Lip Preparation
LIP BLUSH PREPARATION – BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Beautiful lip blush results begin with good preparation.
Whether you’re booking your first lip blush treatment or preparing for an upcoming appointment, understanding how to prepare your lips can help you feel confident and ready.
From keeping your lips hydrated to understanding cold sore precautions, medication and previous lip treatments, this guide explains what to consider before your appointment and what to avoid in the weeks leading up to treatment.
1. PREPARING YOUR LIPS BEFORE TREATMENT
Good preparation is an important part of your lip blush journey. Healthy, well-hydrated lips provide a better starting point for treatment and recovery.
Keep Your Lips Hydrated
In the weeks leading up to your appointment, apply a gentle, fragrance-free lip balm regularly to help prevent dryness and cracking.
Stay Well Hydrated
Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your appointment. Staying well hydrated supports your skin’s normal function and helps maintain healthy lips.
Alongside regular use of a nourishing lip balm, aim to arrive for your treatment with lips that are soft, moisturised and free from dryness or cracking.
Gently Exfoliate
If your lips are dry or flaky, gentle exfoliation in the days leading up to treatment may help remove loose, dead skin.
Avoid harsh scrubs, picking or exfoliating irritated lips, and stop exfoliating several days before your appointment.
Avoid Irritating Products
Avoid strong exfoliating acids, retinoids and other potentially irritating skincare products directly around your lips in the days before treatment.
Arrive With Healthy Lips
If your lips are cracked, inflamed, sunburnt or showing signs of infection, contact your technician before your appointment. Treatment may need to be postponed until your lips have recovered.
2. COLD SORES & LIP BLUSH
Have You Ever Had a Cold Sore?
Lip blush treatment can trigger a cold sore outbreak in people who carry the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), even if they haven’t experienced an outbreak for many years.
The treatment involves creating tiny punctures in the lips, which can reactivate the virus.
Antiviral Medication
If you have a history of cold sores, speak to your GP before your appointment about whether preventative oral antiviral medication is appropriate.
Your GP can advise on the correct medication, dosage and when to begin taking it.
Over-the-counter cold sore creams should not be relied upon to prevent an outbreak following lip blush.
What If You’ve Never Had a Cold Sore?
Some people carry HSV-1 without ever experiencing symptoms. An outbreak can still occur following lip blush, even without a previous history.
When Should Treatment Be Postponed?
If you have an active cold sore, tingling, blistering or any signs of an outbreak, your appointment must be postponed until the area has completely healed.
Always inform your technician of any previous cold sores or concerns before treatment.
3. MEDICATION, ALCOHOL & TREATMENTS TO AVOID
Medication & Medical Conditions
Certain medications and medical conditions can affect your suitability for lip blush treatment, including those that affect bleeding, immune function and wound healing.
Always disclose your full medical history and any medication you take during your consultation.
Never stop taking prescribed medication without advice from your GP or prescribing clinician.
Alcohol & Caffeine
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment, as it may increase bleeding and sensitivity during treatment.
Avoid caffeine for at least 8 hours before your lip blush appointment, including coffee, tea, energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages.
Lip Fillers & Cosmetic Treatments
We recommend having lip filler before lip blush, rather than the other way around.
Lip filler can change the volume, shape and definition of your lips. Having filler first allows your lips to settle into their new shape before they are carefully mapped and enhanced with lip blush.
Allow at least 8 weeks after lip filler before having lip blush treatment, ensuring all swelling, bruising and tenderness have resolved.
Our recommended treatment order is:
Lip Filler → Wait at Least 8 Weeks → Lip Blush
Always inform your technician about previous lip filler, filler dissolving treatments or other cosmetic procedures involving your lips.
Skincare & Facial Treatments
Avoid chemical peels, strong exfoliating treatments, retinoids and other potentially irritating products around the mouth in the lead-up to your appointment.
If you’ve recently undergone laser treatment, skin resurfacing or other advanced facial procedures, discuss this with your technician before booking.
Sun Exposure
Avoid excessive sun exposure and sunbeds before your appointment. Sunburnt, irritated or peeling lips should not be treated.
Feeling Unwell?
If you’re unwell, have an active infection or develop any irritation around your lips, contact your technician before attending. Your appointment may need to be rearranged.
4. WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT
Eat Before Your Appointment
Have a normal meal before attending your treatment. Lip blush appointments can take several hours, so arriving well-nourished and hydrated is recommended.
Arrive With Clean Lips
Avoid wearing lipstick, lip gloss or other lip makeup to your appointment.
Your technician will cleanse and prepare your lips before beginning treatment.
Your Consultation
Before treatment, your technician should review your medical history, discuss your desired results and assess your suitability for lip blush.
Your natural lip shape, skin tone, existing pigmentation and personal preferences will all be considered when selecting your colour and designing your lip blush treatment.
Understand the Healing Process
Immediately after treatment, your lips may appear brighter, darker and more defined than the final healed result.
Temporary swelling, tenderness, dryness and peeling can occur during recovery.
The colour will change as your lips heal, and the final result should only be assessed once the healing process is complete.
5. YOUR LIP BLUSH PREPARATION CHECKLIST
Before your appointment, remember to:
- Keep your lips regularly moisturised.
- Drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated.
- Avoid harsh exfoliation and irritating skincare products.
- Discuss any history of cold sores with your GP and technician.
- Disclose all medication and relevant medical conditions.
- Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before treatment.
- Avoid caffeine for at least 8 hours before treatment.
- Allow at least 8 weeks between lip filler and lip blush.
- Avoid treatment if your lips are cracked, sunburnt, inflamed or infected.
- Eat a normal meal before attending your appointment.
READY FOR YOUR LIP BLUSH APPOINTMENT?
Good preparation is the first step towards a smoother lip blush experience.
Every person’s skin and healing response is different, so always follow the specific instructions provided by your treating professional.
Once your treatment is complete, understanding the healing stages and following appropriate aftercare will help you care for your lips throughout recovery.
Explore our Lip Recovery guides for aftercare advice, healing stages and answers to common questions.
Polished Recovery™ — Permanent makeup aftercare, without the panic.
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST NIGHT
Your lip blush aftercare begins as soon as your treatment is complete, so it’s worth thinking ahead about how you’ll sleep.
We recommend sleeping on your back where possible during the initial healing period to help minimise pressure, rubbing and contact between your freshly treated lips and your bedding.
Introducing Sleep Halo™ by Polished Recovery
Our Sleep Halo™ recovery pillow is designed to support a more comfortable back-sleeping position, helping reduce unwanted contact with your pillow while your lips heal.
Explore our Sleeping After Lip Blush guide for more advice on protecting your lips overnight.
