Before Fillers: What to Share About Medicines and Supplements

Hello, I’m Dr. Kim Kyung-soo, Medical Director of UHCELL Clinic Seocho branch.

Worried about bruising after fillers and thinking of skipping your usual medicine? A prescription has a purpose. Don’t stop it on your own to prepare for a cosmetic procedure.

I consider previous treatments and health information together during consultation. Medicines are part of that picture. Even if you know you want to address your lips or the folds beside your nose, we still need to know what you take and why.

Is a list of prescriptions enough?

Include everything. List occasional painkillers, vitamins, herbal medicines, and supplements alongside your daily prescriptions. Mention products you recently finished and when you last took them.

Examples to flag include warfarin and other anticoagulants, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Don’t overlook vitamin E or garlic and ginger supplements. These products do not all act in the same way. Their names, ingredients, and doses help the clinician assess what matters for the planned procedure.

Don’t stop medicine just to reduce bruising

Stopping needs its own assessment. Interrupting prescribed treatment that prevents blood clots may increase the risk from the condition being treated. An online instruction to stop a medicine a certain number of days before treatment is not a personal plan for you.

The injector and prescribing clinician need to consider your health before deciding whether treatment should continue, be adjusted, or whether fillers should wait. The medicine’s name alone does not settle whether you can have the procedure. If you have already stopped a dose, give the exact time of your last dose. Don’t adjust the amount yourself to compensate.

Bring product photos and one list

No memorizing needed. Photograph your prescription details, medicine packaging, and supplement ingredient labels. Combine prescriptions from different clinics into one list so they can be checked together.

For each product, note why you take it, the amount per dose, how often you take it each day, and the time of your last dose. Don’t identify an unknown tablet by its color. Ask the prescribing clinic or pharmacy. For products bought abroad, keep the original packaging and ingredient names visible.

I don’t rush a treatment plan when the history is unclear. Add the product, location, and approximate date of previous fillers, plus how long swelling or bruising lasted. If you don’t know the product name, start with the clinic and approximate date. Also mention any laser or radiofrequency treatments in the same area.

Health details that belong beside the list

Your history matters too. Mention easy bruising, bleeding that is hard to stop, and allergies to medicines or anesthetics. Recurrent blisters around the lips, or inflammation and wounds where treatment is planned, also need to be discussed.

A complete list cannot guarantee that you won’t bruise. Swelling, bruising, and recovery time vary, so share dates for photographs or social events. During or shortly after injection, unusual severe pain, a change in vision, or skin turning white, gray, or blue requires immediate medical attention. Tell the treating team promptly rather than waiting for it to settle as an ordinary bruise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to mention every supplement?

Yes. Include products you take now or have taken recently, whether prescribed or not. A photo of the ingredients can help.

Does taking aspirin mean I can’t have fillers?

The name alone does not decide. Your clinician needs to know why you take it and review your health. Don’t stop a prescription yourself.

Should I delay the consultation if I don’t know a medicine’s name?

Explain this when booking and bring the packaging or prescription record. The treatment decision may wait until the necessary information is confirmed.

※ Skin responses and treatment progress vary. Please consult a clinician for an accurate diagnosis and an individual treatment plan.