COSMEDOCS
    Harley Street Doctors • Since 2007

    Medically reviewed by Dr Ahmed Haq, Medical Director, Cosmedocs Harley StreetGMC 6078057Last reviewed

    Aftercare · Day-by-day

    Tear trough filler recovery — honest day-by-day timeline.

    Under-eye filler is the most technique-sensitive injection on the face. The recovery is short, but knowing exactly what to expect — swelling, bruising, when to fly — matters. This is the same brief our doctors give every patient.

    See the result before you commit. Tear trough before & after gallery — verified Cosmedocs cases shot at week 4–6.

    The recovery timeline, day by day

    1. Day 0

      Treatment evening

      Mild swelling and pinpoint redness at the entry points. Cool compress 10 min on / 20 off for the first few hours. Sleep on two pillows. No bending forward, no make-up that night.

    2. Day 1–2

      Peak swelling

      Under-eye fullness and slight puffiness peak around 24–48 hours. Some patients have small bruises at the cannula entry point. Continue cool compresses. Avoid alcohol, salt and hot drinks.

    3. Day 3–5

      Swelling settles

      Most visible swelling drops by ~70%. Bruises change colour and can be covered with concealer from day 3. Most patients return to work confidently.

    4. Day 7

      Filler integrates

      The hyaluronic acid begins to integrate with surrounding tissue. Light gym, gentle facials and normal skincare resume.

    5. Week 2

      Clinical review

      We see you back for a face-to-face review. Photographs are repeated. Any micro-asymmetry is corrected with a small top-up if needed — included in your treatment fee.

    6. Week 4–6

      Final settled result

      This is the result you compare against your pre-treatment photo. Tyndall (blue tint) and lumps that occasionally appear in this window are addressed at this review.

    The aftercare checklist we give every patient

    Do

    • · Sleep elevated for 3 nights
    • · Cool compress (not ice on bare skin) for the first 24 hours
    • · Paracetamol if needed; avoid ibuprofen and aspirin for 48h
    • · Mineral SPF 50 daily and gentle cleanser
    • · Hydrate well, low-salt food for 48 hours

    Don't

    • · No alcohol for 48 hours
    • · No exercise, hot yoga, sauna or steam for 48–72 hours
    • · No facials, peels, microneedling for 2 weeks
    • · No firm rubbing or facial massage for 14 days
    • · No flying for 7 days where possible
    Plan your treatment

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    Tear trough — main page Before & after gallery →Dissolving filler →

    Common recovery questions

    Visible swelling peaks at 24–48 hours and largely settles within 5–7 days. Subtle residual puffiness can last 2–3 weeks before the final shape is set.

    Light concealer and foundation from 24 hours. Avoid heavy under-eye products applied with pressure for the first 3 days.

    About 1 in 3 patients bruise at the cannula entry point on the cheek. We minimise it by avoiding fish oil, vitamin E, high-dose turmeric and alcohol for one week before treatment.

    A faint blue tint that can occur if filler is placed too superficially under thin under-eye skin. Modern doctor-led tear trough technique using a cannula in the deep medial fat compartment makes this rare. If it occurs, it is fully reversed in minutes with hyaluronidase.

    First settled appearance at day 7. Final, photograph-ready result at week 4–6 after the two-week review.

    Short-haul after 48 hours is fine for most patients. We recommend waiting 5–7 days for long-haul because cabin pressure and fluid retention can prolong puffiness.