Pre Care - Lips
Before your treatment
Avoid supplements with blood thinning effects. Supplements that have blood thinning effects include dong quai, fish oil, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, green tea, red clover, and vitamin E and should be discontinued 7 days prior to getting a cosmetic tattoo. These supplements may increase bleeding especially if you’re taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Avoid Blood Thinning Medications. A number of medications make your blood less likely to clot (“thinner”) including aspirin, Midol, Excedrin, and NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Naproxen, Aleve). These medications should be discontinued 7 days before and 1 day following your appointment. If you need to take something for pain opt for Tylenol (acetaminophen). Coumadin and Plavix also have blood thinning effects but it is not recommended to discontinue them due to their medical necessity. You should be aware of the increased risk of bruising if you’re taking them.
Don’t Drink Alcohol 24 Hours Prior. Alcohol has anti-platelet effects and increases your chances of bruising. So skip the glass of wine the night before and after your treatment.
During Your Treatment
Start Homeopathic Arnica. Also known as the Mountain Daisy, Arnica Montana has been used for hundreds of years to safely treat bruising and swelling. Arnica is available in both topical and oral form. Two sublingual Arnica tablets can be taken three times a day for 5 days. You can start the day before and continue for 5 days following their treatment.
I do NOT recommend the topical Arnica post treatment.