General Plasma Skin Tightening Aftercare
Please follow the aftercare instructions exactly as written to ensure the best possible healed outcome. Listed below are details on the healing process divided into three parts – how to take care of the treated area, what to expect during the healing process and what NOT to do.
It is important to remember that EVERYONE HEALS DIFFERENTLY. This is a general description of the healing process so if your experienceis a little different than what I’ve described that is perfectly okay. If you have any concerns at all please feel free to contact me! :)
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE TREATED AREA -
1. Keep the area clean and dryto avoid infection.
You may gently wash the area morning and night with a mild, fragrance free soap (I like to recommend Gold Dial liquid antibacterial soap). Use a small amount of soap and be sure to rinse thoroughly by splashing with warm water and blot (not wipe) COMPLETELY dry with a clean paper towel. You can even take it a step further by taking a blow dryer and putting it on the low heat setting and blowing the area dry until you feel your skin become tight.
2. Apply the aftercare gel I gave you and nothing else.
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before doing this. Do not use a cotton swab for the application because it may snag the carbon crusts off prematurely. You may apply a small amount every 4-6 hours or as needed to soothe pain/itching until the dots are all gone. This gel is a key factor in preventing infection so please make sure to apply a thin layer at least 3 times a day. After the scabs have all come off you may use Bio-Oil (which can be purchased almost anywhere) or a gentle, fragrance free moisturizer to help your skin complete the healing process.
3. DO NOT PICK.
This is crucial. Picking the “carbon crusts” and not allowing them to naturally come off on their own will cause excess trauma to the skin and can result in scarring and/or hyper-pigmentation. (I have been trained on how to be able to tell if someone has picked the skin versus it naturally exfoliating on it’s own, and can do so very easily.)
4. Ice and/or take supplements to reduce swelling.
Details on how to help minimize swelling are listed in the section below.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE HEALING PROCESS -
- You are going to swell. There is nothing you can do to prevent swelling as this is the body’s natural response to trauma and is the first step in the healing process. Some experience quite a bit of swelling (especially with treatments in the eye area) and others do not have too much. For photos of what this may look like, click HERE. Ice will be your best friend! Use a clean tea towel or paper towel to cover the ice pack and be sure to alternate 10 minutes on/10 minutes off for no more than an hour at a time. You may also take antihistamines or arnica tablets during the first few days of the healing process to help reduce swelling and redness. As always, please consult a doctor before taking any supplements you haven’t taken before. Swelling usually peaks on day 2 or 3 and tends to get much better and dissipate overthe remaining 4 to 7 days. Please also keep in mind that swelling will always be worse in the morning. When you sleep try to lay propped up with pillows and do not lay completely horizontal as this can make the swelling worse.
Day 1 : Weeping from the treated area is normal as well as some pain or discomfort. The swelling will likely be worse in the mornings and lessen towards the evening. You may find it difficult to open your eyes in the morning following the treatment however it will subside throughout the day. It will probably feel like a bad sunburn. The “carbon crusts” will have oxidized and will appear darker than they were immediately after the procedure. You may also feel very tired, like you ran a marathon the day before!
Day 2 : Swelling typically peaks on day 2. You may be surprised by the amount of swelling (again, especially in the eye area) but please do not panic! Swelling can also spread to the under eye area if you have had your upper eyelids done. The upper and lower eye are all connected therefore the fluids from the upper eye will drain to the lower eye area. Icing can help reduce this! (When icing, do 10 minutes on/10 minutes off for no more than an hour at a time.) Discomfort and pain are still present and to be expected on the second day.
Day 3 : You will notice an improvement in the swelling and the “dots” will still be present. Do not pick the scabs off, allow them to fall off on their own. I know I have already mentioned this multiple times but this is how important it is that you follow this instruction. Your level of discomfort will have subsided dramatically. Minimal pain expected for the third day. For those who experienced the under eye swelling, this will probably still be present.
Day 4 : Some mild residual swelling may still be present. Discomfort should be very little to none. The scabs may begin to flake off! Yay!
Day 5 : Swelling should be complete and some scabs will still be present. The under eye swelling should be almost completely resolved by this point if not gone.
Days 6-10 : The remaining dots will continue to flake off and should be gone by day 10 but if you still have a few spots after day 10 that is okay too! The skin will be a little pink but should not appear irritated orred – this is your brand new skin!
WHAT TO AVOID -
- Sun Exposure and Tanning Beds - This is crucial. Once the scabs have come off you absolutely must wear at least an SPF 50 on the treated area for a minimum of 3 months after your procedure. The skin will be brand new and much more sensitive to the radiation from the sun and will burn very easily and can easily become hyper-pigmented. (It can take up to 6 to 12 months for hyper-pigmentation to resolve itself – sometimes even longer!)
- PICKING
- Makeup or Other Skincare Products - Do not apply any products over broken skin, only the aftercare gel I have given you. Once the scabs are all gone you may apply makeup over the area.
- Sweating or Allowing the Scabs to Become Saturated - Moisture can very easily lead to infection. Showering is perfectly fine but do not allow the scabs to become soft from steam. Always make sure the area is fully dry afterwards. Do not submerge them under any kind of water. No swimming or sweating, you’ll have to avoid working out until your skin is no longer actively healing.
- Retinols or AHA’s - In any type of skincare (moisturizer, cleanser, serums etc.). You may resume using these products no sooner than 8 weeks after your procedure.
PLEASE REMEMBER - EVERYONE HEALS DIFFERENTLY.
HAVE PATIENCE AND LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
HAVE PATIENCE AND LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.