The time has come. You have finally decided to book your aesthetic treatment and you are excited for the outcome. However, there is some things that you should do to ensure the outcome is the best it can be.
This blog will cover how to prepare for your fat dissolving treatment appointment- Pre, on the day and post appointment at Dr Kara Cosmetic Clinic.
Please ensure that you have also read the latest guidance on aesthetic treatments and the COVID 19 vaccine
Please familiarise yourself with the clinic’s policy.
How to prepare for fat dissolving treatment
Pre Procedure advice
If able to, please stop any medication 7 days prior that can increase your risk of bleeding e.g. Aspirin, fish oil, ibuprofen. Do not stop medication if recommended to take for a medical reason. Please discuss with Dr Kara who can provide advice.
Avoid using ‘active skincare’ products e.g. Retinol, AHA/BHAs, for 2 days pre procedure.
Avoid heavy exercise 24 hrs prior to your appointment.
Avoid heavy alcohol consumption 24 hrs prior.
On the day advice
Arrive make up free.
Take paracetamol and a non drowsy antihistamine 1 hr prior to your appointment.
Please arrive on time for your procedure. Anymore than 5 mins late I may have to reschedule your appointment and your deposit could be effected. You will need to attend alone.
Message me upon arrival and I will come out to meet you. Do not knock on the door please.
What happens during your procedure
Consent and photos taken. The area will be numbed using a cream and then cleaned. The product is mixed with a local anaesthetic solution to increase comfort during the procedure. A series of injections will take place in the desired area. The treatment will take around 30-60 mins to complete. Aftercare will be provided following the procedure.
Post procedure advice
It is advisable that you do not touch the area for a minimum of 6 hours, ideally 12 hrs.
Keep well hydrated
Follow a low fat diet for the period between your Aqualyx treatment and your follow up. This helps your body to respond better to the treatment. It is advised to continue a healthy,balanced lifestyle to avoid fat returning to the treatment area.
It is normal for the treatment area to feel warm and you may experience slight burning or tingling sensation. Swelling is a normal reaction to occur especially if you have facial treatment. This can be reduced with the use of an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth applied to the skin for no longer then 10-20 mins with equal amount of time off the skin.
Take regular paracetamol over the next 24 hrs and then as required after this. Avoid ibuprofen or similar as can cause increased bleeding and impact the effectiveness of the treatment. You can resume taking Ibuprofen or similar after 48 hrs
Avoid heavy alcohol consumption for 24 hrs afterwards as minimises bruising
Do not apply make-up for approximately 24 hours.
Avoid heavy exercise 24 hrs post treatment.
Avoid restarting ‘active skincare’ products e.g. Retinol, AHA/BHAs, for 3 days post procedure.
Avoid facials/sun beds/chemical peels / laser resurfacing for 14 days.
Avoid exposure to UV, extreme heat and cold i.e. swimming pools, sauna, steam rooms, sun beds etc. as this may increase discomfort and swelling for 2 weeks.
Arnica tablets/gel can be used to help reduce bruising or the application of vitamin k oxide cream.
If you have had a local nerve infiltration injection please be careful with the area as your sensation will be reduced for a few hours.
If you experience any lumpiness in the implantation area it can be gently massaged to help smooth this out. You should also avoid any facial massages or skin resurfacing until the area has healed fully.
It will take 4- 6 weeks to see results. Further treatment may be provided after 5-6 weeks once fully healed.
Common expected side effects
The above advice should help to minimise this but the following side effects can be expected to occur:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Redness
- Tightness
- Itchiness
- Discomfort
These side effects can last between 1-14 days. This means leave plenty of time for yourself to recover before any big events e.g. wedding, birthday. Your discomfort should be able to be managed with paracetamol alone. If not or any worsening symptoms, please contact the clinic immediately for advice, even if out of hours. You will be given an emergency number to contact in this instance.
If you are unsure about what has been explained in this article and want to ask questions please do not hesitate to contact myself as I am happy to help. Contact me now.
I am looking forward to seeing you
Dr Kara, Aesthetic GP doctor