ChondroFiller injection aftercare
What to do, and what to expect, after a ChondroFiller injection with Professor Lee. No brace, no crutches, and a graded return to activity over about six weeks.
The short version
Walk in, walk out, then ease back
ChondroFiller is given by Professor Paul Lee as an ultrasound-guided outpatient injection. You leave on your own feet, with no brace and no crutches. Keep the first three days quiet, do about half your usual activity on the treated joint for the following fortnight, then build back up through to week six.
The same aftercare applies whichever joint was treated: knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, hand, wrist, elbow, foot.
Stage by stage
From the treatment room to month twelve
Treatment day
Walk out the same hour
- No brace and no crutches or other walking aids, unless your medical team specifies otherwise.
- The local anaesthetic wears off after about six hours.
- Mild soreness, swelling or stiffness in the joint is normal.
The next 48 hours
Look after the injection site
- Take the dressing off the next day.
- Keep the site dry for 48 hours.
- No massage or deep heat on the joint for a week.
Days 1 to 3
Keep things quiet
- Light, necessary activity only.
- Ice for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, always through a cloth.
- You are resting by choice. Nothing here is a weight-bearing restriction.
Weeks 1 and 2
Half your usual activity
- Aim for about half of what you normally do on the treated joint.
- This is the period while the gel integrates into the defect.
Weeks 3 to 6
Build back in stages
- Increase distance, time and effort a step at a time.
- Add gentle strengthening for the muscles around the joint.
- A free telephone review takes place at six weeks.
Months onwards
Repair tissue builds
- New repair tissue develops gradually, over months rather than weeks.
- An MRI at 12 months is reviewed with Professor Lee.
Read this if you have been searching online
Why the recovery you found online may not be yours
Search for ChondroFiller recovery and most results describe keyhole surgery: a brace for the first 48 hours, weight-bearing rebuilt over six to eight weeks, and a return to sport at around six months. That is the rehabilitation for the arthroscopic implant, where the product is placed during an operation.
The injection is a separate procedure. It is done awake under local anaesthetic with ultrasound guidance, so none of those surgical restrictions apply. If you are unsure which one you had, your clinic letter says, and the team will happily confirm.
When to get in touch
Contact the clinic if you notice
- Pain that is severely limiting what you can do
- Swelling or redness that is increasing
- Bleeding or discharge from the injection site that continues
- A fever
Use the contact details on your clinic letter, or reach the team through our contact page. If you feel seriously unwell, seek urgent medical help.
Full guide and leaflet
The complete aftercare guide
Professor Lee's London clinic publishes the full injection aftercare guide with a downloadable leaflet. Your own clinic letter takes priority if it differs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a brace or crutches after a ChondroFiller injection?
How long will the joint feel sore?
Can I get the injection site wet?
Why does Google show a six to eight week recovery with a brace?
What follow-up is included?
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