Lipodissolve is an innovative, non-surgical procedure that safely and effectively reduces localized fat deposits. This cutting-edge treatment uses pharmacy-grade injections to target and eliminate stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.
At Causey Med Aesthetic, our expert providers utilize Lipodissolve to help patients sculpt their ideal body contour. Read on to discover how this revolutionary approach surpasses traditional fat reduction methods.
Discover Lipodissolve: The Science Behind the Breakthrough
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Lipodissolve involves injecting a compound called phosphatidylcholine (PC) and deoxycholate (DC) into areas of unwanted fat.
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Both PC and DC have been shown in studies to destroy fat cells through a process called apoptosis. This causes the targeted fat cells to permanently shrink and die off over time.
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Unlike nonspecific fat loss from diet and exercise, Lipodissolve precisely eliminates fat in treated areas. Patients see a visible reduction in fat volume while preserving surrounding tissue.
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Lipodissolve’s ability to destroy fat cells selectively is what sets it apart from other approaches.
Targeted Fat Loss: Why Lipodissolve Excels for Your Tummy and More
Lipodissolve is ideal for reducing fat in specific trouble spots, such as:
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Abdomen and love handles
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Thighs and hips
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Arms
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Double chin
In just a few treatments, patients see significant improvements in these stubborn areas that are unresponsive to diet and exercise alone. Lipodissolve helps you achieve the contoured, toned physique you want by targeting localized fat deposits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lipo Dissolve FDA approved? PhosphatidylCholine and Deoxycholate have independently been used in lipolysis and are both FDA approved; however, a combination of both has not been approved by the FDA. Although each component of lipo dissolve is approved individually, the nature of the product being a custom compounded medication means that each formula is not individually approved by the FDA. This is true for all compounded medications and not unique to Lipo Dissolve. The compounded mixture ingredients of Lipo dissolve treatment are not evaluated by the FDA to prove its safety or effectiveness for the purpose of fat destruction treatment. The combination of these two drugs used for the purposes of fat destruction is considered “off label.” Off-label usage roughly means the use of a medication, equipment, or treatment in a way other than explicitly described in the FDA approval process. Off-label usage is common practice in medicine in the US and can be as simple as taking 1 pill when the recommended dosage is 2. It can also be as complex as in lipo dissolve, where two approved medications are being combined and used at the same time, instead of separately, for a purpose not explicitly defined, like the treatment of subcutaneous fat instead of a fat embolism.
Why do Lipo Dissolve treatment with Causey Med Aesthetic? No where else in all of Louisiana is there any one doing this procedure nearly to the caliber that Causey Med Aesthetic is doing it. Dr Danielle originally learned the lipo dissolve protocol about ten years ago from some of the original developers of the technique and has been evolving and updating her practice through the years as industry standards have been advanced. Dr Danielle and her team are constantly attending advanced and master level education courses, attending surgical and non surgical technique lectures, and researching up and coming medical and aesthetic innovations. All of this skill, knowledge, and patient care are what culminates in the best possible patient experiences with above standard outcomes. Not only do we see a vast majority of our patients from right here in Baton Rouge, but we also have patients from all over Louisiana and beyond who seek out Dr Danielle and Causey Med Aesthetic for their non surgical aesthetic treatments. We have patients who travel to us from places such as New Orleans and Houma, Bogaloosa and Jackson Mississippi, Mandiville and Covington Louisiana, Alexandria and Opelousas Louisiana, Lake Charles and Lafayette Louisiana. We have also had some patients who come to us from as far as Houston Texas and Mobile Alabama. We have virtual consultation and follow up appointment options to make traveling much more convenient for our patients. If you are a traveling patient, or you would prefer the convenience of virtual consultation, then please do reach out and call our office at 225-364-2257 so we can help you set up your free consultation.
Why is Lipo Dissolve controversial? There are a few reasons Lipo Dissolve saw a lot of controversy in its early years. The first reason is the normal processes of medicine. Medicine is always checking, rechecking, changing, improving and revising. This is the normal process of science and medicine. Each new drug, treatment, and theory is scrutinized and improved upon by an entire society of like minded highly trained individuals. There is often a bit of back and forth when novel treatments are introduced. What was new at that time, was this was happening with Lipo Dissolve right in the early days of the internet, and for the first time, the general public had access to the back and forth communications and commentary of an entire medical community. This all happened at the same time that this treatment was gaining its own internet popularity as being a cheaper and easier non surgical alternative to liposuction. The buzz in the early 2000s-2010s was intense between doctors, surgeons, news media, and the general public about the pros and cons of this treatment. As time carried on, and the studies and research were completed and confirmed, the safety and validity of the treatment is now better understood and less debated, but the virtual history of the controversial buzz lives on in infamy. Second, with the popularity of any medical treatment, always comes a few bad actors who want to cash in on all of the buzz. Some of those bad actors take the form of poorly trained medical professionals, or even non licensed non-medical individuals performing those treatments below the standard of care. The bad actors can also come from facilities or product companies using medicines from unverified sources, most recently Amazon or overseas distributing companies. There are also un-licensed non medical personnel offering “knock off” Lipo Dissolve services and causing serious and permanent harm to their “Clients.” These are often performed in Salons, Salon Suites, and Spas. Many times they are using “needless” techniques that are known to damage the skin. Lastly, there is the controversy, more actually, the continued debate on whether lipo dissolve or liposuction are a better treatment. With either treatment there are pros and cons, and we believe at Causey Med Aesthetic, that each patient and doctor/injector should be able to weigh those pros and cons individually with each patient. It is with that educated discussion between patient and doctor, that true patient autonomy occurs and patients will be able to decide which treatment is right for them.
How does Lipo Dissolve compare to Liposuction? Lipo dissolve - cheaper, non invasive, minimal discomfort, no extended numbness, multiple treatments usually required, generally one day of mild downtime, no post surgical garment required (although may help with skin retraction, no surgery required (no surgical fees). Results in 6-12 weeks. Post op complications are minor and rare. No Scars. Liposuction - more expensive, surgical - surgical drains required, more discomfort to pain, extended numbness for up to one year, usually only one surgery required, multi day post surgical recovery, post surgical garment required for a minimum of 6 weeks, surgical (may have extra fees like hospital fees, anesthesia fees, recover center fees). Results in 6 weeks to 6 months. More common and more severe postoperative complications. Minor surgical scars.
What areas can be treated with Lipo Dissolve? Basically any area where you can pinch an inch. On the Face and Neck: the submentum (under the chin), front of the neck, back of the neck, jowls and buccal fat / cheek fat. On the Body: the upper and lower abdomen, flanks, pubis, back fat, bra strap fat, butt, upper thighs, inner and outer thighs, cellulite, upper knees, calves, ankles, and arms are all common. Areas not treated: Breast tissue, any area with skin infections, fat around the eyes, areas without enough fat for safe treatment.
What are the contraindications of Lipo Dissolve? Lipo Dissolve is not to be performed under these conditions: pregnancy, skin infections, poor wound healing issues, patients with any systemic disease such as heart disease, kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes or hypothyroidism, infections, active or previous autoimmune disease (discuss with your care concierge if you have any systemic disease or autoimmune issues), or active skin disorders. Soy Allergies.
What is the Care Concierge Appointment, and why do I need to do one before my treatment? We start all of our new patients with a quick clinic orientation, review of medical history, discussion of goals, and review of our membership and financial options. We also use this time to prepare you for any future treatments. We do a similar small appointment yearly to update your medical records and treatment plans, and to update you on any changes in clinic policies occurring over the previous year. These appointments are always free, and help us to update your records without eating into your treatment appointment time, therefore your treatment time with us runs smoothly.
What should I do to prepare for my Lipo Dissolve treatment? Wear loose and comfortable clothes that can easily be adjusted to expose the treatment zone if not removed. Wear loose and flowing clothes that will not rub the treatment area. Wear undergarments that will not hinder the treatment of lipo dissolve. You may take an over the counter arnica supplement a few days prior to your treatment to help reduce bruising. Avoid alcohol and NSAIDS 3 days prior to treatment. Drink 3 to 4 liters of water a day, for at least 3 days before your lipo dissolve treatment. If the treatment area has hair, then please refer to our pre treatment instructions on how to deal with hair and lipo dissolve treatment.
Is Lipo Dissolve treatment painful? Does the treatment require anesthesia? No. It has been well documented that the best way to numb the area and make Lipo Dissolve more comfortable is to ice the area immediately before, continually, and after the treatment. Comparative studies have been performed using various numbing techniques and analgesics, and ice is hands down the best method to make treatment more comfortable. Secondly, a swift injections technique also helps to improve comfort during the procedure. Once the treatment area is injected with Lipo Dissolve, the body will start an immediate inflammatory response. If the injections are completed in each section before the full onset of the inflammation, the procedure will remain more comfortable. Deep fat injections are also very comfortable as there are very few nerve endings and pain receptors there. More superficial injections of the superficial fat tend to be a bit more “stingy.” Some treatment areas are more intense than others due to their location and proximity to vessels, nerves, bones, and muscles. At Causey Med Aesthetic we make sure to use the most comfortable injection techniques to make sure you have an easy and pleasant experience.
What does the Lipo Dissolve treatment feel like? Lipo Dissolve feels both hot and cold. First, we ice the treatment area before the injections so the initial sensations are cold. During the injection, you may feel occasional mild pinches at the injection site. Most of the injections are completely imperceptible. The treated area will have a gradual onset of a mild sting that may intensify for a few seconds then fades. The area will continue to have a mild warm sensation or mild burning sensation that is alleviated by continual topical ice application. The need for ice is usually eliminated after 2 minutes or less.
What is the post op recovery like? The day of your treatment you will have minimal symptoms if any. You will be swollen and the treatment area may be red. The next day will be the day that you experience the most severe recovery symptoms. You will have increased redness and swelling to the treatment area. The area may be very tender to touch and you will want to wear loose garments and eliminate friction to the area. You may have a general body ache or malaise on this day with potential flu like symptoms such as generalized fatigue and muscle and joint aches. It is also common to have a mild fever or chills on the second day. Tylenol is recommended to alleviate these symptoms. Some patients may experience trouble getting comfortable or getting restful sleep especially with treatment areas on the trunk of the body. We recommend a slow day or day of rest for the day after your treatment. Day 3 and beyond - will have much improved overall symptoms, you will feel much better. The general body aches will have subsided and your discomfort will have reduced. The treatment area may still be red, swollen, and tender to touch. Loose garments are still recommended at this time, but you may attempt to start massaging the area depending on your comfort level. This is the day that your bruising will be the darkest and a generalized darker coloration to the treatment area will settle in. Red to purple to brown is a common coloration for the area at this stage, depending on your skin type. This coloration may persist for several days, even up to 2 weeks. It is common to feel itchy in the treatment area as the tissue is healing, if this occurs, try not to scratch the skin but to “massage the itch”. You may also feel some deep tissue nodules forming at this stage. These nodules are temporary and will always resolve on their own over time. You can speed the elimination of these nodules with continuous deep tissue massage or vibration treatment to the area. Ultrasound treatment like Ultimate Contour may also speed the elimination of these nodules as well as improve your overall healing time and permanent outcome.
What do I wear to my Lipo Dissolve Treatment? Wear loose and comfortable clothes that will not rub or cause friction to the treatment area. Wear clothes that are clean and you do not mind getting soiled with post treatment fluid or ooze. Depending on the treatment area, you may need to remove some clothing items for treatment. Make sure to wear undergarments that will not get in the way of treatment, will be in your pre and post treatment photographs, and will not rub your treatment area.
Will there be photographs? Yes, as part of your medical records, photos will be taken of the treatment area. These photos are mandatory and will not be used for any purpose other than for your treatment record. If you choose to allow Causey Med Aesthetic to utilize your photos for anything other than your medical records, including marketing, research, or treatment examples, then a specific photo release consents will be signed.
Do I need to wear a compression garment after my Lipo Dissolve treatment? It is recommended in the first few days to avoid tight clothing as the friction to the area can increase pain or sensitivity to the treatment site. For the first three days after treatment, DO NOT wear a compression garment. However, after the initial swelling and inflammatory reaction is over, wearing a compression garment is optional. It is theorized, as with other body procedures, that the compression will help the skin, fat, and underlying tissues to heal and remodel in a controlled shape. We consider the wearing of the garment optional because it is shown that the fat tissues and skin will remodel and retract even without the garment. No comparative studies have been done (at this time that we are aware of) proclaiming the potential benefits or harms of wearing compression garments after Lipo Dissolve.
What happens to the unwanted fat after lipo dissolve treatment? Your body will do one of two things with the fat after the lipo dissolve treatment: Use the fat as fuel, or eliminate the fat as waste. When your body is in ketosis (low sugar state) your body is set to burn fat as its main fuel source. The fat that is normally locked away inside a fat cell is converted to fuel and used as energy. When the fat molecules are released by lipo dissolve treatment, this will also make the stored fat accessible for use as fuel. If your body is not in ketosis and the fat will not be used as fuel, or if there is too much fat available for your body to process as fuel, then the body will consider the excess fat as waste and eliminate it from the body through the lymphatic drainage system.
What is lymphatic drainage and how is that important for Lipo Dissolve? Your lymphatic drainage system is your body's way to remove waste materials. The lipo dissolve treatment will utilize this body process to eliminate the treated unwanted fat from the procedure. The lymphatic drainage system utilizes water and body movement to function at its peak. It is recommended to drink at least 8 liters of water a day leading up to and after treatment. Also keep moving your body, walk, stretching, will all help to keep the lymphatic drainage system working. When the initial swelling from the treatment reduces, then you may do some deep tissue massaging, lymphatic drainage massaging, or ultrasound treatment to the area to further stimulate the elimination of waste and fluid from the treatment area.
What can help to improve my results with Lipo Dissolve? It is recommended to drink plenty of water, massage the treatment area, get plenty of movement and exercise, and eat a healthy clean low carbohydrate diet. You may also do lymphatic drainage massage or ultrasound treatments like Ultimate Contour to increase your visible results and heal faster. For increased skin tightening, radio frequency procedures like RFMN and Ultimate Contour can further enhance the skin appearance. Speak to your care concierge about these additional options for your treatment.
When will I see the results from my Lipo Dissolve treatment? You will not notice a difference right away, in fact, you may even appear worse before you appear better. The initial inflammatory and swelling period will start immediately and may last for a few days. Some people even experience extended periods of swelling for 2 weeks or more. Usually about 3 weeks after the treatment you may start looking “back to normal” or at baseline of before treatment. Between weeks 3-6 you will see the largest amount of improvement to your appearance of the treatment area. You can continue to see improvements to the treatment area up to 12 weeks after the treatment. If you are doing multiple treatments, as recommended by Dr Danielle Causey, then you will continuously see changes to the treatment area during the course of your treatment series. Your final results will be seen 12 weeks after your final treatment.
Why do I see poor reviews of Lipo Dissolve from other facilities? We typically see poor patient outcomes where a desired treatment area is undertreated. This means that either not enough lipo dissolve medicine was used during treatment, or fewer than recommended treatment sessions were performed. This often results in patients feeling underwhelmed with results, or the feeling that the treatment did not work. We often see that poor reviews come from patients who have unrealistic expectations of the timing of final results. Results are not expected to be seen for 6 - 12 weeks, when patients are not prepared for that wait, they can be disappointed that they do not see results immediately after, or soon after the treatment. Also, results happen gradually over those 6 - 12 weeks, and sometimes patients will “forget” what they look like before treatment. This is often where medical photos of the treatment area before and after treatment will show the actual results.
Is Lipo Dissolve permanent? YES. Lipo Dissolve is considered a permanent treatment. The fat that is eliminated through lipo dissolve will not return. The area will not require maintenance treatments. However, if you do experience a general weight gain, and the body converts more energy to stored fat, then you may gain fat in the treatment area in addition to the rest of the body's generalized overall fat gain. In this overall weight gain scenario, the proportion of fat you gain in the treatment area will be less than what you would have gained without treatment.
I exercise everyday, and I am not overweight, but I have a stubborn area of fat that will not go away. Will Lipo Dissolve help me? YES. You are the perfect candidate for this procedure. The fact that you have a higher metabolism, and higher muscle percentage will help you to reach optimal results very quickly and easily. When your body is in a high fat burning phase like ketosis, that will help you to process the newly released free fat molecules. Movement and high water intake will also increase your body’s lymphatic drainage system to help eliminate the excess fat from the treatment area. Some of our most amazing and exciting results are achieved from our very fit and healthy patients who have an isolated, unresponsive pocket of fat that just won't budge.
I do not exercise and I do not plan on changing my diet after lipo dissolve, will this treatment still work for me? Healthy diet and exercise are recommended, not only for best and fasted results from lipo dissolve, but also for your health and well being. Those who choose not to change their diet to a more healthy version will still see results from lipo dissolve, but may not be able to achieve as much change in the treatment area, or change as swiftly as those who opt for the healthy diet. Exercise is also recommended and it helps with the overall outcome when the underlying layer under the fat is healthy muscle. Exercise is not a requirement, but can also improve the body's metabolism and ability to process the released fat. Movement is also required for the lymphatic drainage system, which will be higher utilized since less fat will be burned as fuel. Water intake is an absolute must. Without proper hydration, the lymphatic system will not function, and the excess fat will not be eliminated as intended. Instead the fat can accumulate in the liver and cause potential fatty liver issues.
Can I do Lipo Dissolve while I am trying to lose weight? Yes you can. Lipo Dissolve is not considered a weight loss procedure. Lipo Dissolve will target areas of stubborn fat that is out of proportion to the rest of your body, or areas of fat that are not responding as well to total body weight loss. You can do this treatment while you are also losing weight from diet, exercise, or additional weight loss methods like the currently very successful and popular GLP1 treatments (Ex. Ozympic, Weygovy, semaglutide, Monjourno, tirzepatide, Zepbound, Saxenda, liraglutide). Causey Med Aesthetic offers the GLP1 treatments and many of our patients who are successfully losing weight will also do body contouring treatments like Lipo Dissolve to help them with their body and aesthetic goals. Check out our Metabolyx program for more information on weight loss, our Metabolyx memberships and the treatment discounts for our members.
Does Lipo Dissolve also tighten the skin? Will my skin be saggy after? Similarly to liposuction surgery, most patients who do lipo dissolve treatments will experience skin retraction. This is a different mechanism than skin tightening and is often enough to get optimal and aesthetically pleasing results. This is a normal and natural function of the skin and the body and no additional treatments are needed for skin retraction to occur. For those patients who have extremely large fat pads, experience major reduction of the fat, and who do not have enough elasticity in the skin remaining for retraction to happen, there may be some sagging of the skin that will require additional skin tightening treatment, or skin removal treatment. Skin tightening can be achieved through additional treatments utilizing lasers, ultrasound, radio frequency, microneedling, and more. You can expect to be guided by Dr. Danielle Causey and the staff at Causey Med Aesthetic as to your potential skin retraction expectations and potential skin tightening needs.
Should I do an ultrasound treatment like Ultimate Contour in conjunction with Lipo Dissolve? Absolutely, low frequency ultrasound has been shown to help after treatments such as lipo dissolve. The low frequency ultrasound is currently being studied to help understand the process by which it remodels fat. It is thought that the vibrations of the low frequency ultrasound helps to compress and pack tight the fat molecules within the cells. It is recommended to wait until the initial swelling and inflammatory process has resolved before doing Ultimate Contour treatment to the area, approximately 7 days.
Are nodules or lumps associated with Lipo Dissolve treatment? Will I end up looking lumpy? It is common during the healing process after lipo dissolve to feel deep nodules within the fat pad in the treated area. These nodules can appear as soon as 5 days after treatment and usually disappear after 3 weeks. Occasionally some of those nodules can persist for up to 6 weeks. The nodules will be completely eliminated without any intervention, but deep tissue massage and vibration to the area will help those nodules to clear even sooner. Although the nodules are palpable with deep pressure rubbing or squeezing the area, they are never visible. You will not have a lumpy appearance at any time after treatment or with final results. In Fact, lipo dissolve is often used to treat and reduce the lumpy appearance of cellulite.
Can Lipo Dissolve treat my cellulite? Yes absolutely, cellulite is a combination of two factors: increased loosened fat cells, plus connective tissue fibers with varying elasticity. Lipo Dissolve will reduce the number of fat cells in the area thereby reducing the bulging areas overall. In cases of cellulite, we like to combine the lipo dissolve treatment with Ultimate Contour, a combination treatment in itself, that can both further compress the fat molecules, and tighten the connective fibers. This combination has shown to work very well on cellulite.
Why do I have to wait 6 weeks before my next treatment of Lipo Dissolve? Safelty. Pure and simple. The treatment of lipo dissolve relies on your body's own natural processes to eliminate destroyed fat cells from the body. We do not want to overtax your body, or destroy more fat at any time, than what your body can safely handle. Each individual person will process the destroyed fat at different speeds depending on metabolism, water intake, immune health, general health, and post treatment home care. On average, most people will have processed enough fat at 6 weeks to safely do an additional treatment and start the process over again.
I have hair in the area that I would like to get treated with Lipo Dissolve, Are there any extra considerations? Will my hair be affected? When undergoing lipo dissolve treatment, it is best to shave any hair in the treatment area one day prior to treatment. If the hair is beard hair, and shaving is not desired, then we do recommend trimming the hairs to less than 1cm in length ( #4 guard or less ) and washing the hairs with hibiclens (antibacterial chlorhexidine wash) the night before treatment. Do not apply any lotions, beard oils, or styling products after washing with the hibiclens. It has been observed that hair may grow back patchy for up to 6 months after treatment with lipo dissolve. This is usually only a consideration for men undergoing treatment on the lower face and neck area who do not shave regularly, or men who maintain a very short beard. As the short stubble hairs are growing, the areas of non growth, slower growth, or less dense hair may become visibly noticeable. For men who maintain medium to longer beards, this is usually not an issue as the temporary slow growth patches are not visible. Waxing: If you typically use waxing instead of shaving to remove the hair in the treatment area, then continue to do so. There are no contraindications for waxing the treatment area before lipo dissolve. You will want to wait at least two weeks after treatment of lipo dissolve to continue with your waxing routine. You may notice an increase in sensitivity to waxing after lipo dissolve treatment. You may also notice an increase in in-grown hairs after lipo dissolve treatment. You may treat the ingrown hairs in your usual manner.
I’m driving from out of Baton Rouge to get Lipo Dissolve? Do I also have to drive in for a consultation and follow up? What should I prepare for when driving from a distance? Although the treatment of lipo dissolve must be performed in our Baton Rouge office, we have the ability to offer you virtual consultations and virtual follow up visits. We find this virtual option is very convenient for our patients who are driving over an hour for their treatments, or for someone with a busy work or life schedule who may find in person visits hard to schedule. When you are traveling over a distance for your lipo dissolve treatment there are very few extra considerations. After the treatment you may feel a bit tender or sore. This is typically very mild after treatment. Seatbelts may rub or bind the treatment area contributing to your soreness or tenderness in the area. It is very rare that prescriptions are required with the treatment of lipo dissolve. If such a situation occurs, the Doctors and practitioners at Causey Med Aesthetic will write a prescription that can be filled anywhere in Louisiana. Most prescriptions can even be called in to a pharmacy in advance of your treatment to be picked up on your way.
What is Arnica? Where can I find Arnica tablets and Arnicare Cream? Arnica Montana is a natural vitamin K derivative that helps with wound care. It is often found over the counter in capsules, melt away tabs, and topical creams. Dr. Danielle recommends taking arnica tablets for at least 3 days prior to your lipo dissolve treatment to prevent bruising and to prepare your body for healing. Dr Danielle also recommends using Arnicare cream after your lipo dissolve treatment to help clear bruising and the temporary discoloration associated with injection treatments. The topical cream will also make the treated area more comfortable and speed the healing time. The topical cream can also be used with deep tissue massage or lymphatic drainage massage. Arnica Tablets are great to take before your procedure for prevention of bruising and for reduced swelling and healing time. You can find these in the vitamin aisle at most pharmacies. Arnicare cream is typically found in the wound care aisle of most pharmacies. You may find alternative brands such as Arnica+K and Arnica Gel. All are appropriate for after care treatment. You may also find it on Amazon at this link: https://a.co/d/dkHbyZx