Aftercare
After your treatment
The same instructions I hand you in clinic, here so you can find them at 9pm when the paper is somewhere in your bag.
Neuromodulator treatment
You'll start to see effects in 2–5 days. Full results are in at 2 weeks and typically last 3–4 months. If a touch-up is needed, it should happen at the 2 week mark.
Common side effects
Swelling, bruising, redness, discolouration, itching and tenderness at the injection sites.
For 1 hour
- Move the muscles that were treated
For 3 hours
- Stay upright
- Don't rub the treated areas
For 6 hours
- No makeup on the treated areas
For 24 hours
- No strenuous physical activity
- No hot tubs, saunas or facials
- No alcohol
- No Advil or Aspirin
Dermal filler
You'll see some effect immediately. Full results settle at about 1 month, and last 6–18 months depending on the product used.
Common side effects
Swelling, bruising, redness, mild pain, itching and tenderness at the injection sites. Frequent icing or cooling over the first few days will reduce bruising and swelling.
For 24 hours
- Avoid sun and heat exposure
- No strenuous activity, hot tubs, saunas or facials
- No alcohol, Advil or Aspirin — Tylenol is fine
- No actives: AHAs, retinols or vitamin C
- No makeup until the following day
- Keep salt intake down
For 5–7 days
- Don't sleep on the treated areas; sleep on an incline if you can
- Antihistamines are fine and may help with swelling
- Do not massage the injection sites
Before other treatments
- Wait 4 weeks after filler before laser or microneedling
Call the clinic immediately on 204-416-5433 if you notice white or dusky grey discolouration at the treatment area, severe or increasing pain, blistering, fever or chills. These are uncommon, but they need to be seen straight away — don't wait to see if they settle.
Biostimulator — calcium hydroxyapatite
You'll see some effect immediately. Full results build over about 3 months and last 12–18 months.
Common side effects
Swelling, bruising, redness, pain, itching and tenderness at the injection sites. Frequent icing or cooling over the first few days will reduce bruising and swelling.
For 24 hours
- Avoid sun and heat exposure
- No strenuous activity, hot tubs, saunas or facials
- No alcohol, Advil or Aspirin — Tylenol is fine
- No actives: AHAs, retinols or vitamin C
- No makeup until the following day
- Keep salt intake down
For 5–7 days
- Don't sleep on the treated areas; sleep on an incline if you can
- Antihistamines are fine and may help with swelling
- Massage the treated area for 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for the first 5 days
Two things to know. These microspheres are visible on CT and may show on plain X-ray — tell your doctor or radiologist if you're having imaging. And once the swelling settles, if you feel any lumps in the treated area, call the clinic on 204-416-5433 promptly. Nodules are much easier to treat early.
MicroTox
Widespread pinpoint redness and tiny bumps are normal given the number of injection points, and settle within a few hours. Pinpoint bruises may take one to two weeks to fade. Mild dryness over the first week or two is expected — it means the treatment is working on oil production.
For 24 hours
- Don’t rub, massage or press on the treated areas
- No excessive heat — hot showers, saunas, steam rooms
- Skip vigorous exercise and alcohol on the day
For 4–6 hours
- No makeup on the treated area
Ongoing
- Gentle fragrance-free moisturizer as needed
- Resume your usual skincare the following day
- SPF 30 or higher daily — especially important with rosacea
Unlike standard neuromodulator treatment, there is no strong evidence you need to stay upright for hours or avoid all exercise after MicroTox. The restrictions above are the ones that apply.
Medical-grade microneedling
For the next week, use only gentle cleansers, moisturizer and SPF. Avoid direct sun, retinols, vitamin C and AHAs or BHAs for that week.
Common side effects
Redness, swelling, bruising, and dryness or peeling.
First 24 hours
- Skin will be red and sensitive
- Avoid heavy sweating and strenuous exercise
Days 2–3
- Feels like a mild sunburn, and slowly starts improving
Days 4–7
- Redness resolves; you may get mild flaking or peeling
After 1 week
- Resume your normal skincare routine
These are general instructions. Yours may differ based on your history and what was treated — if I've told you something different in clinic, follow that. If anything worries you at any point, call the clinic on 204-416-5433 rather than waiting it out.
Worried about something after a treatment? Call the clinic on 204-416-5433.
Skin condition handouts
A library of 75 plain-language handouts on common skin conditions — what they are, what helps, and when to see someone.
Open the handout library