BEFORE: Pick a day when you can keep plans light after your appointment. Drink water, eat a small meal, and avoid alcohol the night before. Share your health history, including blood thinners, aspirin, and supplements, plus any past nerve issues or easy bruising. Come with clean skin and avoid harsh exfoliation for a few days. Your provider should confirm the area is a good match, map a treatment grid, and explain that swelling is expected while your body clears the treated fat. If you have a rash, fever, or active skin infection near the area, reschedule. Plan around big events, since swelling can be noticeable at first.

DURING: The provider cleans the skin, marks small points, and may use numbing to make it easier. A fine needle places tiny amounts across the grid so the area is treated evenly. You might feel quick stings, pressure, and a warm or burning feeling that fades. The visit is usually 20–40 minutes, but the team should check in often and pause if pain is sharp or you feel dizzy. Right after, the area can look puffy and firm, which is normal early on. You’ll be told to watch for uncommon signs like one-sided weakness, trouble smiling, or severe swelling, and to call right away if they happen. Before you leave, you get simple care steps and a plan for the next session.

AFTER: Swelling is the main downtime, and it can peak in the first few days. Bruising, tenderness, and a tight feel are also common and usually settle on their own. Use cold packs in short bursts on day one if advised, and avoid rubbing or deep massage until your provider says it is okay. Many people skip big workouts, saunas, and long sun exposure for a short time, especially in Miami, FL heat. Results show as swelling drops, then improve with each session as the area refines. Call right away for fever, pus, worsening redness, or new weakness in nearby muscles.