Practical · 4 min read
How to Prepare for Botox or Filler: The Week Before and the Day After
Most of what determines how you bruise and how quickly you recover is decided before you sit in the chair.
Preparation is the part of treatment patients have the most control over and think about the least. A few small changes in the week beforehand reduce bruising, make the appointment easier, and shorten the recovery. Here is what I ask of my own patients.
Seven days before
- Stop supplements that thin the blood, unless a physician has prescribed them: fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic supplements, ginseng and high-dose turmeric. All of them increase bruising.
- Pause non-prescription anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin taken for pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine. If you take aspirin or a blood thinner on prescription, do not stop it; tell me, and we plan around it.
- Book your appointment two weeks before any event for Botox and four weeks before for filler, so that swelling has settled and any touch-up can be done.
Forty-eight hours before
- Avoid alcohol. It dilates blood vessels and is one of the most reliable causes of bruising.
- Do not have a facial, wax, laser or chemical peel on the area to be treated. The skin needs to be calm.
- Start taking arnica, if you are prone to bruising. The evidence is modest but it is harmless.
The day of treatment
- Eat beforehand. Light-headedness during injections almost always happens to people who skipped a meal.
- Arrive with a clean face, or be prepared to remove makeup. Sunscreen and skincare are removed before treatment.
- Avoid caffeine in excess. A normal coffee is fine; four is not.
- Bring a photograph of yourself from a few years ago if there is a specific change you have noticed. It is more useful than a photograph of anyone else.
- Do not plan a workout, sauna or flight immediately afterwards.
The first twenty-four hours after
- Botox: stay upright for four hours, no rubbing, no exercise, no facials or massage. Gentle facial expressions are fine and may help. After four hours, life is normal.
- Filler: cold compresses for ten minutes at a time, head slightly elevated overnight, no alcohol, no heat, no exercise, no makeup on the injection points until the next day. No pressure on the area for a week.
- Both: no dental work for two weeks if the lower face was treated, and no long flights for the first day or two if you have had filler, because cabin pressure increases swelling.
What to tell me at your consultation
Any medications, including blood thinners and antibiotics. Any history of cold sores, because lip treatment can trigger an outbreak and a short course of antiviral medication prevents it. Any autoimmune condition, neuromuscular condition, or pregnancy, current or planned, because these affect whether treatment is appropriate. Any previous filler, including what product and where. All of this is routine, and none of it is embarrassing.
Common questions
What should I avoid before Botox?
For a week beforehand, avoid blood-thinning supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E and ginkgo, and non-prescription anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. Avoid alcohol for forty-eight hours. Do not stop prescribed blood thinners without medical advice.
Can I drink alcohol before filler?
It is best avoided for forty-eight hours before and twenty-four hours after. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and increases bruising and swelling.
Should I eat before a Botox appointment?
Yes. Light-headedness during injections is far more common in patients who have skipped a meal.
Can I exercise after Botox or filler?
Not on the day of treatment. For Botox, avoid exercise for four hours. For filler, avoid exercise, saunas and heat for twenty-four hours to reduce swelling and bruising.
How far before a wedding should I get Botox or filler?
Botox at least two weeks before, so it has reached full effect and can be adjusted. Filler at least four weeks before, so swelling has fully settled. If it is your first time with either, allow longer.
Dr. Mazzuca is a licensed physician practising medical aesthetics in Markham, Ontario, with additional training in cosmetic medicine, facial anatomy, women's health, and longevity medicine. Every treatment at the clinic is performed by her personally. Her registration can be verified through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Monique Mazzuca, MD, CCFP. Published September 11, 2026.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for an in-person assessment. Results vary between patients, and every treatment carries risks that are reviewed with you before you consent. Suitability is determined by Dr. Mazzuca at your consultation.
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