Treatment Risks & Complications Protocols.
Every aesthetic treatment has some element of risk associated with the treatment. Most people have only mild, short-term effects from aesthetic treatments—things like redness, swelling, tenderness or small bruises that settle in a few days. Less commonly you may notice temporary lumps, tightness, or slight asymmetry while things settle.
Rare but serious problems can happen, such as infection, burns with energy devices, or reduced blood flow after filler (severe pain and colour change), which need urgent care. Following our pre- and post-care advice greatly lowers your risk. If you get severe pain, skin that turns white/blue or blotchy, vision changes, trouble breathing, or symptoms that keep getting worse, contact us immediately or seek urgent medical help.
We discuss our treatments and aftercare: what is normal and should be expected after the treatment and what are the red flags so you can get in touch with us.
Anti-wrinkle injections (Botulinum toxin)
Botox – These steps reduce side-effects and help results settle evenly.
What to do:
• Keep upright for 4–6 hours.
• Use gentle facial expressions for the first 60 minutes.
• Paracetamol for mild headache if needed (avoid NSAIDs if you bruise easily).
• Attend your ~2 week review for adjustments.
What to Avoid:
• No facials, massages, helmets, or pressure on treated areas for 48h.
• Avoid vigorous exercise, saunas/steam, or hot yoga for 24h.
• Avoid alcohol on the day of treatment.
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Pinprick redness or small bumps (resolve within hours).
• Mild headache or tight feeling (usually <24h).
• Subtle asymmetry often balances by day 10–14.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Drooping eyelid/brow affecting vision.
• Breathing, speaking, or swallowing difficulty.
• Rash, wheeze, facial swelling—possible allergy.
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Dermal fillers (incl. lips/tear trough/jawline)
Dermal Fillers – Swelling and tenderness are common in the first 24–72 hours.
What to do:
• Cool compresses 10 minutes at a time for the first day.
• Sleep with head elevated the first night.
• Follow your clinician’s massage guidance.
• Keep lips moisturised if treated.
What to Avoid:
• No strenuous exercise, saunas/steam, or alcohol for 24h.
• Avoid make up over injection sites for 12h.
• No dental work or facial massage for 2 weeks (unless advised).
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Bruising and swelling peaking at 24–48h.
• Small palpable beads that soften over days.
• Tenderness on pressure.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Severe pain, white/mottled/purple skin, coolness—urgent review for vascular occlusion.
• Sudden vision changes or severe headache.
• Worsening heat, redness, or pus—possible infection.
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Profhilo – Small bumps can appear temporarily at injection points.
What to do:
• Keep the area clean and dry on day 1.
• Sleep elevated if swelling is noticeable.
• Use SPF 30+ daily.
What to Avoid:
• Avoid makeup for 12h.
• No saunas/steam or vigorous exercise for 24h.
• Avoid alcohol on the day of treatment.
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Bee sting like bumps up to 24–48h.
• Mild itching/tenderness.
• Light bruising.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Spreading redness/heat or pus.
• Hives, swelling, or wheeze.
• Severe escalating pain or colour change.
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Skin Boosters: Polynucleotides (PN/PDRN)
Polynucleotides (PN/PDRN) Biostimulatory treatment to improve skin quality.
What to do:
• Keep area clean, avoid touching.
• SPF 30+ daily and gentle skincare.
• Cold compress if needed.
What to Avoid:
• No retinoids/acids for 3–5 days.
• Avoid intense exercise and heat for 24–48h.
• No facials/massage for 1 week.
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Small bumps 24–72h.
• Light bruising/redness.
• Tight sensation for 1–2 days.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Rapidly worsening redness/heat.
• Generalised allergic reaction.
• Unusual severe pain or colour change.
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Combines needling with radio frequency to tighten and resurface.
What to do:
• Gentle cleanser + bland moisturiser for 3–5 days.
• SPF 30+ and strict sun avoidance.
• Do not pick any microcrusts.
What to Avoid:
• No retinoids, acids, or exfoliants for 1 week.
• Avoid heat, saunas, and hard exercise for 48h.
• No makeup for 24h (unless advised).
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Redness 24–48h.
• Sandpaper feel for a few days.
• Fine flaking/microcrusting.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Blistering/burns.
• Pus, spreading redness, or fever.
• Persistent darkening/lightening beyond expected.
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Chemical Peels – Depth dependent resurfacing. Follow these steps to minimise PIH and support healing.
What to do:
• Daily SPF 30+ and strict sun avoidance.
• Bland moisturiser; reapply to control tightness.
• Follow any antiviral prophylaxis if prescribed (for lip/HSV history).
What to Avoid:
• Do not pick/peel skin.
• No retinoids/exfoliants until fully healed (often 7–14 days).
• Avoid heat, saunas, and heavy exercise for 48h.
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Tightness and peeling usually days 2–5 (varies by depth).
• Redness that fades over several days.
• Mild stinging early on.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Severe pain, dark scabs, or extensive blistering.
• Spreading redness/heat—possible infection.
• Persistent hyperpigmentation—contact us for review.
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What to do:
- Keep the area clean and dry for the first day.
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Use cool compresses (10 mins on/off) for swelling.
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Sleep with your head slightly elevated the first night.
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Use gentle skincare and SPF 30+ daily.
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Take paracetamol if needed (avoid NSAIDs if you bruise easily).
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Only massage if your clinician told you to.
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Attend your review (e.g., around 2 weeks for wrinkle relaxers).
What to Avoid:
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Touching, rubbing, or pressing the treated area for 24–48h.
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Make-up over injection/treated sites for 12h.
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Heat: hot baths, saunas/steam, hot yoga for 24–48h.
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Strenuous exercise for 24h; alcohol on treatment day.
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Sun/UV exposure and tanning; keep to shade and use SPF.
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Facials, dental work, or facial massage for ~2 weeks after injectables/threads.
What’s expected after the treatment:
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Redness, swelling, tenderness, or small bruises (settle in a few days).
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Small bumps with skin boosters (often 24–72h).
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Mild headache/tight feeling the first day after wrinkle relaxers.
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Light flaking or dryness after peels/energy treatments (a few days).
Red flags – contact us urgently
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Severe or worsening pain, or skin turning white/blue/mottled.
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Vision changes or a severe headache.
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Breathing, swallowing, or speaking difficulty.
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Blistering/burns, large dark scabs, or rapidly spreading redness/heat/pus.
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Fever or symptoms that keep getting worse instead of better.
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Laser hair removal (Soprano Titanium)
Mild redness and follicular bumps are expected; pigment safe protocols protect your skin.
What to do:
• Cool aloe or plain moisturiser for comfort.
• SPF 30+ daily; avoid sun/UV for 2 weeks pre/post.
• Shave (not wax/thread/pluck) between sessions.
What to Avoid:
• Avoid hot baths, saunas/steam, or intense exercise for 24–48h.
• No retinoids/AHAs on treated areas for 3–5 days (or as advised).
• No tanning products for 1 week.
What’s expected after the treatment:
• Erythema/follicular oedema for up to 48h.
• Sunburn like warmth for a few hours.
• Hair shedding around 1–3 weeks.
Red flags – contact us urgently
• Blistering, scabbing, or severe pain.
• Persistent darkening/lightening beyond a few days.
• Eye symptoms if protection was displaced—seek urgent review.
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If you need help now URGENT NUMBER: 07956 576666.
If you cannot reach us and have severe pain, skin colour change, vision symptoms or breathing difficulty, contact emergency services.
