Transform Your Look with Harmony Glow Aesthetics aftercare

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Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers used in the UK contain a natural substance called hyaluronic acid.

These substances are injected into your face using needle or canula.

Dermal fillers can fill lines and wrinkles and add volume to areas such as your lips or cheeks.

Fillers are not permanent. How long they last depend on things like the type of filler and where it’s injected. They usually last between 6 and 18 months.

Anaesthetic cream will be used first to numb your skin.

The treatment usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated.

It might feel uncomfortable but should not be painful.

• Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption for 24 hours pretreatment to avoid any risk of bruising.
• Avoid taking any blood thinning medications such as aspirin for 24 hours pretreatment (unless prescribed in which case, do not stop).
• If you are particularly prone to bruising, you can take Arnica pilules which are available from most homeopathic shops or pharmacies.
• If you suffer from cold sores, we advise the use of topical acyclovir (zovirax) 7 days pre and post treatment.

• For 24 hours after your treatment, do not have a facial, nor rub or massage the treated area. Facial treatments, peels, micro-needling and laser treatments should be avoided.
• Avoid any exposure to heat such as a sauna, hot tub or tanning for 24 hours post treatment. This will prevent your blood pressure from rising and thus minimize the risk of bruising after treatment
• If applying make-up, use an upwards motion. Try and avoid makeup for 12 hours post treatment.
• Brusing is a common side effect however you must let us know if the bruise becomes white, cold and or extremely painful as this can be a sign of vascular compression or occlusion.

Vascular occlusion can present in a multitude of ways, including:

Blanching is the whitening of the skin due to a lack of blood flow and is usually the first indication vascular occlusion has occurred. This shouldn’t be confused with temporary blanching, which may occur after filler injection if the filler is mixed with a local anaesthetic, such as lidocaine, or if a patient was given a vasoconstricting medication to prevent bruising.

Temporary blanching is non-threatening and will resolve on its own.

Bruising may occur if an artery or blood vessel has become blocked due to filler injection. Bruising may range from a blue discoloration to a dusky purple-grey appearance.

Swelling is likely to occur in and around the injection site if vascular obstruction is present, and may range from mild to severe. Some swelling is normal after dermal filler injection. Contact us if you’re worried as we will be able to differentiate between normal and abnormal swelling.

Blackening of the skin is indicative of skin necrosis.

• Swelling and tenderness.
• Infection at site of injection or lumpy in appearance
• Migration, this means the filler is moving away from the intended treatment area, which may mean it will need to be dissolved.
• Blocked blood vessels in the face, called a vascular occlusion which can cause tissue death (this is extremely rare).
• It is possible for the product to harden and form granulomas.

Botulinum toxin, such as Botox, relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and frown lines.

When having this treatment, botulinum toxin will be injected into muscles in your face using a very fine needle. The pain is comparable to plucking your eyebrows. The treatment usually takes about 15 minutes.

You will need injections in different places, depending on the area being treated. We will ask you to move the muscles in your face to help find the best place for the injections.

You will not see a change straight away. It takes about 2 or 3 days to start working, and 2 to 3 weeks to see the full effect.

The treatment will last approximately 3 months at first. However, if you maintain your treatment appointments with the frequency recommended (every 3 to 4 months), the duration of each treatment result may last longer.

• Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption for 24 hours pretreatment to avoid any risk of bruising.
• Avoid taking any blood thinning medications such as aspirin for 24 hours pretreatment (unless prescribed in which case, do not stop).     
• If you are particularly prone to bruising, you can take Arnica pilules which are available from most homeopathic shops or pharmacies.

• Avoid lying down or learning over (please bend at knees) for at least 4 hours post treatment
• For 24 hours after your treatment, do not have a facial, nor rub or massage the treated area
• Avoid any exposure to heat such as a sauna, hot tub or tanning for 24 hours post treatment. This will prevent your blood pressure from rising and thus minimize the risk of bruising after treatment
• Some, though very few clients, experience a mild, transient headache. You can take pain relief such as paracetamol if required.
• Tiny bumps or marks will go away within a few hours after your treatment. There is a small risk of bruising. If this occurs, do not worry since it will only be temporary and can easily be covered up with makeup. Any bruising may last up to one week.
• After toxin is injected into the targeted muscles, the weakening effect gradually begins anywhere from 3-14 days and is not complete for two weeks. Therefore, optimal results are not seen for at least two weeks

• Pain, swelling, redness or bruising at the treatment site
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Neck pain
• Upset stomach (indigestion)
• Temporary drooping eyelids (ptosis)
• Generalised muscle weakness