Aftercare for Dermal Fillers: Things to Avoid Post Treatment
Dermal fillers can refresh and enhance your natural beauty, restoring volume and smoothing out lines for a more youthful appearance.
But getting the best results doesn't just depend on the treatment itself. It's also about how you care for your skin afterwards.
While the procedure is minimally invasive, there are a few things to avoid in the days following your appointment to ensure a smooth recovery and long-lasting effects.
Understanding How Dermal Fillers Work
Before diving into aftercare for dermal fillers, it's helpful to understand what's happening beneath the surface.
Like treatments for dynamic and static lines, dermal fillers are also metabolised by the body and safely excreted through the liver and kidneys.
However, a treatment for expression lines is injected into the muscle to soften wrinkles, while fillers are injected deep into the skin to add volume.
They both sit beneath the surface, gradually integrating with your natural tissue and providing structure where needed.
Because they remain in place for months before the body slowly metabolises them, you need to avoid anything that might displace or disrupt them in the early stages.
What to Avoid After Treatment for Expression Lines
Treatments for dynamic and static lines are safe, but there are a few things to avoid post-treatment.
1) Avoid Intense Cardio and Other Strenuous Activities
We know how tempting it is to stick to your fitness routine, but it's best to give intense workouts a break for at least 24 hours. Strenuous activity increases blood flow and raises your heart rate, which can lead to swelling or bruising around the injection sites.
Gentle walks are fine, but anything that makes you break a sweat should wait until the following day. Giving your body time to settle will help ensure the best possible results.
2) Hold Off on Makeup and Facial Tools
Hold off on makeup for at least 30 minutes. The tiny punctures left by the injections need time to close up, and applying foundation, concealer, or powder too soon could introduce bacteria, increasing the risk of irritation or infection.
Giving your skin this brief window to heal helps ensure a smoother recovery and better results. Beyond makeup, facial tools like jade rollers and Gua Sha stones should also be avoided for now.
While they're great for circulation and lymphatic drainage under normal circumstances, they can disrupt your results immediately after treatment.
Increased blood flow to the area can lead to bruising or even cause the injectable to migrate before it fully settles. We want your treatment to deliver the best possible outcome, so it's worth waiting before reintroducing these tools into your routine.
By the next day, you'll be free to resume your usual beauty rituals. If you're unsure about any part of your aftercare, we're always here to guide you through the process.
3) Stay Upright for the Best Results
For the first four hours after your treatment, it's important to stay upright. Lying down too soon can put pressure on the treated areas and increase the risk of bruising or causing the injectable to migrate before it fully settles.
We want your results to be precise and natural-looking, so give the product time to integrate properly. Sleeping position matters, too. On the first night, try to avoid resting on the side of your face where you received treatment.
This small adjustment helps ensure even distribution and prevents any unintended shifting of the product. If you're a side sleeper, consider using an extra pillow to keep your head slightly elevated.
4) Don't Drink Alcohol
Alcohol acts as a blood thinner, so it can increase the risk of bruising and swelling. While an occasional glass of wine won't undo your results, it's best to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after your treatment.
It's better to drink enough water to support your body's natural healing process. It can make a big difference in how quickly your skin recovers.
What to Avoid After Having Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers do more than just smooth out lines. They also restore lost volume and enhance your natural contours. Unlike treatments for expression lines, fillers target static lines, such as nasolabial folds and vertical lip lines.
While dermal fillers are a safe and effective way to refresh your appearance, certain activities can interfere with how the product settles, so it's important to be mindful of what you do in the early stages of healing. Here's what to avoid to ensure your skin recovers beautifully.
1) Don't Touch, Massage or Press Treated Areas
It's natural to want to check out your results, but resist the urge to touch, press, or massage the treated areas. Fillers need time to settle, and unnecessary pressure can lead to migration, affecting the final shape and symmetry.
Even routine activities like sleeping on your face or wearing tight-fitting masks should be avoided for the first few days. Let the fillers do their job undisturbed unless your injector recommends massaging specific areas.
2) Delay Facials and Certain Skincare Treatments
For at least 24 hours, avoid facials, chemical peels, or any skincare treatments that involve exfoliation or heat. Dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, and other deep treatments can put pressure on your skin and interfere with how the fillers settle.
Additionally, some active ingredients, such as retinol and strong acids, can irritate the skin after getting derma fillers. We recommend sticking to gentle, hydrating products and allowing your skin to rest before gradually reintroducing stronger treatments.
3) Watch Your Eyewear
If you've had dermal fillers in your nose, cheeks, or under-eye area, avoid wearing heavy glasses or goggles that put pressure on the treated areas. The weight of certain eyewear can shift the filler, especially within the first week.
If you must wear glasses, choose a lightweight frame and try not to wear them for prolonged periods to maintain symmetry and prevent any unwanted indentations.
4) Avoid Direct Sun Exposure
Freshly treated skin can be more sensitive to UV rays, so it's essential to keep sun exposure to a minimum. Prolonged time in the sun, as well as tanning beds, can lead to inflammation and increased redness and swelling around the injection sites.
If you need to be outdoors, apply sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a hat for extra protection. Shielding your skin in the early days post-treatment helps maintain your results and prevents unnecessary irritation.
Giving Your Skin the Best Start
After care for dermal fillers is just as important as the procedure itself. By following these simple guidelines, you'll minimise side effects and help your dermal fillers settle beautifully.
We always recommend checking in with your injector if you have any concerns or notice anything unusual.
For those considering dermal fillers in Parramatta, we're here to provide expert guidance every step of the way. Our goal at Flawless Aesthetics is to ensure that every patient achieves natural, long-lasting results.
If you have any questions about aftercare or want to learn more about what to expect, we'd love to chat.