7 Things You Should Never Do Before Getting Filler

According to The Aesthetic Society, fillers are the second most popular nonsurgical procedure (neurotoxins still reign supreme), with nearly 2 million procedures performed each year in the U.S. alone. However, as common as they are, they are still medical procedures that come with risks. Here, leading facial plastic surgeons share the top things you should never do before getting filler to ensure optimal comfort and results.

Avoid Blood Thinners

“To minimize bruising, avoid taking blood-thinning products such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil/Motrin, and herbal supplements like fish oils, gingko, ginseng, etc. for about one week prior to your filler appointment,” says Short Hills, NJ facial plastic surgeon Alexander Ovchinsky, MD. Austin, TX facial plastic surgeon Yula A. Indeyeva, MD agrees, noting that alcohol and caffeine also thin the blood. “I recommend for my patients not to consume alcohol for three days before their scheduled procedure. If they do have it, it will increase chances for bruising and swelling. For caffeine, I suggest avoiding it during the three hours beforehand. Caffeine intake right before filler will increase sensitivity and may increase discomfort with injections.”

Put Your Botox on Hold

Scottsdale, AZ facial plastic surgeon Kelly V. Bomer, MD says, “Don’t get neuromodulator injections—Botox, Dysport, Xeomin—in the areas that your filler will go for three weeks before the filler. The filler could cause the neuromodulator to spread, potentially leading to undesired results.”

…And Other Facial Treatments

Aside from neurotoxins, having other in-office facial rejuvenation treatments done in the week or two before filler could create an issue. “Avoid thread lifts in areas filler is to be placed, as the needles could potentially weaken or cut the threads,” Dr. Bomer says. “You should also avoid facial treatments such as medium peels or lasers that cause the skin to peel or become inflamed. The compromised epithelial barrier increases the risk of infection after filler.”

Schedule Vaccines Accordingly

According to Palo Alto, CA facial plastic surgeon Jill L. Hessler, MD, you should not get the COVID-19 vaccine close to the time of any filler injection. “We recommend waiting at least two weeks after a vaccine to get a filler injection,” she explains. “The vaccine can rev up the immune response and cause a dramatic swelling reaction to the filler. This is seeming to occur less as more people are exposed, but still use caution.”

…And Dental Work

“Don’t schedule any dental work in the two weeks before or after your filler injections,” says Dr. Ovchinsky. “Avoiding dental work prevents the spread of mouth bacteria and infection.” 

Cancel If You Are Sick

“Never attend your appointment while sick, or if you have a local infection in the area of planned filler use,” Dr. Ovchinsky explains. “This will help avoid infecting the filler and all potential problems that may arise from this.”

…Or You Have an Active Acne Breakout

Dr. Hessler recommends avoiding filler injections in an area where there is an active acne breakout. “This could possibly spread and infection or cause the filler to get infected.” However, if you are unsure and attend your appointment anyway, your dermatologist or expert injector should advise you either way during their examination of your skin prior to injection.

It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State Virtual AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search