20% Is What We Do - 80% Is What You Do!
No medical aesthetic treatment, regardless of its track record with results, is a miracle worker on its own. Results of every custom non-surgical treatment plan will vary depending on the treatment itself and how your skin reacts to the treatment, to start. However, your skin care practices before and after each aesthetic treatment can make a world of difference for your overall outcome, particularly for energy-based aesthetic procedures. Have a look at the instructions listed and if you have question that isn’t answered please feel free to contact us, either by phone 519-641-3100 or email: [email protected] and we will get you the information you need.
The Benefits of Pre- and Post-Treatment Skin Care
Whatever the method of delivery or target outcome, aesthetic treatments work by essentially dealing some sort of controlled damage to targeted cells to obtain a specific aesthetic outcome, whether that is to target pigment spots in the skin or generate heat deep below the skin’s surface to stimulate collagen production, spur skin cell renewal, and firm up skin. Without the proper support via pre- and post-treatment skin care, skin may not properly heal. For this reason, it’s imperative to support skin health before each treatment and during its recovery to offer the best outcomes. The following are just some of the benefits of pre- and post-treatment skin care.
Pre-Treatment Skin Care
While preparation will vary by treatment modality and target outcome, avoiding tanning and extreme heat or steam, such as saunas and hot tubs, will help to ensure skin sensitivity isn’t heightened 
prior to your treatment. It is also important to consider what is placed on the skin before any medical aesthetic treatments as it may affect the outcome. Always begin with skin that’s clear of any makeup and avoid the use of skin creams, serums, or other moisturizers immediately prior to the treatment.Depending on the treatment, you may also be asked to avoid the use of certain medications that may increase skin’s sensitivity.
Post-Treatment Skin Care
The main targets of any post-treatment skin care routine include the following:
- Healing and soothing of skin sensitivity and redness
- Prevention of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
- Prevention of inflammation
- Treating UV sensitivity
For non-surgical treatments that may increase skin’s sensitivity or leave the treatment area feeling warm to the touch, a calming skin care mask may be recommended for heat relief as well as a way to boost skin hydration and provide vital nutrients to the skin during the healing period. Ultra-moisturizing night creams and serums can also offer soothing effects as skin recovers from the day’s daily stressors overnight. However, before applying anything on your skin, be sure to first check with your treatment provider that it is safe, as some treatments, such as fractional skin resurfacing, PlexR Plus skin tightening and microneedling may require that nothing touches the skin for a 24-hour period.
Implementing an effective skin care routine that soothes and minimizes the skin’s inflammatory response can also help to reduce your risk of PIH. More common in those with darker skin tones, PIH occurs when the skin produces too much melanin, or disperses it irregularly, in response to inflammation or injury. PIH is the skin’s natural overreaction to inflammation as a result of a cosmetic procedure. Post-treatment skin care containing anti-inflammatory ingredients such as niacinamide can help to reduce and control inflammation while lowering your risk of developing PIH. Niacinamide not only acts to support collagen production, but it also helps boost skin’s creation of ceramides, the lipids that make up skin’s lipid barrier, which both prevents skin damage and supports skin moisture for smoother, firmer, more radiant skin. Again, to ensure your skin reaps the best benefits, it’s best to ask for your treatment provider’s recommendation.
Finally, many aesthetic treatments, particularly ones that use Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, can leave skin more sensitive to the sun’s damaging UV rays. To protect sensitive skin from sun damage, always use a sunscreen on the treatment area as well as all exposed skin and opt for a minimum SPF of 30. Ensure you’re applying—and reapplying
—sunscreen correctly and avoid sun exposure whenever possible, particularly immediately following your treatment session.
Results for some treatments may continue to improve in the several weeks or even months following your final treatment session. Supporting skin’s healing and renewal cycle during this time via proper skin care can boost overall results for a more impactful outcome.
The Bottom Line
Simply put, proper skin care complements cutting-edge treatments. While treatments improve skin health from deep below the surface and outward, skin care helps to seal in moisture and boost nutrients to the skin to ensure protection and resist further signs of premature aging.
