Preparing for dermal fillers starts about two weeks before your appointment and involves a short checklist of things to stop, swap, or schedule around. Most of the preparation focuses on one goal: reducing your risk of bruising and swelling so you heal faster and see clean results sooner. Here’s what to do in the days and weeks leading up to your injection.
What to Stop Two Weeks Before
The two-week mark is when preparation really begins. Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin thin your blood and make bruising significantly more likely. Switch to acetaminophen (Tylenol) for any pain relief you need during this window. If you take a prescribed blood thinner for a medical condition, talk to your prescriber before making any changes. Never stop a prescription medication on your own.
This is also the time to pause certain supplements. High-dose vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, garlic supplements, and fish oil all have documented effects on bleeding and bruising. You don’t need to worry about the small amounts of garlic or vitamin E in your food, but concentrated capsules should be set aside until after you’ve healed.
Schedule Around Dental Work
Dental procedures and filler injections don’t mix well. Cleanings, fillings, root canals, and other dental work introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, which can increase infection risk near a fresh injection site. Keep at least two weeks of separation between any dental visit and your filler appointment, in both directions. If you have a cleaning already booked within that window, reschedule one or the other.
Cold Sore History and Lip Fillers
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, even years ago, let your injector know before getting lip filler. The herpes simplex virus stays dormant in nerve tissue and can reactivate when the lip area is irritated by needle injections. Your provider can prescribe a short course of antiviral medication to start before your appointment, which dramatically lowers the chance of an outbreak. This is a simple preventive step, but only works if your provider knows about your history ahead of time.
Two Days Before: Adjust Your Skincare
Stop using retinoids (tretinoin, retinol, adapalene), glycolic acid, and other strong anti-aging actives two days before your appointment. These ingredients thin the outer layer of skin and increase sensitivity, which can worsen redness and irritation at the injection site. Stick to a gentle cleanser and basic moisturizer in the 48 hours leading up to your treatment. You’ll want to keep those products off for two days afterward as well, so plan for roughly a five-day break from your active skincare routine.
24 to 48 Hours Before
The day or two before your appointment is about keeping inflammation low. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours prior, since it thins the blood and increases bruising risk. Caffeine, high-sodium foods, spicy foods, and high-sugar or heavily processed carbohydrates can all contribute to swelling and are worth limiting in this short window as well. Smoking and nicotine constrict blood vessels and slow healing, so cutting back or stopping in the 24 to 48 hours before treatment helps your body recover more cleanly.
Staying well hydrated during this period is especially helpful if you’re getting hyaluronic acid fillers, the most common type. Hyaluronic acid binds to water molecules in your skin, so showing up well-hydrated gives the filler a better environment to settle into.
The Day of Your Appointment
Come to your appointment with a clean face, free of makeup, sunscreen, and moisturizer. Your provider will cleanse the treatment area, but arriving bare-faced saves time and reduces the chance of pushing product into the injection site. If you’re prone to anxiety about needles, eat a small meal beforehand so your blood sugar is stable. Feeling lightheaded during an injection is common and almost always related to nerves or an empty stomach rather than the procedure itself.
Wear a button-down or zip-up top if you’re getting filler in your face. Pulling a tight shirt over freshly injected areas is uncomfortable and can shift filler before it’s had time to settle. It’s a small detail that makes the drive home much easier.
If your appointment falls during a week with a major event (wedding, photoshoot, important meeting), keep in mind that swelling and potential bruising can take 7 to 14 days to fully resolve. Most people look presentable within a few days, but scheduling your appointment at least two weeks before any high-visibility event gives you a comfortable cushion.
Quick Reference Checklist
- Two weeks before: Stop ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, and garlic supplements. Avoid dental procedures.
- Two days before: Pause retinoids, glycolic acid, and anti-aging skincare actives.
- 24 to 48 hours before: Cut out alcohol, caffeine, high-sodium foods, spicy foods, and cigarettes. Drink plenty of water.
- Day of: Arrive with a clean, bare face. Eat a light meal. Wear a button-front top.
- If relevant: Tell your provider about any cold sore history before lip filler so they can prescribe preventive antiviral medication.