LASER SERVICES INSTRUCTIONS
Laser Facials
Before Your Laser Treatment
- Use sunscreen daily, sunburned or tanned skin cannot be treated.
- Excess hair may need to be shaved. Men should be cleanly shaved 24 hours before treatment. If receiving an IPL treatment, men should also clearly mark their beards and mustaches as this laser treatment can reduce hair to the treated area and cannot be performed safely over this area without risk for hair reduction
- Do not go tanning 4 weeks or use self tanner for 2 weeks before treatment.
- Avoid any irritants or sensitizing agents (such as retinol, tretinoin, glycolic or, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, astringents and Vitamin C) 7 days before treatment. If your skin is irritated please contact our office at least 24 hours prior to your appointment to reschedule.
- If you have an active cold sore/fever blister, canker sore or shingles you will need to postpone treatment. If you are prone to developing cold sores/fever blisters or shingles, please contact us 1 week before treatment for recommendations.
- Taking an antihistamine (Claritin, Zyrtec, or Loratadine) for 3 days prior to treatment to help reduce post-treatment swelling. You may also continue the antihistamine post treatment as well until swelling has resolved.
- If possible, please do not wear any makeup prior to your facial treatment.
- If you have recently used the medication accutane, it is recommended to postpone treatment until at least six months after stopping the medication.
- Women may not be treated while pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Patients actively undergoing chemo or radiation treatment cannot be treated. Patient must be in remission for 6 months to be treated.
- Do inform your clinician of all medical conditions, medications you are taking, skin disorders, allergies, and any other medical problems.
After Your Laser Treatment
- Bruising, blistering, scabbing, redness, swelling and changes to the skin’s pigmentation may occur. Depending on the client and treatment these issues will subside in 2-7 days for most clients.
- Keep treatment area clean by using a mild face cleanser- avoiding ingredients with fragrance or chemicals that can be drying or irritating to the skin. Avoid scrubbing the skin. Keep skin moisturized with an emollient.
- Continue sun precautions and use a sunscreen daily with an SPF of 30 or higher, preferably a mineral sunscreen. Sunscreen needs to contain Zinc Oxide.
- Avoid the sun for at least 2 weeks or continuously between treatment intervals.
- To reduce the risk of swelling, consider taking over the counter Arnica supplements if not contraindicated with your current medication regimen (available online, at most supplement stores, at Juvly, Whole Foods, etc). Start taking oral Arnica 7-10 days before treatment. Take as directed on the bottle.
- Apply Preparation H (if you have a tube, purchase a new one) to treatment area 1-2 times a day to help resolve swelling.
- Do not use TNS Essential Serum for 3-5 days post treatment.
- Recommend that the patient keep treatment area clean by gently wiping with micellar cleansing water or towelettes for 3-5 days post treatment. Garnier carries this product as does Lancome, Simple, Nivea and Bioderma. All found in drugstores.
- Keep skin moist with an emollient such as Cerave or Aquaphor.
- Avoid abrasive scrubbing of the skin until swelling resolved.
- Photofacial (IPL): Sunscreen and Mineral makeup can be worn immediately post treatment.
- ResurFX: Avoid makeup until day 2-3. Mineral makeup is preferred.
- For best results, please schedule:
IPL: “Photofacial” must be repeated in 4-6 week intervals averaging 4-6 treatments
ResurFX: “Fractional” must be repeated in 6 week intervals averaging 3-5 treatments
Combination: “Photofractional” must be repeated in 6 week intervals averaging 3-5 Treatments
Wait Time Between Treatments
- IPL: PhotoFacial: Lip filler and Botox can be performed same day and will result in extra swelling.
- Resurfx: Lip fIller can be performed on the same day but will result in extra swelling.
- Botox can be placed 72 hours before or after treatment.
- Cheek, Undereye, Chin, and Nose filler should be placed two weeks before a laser series is started or two weeks after a laser series is completed.
- A Kybella and Sculptra treatments should be done four weeks before a laser series is started or two weeks after a laser series is completed.
- PDO Threads can be placed six weeks before or after a laser treatment.
- Microneedling can be performed six weeks before or after IPL or ResurFX laser treatment.
Suggested Skincare
- Consult with our providers to customize a skincare regimen to achieve optimal results based on your skincare goals.
Laser Vascular
Before Your Laser Treatment
- If possible, please do not wear any makeup prior to your facial treatment.
- Excess hair may need to be shaved. Men should be cleanly shaved 24 hours before treatment. Men should also clearly mark their beards and mustaches as this laser treatment can reduce hair to the treated area (face, arms, torso, legs).
- Use sunscreen daily, sunburned or tanned skin cannot be treated.
- Do not go tanning 4 weeks or use self tanner for 2 weeks before treatment.
- Avoid any irritants or sensitizing agents (such as retinol, tretinoin, glycolic or, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, astringents and Vitamin C) 7 days before treatment. If your skin is irritated please contact our office at least 24 hours prior to your appointment to reschedule.
- If you have an active cold sore/fever blister, canker sore or shingles you will need to postpone treatment. If you are prone to developing cold sores/fever blisters or shingles, please contact us 1 week before treatment for recommendations.
- If you have recently used the medication accutane, it is recommended to postpone treatment until at least six months after stopping the medication.
- Women may not be treated while pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Patients actively undergoing chemo or radiation treatment cannot be treated. Patient must be in remission for 6 months to be treated.
- Avoiding Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Aspirin, Motrin, Vitamin E, fish oil, St. John’s Wort, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products 5 days prior to treatment to decrease your risk of bruising. Do not stop taking any medications that have been prescribed to you without first discussing with your prescribing medical provider.
- Do inform your Master Provider of all medical conditions, medications you are taking, skin disorders, allergies, and any other medical problems.
After Your Laser Treatment
- Continue sun precautions and use a sunscreen daily with an SPF of 30 or higher, preferably a mineral sunscreen. Avoid the sun for at least 3-5 days after treatment.
- Bruising, redness and swelling are common and resolve with time.
- Do not use anything abrasive over the treatment area for 3-5 days.
- Avoid heat – hot tubs, saunas, etc. for 3-5 days.
- If treating the face continue to avoid skin irritants or sensitizing agents (such as retinol, tretinoin, glycolic or, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, astringents and Vitamin C) 3-5 days post-treatment.
- Notify clinic of any concerns (blistering, excessive redness/swelling, etc.)
Leg Vein Treatments Only:
- Compression stockings (20-30 mm/hg) are optional.
- Avoid high impact activity 3-5 days as such activity may reopen veins.
- Hemosiderin staining (brown staining) may occur after a treatment and usually resolves with time (can take 1-2 years) but, on a rare occasion, it may be permanent.
- Strict avoidance of sun exposure may decrease risk of permanent hemosiderin staining
- Large leg veins may take many months to resolve and should not be re-treated before then.
