A comprehensive honest patient safety guide to the actual risks of aesthetic treatment, including common minor side effects, recognised uncommon complications, and rare serious adverse events. Written for patients making informed consent. Core Aesthetics — consultation-first.
Why honest risk communication matters
Many patients arrive at consultation having read marketing style content that presents aesthetic treatment as having minimal risk. This page exists as a counterweight: a comprehensive honest description of the actual risks involved in aesthetic treatment, organised by frequency and severity, so patients can make informed consent decisions on the basis of complete information rather than incomplete reassurance.
The risks are real but contextual. Most patients have aesthetic treatment without significant complications. The point is not that complications are common; the point is that they are not impossible, and patients deserve to know what could happen so they can weigh the cosmetic benefit against the genuine risks involved.
The patient safety case for honest risk communication also has a legal and regulatory dimension. Informed consent is not legally valid if the patient was not given complete information about material risks. Practitioners who downplay or omit risks from the consent conversation are operating in a problematic regulatory and ethical space. This page reflects how Core Aesthetics structures the risk communication portion of every aesthetic treatment consultation.
Common minor side effects (most patients experience some)
The following are recognised post treatment effects that most patients experience to some degree. They are not complications; they are part of the normal recovery profile of aesthetic treatment.
Mild swelling at injection sites for 1-3 days after treatment, typically peaking around 24-48 hours and resolving gradually. The amount of swelling varies between patients and between treatment areas; lip treatment typically produces more visible swelling than other areas, sometimes asymmetric in the early days, settling by week 2.
Mild tenderness at injection sites that improves day by day. Some patients describe a “bruised” sensation when pressing the area for a few days.
Small bruises at injection sites, appearing within 24 hours and typically resolving over 5-10 days. Patients have varying bruising tendencies; some patients always get small bruises with aesthetic treatment regardless of technique. Anticoagulants, blood thinning supplements, and recent alcohol increase the chance of bruising.
Mild redness at injection sites for several hours immediately post treatment, settling within 12-24 hours.
Brief discomfort during the treatment itself. Modern technique (fine needles, cannula where appropriate, topical anaesthetic for sensitive areas) substantially reduces but does not eliminate procedural discomfort.
The treated area feeling slightly different from baseline during the 1-2 week settling period. Volume treatment may feel slightly firmer; wrinkle treated areas may feel slightly less mobile.
None of these warrant clinical concern. They are normal recovery experiences. The clinic provides aftercare instructions to support the recovery curve.
Recognised uncommon complications (a meaningful subset of patients experience these)
The following complications occur in a meaningful subset of patients and warrant clinical assessment if they occur.
Larger bruising beyond the typical small injection site bruise. Some patients develop substantial bruising that takes 10-14 days to resolve. Causes include accidental contact with a small vessel during injection, individual bruising tendency, anticoagulant use, and other factors. The bruising itself is not dangerous but can be cosmetically problematic for several days.
Asymmetric result where one side responds more than the other or where the placement requires adjustment. The 2-week review appointment exists in part to assess for this and any minor adjustment is made at that review. Asymmetry that does not respond to adjustment may require dissolution and replanning.
Lumps or bumps in volume treatment treated areas during the integration period. Most resolve as the product settles over 2-4 weeks; some require massage technique guidance from the clinic; some require dissolution if they persist or are clinically problematic.
Drooping or weakness in unintended muscle after wrinkle treatment. Most commonly affects the eyebrow position (heavy brow or asymmetric brow lift) or eyelid (mild ptosis). The effect is temporary, lasting until the wrinkle treatment wears off (typically 2-3 months), and is recognised in the consultation discussion of risks.
Headache for 24-48 hours after wrinkle treatment to upper face areas. Typically mild and resolves on its own; severe or persistent headache warrants assessment.
Allergic reactions ranging from mild localised to systemic. The allergic reactions page covers this in detail.
Localised infection at injection sites. Uncommon when proper technique is used but recognised. Presents with warmth, increasing tenderness, possibly fever, and worsening rather than resolving symptoms over days.
Rare serious adverse events (uncommon but consequential)
The following are uncommon but consequential complications that all patients should be aware of as part of informed consent.
Vascular occlusion: volume treatment entering or compressing a blood vessel, interrupting blood flow to the tissue that vessel supplies. The most clinically serious complication of facial volume treatment. Detailed coverage on the vascular occlusion explainer page.
Vision threatening complications: rare but recognised consequence of vascular occlusion involving the central facial arteries with retrograde travel towards the ophthalmic circulation. Any vision change after aesthetic treatment to the face warrants immediate emergency department attention.
Significant tissue ischaemia and skin necrosis: delayed or unrecognised vascular occlusion can cause tissue damage that does not fully recover. Outcome is strongly correlated with time between symptom onset and clinical management.
Anaphylaxis: rare but recognised severe systemic allergic reaction. Warrants immediate emergency department attendance.
Granulomatous reactions: late onset immunological response to treatment product, presenting weeks to months after treatment. Uncommon but recognised. Management may involve oral steroid, intralesional steroid, or volume treatment dissolution.
Biofilm formation: chronic low grade infection associated with treatment product, potentially presenting as recurrent inflammation or nodules over months. Uncommon but recognised. Management can be complex.
Permanent change to facial appearance: in rare cases of significant adverse events (severe vascular occlusion, severe granulomatous reaction, severe infection), the resulting tissue change may not fully resolve and can leave permanent scarring, pigmentation change, or contour deformity.
Risks specific to Wrinkle treatment
Wrinkle treatments work through a different clinical mechanism than volume treatments and have a different risk profile.
Recognised risks specific to wrinkle treatment include: temporary unintended muscle effects (drooping eyebrow, eyelid ptosis, asymmetric facial expression), headache for 24-48 hours, neck weakness if the platysma is over treated, asymmetric smile if treatment near the mouth is over extended, and rarely flu like symptoms for 1-2 days post treatment.
All wrinkle treatment effects are temporary because the product wears off over weeks to months. Unintended effects resolve as the treatment wears off, typically by 12 weeks. The temporary nature of wrinkle treatment is one of its safety features compared to permanent interventions.
Wrinkle treatment does not carry the vascular occlusion risk that volume treatment does, because no volume is being placed into tissue planes near vessels. wrinkle treatment also does not carry the granulomatous reaction risk that some treatment products do.
Risks specific to Facial volume treatment
Volume treatments are structural interventions and have specific risks reflecting that mechanism.
Recognised risks specific to volume treatment include: vascular occlusion (most serious), unintended placement requiring adjustment or dissolution, lumps or bumps requiring management, persistent swelling beyond the typical recovery window, late onset nodules or inflammation, granulomatous reaction, biofilm formation, migration of volume treatment from the original placement site over time, and permanent change in tissue characteristics in chronically over filled areas.
Volume treatment can be dissolved if it is hyaluronic acid based (which is the product type used at Core Aesthetics for primary cosmetic indications). Dissolution itself is a separate procedure with its own consent requirements and recovery profile. The dissolvability of hyaluronic acid volume treatment is one of its safety features compared to permanent or semi permanent volume treatments.
How risk communication operates at Core Aesthetics
Risk communication is part of the informed consent conversation at every aesthetic treatment consultation at Core Aesthetics. The conversation is conducted by Corey Anderson, AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575), and covers the specific risks for the specific treatment being considered, the patient’s individual risk factors, what to do if symptoms warrant attention, and what the clinic’s management protocols are for any complications that occur.
The consent conversation is documented in the clinical record. Patients receive written aftercare instructions that include the warning signs to be aware of and the contact information for the clinic. The September 2025 AHPRA cosmetic procedures guidelines require that informed consent for cosmetic procedures includes meaningful discussion of material risks; the clinic structures every consent conversation with this requirement in mind.
Patients who decide not to proceed with treatment after the risk discussion are supported in that decision. Some patients reflect on the risks and decide the cosmetic benefit does not justify them; this is a legitimate decision and the clinic does not pursue patients to reverse it. Patients who proceed do so with informed consent that genuinely engages with the actual risks involved.
Clinical accountability and how this safety guidance is reviewed
The safety content on this page is written and reviewed by Corey Anderson, an AHPRA registered nurse (NMW0001047575) who has been on the AHPRA Register of Nursing and Midwifery since January 1996. The content reflects how Core Aesthetics communicates safety information in clinical practice and is intended to inform the consultation conversation rather than to replace it. Results vary between individuals, and the descriptions of typical risks, signs, and responses refer to the centre of clinical experience rather than to what every patient will encounter.
Specific to risk communication content: this page is comprehensive but not exhaustive. Specific risks for specific treatments are discussed at consultation in the context of the patient’s individual situation. Patients should not rely on this page as a substitute for the clinical consent conversation; it is intended to inform the patient before consultation so the conversation can be more substantive.
Patients reading this page can verify Corey Anderson’s AHPRA registration on the AHPRA public register at ahpra.gov.au using registration number NMW0001047575. The Core Aesthetics clinic operates from 12A Atherton Road, Oakleigh VIC 3166, Tuesday to Saturday, by consultation appointment. All new patient treatment at Core Aesthetics follows a structured clinical consultation, consistent with the September 2025 AHPRA cosmetic procedures guidelines. The patient safety aesthetic treatments page covers the broader safety framework, and the team page covers the practitioner background.
Is this for you?
Consider booking a consultation if
- Patients considering aesthetic treatment who want comprehensive honest information about actual risks
- Patients researching aesthetic treatment safety as part of informed consent due diligence
- Patients who have read marketing style content about aesthetic treatments and want a more balanced perspective
- Patients who have had aesthetic treatment and want to understand what they should be aware of in future treatments
This may not be for you if
- Patients seeking marketing style reassurance that complications cannot happen
- Patients who would prefer not to know about clinical risks before treatment (informed consent at consultation cannot work this way)
- Patients seeking specific incidence statistics about a particular clinic (the clinical literature reports population level rates)
- Patients under 18 years of age
Suitability is confirmed at consultation. This list is general guidance, not a substitute for clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Are aesthetic treatments safe?
Aesthetic treatments are generally safe in the hands of trained registered practitioners following appropriate technique and protocols. They are not without risk. Most patients have treatment without significant complications; a meaningful subset experience minor recognised effects; a small subset experience uncommon complications; a rare subset experience serious adverse events. Honest risk communication at consultation is the basis for informed consent.
What is the most serious complication of facial volume treatment?
Vascular occlusion, where volume treatment enters or compresses a blood vessel and interrupts blood flow to the tissue that vessel supplies. The vascular occlusion explainer page covers this in detail. The risk is uncommon but warrants patient awareness because early recognition substantially affects outcome.
Can wrinkle treatment cause permanent damage?
Wrinkle treatment effects are temporary because the product wears off over weeks to months. Unintended effects (drooping eyebrow, asymmetric expression, etc.) resolve as the treatment wears off, typically by 12 weeks. wrinkle treatment does not cause the vascular complications that volume treatment can.
How do I know which risks apply to my specific treatment?
The consultation discussion covers the specific risks for the specific treatment you are considering, in the context of your individual situation. Generic risk lists are useful for general awareness; the clinical conversation about your specific treatment is what supports informed consent for that treatment.
What if I have a complication after treatment elsewhere?
Contact the clinic where treatment was performed first if practical. For urgent symptoms (vision changes, severe progressive pain with colour change, breathing difficulty), attend the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Core Aesthetics can also provide assessment for patients who had treatment elsewhere; call 0491 706 705 to discuss.
Should I avoid aesthetic treatment because of these risks?
This is a personal decision based on your assessment of the risk benefit balance for your specific situation. Some patients decide the risks are not acceptable for the cosmetic benefit they seek; this is a legitimate decision. Other patients decide the risks are acceptable in light of their treatment goals. The consultation supports informed decision making either way.
Will the clinic charge me for managing a complication?
No. Management of treatment related complications is part of the duty of care for the original treatment. Core Aesthetics does not charge patients additionally for assessment and management of complications arising from treatment performed at the clinic.
How can I reduce my own risk of complications?
Choose a registered practitioner with verified AHPRA registration and appropriate scope of practice. Disclose your full medical history including allergies and current medications. Follow pretreatment instructions including alcohol and supplement avoidance where advised. Follow post treatment aftercare instructions. Attend the 2-week review. Call the clinic about anything outside the expected recovery range. These steps do not eliminate risk but they substantially reduce it.
Is it safe to have aesthetic treatment for the first time?
Aesthetic treatments involve prescription medicines and carry clinical risks including bruising, swelling, asymmetry and, in rare cases, more serious complications. Safety is directly influenced by practitioner qualifications, assessment quality and technique. A thorough consultation is the starting point to understand the risks specific to your situation.
Why does treatment outcome vary between individuals?
Individual anatomy, skin quality, muscle activity, metabolism and the degree of change being addressed all influence how prescription injectable treatment performs and how long it lasts. This is why assessment-led, individually planned treatment is the clinical standard.