alastin Gentle skin cleanser then apply Alastin Nectar
• PM Routine: cleanse skin with Alastin Gentle skin cleanser then apply Alastin Nectar
•Use vinegar soaks as needed in between
• On the 2nd or 3rd day after treatment, you will increasingly notice tiny dark spots and a bronzed appearance to the treated skin. Do not pick, rub, scrub or irritate your skin in any way while it is healing, as this may cause scarring, pigmentation complications and/or infection.
• Avoid heat, saunas, hot tubs and sweaty activity; this includes exercise of any kind during these days
• Do not use a Clarisonic or facial brush of any kind
Days 4-7 Post Treatment
AM Routine day 4-7:
1. Cleanse skin with Alastin Gentle skin cleanser
2. Alastin Nectar
3. Alastin vit C (if recommended and if tolerated - try a small test spot before applying all over)
4. Alastin Soothe + Protect recovery Balm or Alastin Ultra moisturizer as needed
5. Alastin Mineral SPF
PM Routine day 4-7:
1. Cleanse skin with Alastin Gentle skin cleanser
2. Alastin nectar
3. Alastin Soothe + Protect recovery Balm or ultra nourishing moisturizer as needed
*Do not use a Clarisonic or facial brush of any kind.
*Mineral make-up may be worn if necessary after day 4. (Glo Minerals is preferred)
Days 8+
You may resume your normal skincare routine as long as your skin is healed