AFTERCARE
Skin Treatment Aftercare
Following a skin treatment, temporary redness, sensitivity, swelling, small raised areas or changes in skin texture may occur while the skin settles and recovers.
Please follow the instructions below together with any individual advice provided by your practitioner. Recovery varies according to the treatment performed, treatment area, technique used, individual skin characteristics and your biological response. If instructions provided directly by your practitioner differ from this general information, follow the individual advice provided specifically for your treatment.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TREATMENT
What You May Notice
Depending on the treatment performed, it is common to experience temporary:
Redness
Warmth
Tenderness or sensitivity
Mild swelling
Small injection or micro-stamping marks
Small raised areas or papules
Minor bruising
Tightness or dryness
Mild itching or irritation
Temporary unevenness of the skin surface
Where treatment involves superficial injections, small raised areas may remain visible while the product and surrounding tissues settle.
Where a micro-stamping technique has been used, fine pin-prick impressions or temporary redness may be visible.
These effects generally improve progressively over the following hours to days.
Increasing pain, significant swelling, worsening redness or other unusual symptoms should not simply be assumed to be normal recovery.
The First 24–72 Hours
What You May Notice
During the first few days, the skin may remain more sensitive than usual.
Unless your practitioner has advised otherwise:
Avoid applying makeup for approximately 24 hours
Avoid touching, rubbing, scratching or picking the treated area
Avoid strenuous exercise for approximately 24 hours
Avoid excessive heat, including saunas, steam rooms and very hot environments, for approximately 48 hours
Avoid swimming pools, spas and other environments that may expose recently treated skin to unnecessary bacteria until the skin surface has settled
Avoid excessive alcohol on the day of treatment
Avoid prolonged direct sun exposure
Do not massage the treated area unless specifically instructed by your practitioner
Keep the skin clean and avoid unnecessary manipulation while injection sites or micro-channels are settling.
Additional Aftercare Guidance
Skin Care
For the first few days, keep your skincare routine simple and gentle.
Use a mild cleanser and non-irritating moisturiser where appropriate.
Avoid active or potentially irritating skincare products such as:
Retinoids or retinol
AHAs
BHAs
Exfoliating acids
Physical scrubs
Strong vitamin C preparations if irritating
Other active products that cause stinging, peeling or increased sensitivity
These products should generally be avoided for approximately 3–5 days, or until redness, sensitivity and irritation have settled.
Your practitioner may recommend a different timeframe depending on the treatment performed.
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ and minimise unnecessary sun exposure while the skin is recovering.
If a product causes significant stinging, burning or irritation, discontinue it and return to a simple skincare routine while the skin settles.
Dryness, Flaking & Texture Changes
Temporary dryness, tightness, roughness or light flaking can occur following some skin treatments.
Do not pull, peel or exfoliate flaking skin.
Allow the skin to shed naturally and use gentle moisturising products where appropriate.
If dryness, irritation or texture changes become progressively worse rather than improving, contact The Manor Clinic.
Raised Areas or Papules
Small raised areas can occur where a product has been placed superficially into the skin.
These generally flatten progressively over the following hours to several days, depending on the treatment performed, treatment area and individual response.
Do not squeeze, press, massage or attempt to flatten these areas yourself unless your practitioner has specifically instructed you to do so.
If a raised area becomes increasingly painful, red, hot, firm, significantly swollen or persists unexpectedly, contact The Manor Clinic for assessment.
Bruising
Bruising can occur wherever needles or other devices disrupt the skin.
It may be more noticeable in delicate areas such as around the eyes.
Bruising generally improves progressively over several days and may occasionally remain visible for longer.
Do not stop prescribed medications simply to reduce bruising unless the healthcare professional responsible for that medication has instructed you to do so.
Facials & Other Skin Treatments
Unless otherwise advised by your practitioner, avoid the following over recently treated skin for approximately 1–2 weeks:
Facials
Facial massage
Waxing
Chemical peels
Microneedling
IPL
Laser treatment
Other intensive or exfoliating cosmetic procedures
The appropriate interval can vary according to the treatment performed and the condition of your skin.
If you have another treatment planned, tell the treating practitioner that you have recently undergone a skin procedure.
Results & ReviewS
The appearance of your skin immediately following treatment should not necessarily be considered the final result. Temporary redness, swelling, papules, dryness or sensitivity can affect how the skin looks and feels during the early recovery period.
First Several Days
Redness, swelling, sensitivity and visible treatment points generally begin to settle.
Some dryness, tightness or temporary texture changes may remain.
Following Weeks
Changes following skin treatments generally develop progressively rather than immediately.
The timeframe and degree of response vary according to the treatment performed, individual skin characteristics and biological response.
Where a series of treatments forms part of your individual treatment plan, your practitioner will advise you when the next treatment should occur.
A particular degree of improvement, treatment response or longevity cannot be guaranteed.
When to Contact The Manor Clinic
Contact The Manor Clinic promptly if you experience:
Increasing rather than improving pain
Increasing or persistent redness
Increasing warmth around the treated area
Significant or rapidly increasing swelling
Pus or discharge
Increasing tenderness
Blistering, ulceration or unusual skin breakdown
A spreading rash
Fever or feeling systemically unwell
Persistent or worsening inflammation
A raised area, lump or nodule that is painful or progressively worsening
Symptoms that initially settle and then significantly worsen
Any other symptom that concerns you
Infection is uncommon but can occur whenever the skin barrier has been disrupted and may require medical treatment.
URGENT — WHEN TO SEEK HELP
Where your skin treatment has involved injection beneath the skin, contact The Manor Clinic immediately if you develop:
Severe or unusual pain
Increasing rather than improving pain
Blanching or whitening of the skin
Mottled, dusky, grey or progressively discoloured skin
Unusual coolness of the skin
Significant or rapidly increasing swelling
Another significant or unexpected skin change
These symptoms require prompt clinical assessment rather than waiting for a routine review.
Seek emergency medical attention immediately for:
Any change in vision
Loss or reduction of vision
Significant new visual disturbance
New neurological symptoms
Severe difficulty breathing
Swelling of the face, lips or tongue associated with breathing difficulty
Collapse
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
Call 000 or attend an Emergency Department for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where possible, avoid applying makeup for approximately 24 hours after treatment.
This allows recently treated skin and injection or micro-stamping sites time to settle and reduces unnecessary irritation or contamination.
When you recommence makeup, use clean hands, brushes or applicators and avoid aggressive rubbing.
If the skin remains broken, significantly irritated or unusually inflamed, wait longer and contact the Clinic if you are unsure.
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Gentle cleansing is generally appropriate once the skin has settled following treatment.
Use lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser.
Avoid hot water, scrubbing, cleansing brushes, exfoliating devices or aggressive rubbing during the early recovery period.
Pat the skin dry gently rather than rubbing it.
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As a general guide, avoid retinol, exfoliating acids and other active skincare products for approximately 3–5 days, or until redness, sensitivity and irritation have settled.
Your practitioner may recommend a longer interval depending on the treatment performed and how your skin is recovering.
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Small raised areas or papules can occur when a treatment is placed superficially within the skin.
They generally reduce progressively over the following hours to several days.
Do not squeeze, press or massage these areas unless specifically instructed by your practitioner.
Contact The Manor Clinic if they become increasingly painful, red, hot, significantly swollen or do not settle as expected.
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Mild redness is common following procedures that involve needles, micro-stamping or disruption of the skin surface.
It generally improves as the skin settles.
Contact The Manor Clinic if redness is increasing rather than improving, particularly if accompanied by increasing pain, warmth, swelling, discharge or fever.
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Temporary dryness, tightness or light flaking can occur after some skin treatments.
Use gentle skincare and moisturiser where appropriate.
Do not exfoliate, peel or pick at dry or flaking skin.
If significant irritation, burning, blistering or worsening skin changes develop, contact The Manor Clinic.
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Avoid strenuous exercise for approximately 24 hours unless your practitioner has advised otherwise.
Exercise can increase heat, sweating and skin irritation during the early recovery period.
Gentle day-to-day activity is generally acceptable.
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Avoid saunas, steam rooms and excessive heat for approximately 48 hours, or longer if the skin remains significantly red, swollen or sensitive.
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Avoid unnecessary direct sun exposure while the skin is recovering.
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ and take appropriate physical sun-protection measures.
Recently treated or inflamed skin may be more susceptible to irritation and pigment changes.
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Avoid intensive treatments over recently treated skin until the skin has adequately recovered.
As a general guide, allow approximately 1–2 weeks before facials, waxing, chemical peels, microneedling, IPL, laser or similar procedures unless your practitioner has recommended a different timeframe.
Your practitioner can advise you if you have another procedure scheduled.
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Skin treatment responses develop gradually.
The early appearance can be affected by redness, swelling, dryness or visible treatment points.
Changes may continue to develop over the following weeks.
The timeframe and degree of response vary according to the treatment performed and individual biological response.
A particular result or duration cannot be guaranteed.
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The appropriate interval depends on the specific treatment performed, your skin, your response and your individual treatment plan.
Some skin treatments are performed as a planned series, while others may be performed less frequently.
Your practitioner will advise when another treatment is clinically appropriate.
A treatment should not be repeated simply because a predetermined number of days has passed if your skin has not adequately recovered.
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A routine review is not required after every skin treatment unless your practitioner recommends one.
A review may be appropriate if you experience:
Persistent swelling
Ongoing or increasing redness
Unexpected lumps or nodules
Prolonged irritation
An unusual reaction
An unexpected treatment response
Any other concern requiring clinical assessment
If you have an urgent or worsening medical concern, do not wait for a routine review appointment.
Photographs and messages can assist your practitioner but may not always provide enough information for an appropriate clinical assessment.
Important Information
This page provides general aftercare information and does not replace the individual instructions provided by your treating practitioner.
The expected effects, side effects and complications described on this page are not exhaustive. Uncommon, rare, delayed, individual or previously unreported reactions may occur.
Recovery, skin response and treatment outcomes vary according to the treatment performed, treatment area, product or device used, technique, individual skin characteristics, anatomy, medical history, medications, immune response, healing and individual biological response.
If instructions provided directly by your practitioner differ from the general information on this page, follow the individual instructions provided specifically for your treatment.
A clinical review may be recommended if you experience an unexpected result, ongoing concern, unusual symptom or possible complication. Attending a recommended review allows your practitioner to appropriately assess, monitor and manage the concern.
Photographs, messages or telephone communication may not always provide enough information for an appropriate clinical assessment. An in-person review may therefore be recommended.
If you are concerned about your treatment, contact The Manor Clinic promptly. Do not wait for a routine follow-up appointment if you develop significant, unusual, worsening or unexpected symptoms.
Following a skin treatment, increasing pain, worsening redness, significant swelling, increasing warmth, discharge, blistering, ulceration or another significant skin change should be assessed promptly.
Where treatment has involved injection beneath the skin, severe or increasing pain, blanching or whitening, mottled or dusky discolouration, unusual coolness of the skin or another significant change requires immediate clinical assessment.
For any visual change, neurological symptoms, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, symptoms of a severe allergic reaction or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 000 or attend an Emergency Department immediately.
If you are unsure whether a symptom is expected, contact The Manor Clinic for advice rather than waiting for it to worsen.