My skin is bumpy after a booster, when will the bumps go away?

Bumps generally subside within 1–3 days. This is the time it takes for the injected material to be absorbed into the skin and spread into the surrounding tissue, allowing the surface to even out. In some people, improvement may begin as early as the evening of the same day.

However, in areas with thin skin, such as around the eyes, or where a larger volume was injected, slight unevenness may persist for up to a week. This too usually resolves gradually over time, so if you see slight improvement day by day, there is generally no need to worry. Conversely, if the bumps remain the same size or grow larger over time, a consultation is needed.

The best approach is to wait for natural absorption without artificially manipulating the area. If you rub vigorously or massage the area arbitrarily to try to make the bumps go away faster, the medication may spread beyond the intended layer, or irritation may cause redness to last longer. Whether a product requires massage depends on the specific ingredients, so you must follow the guidance of the Dermatologist who performed the procedure.

For daily care, adequate moisturizing, sun protection, and avoiding saunas, alcohol, and strenuous exercise on the day of treatment are sufficient. If swelling is bothersome, sleeping with the treated area elevated above the heart can help. Cool compresses may help relieve pain or swelling, but firm pressure should be avoided.

The most important distinguishing factor is the trend over time. Bumps get smaller over time, whereas nodules do not disappear after several weeks or may even become firmer. Refer to the table below, but if you are unsure, a consultation is the most accurate way to confirm.

In particular, collagen-stimulating ingredients such as PLLA and PDLLA have been rarely reported to cause late-onset nodules, so if you feel a lump long after treatment, do not dismiss it lightly and inform the clinic where you received the procedure. The earlier a nodule is identified, the easier it is to manage.

We recommend receiving the treatment at least 1 week before an important event, or ideally 2 weeks before. This is because while bumps themselves usually subside within 1–3 days, tiny red marks from the injection sites or mild bruising may last a few more days. If you have thin skin or are prone to bruising, allowing extra time is safer.

For events where skin condition is especially important, such as a wedding or photo shoot, rather than trying the first treatment right before the event, a more stable approach is to divide the sessions over several weeks, with the final session completed 2 weeks before the event. We recommend consulting a dermatologist to plan the treatment timing that considers both your schedule and skin condition.