Choosing a dermal filler often feels empowering, until Day 2 arrives, your face looks a little puffier than expected, and you start questioning every decision you’ve made. That “post-treatment wobble” is incredibly common, especially for first-time clients in Enfield and North London who have researched, compared clinics, and still feel unsettled once healing begins.
The real question isn’t, “Do I look perfect today?”
It’s: “How can I track my healing sensibly so I can separate normal recovery from a real concern?”
This is where a simple photo plan becomes your best friend — not for vanity, but for clarity.
Step 1: Start with a baseline (before memory plays tricks on you)
Once swelling kicks in, your perception of your “before” face can change. Mirrors are emotional; photos are objective.
If you didn’t take one before treatment, take it as soon as you can afterwards.
Your baseline should include:
- Face at rest (no smile, no raised brows)
- Front, left, and right views
- Neutral lighting
- A quick note of what was treated (e.g., lips, cheeks, chin, smile lines)
- A note of any asymmetry you already had, because most faces are not perfectly even
This isn’t about reassurance. It’s about preventing your brain from rewriting your starting point.
Step 2: Make your photos comparable
Random selfies won’t tell you much. Consistency will.
Use the same setup every time:
- Same room and background
- Same time of day (morning is best)
- Same distance from the camera (wide phone lenses can distort the face)
- Same three angles: front, left, right
- One close-up only if bruising is bothering you
Why this matters:
- Consistent lighting reduces misleading shadows
- Consistent angles stop you chasing “better” or “worse” shots
- Scheduled checkpoints prevent daily spiral-checking
Your 5 simple photo checkpoints
You don’t need dozens of pictures; five well-timed ones are enough:
- Day 1
- Day 3
- Day 7
- Day 10
- Day 14
These five points usually show you a clear healing trend.
Days 1–3: What ‘normal’ can look like
Day 1 can feel more dramatic than expected. Swelling can make areas look fuller or sharper than intended.
You might notice:
- Puffiness or tightness
- Tenderness to touch
- Small, firm areas where the product sits (depending on technique)
By Day 3, bruising can sometimes look darker even as swelling begins to shift. Early fluid movement can mimic an “overfilled” look, but this doesn’t automatically mean anything has gone wrong.
If you want to track symptoms, keep it simple:
- Comfort: mild/moderate/severe
- Overall trend: better / same / worse
- Function: any changes when smiling, speaking, or moving your face?
Don’t turn recovery into an all-day audit.
When photos aren’t enough: red flags to take seriously
Photos are great for trends, but they are not a safety test.
Contact your practitioner (or seek urgent care if severe) if you notice:
- Sudden worsening after initial improvement
- Severe pain that doesn’t settle
- Skin colour changes, unusual blanching or mottling
- Spreading redness or heat that keeps increasing
- One-sided symptoms that are getting worse rather than better
A reputable clinic in Enfield will always prefer you check in early rather than worry in silence.
Days 7–14: When to properly assess your result
By around Day 7, most swelling has reduced, and symmetry becomes clearer.
Day 10 can still show minor unevenness; this is often just settling.
By Day 14, assess your face at rest (not while pulling expressions or pressing areas).
A real-life example: one of my public-facing clients panicked on Day 2. By Day 10, her photos showed a clear downward trend in swelling, and her anxiety eased because the evidence reassured her.
Why you shouldn’t compare filler healing to other treatments
Disappointment often comes from comparing the wrong timelines.
- Dermal fillers: immediate volume with settling in the first 1–2 weeks
- Morpheus8: collagen remodelling that improves gradually over weeks
- Fat dissolving treatments: slower change as the body metabolises fat
Different mechanisms, different timelines, comparing them creates unnecessary anxiety.
A simple Day 14 decision checklist
Before booking a follow-up or spiralling, ask yourself:
- Are my photos showing overall improvement?
- Does my face look more balanced at rest?
- Does my face feel normal in daily life?
- Are there no red flags?
Does this align with what I wanted?
If Days 1–3 were chaotic but Days 7–14 are steadily improving, that’s usually just “normal recovery noise.” If Day 14 feels stable but not aligned with your goal, that’s the right time for a calm, considered follow-up, not a panic fix.
If you’re unsure, book a review
If you’re uncertain whether your healing is on track, book a consultation with a qualified practitioner who will:
- Review your concerns
- Look at your photo timeline
- Discuss your aftercare
- Prioritise safety, natural movement, and realistic results
Bring your five checkpoints; they make the conversation clearer and more productive.
