After injectable treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections or dermal fillers, following the correct aftercare helps reduce swelling, bruising and the risk of complications. Most side effects are mild and temporary, but knowing what to avoid and when to contact your practitioner can help ensure the treatment settles properly and your results are maximised.

This article explains what to expect after injectable treatments, filler aftercare and when you should seek advice from your clinic.

What Should You Do Immediately After Injectable Treatments?

In the immediate period following any injectable treatment, whether it’s dermal filler, anti-wrinkle injections or Profhilo, there are a number of things we should and shouldn’t be doing. Immediately after treatment, the main thing we want to try and reduce is the risk of infection. There are steps we take in-clinic to minimise this, but once you leave, there are a few key things that you can definitely be doing.

  • Avoid touching your face or using any makeup for the rest of the day. (Ideally, just wash your face with simple soap and water and avoid any additional products).
  • Avoid touching or massaging the treated area.
  • Follow the aftercare advice from your practitioner.
  • Avoid strenuous activities or intense exercise

Learn more about how to maintain your results after an aesthetic treatment.

What Should You Avoid After Anti-Wrinkle Injections or Dermal Fillers?

Within the first three days after an injectable treatment, it’s important to avoid environments with excessive or extreme temperatures. These can include saunas, steam rooms and hot baths. If you’ve had your lips treated, it’s also important to avoid hot teas and coffees.

The reason for this is that it helps improve integration of the filler and reduces swelling. Within the first two to three days, try to sleep on your back. This helps avoid pressure on the treated areas and reduces the risk of asymmetry, ultimately leading to the best outcomes.

Is Swelling or Bruising Normal After Injectable Treatments?

After an injectable treatment, swelling or bruising is expected at the injection site. If you’ve had dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid, this ingredient attracts water in the skin. Because of this, you may experience some temporary swelling after the treatment for the first two to five days. 

You may feel small lumps or bumps, but these are normal and expected. However, it’s really important not to touch the area, to reduce any risk of infection. An area where people tend to notice lumps more often is the lips, usually because when you run your tongue over your lips, you can feel them more easily.

Can You Exercise After Injectable Treatments?

As part of your aftercare, we want to ensure that you avoid exercise and alcohol, within the first few days. This is to reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising.

The reason it’s important to avoid exercise and alcohol within the first day is because both of these thin the blood and also cause vasodilation, which contributes to the risk of bruising and bleeding.

When Should You Contact Your Practitioner?

There are a few situations where you should contact your practitioner or clinic for further advice or support.

If redness develops after 48 hours…

There may be some temporary redness in the area that’s treated that usually settles after about 24 to 48 hours. If redness develops after 48 hours, that’s the sign of a possible infection. In which case you should contact your practitioner straight away.

If you develop redness after a couple of days that wasn’t there before…

After a couple of days, if you develop redness that wasn’t there before, those could be signs of infection. In which case you should contact your clinician for them to assess you.

If there is any disturbance in your vision…

If there’s any disturbance in your vision, please do contact the clinic or emergency services straight away.

If you have any bruising which doesn’t go away within a few days or worsens…

Bruising is normal following an injectable treatment, but if it does not go away within a few days, or seems to be getting worse rather than better, please contact the clinic straight away.

If you feel unwell or have any questions or concerns about your treatment…

If you have any questions relating to your treatment, please contact the clinic straight away.

Injectable Treatments at MediZen

At MediZen, injectable treatments are always carried out in a medically led environment by experienced doctors or nurse prescribers, who prioritise patient safety. We offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, polynucleotides and Profhilo. During your initial  consultation, your practitioner will assess your concerns and discuss the results you want to achieve, before creating a bespoke treatment plan.

Our focus is always on subtle improvements rather than overfilling. If you are considering injectable treatments or have questions about filler aftercare, you can book a consultation with the medical team at MediZen to discuss your options and receive personalised advice.

Learn more about how long results typically last after injectables and what to expect long‑term in our article How Long Do Injectable Treatments Last?.