Generally, recovery lasts one to two days. Most patients are available to return to their normal activities immediately after treatment. In fact, some people schedule their treatment during their lunchtime hour and return to work right after.
Typically, dermal fillers have little to no recovery time. After your appointment, you're free to go back to work and resume your most of your daily activities right away. However, you need to be careful for 24 to 48 hours to allow time for the fillers to settle in properly.
It takes up to 4 weeks for the filler to fully integrate into the tissue and some fillers are more cohesive than others. We often advise my patients that they should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated after treatment, as hyaluronic based fillers are water-binding.
Even though the results of filler will be visible right away, migration can happen almost immediately, with a few days or weeks, or even up to years later in rare circumstances, depending on what the root cause of the issue is. “If overfilling is the culprit, it will be noticeable almost immediately,” says Dr. Horn.
The filler can take several weeks to soften and settle into your skin. This means that patients won't see the ultimate results of their treatment immediately. Although individual results will vary, many people achieve the full effect within two weeks after receiving their injections.
After 24 hours the skin is sealed again naturally at the puncture sites and you can go back to washing your face normally.
Swelling will reach its peak at around 24-72 hours after treatment, at which point, it will begin to gradually subside. Occasionally, swelling can last for 1-4 weeks, but this isn't as common. Most people do see an improvement within 3 days.
The swelling that can often occur after Lip Fillers can cause the lips to look a little uneven for a short time. This doesn't necessarily mean that anything has gone wrong and it may just take a little time for the product to fully settle and for residual swelling to subside.
IMMEDIATE after care – What to do at home
Apply a cool compress to the treatment area (do not apply ice directly to the skin) for 10 minutes every half an hour on the day of treatment. Avoid any heat inducing activities for 24 hours such as strenuous exercise, spas, saunas and hot showers.
Pillow face is a condition that occurs as a result of a person getting over-injected with dermal fillers in their face. This leads to an overstuffed look, which causes the checks and other areas of the face to puff out.
It's normal to experience some lingering soreness after filler injections, and pain medications can certainly provide relief. However, it's important that you take the right kind of painkiller so you don't make any bruising worse. NSAIDs such as Advil and Aleve thin the blood, which increases your chances of bruising.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is crucial after your first dermal filler appointment. Drinking a lot of water helps your body heal after dermal filler injections, which enables you to see results sooner.
During this two week period, the hyaluronic acid in your filler will settle into your dermal tissues and begin to interact with the water in your skin. This process will hydrate your skin and give you a healthy, youthful appearance.
Food & drink to avoid
– Alcohol – though it's tempting to toast to your lovely results, drinking in the first 24 hours could lead to bruising and swelling. – Caffeine – whether in food or drink form, could slow down the healing process as it can cause dehydration.
After your dermal filler treatment, you should remain in an upright position for 3-4 hours and avoid rubbing or applying any pressure on the treated area. This will prevent the filler from migrating to other areas. The best sleeping positions following treatment limit facial movement and stress on the face.
The Results Improve Over Time
Because these injections stimulate your body's production of collagen and elastin, the final results of treatment won't be seen for several weeks. Even as the hyaluronic acid is processed by your body, healthy collagen and elastin grow at a more significant rate.
Treating with 1ml at a time is certainly appropriate for some areas, such as volumising lips or having smaller tweakments into other areas of the face. Sometimes, however, more than 1ml may be required – in the cheeks, for example – as 1ml may not make a discernible difference.
There is a very common misconception that dermal fillers can make skin sag, however we can safely say that this is FALSE. People assume that once they have been fully absorbed by your body you will be left with loose, hanging skin leaving you looking even older than you did previously.
Swelling subsides, typically, within a few days. It's most apparent 24 to 72 hours after treatment before starting to subside gradually. Very occasionally, swelling can last from several days to four weeks.
Swelling typically occurs within 24 to 72 hours after dermal fillers. It will subside on its own after this period. On rare occasions, swelling can last from 1 to 4 weeks.
Your provider uses a thin needle to inject small amounts of filler beneath your skin. They may inject filler in several areas of your cheek. You may feel a small pinch or sting, but the cheek filler procedure doesn't usually cause pain.
As much as possible, avoid sleeping on your face for at least a week after your cheek filler treatment. While sleeping on your back, elevate your head by propping 2 to 3 pillows on your head to help reduce swelling of your face, a common side effect after getting cosmetic fillers.
Cosmetic fillers are long lasting, but not permanent. Longevity depends on the areas treated and your body's metabolism. DO NOT APPLY ANYTHING TO THE SKIN UNTIL THE DAY AFTER TREATMENT: No cleanser, moisturizer, or makeup!