How to Protect Your Results After Botox, Fillers, Microneedling & More: Med Spa Aftercare in Columbia MO
- Lumia Med Spa
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Your Guide to Protecting Your Investment After Every Treatment
Whether you've invested in wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers, a chemical peel, or your very first SkinPen® microneedling session, one thing is true across every treatment:
What you do after your appointment matters.
Professional aesthetic treatments are designed to help you look and feel your best, but proper aftercare plays a big role in how well your skin heals, how long your results last, and how quickly you can enjoy your refreshed appearance.
At Lumia Med Spa, every treatment includes personalized post-care instructions based on your service and skin type. Following those recommendations—and using the right professional skincare products at home—helps protect your investment and maximize your results.
Here's what you should know after some of our most popular treatments.
Your Guide to Med Spa Aftercare in Columbia, MO
Wrinkle RelaxersÂ
These are your Botox®, Dysport®, Daxxify®, Xeomin®, and Jeuveau® treatments
What does the treatment do? Wrinkle relaxers temporarily soften the facial muscles responsible for expression lines, helping smooth forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet, and other dynamic wrinkles for a refreshed, natural-looking appearance.
What should I do immediately after my treatment?Â
You may gently apply a cold compress or ice if desired.
Continue with your usual skin care routine and make up application, just use a gentle touch
What should I avoid?Â
No strenuous exercise for 16 hours following injections.Â
Avoid saunas and hot tubs as well.
​Do not rub, massage, or otherwise apply pressure to the treated areas, as this may displace the medication dosage and result in relaxing a muscle that was not intended to be treated.
​Do not apply pressure to the treated areas, such as lying in a face cradle for a massage.
What’s the healing time? Expect little to no downtime. You’ll begin to see your full results within 14-21 days and your results will last for 3-4 months!
Dermal Fillers
What does the treatment do? Dermal fillers restore volume, enhance facial contours, and soften lines by replacing volume that's naturally lost over time.Whether you're enhancing your lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, or under-eye area, aftercare helps minimize swelling and optimize your results.
What should I do immediately after my treatment?Â
Stay hydrated
Gentle massage with a smooth dermal roller or a finger tip is acceptable, if recommended by your provider.Â
What should I avoid?
Avoid the use of aspirin or anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) for 5-7 days prior to and following your appointment. Oral supplements such as Vitamin E, ginko biloba, ginseng, St. Johns Wort, and Omega 3/Fish oil supplements have a blood thinning effect as well, and avoidance of these medications during the week prior to your treatment will minimize the tendency toward bruising.
Avoid the consumption of alcohol for 24 hours prior to treatment, as it can also thin the blood and lead to increased bruising.Â
You should not apply firm pressure to the treatment area for 3-5 days.
If lip filler is administered, drinking from straws or similar movement should be avoided for 3 weeks.Â
Do not lie flat on your face, engage in strenuous exercise, or apply pressure to the face (massage, yoga) for 24 hours following your treatment.
Do not apply prolonged pressure to your face (such as being face down in a massage cradle, wearing a dive mask) for 2-3 weeks.
Avoid saunas, hot tubs, and fresh water for 3 days.
What’s the healing time? There is no true downtime with dermal fillers. Initial side effects include mild swelling or bruising and temporary numbness or redness
Laser & IPL Treatments
What does the treatment do? Laser and IPL treatments target concerns like sun damage, redness, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone while encouraging healthier-looking skin. Because your skin is temporarily more sensitive afterward, proper protection is essential.
What should I do after my treatment?
Apply ice or cold compress as needed
Wash treated area with a gentle cleanser for the first 3 days
Use cool water when cleansing the treated areas for the first 3 days
Use of antioxidant serums (Vitamin C serum/C blends) can greatly aid in the healing and downtime as well as improve your skin’s ability to fight sun damage.
Keep the skin hydrated with a gentle moisturizer
Apply a mineral SPF with zinc oxide
What should I avoid?Â
Do not use scrubs or mechanical exfoliation techniques until tenderness and/or heat have subsided
Do not pick at treated areasÂ
Avoid the sun as much as possible
Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours
Don’t use liquid foundation for one week
What’s the healing time? This will vary based on your treatment, but you’ll receive clear instructions during your appointment. You may experience redness, swelling/puffiness, and some tingling or discomfort that should resolve in less than a day. It is also typical to experience dryness/itchiness/flaking in the treatment areas
Pro Tip: We can’t stress enough how important SPF is with this one. Sun protection is one of the biggest factors in maintaining your results. You can pick some up at Lumia after your appointment.Â
SkinPen® Microneedling
What does the treatment do? SkinPen Microneedling creates controlled microchannels in the skin to stimulate collagen production, improving acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines, and overall skin texture.
What should I do after my treatment?Â
Use the provided Recovery Kit
Wear SPF 30+ when going outside (and wear a hat!) for 7 days post-treatment
What should I avoid?Â
Avoid makeup for 24 hours following your treatment
Don’t cleanse on day 1 following your treatment
Avoid direct sun exposure for 48 hours following treatment
Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours
Don’t pick or pull the skin
Avoid scrubbing or using a washcloth
Avoid products with the following ingredients until the skin in the treated area appears healed and sensitivity has resolved: Retinol, Retin A, Tretinoin, Glycolic Acid, AHA, BHA, Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide.
What’s the healing time? Your skin may appear red and feel like a sunburn for 12-24 hours and you may experience mild bruising, which will fade in a few days. You may experience some peeling as well. Your results will last for up to six months following your treatment!
Chemical Peels
What does the treatment do? Chemical peels encourage your skin's natural renewal process to improve texture, acne, pigmentation, and overall radiance.
What should I do after my treatment?Â
Use a regimen approved by your provider
Use SPF 30+ before sun exposure (and wear hats!)
Wait until all peeling is flaking is complete before returning to your regular home skincare products
What should I avoid?Â
Don’t cleanse on day 1 following your treatment
Avoid direct sun exposure for at least 48 hours
Avoid strenuous exercise for 72-96 hours
Do not pick or pull the skin
Do not scrub or use a washcloth when cleansing
Avoid products with the following ingredients until the skin in the treated area appears healed and sensitivity has resolved: Retinol, Retin A, Tretinoin, Glycolic Acid, AHA, BHA, Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide. These products should also be avoided for 3-7 days prior to your treatment.
What’s the healing time? Expect peeling–it’s a normal part of the healing process. You’ll continue to see improved results in your skin over the next two weeks!
Professional Skincare Makes a Difference
One of the easiest ways to protect your investment is by using high-quality skincare products recommended specifically for your skin.
At Lumia Med Spa, we carry professional-grade skincare designed to support your treatments and help maintain your results between appointments.
Whether you're recovering from microneedling, maintaining your Botox results, or protecting freshly treated skin after a chemical peel, the right home care products can make a noticeable difference.
Not sure which products are right for you? Our team is happy to recommend a personalized routine.
Great Results Don't End When You Leave the Office
The best aesthetic results come from a combination of expert treatments, thoughtful aftercare, and a personalized plan designed around your goals. Every treatment is unique, which is why Lumia Med Spa provides customized post-care instructions for every patient.
Whether you're just beginning your skincare journey or maintaining results you've worked hard to achieve, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Book your appointment today, and let's build a treatment plan (and a post-care routine) that keeps your skin looking its very best.