Injectable aftercare
General guidance after skin boosters and polynucleotides, on the face or the body. Small bumps and bruising are ordinary.
This page covers general aftercare following the injectable skin-quality treatments I offer: skin boosters and polynucleotides, on the face or the body. It’s written for people I’ve already treated, and it doesn’t replace anything I told you in the room. Where the two differ, mine wins.
If you’re reading this before a first appointment and you’re not sure which of these is right for you, write to me first. I’d rather look at your skin than have you pick off a list.
The short version
Small bumps at the injection points settle within hours to a couple of days.
Nothing on the skin and no make-up for the rest of today.
No heat, no gym, no facials for 48 hours.
Hour by hour
The first 72 hours
Skin doesn’t run to a timetable, so read these as the usual shape rather than a promise. Yours may be quieter or slower.
0 - 24
hours
First 24 hours
What you may notice
Pinprick marks, and small raised bumps where the product is sitting. They flatten as it disperses.
Redness and mild swelling.
Bruising is common, and it isn’t a sign that anything went wrong.
What to do
Leave the area alone. No make-up for the rest of the day.
A cool compress over a clean cloth if it feels warm. Never anything directly on the skin.
Sleep propped up if your face feels swollen.
Paracetamol is fine if you need it.
24 - 48
hours
24 to 48 hours
What you may notice
Bumps flattening.
Bruises often come out and darken before they fade. They usually clear over five to ten days.
Skin can feel tender to press.
What to do
Keep to a simple routine: gentle cleanser, moisturiser, SPF.
Make-up is fine after 24 hours provided the skin is unbroken.
No massage, no rollers, no gua sha, no face-down massage over the area.
48 - 72
hours
48 to 72 hours
What you may notice
Most swelling has gone. Any remaining bruising is fading.
What to do
Normal routine. Actives can go back in after 72 hours.
Arnica helps some people and does nothing at all for others. It isn’t worth worrying about either way.
Book the next session in the course if we planned one.
Not yet
Leave alone
Timings are the cautious end of the range on purpose. Waiting a day longer than you needed to costs nothing. The other way round is what leaves a mark. If you’re not sure, I’m always happy to guide you.
- Make-up
- 24 hours
- Touching, pressing or massaging the area
- 48 hours
- Gym, sauna, steam, hot yoga
- 48 hours
- Alcohol. It worsens bruising.
- 24 hours
- Lying face-down, including face-down massage
- 48 hours
- Facials, microneedling, peels, radiofrequency
- 2 weeks
- Non-urgent dental work
- 2 weeks
- Sun and sunbeds
- 1 week
Safety
Contact me if
None of these are common, and none of them mean something has gone badly wrong. They mean I’d rather see it than hear about it in six weeks.
Skin near the treated area that turns pale, dusky or mottled, or pain out of proportion to what you’d expect. Ring me straight away. Don’t wait, and don’t message.
Any change to your vision.
Swelling that’s increasing after 48 hours rather than settling.
Spreading redness, heat, or a hard tender lump.
A lump still present after two weeks.
Fever, or feeling generally unwell.
This page is general guidance for people I have already treated. It does not replace what I said in the room, and it is not medical advice. If you feel unwell, or something is worsening quickly, contact NHS 111 or your GP rather than waiting for me.
What happens next
Your next appointment
These treatments are planned as courses, commonly three sessions, spaced by the protocol we agreed at your consultation. Because they’re prescription treatments, each course is reviewed rather than repeated automatically. Nothing is booked without seeing your skin first.