Dermal filler aftercare advice for patients

Dermal filler aftercare has to do two jobs at once: reassure patients that swelling, tenderness and the odd bruise are part of normal healing, and make absolutely sure they know the small set of vascular warning signs that need immediate contact. Patients cannot act on red flags they were never told about, and a verbal mention in the chair is easily forgotten by the time they get home. A written sheet, sent the same day, does both jobs reliably, and the timestamped record protects you if the advice is ever questioned. The sheet below covers standard guidance for hyaluronic acid fillers across the common treatment areas. Copy it, tailor the area-specific notes to the treatment given, and send it after every filler appointment.

The aftercare sheet

Your filler treatment is complete. Most of what you notice over the next few days is normal healing; here is what to expect and what to do.

What is normal

• Swelling, tenderness, firmness and redness at the treated area, usually peaking within 48 to 72 hours and settling over the following week.
• Bruising, which can take 5 to 10 days to fade fully.
• Slight asymmetry or small lumps while swelling resolves and the product settles. Judge the final result at two weeks, not before.

For the first 24 to 48 hours

• Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours; it increases swelling and bruising.
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 to 48 hours.
• Avoid heat: saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and very hot showers.
• A cool compress (wrapped in clean cloth, never ice directly on skin) for short periods can ease swelling.
• Keep makeup off the treated area for around 24 hours to protect the injection points.
• Avoid pressure on the area: do not rub or massage it, and avoid sleeping directly on the treated side where you can. Only massage if your practitioner has specifically told you to.
• Drink plenty of water.

Area-specific notes

• Cheeks and jawline: avoid firm pressure for the first week where possible, including tight-fitting helmets, face-down massage and sleeping flat on that side.
• Lips: avoid straws, firm kissing and very hot drinks on day 1; swelling here can look dramatic at 48 hours and is usually the peak, not the result.
• Nose-to-mouth lines and marionette area: normal eating is fine, but avoid exaggerated rubbing when cleansing.
• Chin and around the mouth: avoid dental appointments, including hygienist visits, for 3 to 4 weeks or as your practitioner advises where possible. Dental work stretches the area and carries a small infection risk near fresh filler. If urgent dental treatment is needed, tell your dentist about your recent filler.
• Tear troughs and under-eye area: swelling can fluctuate for longer here; allow a full two weeks before judging.

Warning signs that need immediate contact

These are rare, but acting quickly matters. Contact your practitioner immediately if you notice: blanching (white patches of skin) in or near the treated area, skin turning dusky, grey, blue or mottled, severe or escalating pain out of proportion to the treatment, or skin that looks blistered or is breaking down. These can mean the filler is affecting blood supply, and early treatment makes resolution far more straightforward. Any change to your vision after facial filler is an emergency: seek medical care immediately.

If anything worries you, contact your practitioner; that is what we are here for.

When patients should contact you urgently

For the practitioner and the team answering the phone: blanching, dusky or mottled skin, severe disproportionate pain, blistering or skin breakdown, and any visual disturbance. The first four need same-day practitioner assessment; vision changes are an emergency. Make sure reception knows these words and never books them in as a routine review. Then document the advice itself: record that the aftercare sheet was sent, the date and the channel. Vascular events are the highest-stakes moments in filler practice, and being able to show the patient was clearly told what to look for, in writing, on the day of treatment, is essential to defending your decision-making.

Make this automatic

AesthetiClinic emails this aftercare sheet automatically after every appointment, branded to your clinic, and records on the patient file that it was sent and when. The red-flag advice reaches every patient on the day of treatment without anyone having to remember. See the features page for the workflow, and pair it with the dermal filler consent form template so the consent conversation and the aftercare advice are both evidenced.

General aftercare guidance for UK aesthetics practice. Your practitioner’s specific advice always takes precedence. Patients with urgent symptoms should contact their practitioner or seek medical care immediately.