Important information
Risks and recovery.
Every cosmetic procedure carries some risk. This page sets out the general risks that apply to higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, what recovery typically involves, and what to do if you experience a complication.
If you are concerned right now
When to seek help, and where.
If you experience severe pain, sudden vision changes, skin discolouration that does not blanch when pressed, severe headache, signs of infection (fever, spreading redness), or any other symptom that concerns you after a procedure:
- Contact the clinic immediately on 0452 108 308 during practice hours.
- Outside practice hours, attend your nearest hospital emergency department.
- For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.
Tell the treating clinician what procedure was performed, when, and which product was used. We will provide your post-procedure record on request.
The general risks of cosmetic non-surgical procedures
The information below is general — it covers risks that apply broadly to higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including injection procedures of various kinds. The procedure-specific risks are set out on the relevant consultation page, and your individual risks are discussed at consultation.
Common (most people)
- Redness at the treatment site for a few hours to a few days
- Swelling at the treatment site, sometimes lasting up to a week
- Mild bruising
- Tenderness during and immediately after the procedure
- Temporary firmness or palpable lumps following filler injection
Less common
- Headache
- Asymmetry that may require a follow-up adjustment
- Temporary numbness or altered sensation at the treatment area
- Itching or rash
Rare but serious
- Infection at the treatment site — may require antibiotic treatment.
- Allergic reaction — can range from mild local reaction to (very rarely) a severe systemic reaction.
- Vascular occlusion — blockage of a blood vessel by injected product. This is a rare but recognised complication of injection procedures, particularly those that address facial volume. It can cause skin damage and, in extremely rare cases involving the periorbital region, visual disturbance. It requires immediate treatment.
- Granuloma or nodule formation with some injection procedures — may persist and require further treatment.
- Nerve injury — usually temporary, very rarely permanent.
- Scarring — uncommon but possible at any insertion site.
Procedure-specific risks are described in detail on the relevant consultation page:
Recovery — what to expect after a procedure
Most non-surgical cosmetic procedures involve a short recovery, but the detail varies by procedure. The list below describes what most people experience for the common categories.
Small bumps at injection sites that settle within a few hours. Mild bruising in some people. Most people return to normal activities immediately. We ask that you avoid lying down for several hours, avoid rubbing the treated area, and avoid vigorous exercise for the rest of the day. The effect develops over five to fourteen days.
Swelling and tenderness for several days, sometimes up to a week. Bruising in some people, occasionally lasting up to two weeks. Avoid vigorous exercise, alcohol, and significant heat exposure (sauna, hot yoga) for 24–48 hours. The final result is assessed at a follow-up appointment two to four weeks later.
Swelling and tenderness for a few days. Mild bruising. Gentle massage of the treated area at home as instructed for some procedures. The effect develops gradually over weeks to months as new collagen forms.
Multiple small injection marks visible for a day or two. Mild redness and tenderness. Treatment is usually delivered in a course of sessions a few weeks apart.
How drJ Clinics handles complications
Complications are uncommon but possible. The clinic operates a single-practitioner model so the doctor who performed your procedure is the doctor who will review you if a complication arises.
- You can reach the clinic directly during practice hours on 0452 108 308 or by email at info@drjclinics.com.au.
- Outside practice hours, attend your nearest emergency department and contact the clinic at the earliest opportunity afterwards.
- For any injection-procedure complication that involves concern about vascular occlusion (sudden severe pain, skin colour changes, vision changes), seek treatment immediately. Time matters.
- We hold a record of the product used in your procedure and can provide it to a treating clinician on request.
- There is no charge for reviewing a complication that has arisen from a procedure performed at the clinic.
The cooling-off period and informed consent
AHPRA’s guidelines for higher-risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures require a cooling-off period between consultation and procedure. drJ Clinics observes this without exception.
The cooling-off period is the time between agreeing on a treatment plan and undergoing the procedure. It exists so that you have time to consider the decision away from the consulting room, ask further questions, and decide whether to proceed.
Before any procedure you will receive a written treatment plan describing what is proposed, the substances or devices to be used, the risks, the expected recovery and the indicative cost. You will be asked to provide written informed consent before the procedure goes ahead.
Procedures we do not perform, and patients we do not treat
- We do not perform cosmetic procedures on people under the age of eighteen.
- We do not perform procedures without an in-person consultation first.
- We do not perform higher-risk non-surgical procedures during the cooling-off period.
- We do not offer free or discounted procedures in exchange for promotion, social-media content, reviews or testimonials.
- We will decline to proceed where, in Dr Cumpston’s clinical judgement, a procedure is not in the patient’s best interests.
How to raise a concern
If you have a concern about your care at drJ Clinics, we want to know. The fastest path to a resolution is to speak with Dr Cumpston directly — please contact the clinic on 0452 108 308 or info@drjclinics.com.au.
You also have the right to raise a concern about any registered health practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). AHPRA is the national regulator and assesses concerns independently.
Raise a concern about a health practitioner with AHPRA →
Concerns about a NSW health service can also be raised with the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).
Next step
A consultation, in person, with Dr Cumpston
Every treatment at drJ Clinics begins with a consultation. We review your goals, your medical history and the options — including the option not to proceed. There is no obligation to book a procedure.