The short answer
Five days before: stop fish oil and vitamin E. Three days before: no retinoids on the treatment area. 24 hours before: no alcohol, NSAIDs, or strenuous exercise. Day of: arrive clean-faced, fed, hydrated. That's it. The specifics vary by treatment, but the core pattern is the same.
5 days before
Stop fish oil, vitamin E, and gingko supplements (all blood thinners that increase bruising risk). Continue prescribed medications — check with your provider before stopping anything prescribed.
3 days before
Skip retinoids, glycolic acid, and other active skincare on the treatment area. For laser specifically: no sun exposure on the treatment area.
48 hours before
Pause alcohol, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin), and caffeine-heavy days. Hydrate aggressively.
24 hours before
No waxing, exfoliating, or chemical peels on the treatment area. Shave if required (for laser hair removal). Eat a full meal.
Morning of
Arrive clean-faced (no makeup on the treatment area). Drink water. Bring your ID, medication list, and any inspiration photos you want to discuss.
During treatment
Breathe. Ask questions. Tell your provider immediately if anything feels off. You can pause at any time — this is not a race.
Treatment-specific notes
Botox or filler: Prioritise the blood-thinner avoidance (fish oil, NSAIDs, alcohol) — it's mostly about minimising bruising. Arrive with no makeup on the treatment area.
CoolSculpting: Eat a full meal beforehand. Plan to stay warm the 30 minutes between cycles. Wear comfortable loose clothing. Bring AirPods — you'll have time to read or scroll.
Laser hair removal: Shave the area 12–24 hours before. No sun exposure for 2 weeks prior. No waxing, plucking, or depilatories for 4 weeks (we need the follicle intact below the surface).
RF microneedling: 45 minutes of numbing cream on arrival. Stop retinoids 5 days before. Have an unrushed day afterwards — not painful, but you'll want to go home and chill.
IV hydration: Eat a meal 1–2 hours prior. Drink water all morning. Wear something short-sleeved or easy to roll up.
What to bring to your appointment
Every first consultation at Bravo MedSpa includes a full medical intake. Coming prepared makes the visit smoother and ensures our Medical Director has everything needed to clear you for treatment:
- Photo ID. Required for any medical aesthetic practice in Connecticut.
- Complete medication list. Every prescription, every over-the-counter, every supplement. Be honest about cannabis use if relevant — it affects certain anaesthesia decisions.
- Medical history summary. Any surgical history, any chronic conditions, any current or past autoimmune disease, any history of keloid scarring.
- Photos of inspiration or concern. Optional but helpful — photos of yourself from 5 years ago, photos of aesthetic references, photos of before/after results you admire. Not required; just useful.
- Your questions. Seriously — write them down. Consultation time is yours to use. We would rather answer 15 questions than have you leave with unresolved concerns.
- Your calendar. If you want to book treatment at the end of the consultation, have your availability ready. Most consultations end with a recommended plan; some clients book the treatment during the same visit.
After-treatment: the first 48 hours
The universal post-treatment rules for injectables are simple enough that we repeat them to every client on the way out:
- No vigorous exercise for 24 hours.
- No alcohol, NSAIDs, or fish oil for 24 hours after.
- No saunas, hot tubs, or hot yoga for 48 hours.
- No massage or facials on treated areas for 2 weeks.
- Sleep on your back for the first 2-3 nights after filler (especially lips and under-eye).
- Sunscreen and sun avoidance for 14 days after any microneedling or laser treatment.
For treatment-specific aftercare, see our detailed blog articles — the 4-hour Botox rule, the 48-hour aftercare rules, how to sleep after lip filler, and exercise after RF microneedling.
When to call us — and when to wait
Call immediately if: you notice severe pain beyond mild discomfort, spreading redness or pus (signs of infection), vision changes (possible filler vascular complication — this is a true emergency), skin colour changes like blanching or dark purple patches, or anything that feels dramatically wrong.
Don't panic about: mild bruising (normal for 3-7 days), swelling up to day 3 (normal, especially with filler), minor asymmetry in the first week (resolves by day 14), small lumps with filler that are gone by day 14.
Your two-week review at Bravo MedSpa is complimentary and built into every first treatment. It's where minor adjustments happen. Most concerns that would otherwise worry a first-time client resolve between days 7 and 14 without any intervention.