Before Your Treatment
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- ONE – TWO WEEKS PRIOR: Avoid excessive sun exposure, artificial tanning, laser treatments, waxing, bleaching, the use of depilatories, or microdermabrasion. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to protect your skin.
- 2-3 DAYS PRIOR: Discontinue any products that cause irritation to the skin (ie. retinols, toners, anti-aging products with alpha hydroxy products, glycolic or lactic acids) all topical creams unless instructed by your provider. If you have a history of herpes, warts, sunburned skin. Please do let your provider know If you have had any change to medications, i.e., antibiotics for illness, to ensure treatment may be completed as planned.
- If an anti-viral is recommended by the provider, you will take the medication 1 day prior to treatment as directed.
Day of Your Treatment
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- Female patients should not wear any makeup/mascara, lotions, powders or perfumes on or around the areas being treated. Male patients can shave on the morning of their treatment but should not apply lotions or aftershave on or around the areas being treated.
After Your Treatment
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- PIGMENTED LESIONS & TATTOO REMOVAL: Wash area twice a day with a gentle cleanser and liberally apply a bland moisturizer after cleansing. DO NOT vigorously rub the skin, do not use scrubs. Sun protection is critical. You should NOT have any sun exposure; wear broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. AVOID laser treatments, waxing, bleaching, the use of depilatories, or microdermabrasion for 1 week after the procedure. Some patients might experience some edema (swelling) for up to a couple of hours. If the sunburned sensation continues after two hours, apply a cool pack. AVOID swimming, sauna use for at least 3 days after the procedure. If you were instructed to take an antiviral medication, DO complete the prescribed course.
- TATTOO SPECIFIC POST CARE: It is recommended to place a silicon-based patch over the treated area ~22 hours a day, for a period of at least 10 days or up to the entire treatment period, according to the physician’s discretion, especially over treatment areas likely to stretch or to be stretched. This may assist in preventing hypertrophic/ keloid scar formation in predisposed individuals. Apply antibiotic ointment (oil-based ointment is preferable to water-based cream as it does not “stick” to the tattoo) or a combination of mild steroid and antibiotic ointment. Aquaphor, Aloe Vera gel or anti-burn cream may also be applied, in particular when only slight immediate response appears.
