Why Timing Matters More Than People Expect in Pre-Treament Care

A Story from the Treatment Room

One of the most common conversations we have before a treatment is not about pain or downtime. It is about timing. Clients are usually already doing “the right things.” They eat well. They take supplements. They book treatments thoughtfully. The real question is often much more specific.

“Is it really an issue if I had a glass of wine?” “I just finished a peel a couple of weeks ago. Is that okay?” “I had my flu shot recently. Does that matter?”

These are reasonable questions. And the answers are rarely black-and-white.

What we have learned over the years in the treatment room is that results are shaped as much by what happens before and after a procedure as by the procedure itself. The body tells the story every time. When PRF Shows us what is Happening Inside

PRF treatments are especially honest. They work with your own blood, concentrating platelets and white blood cells into a fibrin matrix that supports healing and collagen production. There is nothing synthetic to mask what is happening internally.

I remember a client who had committed to a series of PRF facials. He was healthy, motivated, and consistent. At his second appointment, everything looked fine on the surface. But once the blood was prepared, the PRF told a different story. The platelet yield was lower than expected. The fibrin layer was thinner. The overall quality was just not what we usually see.

Before he offered anything, I asked gently if the days leading up to the appointment had included some celebration. He smiled and admitted he had been away for the weekend and was enjoying himself.

Even moderate alcohol intake can affect hydration, circulation, and platelet function. It does not cancel a treatment. But it can absolutely influence what the body gives us to work with. By the third session, after following the alcohol guidelines, the difference was clear. Stronger PRF. Better separation. A noticeably improved healing response. Same client. Same treatment. Very different internal conditions. Recovery Often Tells the Second Half of the Story Another client comes to mind who had a treatment involving precise injections. The procedure itself went smoothly. But her recovery was heavier than expected. More bruising. Slight bleeding that lingered longer than usual. A few days later, she mentioned she had attended an event the night before and had a couple of drinks. Nothing excessive in her mind.

Alcohol acts as a blood thinner and increases vasodilation. Blood vessels become more prone to leaking. That can translate into more bruising, swelling, and longer recovery times. The results still came through. They just required more patience.

These patterns are not limited to PRF. We see them across injectables, microneedling, laser treatments, advanced facials, and regenerative procedures. Why We ask Clients to Pause Certain Things before their Treatment Alcohol is one piece of the picture. There are others that matter just as much.

In the seven days leading up to treatment, we ask clients to avoid anti-inflammatory medications and blood-thinning supplements such as Omega-3. These can interfere with the inflammatory response the body needs for treatments like PRF to work effectively.

Omega-3 supplements are healthy for many people. But they reduce platelet aggregation. When the body needs to clot efficiently and initiate healing, elevated Omega-3 levels can lead to increased bruising and slower tissue recovery.

We also ask clients to avoid cosmetic injectables such as Botox or fillers, intense skin treatments like peels or aggressive resurfacing, vaccinations, steroid use, and intense UV exposure in the period leading up to certain treatments.

Each of these can thin the skin, increase inflammation, suppress immune response, or make tissue more reactive. That increases the risk of bruising, irritation, infection, and unpredictable healing.

In the two to three days before treatment, we also recommend avoiding alcohol and smoking. Both affect circulation, oxygen delivery, and the body’s ability to repair itself efficiently. None of this is about judgment. It is about timing. Creating the right internal environment Advanced treatments ask your body to respond. To regenerate. To heal with intention. When the body is already managing inflammation, thinning blood, immune activation, or detoxification, it simply has more to do. That does not mean treatments fail. It means results may be slower, recovery may be heavier and outcomes may be less consistent.

When clients follow these guidelines, we consistently see smoother recoveries, less bruising, faster healing and stronger results. Same treatment plan. Same technique. Better internal conditions.

That is why we ask the questions we do. Not to restrict. But to support your body at the exact moment it is being asked to do its best work. To Your Longevity, Jo

Quote of the month: “Healing is not about doing more. It is about creating the space for your body to do what it already knows how to do.”