How To Boost Your Comfort During and After a Cosmetic Treatment

For the best treatment experience possible it’s important to be as comfortable and relaxed as you can be. Taking a little time to plan ahead can pay off when it comes to boosting comfort, especially when even minor cosmetic treatments can be painful.

It doesn’t matter if you’re only having an anti-wrinkle injectable or a full course of laser hair removal, there are ways to ensure the procedure goes smoothly and you feel as comfortable as possible. These may include things like pre-treatment preparation, strategies to help you stay relaxed during your treatment, such as using Emla skin numbing cream, or finding out about post-treatment care.

When we talk about a ‘cosmetic treatment’, we are actually using a term that covers a whole range of different procedures used to change the body’s appearance. Some are surgical, others are not.

When we talk about a ‘cosmetic treatment’, we are actually using a term that covers a whole range of different procedures used to change the body’s appearance. Some are surgical, others are not.

Minor superficial cosmetic procedures include:

• Laser skin treatments
• Laser hair removal
• Dermabrasion
• Chemical peels
• Cosmetic injections such as dermal fillers or anti-wrinkle injections
• Eyebrow tattooing (microblading)
• Skin needling (microneedling)
• Non-surgical varicose vein treatment

Emla skin numbing cream can be used with common cosmetic needle and laser skin procedures to help reduce the pain, for a more comfortable experience.

If you are not sure if Emla skin numbing cream is suitable for the particular minor superficial cosmetic procedure you are going to have – check with your clinician, doctor or pharmacist first.

From pre-treatment preparations to post-care comfort, we’ve got you covered with some simple tips to help you feel more comfortable from start to finish.

It’s important to check things out before getting any work done:

• Look for someone who is qualified and experienced at doing the particular procedure you are interested in
• Most anti-wrinkle injectables and dermal fillers, for example, are classified as ‘prescription-only’ medicines which means they should only be given to you by a registered health practitioner
• Don’t rush into anything, most good clinics will have a ‘cooling-off’ period in case you are not comfortable with going through with the treatment
• You can also discuss the procedure with your own doctor to check if it’s right for you

It’s a good idea to discuss the treatment with your provider before you get started so you can:

• Find out more about what you can realistically expect from the procedure, so you are comfortable with the final results
• Ask them to walk you through the treatment steps, so there are no surprises, and you know what to expect on the day
• Make sure they provide you with information on what you need to do (or not do) before your appointment and after the treatment has finished, so you can plan accordingly.

For some people, the worst part about having a cosmetic procedure may be the thought that it will be painful. If you are worried about pain, your treatment provider should be able to advise you on the best ways to minimise the discomfort both during and after the procedure.

Topical anaesthetics are commonly used to help reduce the pain experienced during minor superficial cosmetic procedures, but they need to be applied to the skin before your treatment starts. Emla skin numbing cream, for example, needs to be applied at least 1 hour before your procedure.

So, be prepared and find out when and how to apply Emla skin numbing cream, to get the best skin numbing results.

Discussing clothing choices with your provider may seem a little trivial. Wearing the right type of clothing for your particular treatment may make all the difference to your comfort both during and after you are done.

It might sound obvious, but it is important to follow the instructions your provider gives you. These instructions will be specific to the procedure you had and are designed to help prevent complications and ensure your recovery is as comfortable as possible.

The first few days following your cosmetic treatment may be uncomfortable as your body recovers. However, there are things you can do to help ease yourself through this period. These include:

• Avoiding touching or rubbing the treated area
• Keeping the area clean (your provider will let you know how best to clean treated skin and when you can apply make-up if it was a facial treatment)
• Using a pain reliever such as paracetamol if you need to
• Avoiding exposing the treated area to extremes of temperature.

If you are worried about anything or you develop any unusual symptoms, go back and see your treatment provider or talk to your doctor.

Learn more about using Emla for cosmetic procedures.