Body treatments, what to expect after treatment
Body areas are larger, the tissues are denser, and the muscles are loaded daily by walking, sitting and sleeping. Recovery is slower than facial work and varies by procedure. The first two weeks protect the result; the full picture emerges over 6–12 weeks as swelling settles and the area integrates.
What’s normal in the first 72 hours
- Significant swelling: body areas hold fluid longer than the face.
- Bruising that can be widespread, particularly with subcision or larger filler volumes.
- Tenderness, firmness or a lumpy feel on palpation. This softens over weeks, not days.
- An asymmetric look while swelling is unequal.
- Discomfort with sitting (gluteal area), walking or specific movements depending on what was treated.
Please follow these instructions carefully
For hip-dip filler / gluteal contouring
- Avoid prolonged sitting for 2–4 hours on the day of treatment: short stand-ups help.
- Sleep on your back or stomach for the first 7 nights: avoid pressure on the treated side.
- No high-intensity glute exercise (squats, hip thrusts, heavy lunges) for 2 weeks.
- Walking is fine and encouraged from day 1.
- Avoid deep tissue massage of the area for 4 weeks.
For cellulite subcision
- Wear the compression garment as instructed, usually 24 hours a day for the first week, then daytime only for week 2.
- Expect bruising, sometimes dramatic, for 2–3 weeks.
- Avoid hot baths, sauna and steam rooms for 1 week.
- Gentle walking is encouraged; high-intensity training waits 2 weeks.
- Lymphatic massage from week 2 can help bruising clear faster.
For trapezius / shoulder slimming
- Avoid heavy lifting, overhead pressing and loaded shoulder work for 1 week.
- No deep tissue massage of the upper traps for 2 weeks.
- Gentle movement and posture work is encouraged.
- Effect builds over 3–4 weeks: the change is gradual, not immediate.
For all body treatments
- No high-intensity exercise, sauna or steam rooms for 48 hours.
- No alcohol for 24 hours and no anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, aspirin) for 48 hours unless prescribed otherwise: paracetamol is fine.
- Keep the area clean: gentle cleanser, pat dry, avoid scrubbing.
- Hydrate: the area rehydrates and remodels over weeks.
A note on results
Body treatments are slower to settle and harder to assess than facial work. We typically review at 4 weeks for early swelling, then at 8–12 weeks for the true result. Top-up planning happens at the later review, not the earlier one.
Severe pain that isn’t easing with rest, spreading redness, heat, fever, or signs of infection warrant contacting us straight away. Persistent firmness past 8 weeks, or any concern about the appearance, is worth a review rather than waiting and hoping.
For best results we plan staged sessions where appropriate: body areas rarely reach their best in one visit.
