What is the Plasma Skin Tightening Healing Process Like?
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.
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. Swelling usually peaks on day 2 or 3 and tends to get much better and dissipate over the 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.
You may want to take an antihistamine or arnica supplement before, immediately after and/or during the healing process to prevent excessive swelling and redness. (As always, talk to your doctor before taking a supplement that you've never taken before!) Arnica has proven to be very helpful to help with swelling during the healing process, and can also help your body heal even faster than it normally does! I've had multiple clients use this supplement and have wonderful results. :) You'll want to begin taking this supplement a couple days before your procedure, and then take it for as long as you are actively (scabs/swelling) healing. Here are some places you can purchase this online, or locally!
Adele's (Evansville, IN.)
Elbert's Natural Foods (Evansville, IN.)
The Viatmin Shoppe (Evansville, IN. - You can also order online!)
Amazon
You absolutely cannot completely prevent all swelling as this is the body’s first reaction to trauma and is the beginning of the healing process however these supplements will definitely reduce the amount of this reaction. Please only take this as a supplement, do not use arnica creams or gels.
Below I will break down the healing process of an upper eyelid lift in a timeline of photos. Remember, everyone heals differently! Your exact healing process will vary a little from the one below, however should be close. Also keep in mind that the healing process will be a little different for procedures in other areas of the body. (For full aftercare instructions on plasma skin tightening, click HERE.)
Day 1 (Day of Procedure) : 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 (Day After Procedure) : 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. You can see below that on day three this client had all of the swelling migrate to under the eye area, and that is completely normal!
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 or red – this is your brand new skin!
The last image is three weeks post procedure.
The skin will continue to lift and tighten for up to 9 more weeks! I'll post updates as I get them! :)
The skin will continue to lift and tighten for up to 9 more weeks! I'll post updates as I get them! :)