Facial aftercare
No downtime, but the skin is briefly more exposed than usual and sun protection matters for a few days.
Ring rather than wait if you have
- Spreading redness, swelling that worsens after day two, or discharge
- Fever or feeling generally unwell
- A cold sore developing in or near the treated area
Call 07721 823933. I would far rather see you and find nothing than have you wait it out overnight. If you cannot reach me and you are worried, contact NHS 111 or attend your nearest emergency department.
01The first 24 hours
- Skin may look slightly pink and feel smooth and tight. This settles quickly.
- Use a bland moisturiser and nothing active.
- Make-up is usually fine after a few hours.
02The first week
- The vellus hair grows back exactly as it was — it does not return thicker or darker.
- Skin absorbs products more readily for a few days, so keep the routine simple and gentle.
A closer look
Keep the plan close at hand
Your instructions
Use the written aftercare plan for the treatment you actually received.
Your contact
Keep the clinic contact details available and seek help promptly for concerning symptoms.
Your review
Follow the agreed review arrangements. Do not wait for review if symptoms need urgent attention.
The urgent warning signs above take priority over routine follow-up.
Why these rules exist
The reasoning, not just the instruction
Why sun protection matters more here than anywhere else
Freshly resurfaced skin has lost some of its barrier and is temporarily far more reactive to ultraviolet light. Sun exposure in the first weeks is the main route to post-inflammatory pigmentation — a patch darker than the surrounding skin, which is the opposite of what you paid for and can take months to fade.
It is the least popular sentence in aesthetics and one of the truest: a resurfacing course without daily sun protection is money spent undoing itself.
Why not to pick, whatever it looks like
Flaking skin is loose because the layer beneath is not yet ready to be exposed. Pulling it away early takes living tissue with it, and that is how a treatment with no scarring risk acquires one.
Let it come away on its own, keep it moisturised, and it will take days rather than weeks.
Why the real result is a month away
The redness settling is not the result — it is the inflammation phase ending. The improvement you came for is collagen remodelling, which begins underneath in the following days and becomes visible from around four weeks, continuing for three months.
This is why a course is spaced four to six weeks apart. Treating again before the previous round has finished remodelling wastes the session.
03What to avoid, and for how long
| Active skincare — acids, retinoids | 48 hours |
|---|---|
| Sun exposure without SPF | several days |
| Sunbeds | 1 week |
04What to expect, and when
Same day
Immediate smoothness and a brighter finish.
Week 3–4
Repeat, if it is part of a routine.
Common questions
- How long does swelling last after a facial?
- Same day: Immediate smoothness and a brighter finish. Week 3–4: Repeat, if it is part of a routine.
- When can I wear make-up after a facial?
- Once the skin surface is intact and any injection points have closed — usually within 24 hours. Use clean brushes or clean hands.
- When should I ring rather than wait?
- Spreading redness, swelling that worsens after day two, or discharge; Fever or feeling generally unwell; A cold sore developing in or near the treated area.
- How long does a facial take to settle?
- Redness settles within a day or two after a light treatment and up to a week after a deeper one. The improvement you actually came for — texture, scarring, tone — appears from around four weeks and continues developing for three months.
- Does a facial hurt?
- Numbing cream is applied first and the sensation is usually described as heat and prickling rather than pain. A deeper treatment is more uncomfortable than a light one. You can ask to stop at any point and that is not a problem.
- How often should I have a facial?
- Every four to six weeks during a course, because that is roughly how long the skin takes to complete a round of remodelling, then maintenance every few months. Treating again before the previous round has finished wastes the session.
- Will the hair grow back thicker after dermaplaning?
- No. Fine vellus hair has a fixed growth pattern and returns exactly as it was. The blunt end left by the blade can feel slightly different for a few days, which is where the belief comes from — but it does not change colour, thickness, or how much of it there is.
This is general aftercare information. You will be given written aftercare specific to your treatment before you leave, and a direct number to reach me on. If anything here conflicts with what you were told in clinic, what you were told in clinic applies.
Sources and further reading
- NHS — Dermal fillers
- British Association of Dermatologists — patient information
- Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners
- Aesthetic Complications Expert Group
This is general aftercare information, not personal medical advice. What you were told in clinic takes precedence over anything on this page.
Get in touch
Book a consultation
Consultations are £30, and that comes off the cost of your treatment if you go ahead. No pressure to book anything on the day — if you are not sure whether you want treatment at all, that is still a good reason to come and talk.