Should I take Tylenol instead of Advil for my severe pain before filler injections?

Thanks for this common question. Tylenol is the answer as it does not affect the platelets which are important in blood coagulation. Ibuprofen increases the risks of bruising/bleeding so it is better to avoid.Good luck! Dr. ALDO

Tylenol can be taken to help minimize pain. You can consult with your doctor further to determine what he or she recommends. 

Yes, you can take tylenol before lip filler injections. Some providers may suggest numbing the area before injections to limit pain. Juvederm also contains lidocaine to increase comfort. I hope this helps. 

Do not take anything that thins the blood like advil. I suggest cannula injections to limit pain.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Dear questions2017,every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Yes, Tylenol (acetaminophen) would work well. Make sure not to exceed the 3g/24hr limit as this medication can cause liver problems in excess. Also, ask your provider to place numbing cream on the area prior to injection which will also help with your pain. Good luck!

Generally speaking, there is minimal issue with anti-inflammatories/NSAIDs for pain prior to Botox injections, but prior to filler injections, I prefer tylenol/acetaminophen as you would be less prone to bruising that with advil/ibuprofen or aspirin ; if advil works better for your pain, then you can certainly still have your treatment, just know that your bruise may be a little bigger and last a little longer if it were to occur.

Although al non-steroidal anti-inflammstory medications may cause prolonged bleeding time and risk for bruising, they are not absolutely contraindicated. There are many maneuvers your injector could use to minimize the risk. for example, using a cannula instead of a needle or using the smallest possible needle rather than the one supplied with the filler. The hyaluronic acid-based fillers such as Juvederms, Restylanes and Belotero can be easily injected using 32 gauge needle but the filler must be transferred to a different syringe with different physical parameters. A non-hyaluronic acid filler Radiesse can be also injected using a small needle, e.g. 31 gauge but it has to be transferred to better syringe as well. The fat-derived Allofill filler requires at least 27 gauge needle. All the above are based on very simple physics which many are not aware of. Of course, you must inform your injector that you use these type of medications. As an alternative you can use Acetamonophen or even stronger medications. Good luck!

Acetaminophen can be used prior to injections to help relieve discomfort.  NSAID use is discouraged because it increases the chance of bruising.  Some patients find the use of arnica and bromelain helpful with bruising if it should occur.

Tylenol can be used to minimize discomfort from fillers. I prefer to use a topical numbing cream for first time or nervous patients so that they do not feel any pain during the injection. Keep in mind that juvederm products contain lidocaine within the gel so your discomfort after the injection will be minimal. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
@drjohnsonlee