At Dr H Consult, we are committed to providing outstanding care at every stage of your treatment journey, including the healing and recovery process. It is important to us that you have a clear understanding of the expected course of recovery and the options available should you wish to accelerate healing or further refine your treatment outcomes.
Expected Effects Following Treatment
Certain effects following specific procedures (such as fully ablative resurfacing, cold ablation, etc.) are normal and expected. They are only considered complications if they do not resolve naturally for a prolonged period of time. You will be advised of these healing timelines and potential complications during your consultation, and you will also receive this information in writing via email.
Normal Post-Procedure Effects Include:
- Prolonged Redness and Micro-Swelling:
Low-grade swelling (micro-oedema) and redness are expected parts of the healing process. These effects typically improve progressively over 8–12 weeks. Redness usually resolves fully within 12 weeks for approximately 80% of patients; 15% of patients may experience longer recovery times, and around 5% may heal more rapidly. During this period, the skin remains sensitive, and ongoing collagen remodelling occurs. Patients are advised to minimise the use of makeup and cosmetic products during this phase and to follow the specific skincare guidance provided. - Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH):
PIH is an expected, though undesirable, side effect, particularly in darker skin types (Fitzpatrick types 4–6), and can occur in up to 25% of lighter skin types (Fitzpatrick types 1–3). It is not classified as a complication. PIH typically resolves spontaneously over 3–4 months. Patients may choose to use camouflage makeup from week 6 onwards if necessary. Early use of makeup will cause irritation and impede the speed of recovery. Adverse events such as contact irritant dermatitis from premature makeup use may trigger significant inflammation and even scarring. - Subjectivity of Result:
Cosmetic outcomes are inherently subjective. While every effort is made to achieve optimal results, perceptions of improvement may vary between patients. Acceptance of treatment includes an understanding of this variability. Additional treatment can be undertaken to further enhance results; however, this is entirely optional.
These expected outcomes are discussed with you during your consultation and are outlined in the consent forms and aftercare information you receive via email upon booking.
Post-Treatment Enhancement Options
If you wish to accelerate the resolution of expected healing effects (such as redness or pigmentation), or if you would like to further enhance the cosmetic outcome of your original treatment, Dr H Consult offers a range of optional Post-Treatment Enhancement Services.
Available Treatments May Include:
- Laser treatment for prolonged redness
- Laser treatment for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Fractional resurfacing for specific scars
- Localised full ablation for targeted refinements (if advised by your doctor)
Details and pricing for Post-Treatment Enhancement Services are listed on our website under the Post-Treatment Enhancement section.
Important Information
Choosing Post-Treatment Enhancement Services is entirely optional. Most patients will experience satisfactory natural resolution of redness, swelling, pigmentation, and textural changes within the expected recovery timelines without the need for further intervention. In cases where the healing period is longer, we always advise patients to allow the process to resolve naturally. However, we fully understand the psychological and social impact that visible healing changes can have, and some patients may prefer to speed up recovery.
Other patients may choose to pursue enhancement treatments to speed up recovery — for example, to be ready for a special event or simply to expedite achieving their final cosmetic result. We encourage you to discuss any concerns regarding healing times during your initial appointment, where your doctor can provide personalised advice.
Full Ablation Healing Expectations
Full ablation laser surgery is surgical management of acne scarring. It is a procedure that carries a significant downtime. It must be planned for like any other surgery. Please remember that the aim of full ablation laser surgery is to achieve a permanent and significant improvement of your acne scarring. This is therefore something that needs to be taken into account and that this level of skin remodification is effectively a second-degree burn that will require the time necessary to recover.
Adhering to Aftercare Protocols
It is imperative to adhere to the aftercare process. Even though the skin may appear to have sealed over and be surface intact by 2 weeks, it is still by no means healed. It is tempting often at this point for patients to wish to revert to less greasy skin creams. However, you are still recovering from a laser-induced controlled burn. Normal skincare routines will not be appropriate, and taking the liberty of trying to stray from the prescribed aftercare risks permanent scarring. The aftercare is a process that is as vital to the end result as the surgery itself. Failure to observe appropriate aftercare increases complication risk, delays healing, and increases the permanent scarring risk.
Complications and Complimentary Care
In the event of a true complication, your case will be assessed promptly by Dr Hussein. Any medically necessary interventions will be provided at no additional cost. At the doctor’s discretion, if it is determined that the initial agreed-upon treatment outcome has not been fully achieved, complimentary treatment may occasionally be offered as part of our commitment to continuous care.
We are here to support you throughout every stage of your treatment journey. Should you wish to discuss enhancement options or have any questions about your recovery, please do not hesitate to contact us.