Aftercare Instructions for Facial Harmonization Patients

Aftercare instruction is the last step of the visit and the first line of defense against serious complications. It is what lets the patient tell expected swelling from pain that calls for immediate contact. It also prevents anxious messages at 11 p.m. over an ordinary bruise and, at the same time, makes sure the patient calls at the right moment when something is wrong.

This guide outlines what is usually advised after fillers and botulinum toxin in orofacial harmonization (HOF). The final instructions belong to the practitioner who treated the patient, according to the product, the area, the patient and the rules of their professional board. Use the text as a base for building your own written material.

Why give instructions in writing?

At the end of the procedure, the patient is relieved, sometimes still numb and thinking about the rest of the day. Verbal instructions get lost. A simple sheet, or a standard message sent the same day, ensures they have the information when they need it.

The written material should include:

1. what was done, in plain language;
2. what to expect in the coming days;
3. care for the first hours and first days;
4. warning signs, highlighted;
5. how to reach you, with hours and what to do outside them;
6. the follow-up date.

Record in the patient record that the instructions were handed over and explained. They should also match the informed consent signed before the procedure.

What is expected after filler?

Explaining what to expect lowers anxiety and separates the normal from the alarming.

The most useful sentence for the patient: the final result can only be judged after the swelling resolves. Photos taken in the first days show swelling, not the result.

What care is usually advised after filler?

Recommendations vary between practitioners and products. The most common:

• Do not massage or press the area, unless the practitioner gave specific instructions.
• Avoid makeup at the entry points in the first hours.
• Avoid intense exercise, excessive heat, saunas and strong sun exposure in the first days.
• Cold compresses, when advised by the practitioner, with protection so the skin is not damaged.
• Avoid alcohol in the first hours, because of its link to swelling and bleeding.
• Sleep with the head slightly elevated the first night, when advised.
• Mention upcoming dental treatment or facial procedures scheduled for the following days.
• After lip filler, for people with recurrent cold sores, follow the agreed preventive plan.

And after botulinum toxin?

Aftercare for botulinum toxin has a different profile: little swelling and an effect that sets in over days. Common instructions:

• Do not massage or press the treated area in the first hours.
• Avoid lying down right afterward, as advised by whoever treated you.
• Avoid intense exercise and heat in the first hours.
• Know that the effect is not immediate: it starts in a few days and settles at about two weeks.
• Do not see another practitioner to "top up" before the follow-up.
• Report a drooping eyelid or brow, marked asymmetry or difficulty closing the eyes or mouth.

The basics of the effect and its duration are in botulinum toxin in facial harmonization.

Which warning signs should the patient know?

This is the most important part of the instructions. It should be highlighted, in language anyone can understand.

Contact the practitioner immediately, or go to the emergency room if you cannot reach them, if you notice:

• severe and worsening pain that does not ease;
• pale, whitish skin or purplish net-like blotches;
• an area that turns cold, darkens or forms blisters or scabs;
• any change in vision, eye pain, a severe headache or weakness in the face or body;
• fever, intense local warmth, pus or swelling that gets worse after a few days;
• shortness of breath or swelling in the throat or tongue.

The first items may indicate vascular occlusion, which, without prompt treatment, can progress to necrosis. A vision change is an emergency. For the practitioner, preparation for these cases is covered in hyaluronidase in the clinic and in the safety and complications overview.

Let us know at the next contact, no rush, if you notice:

• a lump or nodule that persists after the swelling has gone;
• a bluish tone under the skin, mainly below the eyes;
• asymmetry that continues after two weeks.

How to advise someone who had several procedures on the same day?

When a patient has, for example, filler in more than one area and toxin in the same session, the instructions need to add up the care without becoming a confusing list. A few suggestions:

• organize the material by time period (first hours, first days, until follow-up), not by procedure;
• when the care for two procedures differs, make clear which area each one refers to;
• warn that swelling may be greater and last a little longer when several areas are treated;
• keep a single block of warning signs, valid for all areas.

How to set up the contact channel?

A contact channel that does not answer is incomplete aftercare. Define:

• how the patient reaches you (phone, the clinic's WhatsApp);
• at what hours you respond;
• what to do outside those hours if there is a warning sign;
• who on the team receives and passes on messages.

A useful practice is to send a message the next day asking how the patient is doing. It makes room for early reports and shows care.

When to schedule the follow-up?

The follow-up is usually booked after the swelling has resolved, generally around two weeks, at the practitioner's discretion. It serves to:

• assess the result without swelling;
• photograph using the same protocol as the before photos;
• decide on a touch-up, when indicated;
• talk about the next stages of the plan.

Agree on the date on the day of the procedure and record it in the patient record.

Where does Harmy fit into aftercare?

At the follow-up, the "Add actual result" feature in the History saves the result photo aligned by the eyes with the before photo and lets you compare Projection vs Actual. Showing this comparison to the patient helps you talk about what was achieved and the next steps. For the comparison to be honest, the follow-up photo must follow the same protocol as the before photo. See history and actual result and follow-up and retention.

What are the most common instruction mistakes?

• Giving only verbal instructions, at the end of the visit, with the patient still numb.
• A list that is too long, where the warning signs get lost among minor care.
• Technical terms the patient does not understand, like "livedo" or "ischemia", left untranslated.
• Absolute timelines, such as "the swelling goes away in three days", which cause anxiety when they are not met.
• A contact channel that does not answer at night or on weekends, with no alternative given.
• No follow-up booked, leaving it to the patient to schedule whenever they like.

Template structure for the written material

Aftercare instruction checklist

1. Written material handed over and explained.
2. Expected and alarming clearly distinguished.
3. Care specific to the procedure and area included.
4. Warning signs highlighted.
5. Contact channel working, with defined hours.
6. Follow-up message scheduled for the next day.
7. Follow-up booked and recorded.
8. Delivery of the instructions recorded in the patient record.

To record everything in an organized way, see patient records and documentation in facial harmonization.