Medical spa treatments can leave you feeling younger and fresher, but what exactly does the recovery entail?
The basics of recovery from a medical spa treatment will depend on what you had done, and it is most important to follow the instructions provided by your medical professional. Those instructions are tailored to you, your health, and the exact procedure that you had completed. However, there are some things you can keep in mind for recovery from almost any procedure:
- Keep it clean – In the case of most treatments, you will need to clean the treated area two to five times a day. Your medical professional might suggest saline or a similar product for cleaning. Make sure to always use a clean cloth.
- Moisturize – Don’t let your skin dry out. Ask your medical professional which moisturizers are okay to use.
- Protect – One of the most important steps is protecting your skin. Sunscreen will help to prevent your skin from being damaged while it is so sensitive—often, treated areas will peel and new skin will be pink before gradually lightening. It is very important to protect skin during this time. Your medical professional might give you other protective skin care products to apply.
- Avoid smoking – Tobacco smoke can make the healing process more difficult.
- Stay comfortable – Ice packs can reduce discomfort and swelling. You can also use an extra pillow at night to elevate your head and reduce swelling.
- Leave it alone – Beyond cleaning and protecting, avoid touching the treated area while it is healing. Picking at pieces of skin or crusting can lead to scars.
- Pain medication – Ask your doctor if there is an over-the-counter pain medication you can use if you feel any discomfort.
- Use the right makeup – If you get approval from your doctor to wear makeup, make sure to choose something that is oil free. Green-based makeup can neutralize pink and redness while you heal.
Above all, remember that recovery times vary. For many modern medical spa treatments, you can return to work and normal activities the same day. You should ask your doctor when you can resume normal activities.
