Aftercare
Profhilo aftercare
This aftercare is essential to reduce the risk of complications, improve your comfort and healing, and help you get the best possible results. Please follow it carefully.
What to expect
Straight after Profhilo the area may be red, tender or swollen. Redness and tenderness usually improve after 48 hours. Swelling is often worst on days 2–3, eases by day 5, and settles by 2 weeks.
For significant swelling, contact me for advice. It can be eased with a regular cold compress, anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (after 24 hours, if safe for you to take), antihistamines, and sleeping propped up on three pillows to help fluid drain overnight.
Bruising can happen and may take up to 2 weeks to settle — Arnica cream can help.
Tenderness when the area is touched is normal, but active pain at rest is not. If you have excessive pain, contact me as soon as possible.
Aftercare
- Avoid makeup for 24 hours after treatment — this reduces the risk of infection.
- Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours before and after.
- Avoid blood-thinning medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen for 24 hours, as they can worsen bruising (if these are prescribed by your GP, check before stopping them).
- Avoid blood-thinning supplements (multivitamins, fish oils, glucosamine, vitamin B or E) for 24 hours (if advised by your GP, check first).
- Avoid excess sun, extremes of hot and cold, saunas, swimming and strenuous exercise until the redness and swelling have settled.
Seek help if…
- Vascular occlusion is a rare complication where a blood vessel is accidentally blocked. Signs include throbbing or aching pain (which can be severe), paleness, a cold feeling in the tissue, and purple, streaky, mottled skin. Contact me immediately if you notice these — I'll guide you through a capillary refill test and what to do next.
- Signs of infection — hot, red, shiny skin, possible pus, a fever or feeling generally unwell — need medical attention. Contact me as soon as possible.
- Severe allergy symptoms — rash, facial swelling or breathing difficulty — need emergency medical attention.
- Contact me as soon as possible about any other unwanted side effects.
Follow-up
Please attend any follow-up appointments, even if healing seems to be going perfectly and you can't see any problems. If anything in this aftercare is unclear, just ask.