ChondroFiller® aftercare: injection or keyhole surgery? Two recoveries, side by side
The same gel, delivered two ways, with two very different weeks afterwards. Find the one that applies to you.
Why one search gives two answers
At Liquid Cartilage, ChondroFiller® is placed during a keyhole operation, and the recovery we describe for that route is a staged, supervised one. Professor Lee also offers ChondroFiller® as an ultrasound-guided injection at London Cartilage Clinic, and that route asks far less of you afterwards.
Search results mix the two. If you have had the injection and you have just read about bracing and weeks of partial weight-bearing, those pages were almost certainly describing surgery. Here are both recoveries next to each other.
The two recoveries compared
Your clinic letter and your own rehabilitation plan always take priority over this page.
After the injection: week by week
The injection aftercare given at London Cartilage Clinic, in the order you will meet it.
- The same hour
Walk out
No brace, no crutches and no walking aids, unless your medical team specifies otherwise. The local anaesthetic wears off after about six hours, and mild soreness, swelling or stiffness is normal.
- First three days
Keep it quiet
Light, necessary activity only. Ice for 10 to 15 minutes through a cloth, several times a day. Rest here is a choice that helps the gel settle, not a restriction on putting weight through the joint.
- Weeks one and two
About half your usual
Aim for roughly half your normal joint activity while the gel integrates. Short, light walks are fine on a treated knee. Leave long walks, impact and targeted leg exercises for later.
- Weeks three to six
Build back in stages
Increase duration, distance and intensity step by step, adding gentle strengthening as advised. If stiffness or clicking rises with activity, ease off briefly and build again more slowly.
Six weeks, no charge
A telephone review with the clinical team to check your activity levels and agree next steps.
Twelve months
An MRI to assess cartilage regeneration and the condition of the joint, reviewed with Professor Lee.
When to contact the clinic
Soreness, swelling, stiffness, bruising and a little spotting on the dressing should settle gradually. Get in touch if you notice any of the following, or if anything simply worries you.
- Pain that becomes severely limiting
- Swelling or redness in the joint that is getting worse rather than settling
- Bleeding or discharge from the injection site that continues
- A fever
The full injection aftercare guide at London Cartilage Clinic covers the injection site, work, driving and exercise in more detail.
Not sure which route suits you?
Which delivery is right depends on the size and position of the defect and on your goals. Start with a Discovery Call, or book a consultation with Professor Lee.