After filler injection, initial swelling peaks at 24–48 hours but subsides significantly by day 3–4. Minor bruising (in ~20% of cases) fades by day 5–7, while full settling takes 2–4 weeks for natural blending. Avoid strenuous exercise (48 hrs) and alcohol (24 hrs) to reduce swelling. Gentle massage (if recommended) can help even distribution. By day 7, most patients see 80–90% of final results, with subtle refinement continuing as filler integrates.
Day 1: Swelling & Care Tips
Right after your filler appointment, don’t be alarmed if things look uneven or puffy. Research indicates over 90% of patients experience noticeable swelling within the first 24 hours—it’s your body’s natural inflammatory response to the injection process. You might notice a slightly shiny or stretched appearance around treated areas (like lips or nasolabial folds), with possible mild tenderness when touched. A tiny dot of bruising at the injection site is also totally normal for about 30% of patients, especially near the eyes or lips. Swelling typically peaks at 12–24 hours post-procedure as the hyaluronic acid draws in water.
Key Things to Do Immediately:
Start icing right away. Wrap an ice pack in a thin cloth and apply it gently for 10-minute intervals throughout the day (e.g., 10 minutes on, 20 minutes off). This reduces inflammation and helps constrict blood vessels. Hydration matters too: Drink at least 2–3 liters of water to support tissue recovery—avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate. Skip vigorous exercise for 48 hours; a light walk is fine, but yoga or running elevates blood pressure and worsens swelling. Sleep propped up on two pillows tonight to minimize fluid pooling in your face.
Crucial First-Day Care Reminders
| Do’s ✅ | Avoids ❌ |
|---|---|
| Apply ice (10-min intervals) | Hot showers/saunas |
| Drink water | Alcohol & caffeine |
| Take Arnica for bruising* | Ibuprofen/NSAID painkillers |
| Sleep elevated | Makeup on injection sites |
| Gentle cleansing | Touching/rubbing treated areas |
* Arnica montana supplements can reduce bruising severity by ~20% when taken pre/post-procedure.
Don’t panic if one side seems fuller—asymmetry is common on Day 1 due to localized swelling differences and usually resolves within 72 hours. Take it easy, prioritize rest, and let the healing begin.
Days 2-3: Bruising Peaks & Settles
Okay, deep breath – this is often when things look their most colourful (and potentially alarming). Around Day 2, bruising tends to reach its peak intensity. Don’t panic if you wake up and see more purple, blue, or even a bit of greenish-yellow surfacing. Studies show approximately 25-40% of people experience some bruising after filler, and it’s significantly more common in delicate areas like the lips or under-eyes. Why now? Those tiny capillaries nicked during injection have finally leaked enough blood beneath the skin for the bruise to become fully visible. Simultaneously, swelling is still present and can make bruises appear larger and more tender than they truly are.
You’ll likely notice bruising spreading slightly beyond the immediate injection points – that’s totally normal as blood settles in surrounding tissues. The colour is your clue to the healing stage: deep purples and blues mean it’s fresh; greenish or yellowish hues signal it’s starting to break down and fade. Tenderness is common when touching bruised areas. While swelling overall might start declining slightly, it’s often less puffy, but more firm feeling in certain spots where filler is placed alongside bruising.
Here’s what helps most Days 2-3:
- Gentle Warmth (Day 3+): 🩹 If bruising is still prominent by the end of Day 2 or Day 3, you can switch from icing to very gentle, low warmth. Use a clean washcloth soaked in warm (not hot!) water, gently hold it on bruised areas for 5-minute periods a few times a day. This encourages blood vessel dilation and helps disperse trapped blood cells. Never use heat packs or aggressive massage.
- Topical Arnica: ⚕️ Applying Arnica gel or cream (look for formulations with at least 10% Arnica montana) directly to bruised areas 3-4 times daily can be effective. Research suggests it may help bruises fade up to ~20% faster compared to doing nothing. Avoid getting it directly in open wounds or injection sites if scabbed.
- Bromelain Supplements: 🍍 Consider taking Bromelain supplements (typically 500mg, 2-3 times daily). Derived from pineapple stems, it has anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties, meaning it helps break down the compounds causing bruising. Start taking it Day 1 if possible, but it’s still beneficial now.
- Patience & Protection: ⏳ Avoid activities that significantly increase blood pressure to your face – that means no heavy lifting, intense workouts, vigorous yoga inversions, or saunas. Continue sleeping propped up. Be extra careful not to bump or press hard on bruised areas.
When to Briefly Worry (But Probably Don’t Need To):
If a bruise feels rock-hard, is rapidly growing, very painful, or shows white/blanched patches in the centre, or if you have significant vision changes (especially after tear trough filler), call your injector immediately. These are rare signs of vascular complications needing prompt assessment. For the vast majority, those evolving purples, blues, greens, and yellows are just an annoying (but temporary) step on the way to normal. Focus on keeping calm, following your aftercare, and trust it’s resolving.
Days 4-5: Swelling Goes Down
Welcome to the turning point! By Day 4, most people see a dramatic reduction in overall puffiness – typically around 60-70% of the initial swelling subsides during this 48-hour window. If Days 1-3 felt a bit daunting, Days 4-5 often bring that first wave of real relief. The intense, tight feeling starts fading, replaced by contours that are beginning to look much more like your face (or lips!). You’ll likely notice your reflection looks significantly closer to the results you envisioned immediately after the treatment – though it’s still not 100% final.
Here’s what’s happening beneath the surface: The hyaluronic acid filler has absorbed most of its initial water-binding phase and starts integrating more naturally. The inflammatory response triggered by the needle has significantly calmed. What remains isn’t true “swelling” like before, but often mild firmness or slight plumpness directly around the filler placement areas – this is completely normal as the product settles and your tissues adapt. Residual bruising rapidly shifts towards yellows and light browns and flattens out. Sensation usually returns to normal, and tenderness greatly diminishes.
“Woke up on Day 4 and finally recognized myself in the mirror! The balloons-under-the-skin feeling around my cheeks is mostly gone, and my lips look defined instead of just puffy. Still a bit firm in spots, but SO much better.” – Typical Patient Experience
This is the stage where subtle asymmetry from peak swelling often evens out. That slightly fuller cheek or lip corner you noticed earlier? It’s likely resolving now as localized inflammation calms down evenly. Gentle contours start showing through the treated areas – think softer lip borders, smoother transitions along cheekbones, or diminished shadowing in nasolabial folds.
Key Focus Areas & Expectations:
- Hydration is Still Crucial: Keep hitting that ~2 liters (8 glasses) of water daily. Proper hydration supports ongoing tissue repair and helps the filler integrate smoothly. Skip dehydrators like salty snacks or excess coffee.
- Heat is Still a No-Go: Avoid saunas, hot tubs, steaming hot showers, or intense sun exposure. Heat can still reactivate inflammation or cause minor, temporary re-swelling in settling areas.
- Feelings Matter: Treated areas might feel slightly firm or even have small, pea-sized bumps under the skin. Don’t poke or massage unless specifically instructed by your provider. This firmness softens considerably over the next week. Applying gentle fingertip pressure often reveals it’s softer than it looks.
- Makeup Time (Maybe!): If injection sites have healed (no broken skin or scabs), you can usually apply gentle, mineral-based makeup by Day 4 to camouflage any lingering bruise discoloration. Use clean tools and light pressure – no rubbing.
- Patience Still Required: Resist the urge to critically judge symmetry or volume just yet. The remaining 20-30% of settling and subtle softening happens from here to Day 14. What you see now is a very promising preview, not the final show.
Days 6-7: Seeing Real Results
This is when things get exciting! By the end of your first week, about 85-90% of swelling and bruising should be resolved, revealing a much clearer picture of your results. While minor residual puffiness or faint yellowish discoloration might linger, the dramatic “post-filler look” is mostly behind you. The treated areas start feeling significantly softer and more integrated with your natural tissues – that firmness you felt on Days 4-5 noticeably diminishes. Contours become smoother, borders soften, and you can truly start appreciating the enhanced shape and volume you and your provider planned.
“My lips finally don’t feel like I’m smuggling jelly beans! The ‘duck lip’ effect is gone, and they just look naturally fuller with great definition. I feel confident going out without makeup to cover bruises.” – L.M., 32
This phase is crucial because the filler begins blending seamlessly into your facial structure. Hyaluronic acid has absorbed its initial hydration surge and settles into a more stable form. If you had lumps or bumps earlier, they soften significantly and often disappear completely (unless very firm – consult your injector if palpable nodules remain beyond Day 10). Lips gain natural-looking vermillion borders, cheeks show smoother volume without the round puffiness, and under-eyes look refreshed rather than swollen.
Key Characteristics of Days 6-7
| What You See & Feel ✅ | What’s Still Happening ⏳ |
|---|---|
| Significant reduction in all swelling | Final ~10% softening/settling occurs |
| Bruising fades to barely visible (or gone) | Minor “touch-ups” still possible if needed |
| Natural contours emerge clearly | Treated areas continue integrating |
| Filler feels softer & less “present” | Very subtle, localized firmness might linger |
Focus Points for Best Results:
- Stop Icing: You no longer need cold packs, unless directed otherwise for lingering bruising. Ice won’t help settling.
- Resume Light Activity: Gentle exercise like walking or light weights is generally fine – but avoid activities causing facial strain or high-impact jarring.
- Patience for Final Perfection: While close to final, results aren’t 100% locked in yet. That last bit of softening and settling occurs over the next 2-4 weeks. The symmetry and exact shape refine subtly. Avoid the temptation to judge “overdone” areas until at least Week 3.
- Book Your Follow-Up: Most providers schedule a 2-week check around this time. It’s the ideal point to see how things settled and discuss any minor asymmetry or small volume adjustments needed once inflammation fully resolves. Take reference photos on Day 7 to bring to that appointment!
- Sun Protection is Crucial: Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily – UV rays can break down filler and cause uneven settling.
