Dermal Filler Aftercare: What to Expect in the First Two Weeks

Oct 14

6 min read

Medically reviewed by Dr Loh Hong Yuh and Dr Sy Li Lin · October 2026

Quick answer: Most swelling after dermal filler settles within three to five days, and the final result takes about two weeks to appear — longer under the eyes. What you see on day two is not your outcome. The first 48 hours matter most for aftercare, and there are a small number of symptoms that need a doctor the same day rather than at your review appointment.

Why does aftercare matter more than people expect?

Most of what goes wrong with dermal filler in the first fortnight is not a complication. It is a patient judging a swollen face and concluding something has gone wrong.

Filler is injected into tissue. Tissue responds to being injected. The gel also attracts water — that is part of how hyaluronic acid works — so there is a period where the treated area holds more volume than it eventually will. Understanding that timeline prevents a great deal of unnecessary worry, and prevents the more expensive mistake of asking for an adjustment to fix what was only swelling.

The other reason: a small number of symptoms genuinely are urgent, and they are easy to miss if you assume everything in the first week is normal. Those are listed further down, and they are worth reading before your appointment rather than after.

Day 0 — treatment day

Expect the injection points to be slightly red and raised, a little like insect bites. This usually settles within a few hours.

The treated area will feel tender, and often firmer than you expected. Filler placed deeply for structure — in the cheeks, chin or jawline — can feel noticeably solid at first. This softens as it integrates over the following weeks.

For the rest of the day:

Keep your head elevated, including while sleeping that night
Avoid alcohol — it dilates blood vessels and increases bruising
No strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms or hot yoga
Do not press, rub or massage the area unless your doctor has specifically instructed you to
Skip makeup over the injection points for the rest of the day, as the entry points are still open

A cool compress held gently against the area helps. Do not apply ice directly to skin, and do not press hard.

Days 1 to 2 — peak swelling

This is usually when swelling is at its most noticeable, and it is the point at which most people message the clinic worried.

Asymmetry is common at this stage and is usually not real. The two sides of your face rarely swell at exactly the same rate. Lips in particular can look considerably fuller than the intended result — lip tissue swells readily, and this is the single most common reason for day-two panic.

Bruising, if it appears, typically shows up now. It is more likely in areas with denser vasculature — under the eyes, around the mouth, the lips. Arnica or a topical vitamin K preparation may help, though evidence is limited; time is what reliably works.

Continue avoiding exercise, alcohol, saunas and facial massage.

Days 3 to 5 — swelling begins to resolve

Swelling noticeably reduces for most people. Bruises move through the usual colour changes as they clear.

You can normally resume light exercise around day three, though check with your clinic for your specific treatment. Deep facial massage, facials and any treatment involving pressure on the area should still wait.

The area may feel slightly lumpy. Early firmness is usually the product still settling rather than a problem, and most of it resolves without any intervention. Resist the urge to press and assess it repeatedly — handling the area does not help it settle and can move product.

Week 1 — close to normal

By day seven most people look unremarkable to anyone who was not told. Residual swelling may persist in the under-eye area, which holds fluid more stubbornly than anywhere else on the face.

Normal skincare can usually resume. If you use retinoids or acids, check with your clinic — most will ask you to wait a few days longer.

This is a reasonable point to start forming an impression of the result, while remembering it is not finished.

Week 2 — the result settles

This is when you judge the outcome, and when the review appointment usually happens.

The filler has integrated with the surrounding tissue, the swelling has gone, and what you see now is close to what you will have. Under-eye filler can take three to four weeks to fully settle — assessing it earlier tends to produce requests for adjustments that would have resolved on their own.

If an area needs refinement, this is the appointment to raise it. Small adjustments are normal and are not a sign that anything was done badly — faces respond differently to the same technique, which is exactly why the review exists.

What should you avoid, and for how long?

Avoid	How long
Strenuous exercise	48 hours
Alcohol	24–48 hours
Sauna, steam room, hot yoga	48 hours–1 week
Pressing or massaging the area	2 weeks, unless instructed otherwise
Facials and facial massage	2 weeks
Dental work where possible	2 weeks
Other injectable treatments in the same area	Until reviewed
Flying, where it can be avoided	48 hours

Dental work is on the list for a reason that surprises people: the pressure and jaw manipulation involved can displace recently placed filler around the mouth and lower face. If you have a scheduled appointment, mention it at your consultation so the timing can be planned.

Which symptoms need a doctor the same day?

Most of the first fortnight is uneventful. These are the exceptions, and they should not wait for your review:

Severe or increasing pain, particularly pain that worsens rather than settles after the first day
Skin that turns pale, white, dusky or mottled in or around the treated area
Any change in vision — blurring, double vision, loss of vision, or pain behind the eye
Spreading redness with heat, or fever

The first three can indicate vascular occlusion, where filler has entered or is compressing a blood vessel. It is rare, but it is time-critical — hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme, and the outcome depends heavily on how quickly that happens.

This is a large part of why filler should only be injected by a registered doctor who can recognise these signs and has hyaluronidase available to dissolve the filler immediately. In Singapore, only registered medical doctors and dentists may legally inject dermal fillers — they are regulated as medical devices by the Health Sciences Authority.

If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing is normal, contact the clinic. No reputable practice will mind the call.

How can you reduce swelling and bruising beforehand?

Some of the outcome is decided before the appointment:

Avoid alcohol for 24 hours beforehand
Where medically safe, avoid blood-thinning supplements for about a week — fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, high-dose garlic. Never stop prescribed medication such as aspirin or warfarin without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.
Schedule around your calendar. Leave at least two weeks between treatment and any significant event.
Mention everything at consultation — medications, supplements, recent dental work, upcoming travel, autoimmune conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Where this fits in your treatment plan

Aftercare is the part of dermal filler treatment most within your own control, and the part most often skimmed in the appointment because it comes at the end when you are ready to leave.

At Fundamental Aesthetic Medical Clinic, filler treatments are performed by MOH-certified doctors at our clinics in Orchard and Hougang, each with a review appointment built into the plan rather than offered on request.

Orchard — Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, #05-29 · +65 8368 5739 Hougang — 1187 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-56 · +65 8057 5998

Frequently asked questions

How long does swelling last after dermal fillers?

Swelling usually peaks in the first 48 hours and settles substantially by day five. Most people look normal within a week. Under-eye filler holds fluid longer and can take three to four weeks to settle fully.

When will I see my final result?

Around two weeks for most areas, longer under the eyes. The filler needs time to integrate with the surrounding tissue and for swelling to fully resolve.

Is it normal to feel lumps after filler?

Early firmness and small irregularities are common and usually resolve as the product settles. Raise anything still present at your two-week review. Lumps accompanied by pain, redness or heat should be reported sooner.

Can I exercise after dermal fillers?

Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours. Raising your heart rate and blood pressure increases swelling and bruising. Light walking is fine straight away.

Why can't I massage the area?

Pressure can move filler out of the position it was placed in, particularly in the first two weeks. The exception is where your doctor has specifically asked you to massage a particular area.

What if I have a bruise before an important event?

Bruises typically clear within one to two weeks. Mineral makeup can be applied over the injection points from the day after treatment. The reliable approach is to plan treatment at least two weeks ahead of anything significant.

When should I contact the clinic urgently?

Severe or worsening pain, skin turning pale or dusky, any vision change, or spreading redness with fever. These need attention the same day, not at your review.