Key points
- Filler, botulinum toxin and skin booster injections do not disrupt the skin barrier across the whole face the way peels or lasers do, so most skincare can be resumed quickly.1
- On the day of treatment, pause irritating products such as retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and benzoyl peroxide.2
- After treatment, avoid makeup for at least several hours to reduce contamination of the needle sites.1
- Some supplements and medicines make bruising more likely, but never stop a medicine your doctor has prescribed on your own.3
- Many post-botulinum toxin rules, such as not lying down or not exercising, still have little evidence behind them.4
Why adjust your skincare?
A 2025 consensus guide in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum divides procedures into two groups: those that do not disrupt the skin barrier, such as filler, botulinum toxin, polynucleotides (PN) and thread lifts, and those that do, such as chemical peels and microneedling.1
Injections belong to the first group, so the concern is not peeling skin but these 3 things:
- Irritation: skin that has just been needled stings more easily than usual if strong actives are applied straight away.
- Bruising caused by certain medicines and supplements.
- Infection at the needle sites from hands, cosmetics or makeup brushes.
Pause-or-continue table
| Product | Before treatment | Treatment day | After treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen | Continue as your foundation1 | Fine to wash your face before coming in | Continue as normal |
| Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides | Fine to use | Fine to use | Fine to use; helps the skin feel comfortable2 |
| Retinoids / retinol | Fine to use; recommended long term2 | Pause2 | Resume once the skin is no longer red or stinging |
| AHAs, BHAs, benzoyl peroxide | Use as normal | Pause2 | Resume once the skin is no longer red or stinging |
| Scrubs, alcohol-based toners | Pause in the week before treatment1 | Pause | Wait until the needle sites have closed |
| Makeup | Fine to use | Come bare-faced | Avoid for at least several hours1 |
The 2025 guide states that after injections most people can return to their usual routine from the next day.1 If you still have bruising, redness or stinging, wait until it settles before going back to strong actives.
2–4 weeks before treatment
The consensus recommends preparing the skin before a procedure with a simple 3-step routine: cleanser, moisturiser and SPF 50+ sunscreen.1 Skin with a strong barrier is less irritated after needling.
- If you already use a retinoid and your skin is used to it, you can continue. However, don't start a new product close to your treatment date, because if your skin peels or turns red, the doctor may need to postpone your appointment.
- If you are prone to melasma or dark marks, be especially diligent with sunscreen.1
- If you have inflamed acne, a rash or cold sores (herpes) in the area to be treated, let us know in advance, as it may need to be treated before injection.
Medicines and supplements that make bruising more likely
An article in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology recommends the following:3
- Supplements such as high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo and garlic extract: stop about 2 weeks before treatment.
- NSAID painkillers: avoid for about 5 days before treatment.
- Aspirin: stop about 1 week before, only if it is not medically necessary.
Never stop antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicines prescribed by your doctor on your own, because of the risk of blood clots. Tell the injecting doctor so you can plan together.3
After treatment, cold compresses can help reduce bruising. Evidence for arnica and topical vitamin K is still limited.3
After each type of treatment
Dermal filler
- Don't press or massage the treated area unless the doctor tells you to.
- Avoid makeup for at least several hours; gentle face washing is fine.1
- Some swelling at first is normal, and the settled result is usually seen once the swelling has gone down. Read more in Filler lasts longer than you think.
Botulinum toxin
Commonly heard advice, such as not lying down for 4 hours, not exercising and not massaging, was examined in a 2018 review, which found very little supporting data. Factors with a greater effect on how the toxin spreads are the dose, the concentration and the injected volume.4
Even though the evidence is limited, not rubbing or massaging the injection points on the day has no downside, so we still recommend it as a precaution. Skincare can be used as normal from the next day.1
Skin boosters
Skin boosters involve many needle points across the face. Although the consensus places PN in the group that does not disrupt the skin barrier,1 the skin is usually redder and more sensitive than after injections at a single point.
- On the first day, use only gentle products, such as a moisturiser containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid.2
- Resume retinoids and exfoliating acids once the redness at the needle sites has gone.
- Apply sunscreen every day. Read more about high- versus low-molecular-weight PN.
Can you have device treatments after filler?
Many people worry that laser, radiofrequency (RF) or HIFU will melt their filler. A randomised trial in Dermatologic Surgery in 2007 performed laser, RF and IPL treatments immediately after HA filler injection and found no reduction in the filler's effect.5
In practice, the face is still swollen early on and the result has not yet settled. Whether to do the device treatment before or after, and how long to leave between them, is decided by the doctor case by case, based on the injected area and the type of device.
Long-term routine: skincare and injections work in different layers
Skincare looks after the upper layers of the skin, while fillers and collagen stimulators work in deeper layers. The two complement each other rather than replace each other. Read about the layers of the face in our article on the 5 layers of facial anatomy.
- Daily sunscreen is an essential foundation.1
- Retinoids: the 2026 consensus strongly recommends them in the pre-procedure period and for long-term care, but not while the skin is recovering from a procedure.2
- Everyday skincare does not make filler break down faster, because filler sits deeper than creams can penetrate.
Symptoms that need you to contact the clinic immediately
- Pain that keeps getting worse instead of better
- Skin in the treated area that turns pale, develops a dusky purple mottled pattern, or feels colder than the surrounding skin
- Abnormal vision, blurred vision or double vision
- Red, hot swelling with a fever several days after treatment
Read more in our article on filler safety.
Before your treatment at Vinfinity
- Send us a list of the skincare, medicines and supplements you use on LINE before your appointment. The doctor will tell you which ones need adjusting.
- Come bare-faced, or allow time to wash your face at the clinic.
- After treatment, the doctor will tell you which products you can resume and when, based on the procedure you actually had.
References
- McDonald C, Yip L, Sullivan J, Liu W, Lin F, Goodman G. A Guide to Periprocedural Skin Care Regimen for Injectable and Nonenergy Cosmetic Procedures Based on a Consensus of 6 Aesthetic Practitioners. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2025;7:ojaf121. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaf121
- Bjerring P, Draelos ZD, Fabi SG, et al. [Consensus of 14 physicians from 10 countries on skincare ingredients before and after aesthetic procedures] Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026;25(5):e70880. doi:10.1111/jocd.70880
- Hamman MS, Goldman MP. Minimizing Bruising Following Fillers and Other Cosmetic Injectables. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2013;6(8):16–18. jcadonline.com
- Patel S. Post-treatment advice following botulinum toxin injections: a review. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing. 2018;7(5):240–244.
- Goldman MP, Alster TS, Weiss R. A randomized trial to determine the influence of laser therapy, monopolar radiofrequency treatment, and intense pulsed light therapy administered immediately after hyaluronic acid gel implantation. Dermatologic Surgery. 2007;33(5):535–542.
This article is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Results vary from person to person. Always consult a doctor before stopping or changing any medicine.