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Reviv Med Spa & Laser Treatment
Millbrae, CA Book Consult
Recovery by treatment family

What recovery looks like,
honestly.

Most treatments at Reviv have predictable, well-characterized recovery patterns. Some are no-downtime; some involve real healing. We'd rather tell you the honest version than have you discover it on day three.

Recovery and treatment space at Reviv Med Spa, Millbrae
How to read this

Five families,
five recovery profiles.

Most treatments cluster into one of five recovery patterns. Within each family, individual treatments vary in detail — but the shape of the recovery is similar enough that knowing the family is most of the answer.

The day-by-day timelines below describe the typical experience. Your specific recovery may run shorter or longer based on the dose, the area treated, your skin type, and how strictly you follow aftercare. The treatment-specific page covers the details — these timelines give you the shape.

01
Family 01

Injectables

Botox · Dysport · Xeomin · Jeuveau · Dermal Fillers · Lip Fillers · PRP

Most injectables are no-downtime in the practical sense — you can drive home, work the same afternoon, and resume normal activity the next day. Some social bruising is possible with fillers and PRP; Botox is rarely visible.

Day 0
Treatment day. Pinpoint redness or small bumps at injection sites; usually resolved in 1-2 hours. Skip strenuous exercise, lying flat, and facial massage for 4 hours.
Day 1
Botox: completely normal-looking. Fillers: possible mild swelling or bruising at injection sites — concealable with makeup.
Day 3-5
Botox onset begins — you may notice subtle softening of expression. Fillers: most swelling resolved; bruising fading if present.
Day 14
Botox: full effect. We see you for a complimentary 2-week check-in to fine-tune dosing. Fillers: final shape and integration settled.
Month 3-4
Botox: time to plan your next visit. Fillers: variable by product — Volbella 9-12 months, Voluma up to 24, Sculptra 18-24.
Treatment pages
02
Family 02

Laser & Light

Halo · MOXI · Microlaser Peel · BBL Hero Photofacial

Real downtime that's worth scheduling around. Pinkness, mild swelling, and a sandpaper or dotted texture lasting a few days to a week. Strict sun avoidance for 2-4 weeks is part of the protocol — not optional.

Day 0
Pinkness like a sunburn. Some warmth and tightness for the first 4-6 hours. Cool compresses, gentle moisturizer, mineral SPF only when going outside.
Day 1-3
Halo/MOXI: visible micro-dotting (the "sandpaper" texture as treated cells migrate to the surface). BBL: brown spots darken before they flake — that's the treatment working.
Day 4-7
Peeling/flaking begins and resolves. Most patients are camera-comfortable by day 5-7. Continue gentle skincare; no actives, no exfoliation.
Week 2
Skin looks notably refreshed. Continue strict sun protection — UV exposure during this window can trigger pigmentation issues.
Week 4
Most of the visible result has emerged. Collagen remodeling continues for 3-6 months underneath. Plan next session if doing a series.
Treatment pages
03
Family 03

RF Skin Tightening

NuEra Tight · Sylfirm X (RF microneedling)

NuEra is no-downtime — you leave feeling like you had a warm massage. Sylfirm X is mild-downtime — pinpoint redness for 24 hours, similar to gentle microneedling.

Day 0
NuEra: no visible aftermath, skin slightly warm. Sylfirm X: pinpoint redness and mild swelling, fades over 4-12 hours.
Day 1
NuEra: completely normal. Sylfirm X: most redness resolved; possible mild texture for 24-48 hours that's easily concealed.
Day 3-7
Skin feels and looks normal. The tightening effect is immediate-but-subtle and continues to build over weeks as collagen remodels.
Week 4-6
Visible firming becoming evident. Most series protocols schedule the next session at 4-week intervals.
Month 3-6
Peak result from a completed series. Annual maintenance recommended for sustained tightening.
Treatment pages
04
Family 04

Fat Reduction

Kybella (deoxycholic acid)

Significant honest downtime — and we won't soft-pedal it. Substantial swelling under the chin for 7-14 days, sometimes longer for the first session. Plan a 2-3 week social buffer; most patients can work but often choose not to.

Day 0
Treatment day. Significant swelling begins within hours; can be visibly larger than baseline for several days. Cold compresses help.
Day 1-3
Peak swelling. Tenderness, possible bruising, sometimes a lumpy or hardened feel. Numbness at treatment site is common and expected.
Day 7
Most visible swelling resolved. Some firmness remains; this is the treatment working.
Day 14
Tissue softening; result not yet visible. Numbness may persist 2-4 weeks longer.
Week 6-8
Visible reduction emerging. Time to schedule the next session if more reduction is desired (most patients need 2-4 sessions total).
Treatment pages
05
Family 05

Vein Therapy

Sclerotherapy · Laser Vein Treatment

Mild downtime focused on movement and compression. Compression stockings for 1-2 weeks, daily walking, no hot baths or saunas. Visible improvement is gradual — the treated veins fade over weeks, not days.

Day 0
Treatment day. Bruising or skin discoloration along treated veins is normal and expected. Compression stockings on before you leave; keep them on (per provider guidance).
Day 1-3
Walking is encouraged — at least 20-30 minutes daily helps the body process the treated veins. Avoid hot baths, saunas, and prolonged sitting.
Week 1-2
Continued compression. Bruising fading. Treated veins may temporarily look darker before they fade.
Week 2-4
Compression stockings can typically come off (per provider guidance). Continued daily movement.
Month 2-3
Treated veins fading visibly. Some require a second session for full clearance; we'll evaluate at follow-up.
Treatment pages
Across every family

Six principles
that apply to every recovery.

  • Sun protection is part of every recovery plan. UV during the healing window can permanently alter pigmentation in laser and RF patients.
  • Hydration and protein support tissue repair across every treatment family.
  • Sleep matters more than people expect — aim for 7-8 hours during the first recovery week.
  • Skip alcohol the night before treatment and for 24-48 hours after most procedures (longer for fillers).
  • Heat — saunas, hot yoga, hot tubs — gets paused for 24-48 hours after most procedures.
  • Call us if anything feels wrong. Most "is this normal?" questions have a 30-second answer; we'd rather you ask.

Reviewed by: — Founder & Medical Director, Reviv Med Spa & Laser Treatment.
Last updated: