Delivering clear and detailed dermal filler aftercare advice is crucial for both injectors and patients. From a practitioner’s perspective, it is important that our patients feel informed, comfortable, and confident about how to care for their skin post-treatment. For patients, it’s essential to feel supported throughout the entire treatment journey—including after leaving The Academy Clinic.
Comprehensive aftercare guidance ensures you understand what to expect, how to optimise your results, and when to seek assistance if necessary. Whether it’s managing minor swelling, avoiding certain activities, or knowing when results will fully settle, aftercare is integral to achieving beautifully balanced enhancements.
This blog provides detailed guidance, including expert tips from Aesthetics Practitioner and Head of Clinical Training at Harley Academy, Dr Max Greenfield.
Pre-Appointment Advice and Consultation
Dr Max explains: “Patients should be in good health before treatment—meaning they aren’t experiencing any concurrent illnesses, aren’t on antibiotics, and haven’t recently undergone invasive dental work.”
Minimise Risk Factors
Preparation is key to ensuring the most comfortable experience and the best possible outcome for your filler treatment. That’s why we advise all our filler patients to avoid caffeine, intense exercise, and alcohol for 24 hours before their appointment and on the day of the treatment. These factors can increase blood flow and heighten the chance of bruising or swelling at the injection sites.
Flight Considerations
If your appointment is imminent, let us know about any upcoming travel plans. Flying shortly after filler treatment can potentially increase swelling and, in rare cases, slightly elevate the risk of bruising. We recommend waiting at least one week, ideally two, before flying post-treatment.
Dr Max adds: “There’s no strong evidence that flying causes issues after cosmetic treatments. However, we recommend staying near the clinic for a week after fillers to manage any complications.”
At The Academy Clinic, we believe a thorough consultation is the cornerstone of any successful aesthetic treatment. During your consultation, we’ll take the time to get to know you, understand your unique goals, and assess your individual needs. We’ll also openly discuss any potential risks or side effects, ensuring you feel informed and empowered to make confident decisions about your treatment.
During Your Treatment
All treatments at The Academy Clinic are carried out by registered medical professionals, including doctors, dentists, nurses, and clinical pharmacists, ensuring the highest standards of care. Depending on the tier you select, you may be treated by a medical professional undergoing training, who will be closely supervised by one of our expert practitioners.
We offer tiered pricing options to suit your preferences: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Demo. You can read more about our tiered appointments here.
Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. If you choose to proceed with treatment after your consultation, your practitioner will guide you through each step, from marking up to injecting. For added comfort, topical numbing cream may be applied depending on the procedure.
Post-Treatment Expectations
While the treatment itself is crucial, proper aftercare plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth recovery, minimising potential side effects like bruising or swelling, and optimising your results. By following our expert guidance, you can achieve the best possible outcome and return to your daily routine quickly.
Recovery Time
Recovery varies for each individual. You can expect minor bruising, discomfort, and swelling in the treated area for the first few days. Most swelling settles within 1-3 days, though it may persist longer in some areas, such as the lips. Lip fillers, for instance, can take 2-4 weeks to settle fully, with final results visible from week four. Keep in mind that ageing skin may bruise more noticeably due to increased fragility.
Longevity of Results
The duration of your filler results depends on several factors, including the product used, the treatment area, and your individual metabolism.
Subtle Enhancement
Our goal is to refresh and rejuvenate rather than drastically alter your appearance. You can expect subtle volume restoration, softened lines, and improved facial contours that enhance your natural beauty.
Dr Max stresses: “Although we provide lots of important aftercare advice, the key points are to avoid touching the treated areas and applying make-up until at least the following morning, ideally 24 hours. Patients should also ensure items like mobile phones and pillowcases—common sources of bacteria—are clean.”
We supply patients with clear written aftercare instructions to help identify what’s normal and when to seek advice.
Dr Max advises: “If you’re worried about anything, it’s better to contact the clinic for reassurance rather than delay addressing a potential complication.”
General Aftercare Advice
Here are some reminders for the first 24 hours post-treatment:
- Avoid make-up
- Refrain from intense exercise
- Skip excessive alcohol
- Drink plenty of water to support healing
- Avoid Aspirin and Ibuprofen, as these can increase bruising
- Do not massage the treated area, get facials, or use unclean pillowcases
These simple steps will reduce swelling, minimise bruising, and help your filler settle beautifully.
Area-Specific Aftercare
Mid-face
The mid-face refers to the area of your face between your lower eyelids and your upper lip. This may be relevant for cheek filler or nasolabial fold (smile lines) filler. It’s important to clean your phones, glasses and pillowcases, as these items can harbour bacteria that could potentially cause an infection at the injection sites.
Tear Trough
Tear trough fillers are a popular non-surgical treatment designed to address the appearance of under-eye hollows, often referred to as “tear troughs.” Bruising and swelling are common and may persist in this delicate area. You’ll notice a gradual improvement in the appearance of your under-eyes over the next few weeks as the swelling resolves and the filler settles. You can also gently apply ice packs to the treated area for short intervals in the first 24 hours to help with swelling and bruising.
Perioral Area
The perioral area refers to the delicate region around your mouth, including the lips, the area above the upper lip, and the lines that extend downwards from the corners of your mouth (marionette lines). This area is ideal for lip fillers, fine line fillers (for smoker’s lines), and marionette fillers to reduce the depth of these lines. Keeping the treated area clean is particularly important due to its proximity to the mouth.
Signs to Watch For
Seek immediate medical advice if you notice:
- Areas of skin becoming pale or grey
- Ongoing or worsening pain
Minor lumps are common and usually resolve within four weeks. If a lump causes concern, contact the clinic.
For more information visit our aftercare page here.
From your initial consultation to post-treatment care, The Academy Clinic provides a premium and supportive experience. Our team of highly trained medical professionals, boasting advanced Level 7 qualifications, are passionate about helping you achieve your aesthetic goals.
We offer a wide range of filler treatments, including lip fillers, cheek fillers, tear trough fillers, and chin fillers. For first-time filler patients, enjoy 15% off your initial treatment with the code FillerWelcome.
Book your consultation today and begin your journey to beautifully balanced enhancements.
