01 · Read this first
Warning signs. Act straight away.
Serious complications are uncommon, but early treatment matters. Do not wait for your routine review if any of these occur.
Emergency · Call 000 first
Vision, stroke or severe allergy symptoms
- Any sudden blurred, double or lost vision, or new eye pain after filler.
- Face drooping, arm weakness, trouble speaking, confusion or a sudden severe headache.
- Difficulty breathing, tongue or throat swelling, or collapse.
Call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Say you recently had dermal filler. Do not drive yourself or wait for the clinic to call back.
Call 000 — ambulance ↗Urgent · Assessment now
Unusual pain or a change in skin colour
- Severe, unusual or increasing pain around the treated area.
- Skin turning pale, white, grey, blue, dusky or patchy in a net-like pattern.
- Skin that feels unusually cool, or new blisters on skin around the treated area.
These may mean reduced blood flow. Call MA360 immediately: 1300 338 307. If immediate clinical assessment is unavailable, go to the nearest emergency department now. Do not wait for a callback or until the clinic reopens.
Colour changes can occur without severe pain. Do not massage, apply heat or ice, or try to treat these symptoms yourself. A photo or online message must not delay assessment.
Call MA360: 1300 338 307 ↗02 · Your first 24 hours
Six simple steps for today.
Count 24 hours from the time of your treatment. Use these steps for mild, expected swelling or tenderness.
Keep your hands and skin clean.
Wash your hands before touching the area. Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, then pat dry. Do not scrub or pick at injection points.
Leave the area alone.
Do not rub, press or massage the filler, or try to flatten a lump. Avoid facial rollers and gua sha. Gentle washing is enough.
Use a cool compress for mild swelling.
Rest a clean, cool compress lightly on the area for 5–10 minutes, then remove it. Never place ice directly on skin. Stop if it hurts. Unusual pain or colour change needs urgent assessment, not more cooling.
Keep makeup off for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, apply makeup gently with clean hands and tools only if the injection points are closed and dry. Leave open or oozing points uncovered.
Keep activity gentle and stay cool.
Light walking is fine. For the first 24 hours, avoid hard exercise, alcohol, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and intense sun or heat.
Watch the symptoms, not just the shape.
Mild swelling can make the area look uneven at first. Check for unusual pain or colour changes without repeatedly pressing the skin. Use the symptom guide below if you are unsure.
Medicines: do not start aspirin or ibuprofen to treat bruising; they may increase bleeding or bruising. Keep taking prescribed medicines as prescribed, including blood thinners. For mild soreness, ask a pharmacist whether paracetamol is suitable and use the pack directions. Increasing pain needs assessment, not extra pain relief.
03 · Clear time frames
What to avoid — and for how long.
Hard exercise, alcohol and intense heat
After 24 hours, resume gradually if you feel well and symptoms are settling. Keep avoiding heat that makes redness or swelling worse.
Makeup over injection points
Wait longer if the skin is still open or oozing. Keep products and tools clean.
Face-down sleeping and firm pressure
Use a comfortable position that avoids pressing the treated area into your pillow. Do not rub the area. Normal gentle facial movement is fine.
Massage and facial tools
Avoid facial massage, rollers and gua sha over treated areas. A persistent lump needs review; do not try to push it into place.
Harsh skincare and further skin procedures
Keep products gentle while the skin is tender or irritated. Pause exfoliating acids, retinoids and scrubs if they sting. Arrange a review before peels, laser, microneedling or another treatment over the area.
Why these time frames? These are practical precautions to reduce irritation, pressure and bruising. Exact makeup, sleep and massage limits are based mainly on clinical consensus, rather than strong trials. They do not prevent every complication.
04 · Recovery timeline
Give the area time to settle.
Recovery varies with the product, amount and treatment area. Look for an overall settling trend; the dates below are a guide, not a deadline.
- Treatment day
Mild redness, tenderness or swelling
Small injection marks and bruising can appear. Follow the six care steps above.
- Days 1–3
Swelling can look more noticeable
This is especially common in the lips. Bruising may become clearer. Severe pain, unusual colour changes or rapidly worsening symptoms need action.
- Days 4–7
Look for improvement overall
Redness and tenderness often ease; bruising and some swelling can remain. Call if symptoms are worsening or return after improving.
- Weeks 2–4
Review the settled result
Many early reactions have settled by this stage, though some last longer. Arrange a review for persistent swelling, firmness, lumps or unevenness.
- Weeks to years later
New symptoms still matter
Delayed reactions can happen. Report new swelling, redness, tenderness or lumps even if treatment was a long time ago.
Warning signs override the timeline. At any stage, use the urgent action steps ↑ for vision changes, unusual pain or skin colour changes.
05 · Match the symptom to the action
Keep caring, or call for help?
Usually expected
Mild and settling overall
- Mild tenderness or puffiness.
- Small bruises or redness at injection points.
- Temporary firmness or unevenness while swollen.
Continue gentle care. Early swelling can fluctuate, but pain should not become severe or keep increasing.
Call today
Worsening or returning symptoms
- Spreading redness, warmth or increasing swelling.
- Pus, fever or feeling unwell.
- New tingling or cold-sore blisters on the lips.
- A new, tender or enlarging lump.
Call 1300 338 307 for assessment. If the clinic is unavailable, seek same-day medical care.
Do not put unusual pain or pale, grey, blue, mottled or cool skin in the “wait and see” group. These need immediate assessment ↑.
Still firm, swollen or uneven at 2–4 weeks?
Arrange a review even if it is not painful. Do not massage a persistent lump or use leftover antibiotics, steroids or dissolving products.
06 · Questions & later care
The details that help at home.
My lips look uneven. Should I massage them?
No. Early swelling can be uneven. Leave the area alone and allow it to settle. Arrange a review if unevenness or a lump persists at 2–4 weeks. A growing, hot or tender lump needs earlier assessment.
Any unusual pain, pale or dusky skin, or coolness needs urgent assessment.
What if the under-eye area stays puffy?
Under-eye swelling can last longer than swelling elsewhere. Contact MA360 if puffiness persists, increases or returns after settling. Avoid rubbing or trying to drain it with massage.
New eye pain, vision changes, or pale, grey or blue skin are warning signs requiring immediate action.
When should I arrange a review?
Arrange a review around 2–4 weeks to discuss the settled result, especially after treatment in a new area. Request a routine review. For worsening symptoms, call rather than waiting for an online enquiry to be answered.
Can a reaction start months later?
Yes. Delayed swelling, redness or lumps can develop months or even years later. Call the clinic when you notice them. Mention your filler history and any recent illness, dental work, vaccination or other treatment. This helps assessment; it does not prove what caused the reaction.
Do not delay necessary medical or dental care because you have had filler.
What should I tell the clinic when I call?
Give the treatment date and area, when symptoms began and whether they are worsening. Mention any pain, skin colour change, vision symptoms or fever. If available, keep the filler name handy.
A clear photo in natural light can help the assessment, but do not delay a call or emergency care to take one.
07 · Evidence & sources
What this guide is based on.
Safety advice draws on regulator guidance and published clinical consensus. Routine aftercare timings are precautionary: high-quality studies do not establish one exact schedule for every filler or treatment area.
- [1]FDA · Dermal fillers: risks and patient safety ↗
Common reactions, vascular warning signs and delayed complications. This US source is used for safety information, not Australian treatment approvals.
- [2]Healthdirect Australia · Calling triple zero (000) ↗
When to call an ambulance and how to get emergency help in Australia. Also see severe allergic reactions.
- [3]Murray et al., 2021 · Hyaluronic acid filler-induced vascular occlusion ↗
Clinical guidance on reduced blood flow, pain, skin colour changes and urgent recognition.
- [4]Goodman et al., 2020 · Pretreatment and posttreatment consensus ↗
HA filler aftercare, follow-up and symptom escalation. The paper explicitly identifies routine restriction timings as advice without strong supporting evidence.
- [5]Juvéderm Vollure XC · Patient information (PDF) ↗
Product-specific precautions on exercise, alcohol, heat, bruising and other procedures. Included as supporting information, not a claim that this product was used.
- [6]2024 consensus · Late-onset reactions after HA fillers ↗
Delayed swelling and nodules, possible triggers and the need to assess the cause before treatment.
Scope: these are aftercare instructions for facial HA filler. An examination is needed to diagnose or treat a complication. The warning-sign action steps explain when to seek that assessment.