For each treatment below you will find who it may not suit, how to prepare, how to care for the area afterwards, the side effects that are normal, and the red flags that mean you should get help. This is general guidance. Your doctor, Dr Maryam, gives you specific advice for you and your treatment.
We would always rather hear from you. Use the right contact for the situation.
In clinic hours
020 8129 1011
Call the clinic first
Out of hours, urgent
NHS 111
For urgent advice
Emergency
999
Breathing or swallowing difficulty, severe allergic reaction, sudden vision change
Anti-wrinkle treatments
About anti-wrinkle treatments · a prescription muscle-relaxing injection, given by a doctor. Guidance differs by area, so it is grouped below.
Who it is not suitable for
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
A known allergy to the product.
A neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome or motor neurone disease.
Active infection or inflamed skin at the injection site, or feeling unwell on the day.
Tell us about any muscle or nerve condition, and all your medicines, including recent aminoglycoside antibiotics, which can interact.
Before your appointment
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours to reduce bruising.
Where your own doctor agrees it is safe, pause non-essential blood-thinning supplements such as fish oil and high-dose vitamin E for a few days.
Do not book if you have an important event in the next two weeks, as the effect develops gradually.
Arrive with clean skin and no heavy make-up. Tell us if you are prone to cold sores.
Upper face, forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet
Aftercare
Stay upright for four hours and do not rub, massage or press the area.
Keep make-up off the area for the rest of the day.
Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, steam and sunbeds for 24 hours, and avoid lying face-down for four hours.
What is normal
Tiny raised bumps at the injection points that settle within an hour, with mild redness.
A mild headache for a day or so.
The effect appears gradually over 3 to 14 days.
Red flags, get help
A drooping eyelid or eyebrow that is appearing or getting worse.
Marked new asymmetry of the face.
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching, or swelling of the lips or face.
Signs of infection, such as spreading redness, heat, pus or fever.
In clinic hours call the clinic on 020 8129 1011. Out of hours call NHS 111 for advice. For a severe allergic reaction or any difficulty breathing, call 999.
Masseter, jaw slimming and teeth grinding
Aftercare
As above. You can eat normally, but if the muscle feels tired, favour softer foods for a few days.
What is normal
Mild chewing fatigue or tenderness when eating for one to two weeks.
The slimming effect builds over several weeks.
Red flags, get help
Significant or lasting difficulty chewing, or jaw weakness.
A new uneven smile that is getting worse.
Signs of an allergic reaction or infection as above.
In clinic hours call 020 8129 1011. Out of hours call NHS 111. For a severe allergic reaction or difficulty breathing, call 999.
Nefertiti and neck lift, platysmal bands
Aftercare
Stay upright for four hours, avoid massaging the neck, and avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
What is normal
Mild tenderness at the injection points.
The effect builds over one to two weeks.
Red flags, get help, important for the neck
Any difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, or a change in your voice.
New neck weakness.
Signs of an allergic reaction or infection.
These are uncommon but need prompt attention. For any difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 999 straight away. In clinic hours also call us on 020 8129 1011. Out of hours, for other concerns, call NHS 111.
Dermal fillers
About dermal fillers · placed by a doctor, with the dissolving medicine on site.
Who it is not suitable for
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Active infection or a cold sore near the area.
A known allergy to the product or to lidocaine.
Certain autoimmune conditions, or a tendency to keloid scarring, both worth discussing first.
Tell us about blood-thinning medicine, a history of cold sores, and any recent or planned dental work.
Before your appointment
Avoid alcohol and non-essential blood-thinning supplements for 24 to 48 hours where your own doctor agrees it is safe.
If you get cold sores and are having lip filler, tell us, as you may need preventive medicine first.
Avoid important events for about two weeks, and avoid dental treatment around your appointment.
Arrive with clean skin.
Aftercare
Avoid heat, saunas, steam, heavy exercise and facials for 24 to 48 hours.
Do not massage the area unless your doctor asks you to.
For lips, sleep with your head slightly raised and use a gentle cool compress for swelling.
Keep the area clean and avoid dental treatment for two weeks.
What is normal
Swelling, redness, tenderness and small bruises for a few days.
Lips swell more, often for 24 to 72 hours.
Small lumps that settle, or are smoothed at your review.
Red flags, a blocked blood vessel is a rare emergency
Severe or increasing pain that is out of proportion to the treatment.
The skin turning white or pale, then becoming mottled, dusky, blue or grey.
Any change in your vision, especially after filler near the nose, between the brows or under the eyes.
A spreading area of pain, or skin that looks like it is breaking down.
Later signs of infection, such as spreading redness, heat, pus or fever.
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved, and a doctor with the dissolving medicine is on site, so prompt contact matters. In clinic hours call us immediately on 020 8129 1011. For any change in vision, or severe pain with pale or dusky skin, call 999 at once. Out of hours, for other urgent concerns, call NHS 111.
The nose, the area between the brows and under the eyes carry higher risk, which is part of why we are doctor-led and often prefer polynucleotides under the eyes.
Discuss autoimmune conditions and blood-thinning medicine with us.
Before your appointment
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
Tell us about any history of keloid scarring.
Arrive with clean skin.
Aftercare
For Sculptra, massage the treated areas exactly as your doctor shows you, for the number of days advised.
Avoid heat and heavy exercise for 24 hours. Results build over weeks to months.
What is normal
Swelling, redness, bruising and tenderness for a few days.
Small lumps that usually settle.
Red flags, get help
A lump or nodule that grows or persists.
Signs of infection.
As these are injectables, the same blocked-vessel warning applies, severe pain, skin turning pale then dusky, or any change in vision.
In clinic hours call 020 8129 1011. For any vision change, or severe pain with pale or dusky skin, call 999 at once. Out of hours, for other concerns, call NHS 111.
Active infection, a cold sore, or broken or inflamed skin in the area.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Recent strong sun exposure.
Recent use of certain acne medicines such as oral isotretinoin, within the period your doctor advises.
A known allergy should be discussed. Deeper peels need Nu-Derm preparation first.
Before your appointment
Stop retinoids, acids and exfoliation for several days, and longer for deeper peels.
Avoid sun and sunbeds, and tell us about cold sores.
Follow any Nu-Derm preparation your doctor gives you.
Aftercare
Do not pick or peel the skin.
Use only the aftercare your doctor provides, with strict daily broad-spectrum sun protection.
Avoid sun, heat, saunas and heavy exercise as advised, and no active acids until your skin has fully recovered.
What is normal
Redness, tightness and warmth, then light flaking or peeling over the following days, more with deeper peels.
Sensitive skin while it recovers.
Red flags, get help
Signs of infection, or a cold sore outbreak.
Blistering, or severe or prolonged burning.
Unusual very dark or very pale patches of skin.
In clinic hours call 020 8129 1011. Out of hours call NHS 111. For a severe reaction, call 999.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace your consultation. Your doctor gives you specific guidance for your treatment and your skin. KONCEPT® Medical Clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission, and treatments are performed by Dr Maryam Attarzadeh, on the General Medical Council register and registered with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners.
Questions about your treatment?
Call the clinic any time in opening hours. We would rather hear from you than have you wonder.
