What downtime means

Downtime is the time after a treatment when you need to rest, limit your normal activities, avoid being seen or stay near the clinic. Two different things are often mixed up under this word:

Social downtime is how long visible effects such as redness, swelling or bruising last.
Recovery is how long the body takes to heal: stitches coming out, limits on activity, follow-up visits, and a final result that can take weeks or months to settle.

A maker can say "little to no downtime" and still list redness that lasts hours and swelling that lasts days. Ask what you will look like and what you may do on each day, not only for the headline. Questions to ask the clinic:

What will I look like on day 1, day 3 and day 7?
Which activities (exercise, make-up, sun, work) are limited, and for how long?
When is the follow-up visit, and does it have to be in Korea?
What happens if my recovery takes longer than planned?

Ask for the answers in writing if you can.

Plan your own downtime

Pick the treatments you are considering, read what the sources say for each one, and compare the range with the days off you have.

Downtime planner

Pick the treatments you are considering. The planner shows what the published sources say about downtime for each one.

Select at least one treatment to see the published downtime figures.

All treatments at a glance

Botox	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	Neither toxin label we read states a downtime period. They list effects such as eyelid drooping, headache and bruising or swelling at the injection site.
Filler	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	The FDA says swelling and bruising usually appear soon after injection and many resolve within a few days to weeks. It gives no exact figure.
Skin Botox (baby Botox)	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source gives a routine downtime. If toxin reaches deeper muscle, one review says the temporary muscle weakness usually settles within 2 to 3 weeks.
Skin booster	Up to 7 days	The Skinvive label (one hyaluronic-acid booster) says injection-site reactions generally resolve within 1 week. For polynucleotide boosters no period is given.
Rejuran	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source gives a downtime period. Reported effects are local swelling, discomfort, slight bruising and small raised bumps (wheals).
Juvelook	Up to 2 days	One lower-eyelid case series of PDLLA (the polymer in Juvelook) reported mild bruising and swelling resolving within 48 hours. Reviews name firm nodules as the main concern.
Exosome skin treatment	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	We found no label or maker statement of a downtime for exosome skin treatments. Ask the doctor.
Thermage	Up to 5 days	The maker reports little to no downtime: redness typically resolves within 24 hours and swelling within 5 days, though swelling can remain up to several weeks.
Ultherapy	Up to 1 days	The maker reports no downtime and says flushed skin should fade within a few hours; mild, temporary swelling, tingling or tenderness may occur.
Shurink	Up to 2 days	The maker reports no downtime and says slight redness and swelling can last from a few hours to a few days; in a 12-person study they resolved within 2 days.
Onda lifting	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source gives a number of days. An advisory-board paper says mild effects usually resolve within a few days and advises avoiding direct sun for two days.
Sofwave	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	The maker says downtime is minimal and daily activities can resume immediately, with no number of days. Two studies report mean treatment pain of 5.6 and 6.6 out of 10.
Oligio	Up to 2 days	In a 30-patient Thai study, 83% had redness right after treatment that cleared within 1 to 2 days, and patients could resume normal activities immediately.
Volnewmer	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source states a downtime period. In a 22-patient split-face trial, mild redness and swelling were temporary and resolved on their own.
Titanium lifting	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No maker, label or journal source we found states a downtime for the lifting protocol; only clinic pages do, and we do not use them. Ask the clinic.
Potenza	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source states a downtime period. The maker lists temporary redness, tingling and burning during treatment; published series report mild, transient side effects.
Pico toning	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No number of days is given. A Korean case series of a 755 nm picosecond laser reported minimal downtime and no visible redness after treatment.
Laser toning	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source gives a downtime in days. A review advises sunscreen afterward and says creams can usually resume after 1 to 2 days; mottled pale patches are the main risk.
LaVieen	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	LaVieen-specific downtime is not confirmed. Across 17 studies of 1927 nm thulium lasers of any brand, side effects were mild and transient, though melasma sometimes relapsed.
Thread lift	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	Swelling, bruising and local pain are expected. In a Chinese series of patients treated for complications, swelling lasted 2 to 4 months in some, and 4 hematoma cases recovered in 10 to 21 days.
Double eyelid surgery	10–14 days	Mayo Clinic: bruising and swelling generally lessen in about 10 to 14 days; scars can take months to fade. ASPS: stitches are removed within one week.
Rhinoplasty	7–28 days	Mayo Clinic: plan about a week off work; most activities resume after a week and all after 2 to 4 weeks. The nose splint stays on about a week.
Face lift	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	No source we read gives a return-to-work time. Mayo Clinic says stitches come out about a week after surgery and follow-up visits last about two months.
Liposuction	8–21 days	ASPS puts return to work in weeks 2 to 3 depending on the job (Mayo Clinic: after a few days). A compression garment is worn for a few weeks.
Dental implants	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	Done in stages with healing between them, so the whole process can take many months. Gums need at least two weeks to heal after the abutment is placed (Mayo Clinic).
Dental crowns	No published figure. Ask the doctor.	Usually two appointments, with a temporary crown between them. The sources we read state no time off or recovery period.
Scaling	Up to 2 days	For scaling and root planing, Cleveland Clinic says most people can return to their normal routine the same day and gums may be sore for a couple of days.

The figures come from the sources named in the guide and are not medical advice. Your doctor decides how much downtime you need.

A range in the planner is the span a source gives, from a maker's statement or a small study. It is not a prediction for you. Where the planner says "no published figure", the sources we read give no number of days. That does not mean there is no downtime, so ask the doctor.

Downtime by type of treatment

Most figures below come from a maker's own statement or a small study. They describe what was reported, not what you will experience.

Injectables

Botox and other toxins (Botox): neither of the two toxin labels we read states a downtime period. They list effects such as eyelid drooping, headache and bruising or swelling at the injection site.
Filler (Filler): the FDA says swelling and bruising usually appear soon after injection and many resolve within a few days to weeks. It gives no exact figure.
Skin Botox (Skin Botox): no source gives a routine downtime. If toxin reaches deeper muscle, one review says the temporary muscle weakness usually settles within 2 to 3 weeks.
Skin boosters (Skin boosters): the Skinvive label, for one hyaluronic-acid booster, says injection-site reactions generally resolve within 1 week. For Rejuran no source gives a period. It reports local swelling, discomfort, slight bruising and small raised bumps (wheals).
Juvelook (Juvelook): one lower-eyelid case series of PDLLA, the polymer in Juvelook, reported mild bruising and swelling that resolved within 48 hours. Reviews name firm nodules (granulomas) as the main concern.
Exosome treatments (Exosome): we found no label or maker statement of a downtime. A 2022 Korean report cited complaints of inflammation and scarring after cosmetic-registered skin boosters were injected.

Energy and lifting devices

Thermage (Thermage): the maker reports little to no downtime. Redness typically resolves within 24 hours and swelling within 5 days, though swelling can remain up to several weeks.
Ultherapy (Ultherapy): the maker reports no downtime and says flushed skin should fade within a few hours. Mild, temporary swelling, tingling or tenderness may occur.
Shurink (Shurink): the maker reports no downtime and says slight redness and swelling can last from a few hours to a few days. In a 12-person study they resolved within 2 days.
Oligio (Oligio): in a 30-patient Thai study, 83% had redness right after treatment that cleared within 1 to 2 days, and patients resumed normal activities immediately. The study advised daily sunscreen (SPF above 30) and avoiding direct sun.
Onda (Onda lifting): no number of days. An advisory-board paper says mild effects usually resolve within a few days and advises avoiding direct sun for two days.
Sofwave (Sofwave): the maker says downtime is minimal and daily activities can resume immediately, with no number of days. Two studies report mean treatment pain of 5.6 and 6.6 out of 10.
Volnewmer: no source states a downtime period. In a 22-patient split-face trial, mild redness and swelling were temporary and resolved on their own.
Potenza (Potenza): no source states a downtime period. The maker lists temporary redness, tingling and burning during treatment, and published series report mild, transient side effects.
Titanium lifting (Titanium lifting): no maker, label or journal source we found states a downtime for the lifting protocol. Only clinic pages do, and we do not use them.

Lasers

Pico toning (Pico toning): a Korean case series of a 755 nm picosecond laser reported minimal downtime and no visible redness after treatment, without a number of days. A 2023 meta-analysis found post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darker marks) in some patients treated with the 755 nm laser.
Laser toning: no source gives a downtime in days. One review advises sunscreen afterward and says topical creams can usually resume after 1 to 2 days. The main reported risk is mottled pale patches (hypopigmentation), which can persist.
LaVieen: LaVieen-specific downtime is not confirmed. Across 17 studies of 1927 nm thulium lasers of any brand, side effects were mild and transient, though melasma sometimes relapsed.

Threads

Thread lift (Thread lift): swelling, bruising and local pain are expected. In a Chinese series of patients treated for complications, swelling lasted 2 to 4 months in some and four hematoma cases recovered in 10 to 21 days. That series describes complications, not typical recovery.

Surgery

Double eyelid surgery (Double eyelid surgery): Mayo Clinic says bruising and swelling generally lessen in about 10 to 14 days and scars can take months to fade. ASPS says stitches are removed within one week. Mayo Clinic advises avoiding strenuous activity for a week and contact lenses for about two weeks.
Rhinoplasty (Rhinoplasty): Mayo Clinic says to plan about a week off work. Most activities resume after a week and all activities after 2 to 4 weeks, and the splint stays on about a week. ASPS says the final nasal shape can take up to a year to refine.
Face-lift (Face lift): no source we read gives a return-to-work time. Mayo Clinic says stitches come out about a week after surgery, follow-up visits continue for about two months, and the incisions should stay out of the sun for three weeks.
Liposuction (Liposuction): ASPS puts return to work in weeks 2 to 3, depending on the job. Mayo Clinic says after a few days. A compression garment is worn for a few weeks, and ASPS says bruising should be gone and swelling start to subside by weeks 4 to 5.

Dental

Dental implants (Dental implants): the treatment is done in stages with healing between them, so the whole process can take many months. Mayo Clinic says gums need at least two weeks to heal after the abutment is placed. Swelling, bruising, pain and minor bleeding are expected after each stage.
Dental crowns (Dental crowns): usually two appointments, with a temporary crown between them. The sources we read state no time off. Cleveland Clinic says some sensitivity for a couple of weeks, especially to heat and cold, is normal.
Scaling (Scaling): for scaling and root planing, Cleveland Clinic says most people can return to their normal routine the same day and gums may be sore for a couple of days. Some bleeding is normal.

Planning around downtime

Ask the doctor for your own estimate. The figures above are general. Your treatment, the settings, the area and your health change them.
Leave buffer days. Several sources give a typical time and also a longer case: swelling after Thermage can remain up to several weeks, and some thread-lift patients had swelling for 2 to 4 months. Plan around the longest figure you are willing to risk, not the shortest.
Do not schedule events inside the range. Keep weddings, photos and important meetings outside the range the sources give, unless the doctor tells you otherwise.
Ask about sun protection. Some sources state it: the Oligio study advised daily sunscreen and avoiding direct sun, the Onda paper advised two days without direct sun, the laser toning review advised sunscreen afterward, and Mayo Clinic advises keeping face-lift incisions out of the sun for three weeks. Follow what your clinic tells you.
Combining treatments. The sources we read do not say how downtime adds up when treatments are combined or done on the same day. Ask the clinic.
Flights. Our flights article explains the CDC statements. The CDC Yellow Book says not to fly for 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery and cites plastic surgeons' guidance to wait 7 to 10 days after laser treatments or cosmetic procedures to the face. The sources do not say whether injections or device treatments count as cosmetic procedures to the face. Agree the earliest flight date with the clinic before you book.
Follow-up and records. Ask who treats you if a problem appears after you fly home, and get your records before you leave. See receipts and medical records.

FAQ

How long is downtime after cosmetic treatments in Korea?

There is no single figure. It depends on the treatment, the device settings, the area and the person. In the sources we read, injectables and energy devices are mostly described in hours to days, surgery in weeks and dental implants in months. For many treatments no source gives a number of days. Ask your doctor for your own estimate.

Which treatments have shorter downtime according to the sources?

The makers of Ultherapy and Shurink report no downtime, with redness that fades in hours to days. The Thermage maker reports redness within 24 hours and swelling within 5 days, and a Thai study of Oligio found redness cleared within 1 to 2 days. These are maker statements and small studies, not a ranking. The doctor decides what fits you.

How long does downtime last after double eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty?

Mayo Clinic says bruising and swelling after eyelid surgery generally lessen in about 10 to 14 days, and ASPS says stitches are removed within one week. For rhinoplasty, Mayo Clinic says to plan about a week off work, with most activities back after a week and all activities after 2 to 4 weeks. ASPS says the final nose shape can take up to a year.

How long do swelling and bruising last after filler or Botox?

The FDA says filler swelling and bruising usually appear soon after injection and many resolve within a few days to weeks, with no exact figure. The two toxin labels we read give no downtime period. They list bruising or swelling at the injection site as possible effects. Ask the clinic what to expect for your area and product.

What should I ask my clinic about downtime?

Ask what you will look like on day 1, day 3 and day 7, which activities are limited and for how long, when the follow-up visit is, what happens if recovery takes longer, and whether combining treatments changes the plan. Ask for the answers in writing if you can, and book flights and events only after you have them.

Can I fly home right after a treatment?

The CDC Yellow Book says not to fly for 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery. It cites plastic surgeons' guidance to wait 7 to 10 days after laser treatments or cosmetic procedures to the face. The sources do not say whether injections or device treatments count. Our flights article has the details, and the doctor who treated you decides when you may fly.

Sources

The CDC statements are general travel-health information from the United States, quoted as in our flights article.

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. The figures are what the cited sources report, mostly from makers and small studies. They are not medical advice and not a prediction for you. The doctor who treats you decides.

Downtime after cosmetic treatments in Korea: what sources say, with a planner