Recovery, honestly
No surprises is part of good care. Here’s exactly what to expect in the hours and days after the most common treatments.
Most injectable treatments are genuinely “lunchtime” procedures — you walk out and back into your day. But honest aftercare means naming the small things so they don’t alarm you.
The first 48 hours
Expect possible pinpoint redness, mild swelling, and the occasional small bruise — most common with lips and under-eye work. Swelling peaks the morning after and settles quickly. Arnica, cold compresses, and sleeping slightly elevated all help.
Two weeks is the real finish line. Don’t judge a result before then.
Skip strenuous exercise, alcohol, and saunas for 24 hours, and avoid pressing or massaging the area unless told otherwise. Then we see you at two weeks — to assess, photograph, and refine. Perfection lives in that follow-up, not the first appointment.
It differs by treatment
After Botox there is essentially no downtime — just stay upright for about four hours and don’t rub the area, so the product stays where it was placed. Fillers, especially in the lips, are the most likely to swell or bruise for a few days. Skin boosters leave small temporary bumps that flatten within a day or two. Knowing which pattern belongs to your treatment is half of not worrying about it.
What helps — and what to skip
Cool compresses, arnica, gentle hydration and sleeping with your head slightly raised all speed the settling. For 24 hours, skip the gym, alcohol, saunas and long sun exposure, all of which increase swelling and bruising. Paracetamol is fine for tenderness; avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen in the first day unless we’ve told you otherwise, as they can worsen bruising.
When to simply call us
The vast majority of recoveries are uneventful. Still, part of honest care is telling you where the line is: contact the clinic promptly if you notice increasing rather than easing pain, skin that turns dusky, white or blotchy, spreading warmth or signs of infection, or — after filler — any change in vision. These are uncommon, but they are exactly the situations where being seen quickly matters, and we would always rather hear from you than have you wait and wonder.