INJECTABLES

It is important to follow instructions about dermal filler aftercare.

Immediately after your filler treatment may notice a few of the following things:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Red needle puncture marks
• Asymmetry
• Tenderness
• Itching in the area

These issues above are after filler treatment, and should resolve over the next few days to weeks. Your final result will be seen at about 4 weeks after treatment, at which time you may choose to be reviewed to see if further treatments are required to achieve optimal results.

You should not touch your face for 6 hours. After this you may clean your skin with water and a gentle cleanser if you wish.  It is ideal to avoid applying makeup the entire day of the procedure.

Things to avoid:

• Do not expose the area to intense heat (i.e. use of jacuzzi or sauna)
• Avoid pressure on the treated areas for the first few nights (i.e. sleep on back of possible)
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
• Avoid alcohol ideally 24 hours before as well as 24 hours after treatment
• Do not use AHA, Retinols/Retin A for 24 hours

Pain relief

Pain is usually mild and occasionally moderate after filler injections. There are areas which tend to be more painful like the chin and the lips. Pain relievers such as Tylenol can be taken if necessary.

Swelling relief

Apply a cool compress for 10 minutes every hour on the day of treatment (do not apply ice directly on your skin). A cool compress applied regularly for the first 24 hours after injections may help to reduce the amount of swelling.

Bruising relief

Patients on aspirin, fish oil or other drugs associated with increased bruising may find their risk increased. Some patients use arnica both before and after treatment to reduce bruising.

Massage

Massage of the filler areas is not advised unless otherwise instructed.

Cold sores and dermal filler

There may be a small chance that a treatment may induce an outbreak of facial cold sores in patients with a previous history.

Some patients take preventative Lysine or antivirals to help reduce the risk of cold sores. If you get cold sores after a treatment, you should see your doctor.

Aesthetic review

Reviewing the results of dermal filler should be performed at 4 weeks (except for cosmetic emergencies, which should be reviewed immediately)

Reviewing prior to 4 weeks is not useful as there is often a small amount of swelling still present, so the results cannot be judged until this has resolved. This is particularly important with regards to symmetry.

Retreatment

Retreatment should occur at any time between 1-6 months after a first treatment. Once peak filler has been achieved, and the patient is on maintenance injections, they might have filler once per year.

Complications

Cosmetic complications include vascular occlusion and infection. Vascular occlusions mostly occur in the treatment chair, and injectors are are able to see that they are happening and treat them.

Early infections may occur after a few days after the treatment. The patient might notice increasing redness, tenderness, swelling, pain, heat, nodules or pus. Patients should see their doctor if this occurs.

Lip filler after care

When the lips are injected, the upper lip tends to swell much more than the lower lip and often patients think that their upper lip has had too much filler injected into it. Once the swelling calms down, they realise this is not the case.

Concerns after filler treatment

If you are concerned post-treatment, please call. If you are unable to contact your injector and you are concerned that it is an emergency, please visit the emergency department of your local hospital.